Marin Tennis League

The new season is now live. The website shows the weekly schedule for each team, with Monday as the placeholder. Team captains should determine the actual day of the match that week (Monday – Friday) and then begin scheduling their home matches. Matches cannot be set on “black out” days, which are built into the system. The “black out” days incorporate school schedules and public holidays. Scheduling information is available under “Website Instructions.”

The season begins the week of September 9 and ends on March 28, unless excessive rain requires an extension.

Captains should review the website, especially “Rules”, “Frequently Asked Questions,” and “How to Add a Sub.” A few MTL rules may differ from that of other tennis organizations. The captain can add a player to her team any time, as long as that player has not played in a match for another MTL team this season. There is no limit to the number of players that can be on a team. The captain may also pull up a player from a lower team at her club to play as a sub in a match, once, no higher than line 3. If that player subs for that team again, that line will automatically be defaulted.

Captains should have received an email with additional information. If you did not receive it, please contact us at marinleagueinfo@gmail.com.

Teams must win 35% of total match points to stay at level. Division winners must move up if they have met the benchmark. Teams that win 65% of total match points but are not the division winners may move up.

2024 - 2025 Performance Benchmarks:

• A1: 7 matches; 105 possible points; 65%: 68 points; 35%: 36 points
• A2: 9 matches; 135 possible points; 65%: 87 points; 35%: 47 points
• A3: 7 matches; 105 possible points; 65%: 68 points; 35%: 36 points
• B1: 9 matches; 135 possible points; 65%: 87 points; 35%: 47 points
• B2: 12 matches; 180 possible points; 65%: 117 points; 35%: 63 points
• B3: 8 matches; 120 possible points; 65%: 78 points; 35%: 42 points

Marin League does not use USTA ratings. However, if you would like to update your USTA rating in your profile, see below:

After you have logged in, click on your name in the orange tab in the upper right corner. Select "My Profile" to take you to your player profile. Click on the Ratings tab in the upper grey menu bar (next to "Schedule Play").

You can enter a rating that you wish to show to the public using our 'Fixed Ratings' option. This rating doesn’t change unless you change it manually.

Welcome to the new Marin Tennis League website!

PLEASE USE THIS URL TO ACCESS THE SITE: https://marinleague.topdoglive.com/

Go to “manage roster’ located in the bar above the team roster. Search for the player. (She should already be in the database because she is on another team at your club.) Click on the dot to the left of the player's name and pick the “sub” designation. Hit “save” and your sub will be on the roster. Subs from a lower team may only be used ONCE per season on a specific team. If used again on the same team, that line will be defaulted.

MISSION
The purpose of the Marin Tennis League is to provide Marin County women with the opportunity to play competitive league tennis in an organized and amicable environment. Consistent with USTA rules, the MTL is committed to fostering the principles of good sportsmanship, fairness, friendly competition, and camaraderie among women.We expect our members, through their positive tennis experiences, to bring to the courts a sense of the significance of their participation in the Marin Tennis League. We expect our members to accept the ultimate outcome of league play with the grace and understanding that good sportsmanship requires. Finally, we expect our members to relax and enjoy the benefits derived from sharing in the joy of playing tennis with other women.

This is an adult women’s weekday, doubles-only league beginning in September and ending by April. The League consists of A and B divisions. Each club may enter one or more divisions, with a minimum of 15 players per team.

MARIN TENNIS LEAGUE

MISSION
The purpose of the Marin Tennis League is to provide Marin County women with the opportunity to play competitive league tennis in an organized and amicable environment. Consistent with U.S.T.A. rules, we are committed to fostering the principles of good sportsmanship, fairness, friendly competition, and camaraderie among women.
We expect our members, through their positive tennis experiences, to bring to the courts a sense of the significance of their participation in the Marin Tennis League. We expect our members to accept the ultimate outcome of league play with the grace and understanding that good sportsmanship requires. Finally, we expect our members to relax and enjoy the benefits derived from sharing in the joy of playing tennis with other women.

CAPTAINS
You will be responsible for scheduling all your own home and away matches. Check with your club to see that these matches do not interfere with the Sonoma-Napa-Marin League matches or other events to which you are committed. No visiting team can specify availability on only one weekday throughout the season. Use your own judgment. Circumstances occasionally warrant flexibility of these rules. We are here to have fun and to play tennis! Note that the Marin League Board may issue point penalties or defaults for egregious violation of any of the rules listed below.

PROCEDURE
1. This is an adult women’s weekday, doubles-only league beginning in September and ending by March 31st. The League consists of A and B divisions. Each club may enter one or more divisions with a minimum of 15 players per team.

2. A roster of at least 15 team players must be submitted online by August 16. There is no limit to the number of players that may be on a team. However, only 10 women will be playing per match. Players may be added to the roster any time during the season. Additions must be made online before the added woman plays in a match.

3. There will be 5 (five) matches played per event for all divisions. The host club must provide 3 courts for home play. It is preferable whenever possible that matches be played on non-pickleball marked courts.

4. Refreshments and balls (USTA approved), UNOPENED PLEASE!! will be provided by the hosting team.

5. Restroom facilities must be available on the premises of the hosting team. If restroom facilities are not available, the hosting team must offer to play at the visitor’s courts. The ultimate decision is with the visiting team. Hosting duty would then revert to the team with bathrooms on the premises.

RULES OF PLAY

1. USTA Rules will be strictly enforced, except where noted. USTA 2011 RULE ABOUT REVERSED CALLS: if you change a call from OUT to IN, you lose the point. The point goes to the opponent and is NOT replayed. Also, if one player calls the ball OUT and their doubles partner calls the ball IN, the ball is considered IN.

Rosters: Contrary to USTA rules, players may play for only one club, at one level per season unless they are subbing in a match (see Rules 12 and 22 below.). Failure to follow this rule will result in a default, taking away the points earned from that position and awarding those points to the opposing club. LIneups must be made in order of strength. If your #1 and #2 players are rarely winning, and #3, #4, and #5 players are consistently winning, then those players in #3, #4 and #5 must compete at the higher end of the roster. The Board has, and will, impose penalties to these teams who ignore this policy.

2. Match Format: All matches will be the best of 3 tiebreak sets. (See Rule 3 below.) A 10-point Coman Match Tiebreak may replace the third set. One point will be awarded for each set won. If a team wins in straight sets, they will be awarded 3 points. Captains, please post scores promptly: 3 points will be deducted from the home team if the scores are posted on the web site more than 3 days after the match was completed (in its entirety).

3. Full Third Set or Tiebreak: All four players must agree before the match that, if necessary, they will play a third set. Otherwise, the Coman Tiebreak will be played. The decision must be announced before play begins. If the players forget to make this decision prior to the start of the match, it should be made as soon as this oversight is discovered. The decision, once made, can be changed only by the unanimous agreement of all players on the court. Note that some clubs may mandate that a third set tiebreak be played to maintain court availability for members.

4. Tiebreak Procedure: The Coman Tiebreak Procedure shall be used with players changing ends after the first point, then after every four points, and at the conclusion of the tiebreak (1st point, 5th, 9th, 13th, etc.)

5. Bathroom Breaks: It is recommended that players use the bathroom before the match or between sets. However, if necessary, players can use the bathroom between games or, in an emergency, during a game. No coaching can be done during a bathroom break unless it is during the 10 minute break prior to a full third set. (See Rule 6 below.) We assume that players will exercise good sportsmanship and use bathroom breaks for that purpose only and keep them as short as possible.

6. Coaching is allowed only in the 10 minute break prior to a full third set. This is done with players and coaches off the court. If a third set match tiebreak is played there is only a 120 second set break between the second set and start of the match tie-break.

7. Match Warm-up: Unless captains have agreed in advance to change starting times (see Rule #10), first round matches, traditionally #1, #2, and #3, should begin warm-up by 9:00 a.m. with play commencing no later than 9:15, serves included. Play begins at 9:15 without further warm up or a default will be called if one or more players are missing. Second round players must arrive no later than 10:30. Second round matches, subject to court availability, should begin at 10:30. Warm up ends and play begins 15 minutes after a court is available. A default is called if one or more players are missing at the end of those 15 minutes. A default cannot be taken if a court is not available.

8. Scoring-Defaults-Retirements: Each match score will total 15 points. One point is awarded for each set. A team that wins in two sets gets 3 points.

In the event of a default the following procedures should be followed: If the captain does not have enough players for all 5 lines prior to the day of the match, the default must be taken in #5 doubles (and then #4, etc. if there are multiple defaults.) The captain should inform the visiting team captain prior to the day of the match so that the opponents do not show up when there is no match for them to play. If the default occurs at the court the morning of the match prior to first round play, the default will be taken in the line in which one or both of the scheduled players are not present (i.e., in line 2 if that's the line where the player(s) didn't show up.) If the default occurs on the morning of the match after the start of the first three lines and prior to the start of #4 and #5 doubles, the default will be taken in the line in which one or both of the scheduled players are not present. (i.e., in line 4 if that's the line where the player(s) didn't show up.) If an entire match is defaulted, the Board will impose point penalties and not allow that team to play for the remainder of the season. A player who wins by default in a match cannot play in another position in the same match. If she does so, that match will be defaulted. The captain should select "default" for the match status in all these instances.

Injury or inability to play timeouts are limited to 5 minutes or that player is considered to retire from the match. The captain should select "retire" as the match status. This happens if at least 1 point has been played in the match. Scores should be entered as they were when the last point was played. The team which retired gets points for any sets won prior to the retirement. The other team gets points for the sets not finished or played.

9. Match Cancellation/Unplayable Courts: If courts are unplayable, matches should be canceled by 7:30 am the day of the match. It is mandatory that someone from the home team check the courts before 7:30 am to see if they are dry. If the courts are unplayable by the scheduled match time and the visiting team has not been notified by 7:30 am, the visiting team has the option of rescheduling the match at their home courts. (Note that Rule 10 allows agreeable captains to schedule a 10:00 am start time.)

Rainouts should be rescheduled and played within five (5) weeks (i.e., a match rained out on Oct. 1 should be played by Nov. 6.) Unless mutually agreed upon by both captains, rainout make-up dates should not be offered during Thanksgiving week, the two-week December school holiday, and school Winter and Spring Break weeks. If you are dealing with an uncooperative captain, please call a Board member for assistance.

10. Match Confirmation: Both captains must contact each other 5-7 days before the match – to confirm times, place and date, as they share the responsibility of ensuring their team’s arrival. When using email, captains must reply to the opposing captain or club rep sending the email. It is critical that you make person-to-person contact.

11. Scheduling a Match / Start Times: Once a date has been scheduled for the season, THERE MAY BE NO CHANGES IN THE DATE EXCEPT FOR A RAINOUT. No other reason will be accepted. • Start Times: At the discretion of both captains, they may opt to schedule a 10:00 am match start time (weather permitting). Occasionally, when the courts are damp, captains can agree that the starting time of some lines may be delayed by several minutes to allow the courts to dry (e.g., play will begin at 10:30AM instead of 10:15AM.) One of these delays is acceptable. However, if more than one delay is requested, the affected players do not have to agree and can opt to reschedule that line for a future time.

12. Written Lineup: The visiting captain, or appointed player, shall arrive at the match with a written line up on the MTL Score Sheet. The home captain shall also have her line up written out on the MTL Score Sheet. These lineups should be exchanged prior to the match. No substitution may be made in an individual match after the lineup has been presented, except for injury to, illness of, disqualification of, or failure to appear on time by a player prior to the start of such match. In that event, the substitute shall play in the position that is open due to the injury, illness, disqualification or failure to appear on time. No substitute may be taken from the original lineup after the lineup has been presented, except that if a player’s partner does not show up due to injury, illness, disqualification, or otherwise fails to appear on time, the captain may use a substitute player. The substitute player cannot be a player who has been credited with a default win in this match. Captains using a substitute from a lower team must register this player on their online team roster as a "substitute" prior to the match. If a player is not listed on the online team roster before the match, that match will be defaulted and the opposing team is awarded 3 points. Captains can only use a specific substitute once during the season. Any subsequent matches in which that substitute plays will be defaulted, and the opposing team will be awarded 3 points. (See Rule 22)

13. Rain: In case of rain, the home captain will be responsible for contacting the guest captain to cancel and reschedule. As stated in Rule #9, both captains MUST make two-way personal contact act with one another, via phone or email. By 6:00 p.m. on the day following the cancellation of the match (weekends excluded), the hosting captain must provide the visiting captain with at least 2 dates to choose from within 5 five weeks, as outlined in Rule #9. The offered dates must not be on days that the team has a scheduled or re-scheduled Marin League match, or during Thanksgiving week, the two-week December School holiday, and School Winter and Spring Break weeks.

The visiting captain has 24 hours (weekends excluded) to select one of the dates and notify the home captain of the date. If the visiting captain does not respond within 24 hours or cannot play on any of the two dates given, a team default could be called at the discretion of the Board. The home captain must also comply with her duties, as stated in Rule #9, or her team may be subject to the same penalty. If the match has begun and it starts to rain, the same lineup must be used and play will continue at the point it was suspended. If play has not begun (a point has not been played) and rain begins, the lineup for those unplayed positions can be changed. If a default has been given or taken, and the match was rained out (that is, never started), then that default is voided and should be played.

14. Location change: Any change of location or time must be mutually agreed upon by both captains.

15. Ranked players and teaching pros must get Board approval to play on a Marin League team.

16. League Winners: The team with the highest number of points in its division at the end of the season will win the perpetual trophy. If the winning team scores 65% or more of the possible points, it must move up to the next division. If the winning team scores less than 65%, it can remain in the same division. If a team scores 65% or more and doesn’t win the division, it may move up to the next division. In the event of a tie for first place in the A1 division, the two teams will have a playoff in the same format as in the regular season (i.e., 5 lines). The team that won the head to head match will be considered the home team. In the event of a tie in all other flights, the team that won the head to head match in the regular season will be considered the winner.

17. Team Demotion: If a team scores less than 35% of the possible points, it must move down a division. We do not round up to save you from demotion!

18. The Board at its discretion can move teams as needed, to maintain an equitable balance among divisions.

19. Teams entering the league may request their division but the Board will make final decision on division placement.

20. Existing Teams: Other existing teams may not move up or down without consent of the Board. To change divisions, submit a written request, with reasons and proposed rosters, to the Board by May 15.

21. Team Composition: The composition of teams is the responsibility of the tennis pro or that team's club. This includes deciding which players will move up to higher levels in the next season. Although the MTL does not endorse the decimation of teams (i.e., the movement of several players from one team moving up to another level) it does not take part in that decision. It no longer recommends a "move up formula" for clubs and pros to follow.

22. Substitution Rule: When it comes time to determine the roster for a match, if a team is short one or more players, the captain may draw from any lower division in her club, if her club has entered more than one division in the league. Captains using a substitute from a lower team must register this player on their online team roster as a "substitute" prior to the match. Under no circumstances may a captain draw from a division above her team or at the same team level, (i.e. A-2 Red cannot play for A-2 Blue.) When a captain uses a substitute from below, the substitute can only play for that team once in the season and can play no higher than #3 position. Violation of the rules on the use of subs will result in a default in the line in which the substitute plays (the opposing team gets 3 points). The Board may impose additional penalties for repeat violations. Detailed instructions on the use of substitutes is on the website.

PLEASE DO NOT INVOLVE THE MARIN TENNIS LEAGUE WITH YOUR CLUB’S POLITICS.

GRIEVANCES
The Board reserves the right to take punitive action in the case of poor sportsmanship. A captain may file a written grievance with the Board. She should send a copy of this grievance to the captain of the opposing team.

SAVE THE DATES

August, 2024 There will be no captains' meeting. Match scheduling will be done online.

August 16, 2024 Team Rosters Due - All captains must submit a list of at least 15 players online. Failure to do so will result in the team being dropped from the league schedule for the season.

September 9, 2024 Marin League Season Starts

March 31, 2025 Marin League Season Ends

May 8, 2025 Marin League Awards Event – Marin Country Club 11:30AM

May 1, 2025 Online Team Registration Starts

May 31, 2025 Online Team Registration Ends

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Thora Blaine, Director (415) 883-6788 / kolaane@aol.com

Julie Chun, Luncheon Co-Chair, Website Scoring Disputes (415) 845-9598 c/ julie.chun8@gmail.com

Suzie Fitzpatrick, Treasurer / Luncheon Co-Chair (415) 720-6699 c / SuzieMarintl@gmail.com

Tirrell (Terry) Graham*, Rules Committee (415) 686-2667 c / (415) 383-4773 / tirrell.graham@gmail.com

Peggy Jett, Philanthropy (415) 888-2301 c / pjett4@gmail.com

Jill Martay, Luncheon Co-Chair (415-847-7673) c/ jillmartay@gmail.com

Patti Melin, Secretary (415) 388-3168 / pjmelin@aol.com

Deborah Odier, Member at Large (415) 499-4357 c /debodier@me.com

Michelle Steinhart*, Website Scoring Disputes (415) 383-8253 / mzsteinhart@gmail.com

* If you have read the rules and need help clarifying an issue, please contact us.

2024 - 2025 BLACKOUT DATES

October 3, 2024

October 14, 2024

November 11, 2024

November 25, 2024 - November 29, 2024

December 20, 2024 - January 8, 2025

January 20, 2025

February 17, 2025 - February 21, 2025

April 7, 2025 - April 11, 2025

April 18, 2025

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

TEAM COMPOSITION

How many players can be on a team?

Teams must have a minimum of 15 players. There is no maximum number of players. Players can be added at any time during the season but must be added before the match in which they are to play.

Does the Marin Tennis League participate in the team composition?

The composition of individual teams is the responsibility of the tennis pro or that team’s club.This includes deciding which players will move up to higher level teams in the next season. Although the MTL does not endorse the decimation of teams (i.e., the movement of several players from one team moving up to another level), it does not take part in that decision. It no longer recommends a “move up formula” for clubs and pros to follow.

Can a player join more than one team?

No. A player can only be on one team per season.However, she may be a substitute for one match in a higher level division. (Note that because a sub is a temporary member of a higher level team, if one does a name search on that player, the search will list two team names.)

Can a player change teams?

A player can change teams as long as she has not played in an MTL match during the current season.

Does the MTL use USTA ratings?

The MTL does not consider USTA ratings.This is a decision for that team’s tennis pro or club.

What are the rules for using a substitute?

A captain may use a substitute from a lower division in a match any time she needs one. However, she can only use a specific player once per team per season.The captain must also add this person to her roster before the match and indicate that she is a substitute (not a regular team member).Procedures for entering a substitute are on the website. Also, the substitute must play no higher than line three. If a club has several teams, a player may substitute once per season for each of these teams (e.g., an A3 player may sub once for each of her club’s A2 teams.) And a captain may choose a sub from more than one level down (e.g., an A2 captain can pull a sub up from the B1 team, even if her club has an A3 team.)

What are the penalties for violating the substitute rules?

If a captain plays a sub higher than line three, that line in the match will be defaulted (i.e., the opposing team gets three points.). If a captain plays the sub more than once, that line in that match will be defaulted. The Board may impose additional penalties for repeat violations.

RULES OF PLAY

Can I call a “let” if my hat falls off / my shoelace becomes untied / my racquet string breaks / a ball falls from my pocket / during a match?

No. Although it is an unintentional hindrance, only your opponent can call a let.You will then replay the point. If it happens again, your opponent automatically wins the point. You are expected to continue play if your opponent does not call a let.

When can players take a bathroom break?

A player can take a bathroom break whenever it is necessary. (See Rule 5.)The MTL assumes that the bathroom breaks will be used fairly and not reserved for situations where the player’s team has “ad out” on match point.

When is coaching allowed?

Coaching is allowed only between the second and third sets, only if a full third set (not a tie breaker) will be played.It is not allowed during bathroom breaks.

When is a third set played instead of a tie breaker?

A third set is only played if all four players agree to play a third set before the match starts. Otherwise,

the Coman tie breaker will be played.This decision must be announced before the match begins. Please note: some clubs may mandate that a third set tiebreak be played, due to maintaining court availability for members.

Home teams must provide refreshments as specified in Procedure #4 in the MTL Rules. The club determines the type of refreshments it will provide.