Tournament Format
1. Eight schools will be invited to participate in the tournament. Each school must enter a team consisting of 10 players - 5 girls and 5 boys. Total of 80 participants. Everyone will play singles on the first day (total 160 games) and everyone will play doubles or mixed doubles on the second day mixed (total 80 games).
2. Singles Format - players (of any age) must be ranked 1 to 4 for the Open Section of the singles tournament plus one player for the Under 14 section There will be 5 different levels for the girls and 5 for the boys. Each level will consist of 8 players who will be sub-divided into either group A or group B. An example of the format in each group would then be:
Level 1-Girls
Group A Group B
1 v 2 5 v 6
3 v 4 7 v 8
1 v 3 5 v 7
2 v 4 6 v 8
1 v 4 5 v 8
2 v 3 6 v 7
4th Group A v 4th Group B - 7th/8th position
3rd Group A v 3rd Group B - 5th/6th position
2nd Group A v 2nd Group B - 3rd/4th position
1st Group A v 1st Group B - 1st/2nd position.
Total of 16 games per level with each player having 4 games.
Total 160 games.
3. Doubles Format - each school must enter 2 boys doubles teams, 2 girls doubles teams and 1 mixed doubles team; players may play on only one doubles/mixed doubles team. There will be 2 different levels for the boys doubles and 2 different levels for the girls doubles. The format will follow the same as for the singles competition resulting in a total of 16 games per level with each team having 4 games. Total 64 games.
4. Mixed Doubles Format - there will be 1 level for the mixed doubles. Format as above resulting in a total of 16 games with each team having 4 games.
If a section of the tournament has 6 or less players (singles) or teams (doubles) entering, then a round-robin format should be used in order to maximize the number of games.
5. The tournament draw (i.e. to determine if a player is drawn in Group A or in Group B and the number he/she is allotted in either Group A or Group B) for both the singles and doubles tournaments shall be performed by the Tournament Director in the presence of the host school Director - both parties to sign that the draw was performed fairly.
Separate draws should be performed for all levels in both the singles and doubles tournaments i.e. a total of 15 separate draws.
6. A minimum of 10 indoor courts should be available for our use. Each game will consist of 25 minutes duration with an extra 5 minutes allowed for a (very short) warm-up and cleaning.
7. In the group (league) games, players will be awarded 2 points for a win (including a game won by default; see points (v) and (vi) under MATCH RULES) and 1 point in the (unlikely) event of a draw.
- If two players are tied for a position in the league tables, the result of the mutual game will decide the placing.
- If the mutual game ended in a draw, then the total points difference (points scored minus points against) from all the group (league) games will decide the placings. If a defaulted match affects these calculations, all the results of the player who defaulted a match will be omitted from the calculations of the total points difference. If a player who has defaulted a match is one of the two players involved in a tie at the end of the league stage and their mutual game ended in a draw, then the defaulted match is scored as follows: the average of all the ‘points for’ from all the group (league) games (either Group A OR Group B) in that section/level of the tournament and the average of all the ‘points against’ from all the group (league) games (either Group A OR Group B) in that section/level of the tournament.
- If more than two players are tied for a position in the league tables, the total points difference (points scored minus points against) from all the group (league) games will decide the placings. If a defaulted match affects these calculations, the defaulted match shall be scored as follows: the average of all the ‘points for’ from all the group (league) games (either Group A OR Group B) in that section/level of the tournament and the average of all the ‘points against’ from all the group (league) games (either Group A OR Group B) in that section/level of the tournament.
Match Rules
1. The rules of the International Tennis Federation will operate during the tournament.
2. Coaching during a game is NOT allowed.
3. Scoring - there will be no umpires. Players will be responsible for keeping their own score which should be done aloud to avoid confusion. Players will toss a coin at the beginning of every match - the winner has the choice of whether to serve first or the choice of ends. There will be no changing of ends during the match. The match will be played on a continuous score basis with one point for each rally (i.e. no games and sets) and the score when the signal is sounded will determine the result i.e. the point in progress will not count. If the score is tied when the signal sounds at the end of a final (placing) game, the point currently being played will NOT count. The person due to serve next will serve again and the winner of that point will be declared the match winner.
4. Service Rotation - in singles play, the first person to serve will have 2 serves, the second person to serve will also have two serves but thereafter the serve will change after every 4 serves. In doubles play, the usual service rotation will be in operation; during the first round of serving the server will have 2 serves but thereafter the serve will change after every 4 serves.
5. Players must be on time for their game. If a player is not present on court at the start of play every effort should be made to locate the player quickly. If the player is still not on court 2 minutes after the signal has been sounded then he/she will forfeit the game. Play should start immediately the signal sounds. Play should stop immediately the signal sounds 25 minutes later.
6. Continuous Play - play shall be continuous from the first service until the match is concluded, in accordance with the following:
- if the first service is a fault, the second service must be struck by the server without delay.
- the receiver must play to the reasonable pace of the server and must be ready to receive when the server is ready to serve.
- play should not be suspended, delayed or interfered with for the purpose of enabling a player to recover his strength, breath or physical condition. In the case of a treatable medical condition play may be suspended for a maximum of two minutes. If the injured player is unable to continue after two minutes he shall forfeit the game. If the player is able to continue after two minutes the game on that court will be extended for the two minutes that play was suspended for after the 25 minute signal has sounded. A maximum of one period of medical treatment per player per game may be allowed.
- upon violation of the principle that play shall be continuous the Tournament Director may, after giving due warning, disqualify the offender who will forfeit that game.
7. The N.E.C.I.S. organisation values good sportsmanship very highly! If players cannot agree on a call, they should play a let.
General
1. Players’ tennis clothing and tennis footwear during tournament play should conform to the expected standards - it should be clean and presentable. Cut-off jeans will not be allowed.
2. Trophies will be awarded to all those players who finish in 1st, 2nd and 3rd places in all the levels for both singles and doubles play.
3. The recommended match ball is the Dunlop Tournament Ball or a ball of a similar quality. New balls should be provided for each day of the tournament.