TCS Regulations 2023

A: GENERAL RULES APPLICABLE TO ALL INTER–CLUB COMPETITIONS

1. The management of all inter-club Competitions shall be in the hands of the Committee of the Association who may delegate their powers to a Sub-Committee, or in the case of League Competitions, to the Honorary League Secretary of the Association (hereinafter called ‘the League and Cup Secretary’). The Committee may alter any of the Regulations for Inter-Club Competitions from time to time as they shall think proper.
   
2. The Competition shall be open to all affiliated Clubs. The Secretary shall send entry forms for the various competitions to the Secretaries of all affiliated Clubs at least seven days prior to the date by which the entries for the Competitions, together with the necessary entry fees, must be returned to the Secretary.
   
3. A player shall be qualified to represent an affiliated Club if he or she is a bona-fide member of such Club. No player shall be entitled to play in these Competitions for more than one affiliated Club during the same year without the special permission of the Committee, but a player shall not be disqualified from playing for a Club in a League Competition on the ground of having already played for another Club in a Cup Competition in that year or vice versa.
   
4. Entrance fees for the Competitions shall be fixed by the Committee, except for the Scottish Cup where the fees shall be fixed by Tennis Scotland.
   
5. The Club on whose ground each match is played shall provide, at its own expense, at least three new tennis balls per court. In all league matches and the Gillespie Cup, balls of the make selected by the Committee shall be used. For 2023/24 seasons this is Dunlop.
   If any match is played on neutral ground the cost of the balls used shall be divided between the competing Clubs.
   
6. All Cup and League games must be played on the exact dates and at the locations fixed by the Committee unless previously played by mutual agreement of the Clubs concerned. No postponements will be allowed except on account of weather or unplayable conditions of the courts. In the event of any Club failing to fulfil its obligation to play a match on the date fixed by the Committee, without being able to furnish a reasonable and just explanation, the offending Club shall be adjudged to have forfeited the match. In the case of a league match, the points shall also be forfeited. Unfavourable weather and unplayable condition of the courts shall be accepted as satisfactory reasons for non-fulfilment and postponement provided always that the contesting Clubs shall satisfy the Committee that every effort has been made by both Clubs to have the match played. In case of doubt the Secretary of the Home Team shall at the earliest possible moment communicate with the opponents as to conditions and likelihood of play. Nevertheless visiting teams must be prepared to travel if there appears to be even a reasonable chance of weather conditions permitting play to proceed.
   
7. All matches must commence not later than the time stated in the handbook unless otherwise decided by the Committee.
   
8. In any match, any couple which does not appear on the ground complete and ready to play within 15 minutes of the time fixed for the start of play, shall be deemed to have scratched from the first round. If the delay is one hour, they shall be deemed to have scratched from the second round and if the delay amounts to two hours they will be deemed to have scratched from the whole match.
   
9. No matches shall be played during the Annual Tournament organised by Tennis Central Scotland.
   
10. A time limit for the termination of each match shall be fixed by the captains and entered on the official Score Sheet before play commences. Unless the captains agree that play shall cease earlier, owing to rain or other unavoidable circumstance which have arisen subsequent to the time when the time limit was originally fixed, play shall cease in each rubber at the conclusion of the game in progress when the fixed time limit has been reached. The captains may mutually agree to extend this time limit. Failure by the respective captains to fix such a time limit or to enter the same on the official Score Sheet, may result in the disqualification of both participating teams in the event of any protest, appeal or dispute arising out of any match.
    
11. Each competing team shall be arranged in order of playing strength. The names shall be entered on official Score Sheets before the match begins. Unless the ground where the match is played has only two Courts suitable for match play, three courts must be available and used. When there are only two Courts, any two ties of the first round can be played irrespective of the order specified, but Regulation A8 will still apply despite the fact that only two courts are available.
    
12. A Club is not bound to play the same team throughout a Competition. However, no change shall be made in the composition of the teams engaged in a match after the start of play except as hereinafter provided and if a match is postponed, the composition of the team playing in the original match should not be changed. Where Clubs are unable by reason of illness, holidays or other causes, to turn out the same team, they may substitute a player or players in place of those absent, but no other re-arrangement of players or couples will be permissible.
    
13. Any Club intending to scratch shall notify this to the League and Cup Secretary and Captain of the opposing team as early as possible, but not later than two days previous to the match. Any Club failing to give this notification in time shall be reported to the Committee who shall have power to take such action as it may deem expedient.
    
14. The results of all matches should be recorded on the Official Score Sheets by the Home Club and signed by the Captains of both teams. In addition the Captain of the winning team should enter the results on competitions.lta.org.uk (if the match is drawn, the Home Captain should enter the result).
    
15. Play in all matches shall, so far as practicable, be continuous and intervals between rounds shall be cut to a minimum. No undue time shall be spent knocking up. For the purpose of saving time and ensuring a definite result being obtained in all matches, the Committee recommends that Home Clubs providing teas for the players should not do so until the end of the match.

B: REGULATIONS APPLICABLE TO SUMMER LEAGUE COMPETITIONS

1. The Clubs in each Division (if more than one Division is deemed advisable) shall be selected annually by the Committee. The Committee shall also decide the other details of the League Competition including promotion and relegation.
   
2. The winning and runner-up teams in each division will be promoted (apart from Division 2 to 1). The two teams at the foot of each Division will be relegated (apart from Division 1 to 2).
   
3. A Club can have no more than two teams in any one Division.
   
4. Any player having played four or more league matches for one team is not permitted to play subsequently, during that season, for a lower team from the same Club. The team for whom the transgressor has played would forfeit only those rubbers in which the transgressor has played. Where a Club has more than two teams, a player cannot play for a team ranked two or more teams below a team for whom they have already played that season eg a player who has previously played for a 1st team cannot then play for a 3rd team in the same competition that season. This rule does not affect a player’s ability to move up and play for higher ranked teams but it does affect the player’s ability to subsequently play for lower ranked teams.
   
5. For Ladies and Mens League fixtures 1 point shall be awarded to each club for fulfilling the fixture. To qualify for this point a Club must, as a minimum requirement, provide either three couples to play in the first 2 rubbers or two couples to play in all 3 rubbers. However a team cannot provide only two couples if they have a lower team fielding three couples on the same date. If this happens the lower team will forfeit their match and the points will be awarded to the opposing team.
   
6. Each pair shall play one rubber against each pair of the opposing team.
   
7. The order of play of the rounds and the order of courts shall be as shown below. The Home Club couples are referred to first in each round.
   

Court	Round A	Round B	Round C
No. 1	1 v 1	2 v 3	3 v 2
No. 2	2 v 2	3 v 1	1 v 3
No. 3	3 v 3	1 v 2	2 v 1

8. In Round A, each rubber shall consist of two tie-break sets. In Rounds B and C, each rubber shall consist of one tie-break set.
   
9. Each set will count as one, so the maximum a team can score is 12. The team that shall win the majority of the sets shall be declared the winner of the match. All rubbers must be completed unless one side has already won seven sets. Either Captain may concede sufficient games, sets and rubbers to give a decision. Completed sets and the games in such completed sets in unfinished rubbers and rounds shall also be counted but not the games in unfinished sets. In the event of the number of sets being equal (that is 6 – 6) the match will be declared a draw. Scoring system: 1 point shall be awarded to each club for fulfilling the fixture, therefore the team winning the majority of sets will be awarded 3 points and in a drawn fixture each team will get 2 points. If teams finish the league equal on points then sets difference (or if this is equal, sets won) will determine positions.
   
10. If, by reason of special causes such as bad weather or unplayable courts, it be found impossible to play a match on the date fixed, or if, for similar reasons, any match is discontinued before either side has won a majority of rubbers, the home Club shall, within 48 hours of that date, give the opposing Club the choice of four dates within the subsequent 21 days. One of these dates must be accepted within 48 hours. Provided two rounds have been completed, the dates fixed for the third round can be on different dates to suit the convenience of the couples concerned. In addition, notification of such a date for a postponed, replayed or continued match must be sent immediately by the Home Club to the League Secretary.
    
11. All Mens and Ladies Summer Doubles League matches must be completed and the result entered online by 31 August.

The captains of the home teams concerned must call the opposing team to confirm time and location.

C: REGULATIONS APPLICABLE TO CUP COMPETITIONS

1. The draw shall be made by the Committee who may draw more than one round at the same time. The first Club in the draw in each tie will be required to provide the ground for the tie. The Honorary Secretary shall intimate the results of the draw to the Secretaries of the competing Clubs, the dates on which the several rounds are to be played and such other arrangements as the Committee decide.
   
2. After the captains have arranged their respective teams in pairs in order of playing strength and entered the names on the official Score Sheet, each pair shall play one rubber against each pair of the opposing team. A rubber shall consist of the best of three sets with the tie-break operating at six games all in each of the first two sets. If the rubber score is one set all, a match tie-break (first to 10 points and winning by 2 clear points) will be played. The order of play and the order of courts shall be decided by drawing the rounds from the following. The Home Club couples are referred to first in each round:

Court	Round A	Round B	Round C
No. 1	1 v 1	2 v 2	3 v 3
No. 2	2 v 3	3 v 1	1 v 2
No. 3	3 v 2	1 v 3	2 v 1

• At the beginning of the match the Draw is made merely to decide in which order these fixed rounds will be played so that in each round there will normally be one level strength match i.e. 1 v 1 etc. Except where only two courts are available, no pair shall play more than one rubber on the same court without the consent of the Captains. Notwithstanding, if the Captains of both teams agree, any rubber in a succeeding round may be commenced before the proceeding round has been completed.

3. The tie-break system will operate at 6 games all in all sets. The team that shall win the majority of the nine rubbers (ie five or more) shall be declared the winner of the match. If, by reason of special causes, such as bad weather or want of time, a match is discontinued before either side has won a majority of five rubbers, the result will be determined as follows:
   1. In Stage 1 of the Scottish Cup, provided two rounds have been completed, a majority of rubbers shall decide. Should the number of rubbers be equal the majority of sets shall decide. Should the number of rubbers and sets be equal the majority of games shall not be taken into account. The Captain of either side may concede rubbers, sets and/or games for the purpose of completing any round at any time but not later than five minutes after the time limit has been reached. In the event of no result being obtained, the match will be continued the following day from the point at which play was stopped or interrupted. If it is not possible to continue the match on the following day it must be played not later than three days after the original date. The same procedure shall be adopted in the event of second postponement or uncompleted match and so on until a result is obtained under the above rules.
   2. In the Gillespie Cup two mixed couples will play the best of three sets against each opposing couple. The tie-break system will operate at six games all in all sets. The winning team must obtain a majority of rubbers. In the event of a draw one championship tie-break will be played. Each Captain must choose one couple who have not yet played together to play this decider. In the case of the Gillespie Cup, postponed or uncompleted matches must be completed within seven days of the original date or ten days in the case of a second postponement.

4. Any dispute, protest or appeal arising out of the Cup Competitions shall be referred to the sole arbitration of the Committee whose decision shall be final, binding and without prejudice to the Rules of Tennis Scotland.
   
5. In the Scottish Cup, teams shall comply with the Competition Rules issued by Tennis Scotland.

D: REGULATIONS APPLICABLE TO SINGLES LEAGUE COMPETITIONS

1. The teams for the singles leagues will be organised as follows:
   1. Teams will consist of three players.
   2. Captains will nominate their team in order of playing strength, being determined initially by order of WTN rating. Players without a WTN rating will be put in playing order by the team captain. It will be beneficial to all players to sign up for LTA Advantage Play+ membership before the start of the season. Every member is automatically given a WTN rating.
      
2. Matches will consist of three rubbers, 1 v 1, 2 v 2, 3 v 3. Rubbers will normally be played simultaneously, but if this is not possible then they should be played in descending order, ie 1 v 1 takes precedence.
   
3. Each rubber will consist of two sets with a tie-break at six games all. If the score is level at one set all then a championship tie-break will be played to decide the result.
   
4. Scores for the leagues will be as follows:
   1. One point will be awarded for completing a fixture with a full team.
   2. One point will be awarded for each rubber won, so that totals from play can be 3 – 0, 2 – 1, 1 – 2 and 0 – 3. To these scores the completion point from above is added to both teams’ rubbers total to give the final match result (provided a full team has been fielded). If a team fails to fulfil a rubber, that rubber will automatically be awarded to the team not responsible for the failure.
      
5. All rubbers should be completed in every match. Either captain can concede a rubber if circumstances require it, by conceding games, sets or rubbers.
   
6. The league result will be decided by addition of points for and against from the match results from each fixture.
   In the event of a tie, the total games for and against will be used, with a championship tie-break counting as one game.
   If the outcome is still tied, the result of the league match between the tied teams will be used to break the tie.
   
7. Any player having played two or more league matches for one team is not permitted to play subsequently, during that season, for a lower team from the same Club. If this occurs, the team would forfeit all rubbers played by the offending player.
   See Regulation B10 for the rule applicable to the rearrangement of matches.

E: REGULATIONS APPLICABLE TO OVER 55 LEAGUE COMPETITIONS

1. Each team is to consist of two ladies and two men aged 55 years or over.
   
2. The first round consists of one single tie-break set of Ladies Doubles and Mens Doubles.
   
3. The second round consists of one single tie-break set of Mixed Doubles as follows:
   Home Couple 1 v Away Couple 2
   Home Couple 2 v Away Couple 1
   
4. The third round consists of one single tie-break set of Mixed Doubles as follows:
   Home Couple 1 v Away Couple 1
   Home Couple 2 v Away Couple 2
   
5. Scoring system: 2 points to a team winning 4 sets or more in a fixture. 1 point to each team in a 3 – 3 drawn fixture. If teams finish the league equal on points then firstly sets difference and, if that is equal, sets won will determine positions.

6. Matches are scheduled to commence at 10.30am promptly on Wednesday mornings.
   
7. The results of all matches should be recorded on the Official Score Sheets by the Home Club and signed by the Captains of both teams. In addition the Captain of the winning team should enter the results on competitions.lta.org.uk (if the match is drawn, the Home Captain should enter the result).

F: REGULATIONS APPLICABLE TO JUNIOR LEAGUE COMPETITIONS

1. Matches must be played on the exact dates fixed by the Committee and must commence at the times stated unless previously agreed by both clubs concerned. If a Home Club chooses an alternative date or time they must do so for all home matches. The Secretary of any Club that adopts such a change must notify the Secretary of all Clubs in the Junior League and the League and Cup Secretary at least one week before commencement of leagues each year. If, by reason of special causes such as bad weather, unplayable courts, it is found impossible to play a match on the date fixed aforesaid or if for similar reasons a match is discontinued before either side has won a majority of rubbers, the Home Club shall, within 48 hours of that date, give the opposing Club a choice of two dates within the next 21 days, one of which must be accepted within 48 hours.
   
2. The home team will supply tennis balls. Match balls that have been used once will be acceptable.
   
3. The results of all matches should be recorded on the Official Score Sheets by the Home Club and signed by the Captains of both teams. In addition the Captain of the winning team should enter the results on competitions.lta.org.uk (if the match is drawn, the Home Captain should enter the result). Score Sheets should show the scheduled date in addition to the date played if altered. In the event of conceded matches, both clubs should notify the Secretary immediately. All Score Sheets must be returned after each match.
   Scoring system: 1 point shall be awarded to each club for fulfilling the fixture, therefore the team winning the majority of rubbers will be awarded 3 points and in a drawn fixture each team will get 2 points. If teams finish the league equal on points then firstly rubbers difference and, if that is equal, rubbers won will determine positions. Score sheets should include each player’s LTA Advantage Membership number and current rating, if applicable.
   
4. Clubs must ensure that at least one responsible adult is in attendance at all Home Matches.
   
5. Each team shall consist of four players. These players should be ranked in order of WTN rating (if they have one).
   
6. The first round shall consist of four singles matches each of two short sets to four, (first to four games with a margin of two) a tie-break (first to 7 points with a margin of 2) should be played at four games all. If a match is tied at one set each a Championship tie-break (first to 10 points with a margin of 2) should be played to decide the winner.
   The order of play is as follows: 1 v 1, 2 v 2, 3 v 3, 4 v 4.
   The second round shall consist of two doubles matches each of one tie-break set of duration as follows: 1 and 2 v 1 and 2, 3 and 4 v 3 and 4. Sudden death deuce should be played in all matches ie only one point to be played at deuce – the receivers choosing side.

Specific regulations for 12 and under Leagues

7. Players must be 12 years of age or under on 31 December 2023.
   
8. All matches must be played on Saturday evenings commencing at 4.30pm unless previously played by mutual agreement of clubs concerned as outlined in Regulation F1.

Specific regulations for 16 and under Leagues

9. Players must be 16 years of age or under on 31 December 2023.
   
10. All matches must be played on Sunday evenings commencing at 4.00pm unless previously played by mutual agreement of clubs concerned as outlined in Regulation F1.
    
11. Players may play in matches for more than one Club in the same season as long as they are fully paid up members of each Club. Any player representing more than one Club must play in a different age group for each Club.

G: REGULATIONS APPLICABLE TO LADIES OVER 45 LEAGUE COMPETITIONS

1. Each team is to consist of four ladies aged 45 years or over.
   
2. Matches consist of four rubbers, each rubber will consist of two tie-break sets.
   
3. Each pair shall play one rubber against each pair of the opposing team.
   
4. The order of play shall be as follows:
   The Home Club couples are referred to first in each round.

Court	Round A	Round B
No. 1	1 v 1	1 v 2
No. 2	2 v 2	2 v 1

5. The scores shall be computed as follows:
   1 point shall be awarded to each club for fulfilling the fixture. The winning club in each match will therefore receive a total of 3 points and in the event of the match being declared a draw, ie when rubbers are equal, both clubs shall receive 2 points. Points will be awarded to the opposing Club if the winning Club fail to enter the scores online.
   
6. The results of all matches should be recorded on the Official Score Sheets by the Home Club and signed by the Captains of both teams. In addition the Captain of the winning team should enter the results on competitions.lta.org.uk (if the match is drawn, the Home Captain should enter the result).

H: REGULATIONS APPLICABLE TO AUTUMN LEAGUE COMPETITIONS

1. Matches consist of one Ladies and one Mens Doubles, followed by two Mixed Doubles rubbers, each rubber will consist of two tie-break sets.
   
2. Scoring system: 1 point shall be awarded to each club for fulfilling the fixture, therefore the team winning the majority of rubbers will be awarded 3 points and in a 2 – 2 drawn fixture each team will get 2 points. If teams finish the league equal on points then firstly sets difference and, if that is equal, sets won will determine positions.
   
3. The results of all matches should be recorded on the Official Score Sheets by the Home Club and signed by the Captains of both teams. In addition the Captain of the winning team should enter the results on competitions.lta.org.uk (if the match is drawn, the Home Captain should enter the result).