Moreton in Marsh Tennis Club Box League Rules

Overview

Each round will last approximately four weeks. Check the monthly tables for start and end dates.

Match Format

Box league matches will be played as best of 3 sets. The first 2 sets will be regular sets with the standard 7 point tie break played if the score reaches 6 games all.
If the score reaches one all after 2 sets, a championship tie break (first to 10 points, 2 points clear) should be played as a final set to decide the match.

Scoring

1. 1 point for playing a match
2. 1 point per set won
3. 1 point for winning the champ tie break (if played)
4. 0 point for not playing

1. 1. The winner will get 3 points (1 point for playing, 1point for set, 1 point for the championship tiebreak). If they win 2-0 (1 point playing, 1 point per set won)
   2. A player losing 2-1 would get 2 points (1 point for playing, 1 point for the set they won)
   3. A player losing 2-0 would get 1 point (1 point for playing).
   4. For details regarding walkovers and injuries, please see Walkovers paragraph below

Promotion / relegation

To gain promotion a player must finish top of their box (or top two in a 5 person group). The lowest scoring player will drop a box. Position within the group is worked out using the criteria in the following order.

1. Players in each box will be ordered by the number of points gained.
2. If 2 players finish with the same amount of points, the higher position will go to the player who won their head to head match (if played).
3. If 2 players have tied but have not played each other, then the positions of these players will be decided by the most matches played.
4. If there is still a tie, then the percentage of sets won out of total sets played in the round will be used.
5. Finally, the percentage of games won out of total games played in the round will be used.

Where no matches have been played in a box, then dependent upon circumstances, no players will move up or down. However, where a box completes no matches (zero) for no apparent or acceptable reason, it may be necessary to move players down to reward other boxes that have completed their schedule of matches but cannot move up or down a box due to inactivity in the box above or below.

Therefore, players should play two matches to be eligible for promotion. If a player plays only one match, this may result in another player gaining a higher position over them. Playing no matches in a round is likely to result in demotion.

On occasion, adjustments to positions may be necessary due to players dropping out of the league, or new players entering. While players may be moved up a box due to this type of adjustment, every effort will be made to ensure that nobody is moved down. If a player is moved up in this way, it will normally be a player who has retained their place in the lower box who moves up, rather than a player staying in the higher box when they have finished in bottom position.

To ensure that the players are put in the correct positions, it is essential that all players submit their results at the end of the round, giving details of the number of matches played and the full scores of each. Without this information it is very difficult to ensure the correct players are promoted and relegated. Please ensure your results are submitted promptly.

Submitting results

Results should be sent in an email or text to the box league organiser on moretonboxleague@gmail.com or 07377 079212.

New players

New players entering the box league will usually be entered into the lowest box available, from where they can try to progress upwards. Players who are returning after having previously withdrawn from the league will usually be put into the division where they would have been in the round following their withdrawal, although if there is no place available in that division they will be put in the highest available division below that one. In extraordinary circumstances, depending on how many players are in each division, a new player may need to be placed in a higher box if necessary.

Weather

Where a match is postponed/abandoned due to weather, the following applies.

Rain before the match starts, the whole match may be re-scheduled if the weather fails to clear in the allotted time and the match cannot be completed within the scheduled time. If the match commences but cannot conclude, the match should be completed before the round completes. Matches should be re-started with whatever the score was when play stopped. If re-scheduling becomes impossible, the score must be reported as it stands. Points will be applied as normal.

Rain during the match... or court conditions deteriorate either player may decide to call a halt to the match, but the match must still be completed.

Before the match (or after a first few points have been played) one player feels the court condition too slippery, or otherwise unsafe, they have the absolute right to ask for a postponement.

Incomplete matches

If a player retires injured, unwell or for any other reason that constitutes a retirement, he or she loses the match - it cannot be re-played. The player who could have continued (the winner) will receive 3 points. If the retired player has already won a set, he or she receives 2 points, otherwise it is one point for playing. Retirements primarily refer to unavoidable circumstances that force a player to quit a match. Injury is the usual reason. Very occasionally another event forces a retirement. The result at the point of withdrawal is to be recorded as the final score.

Matches abandoned because of a dispute can be referred to the organiser for a ruling.

Matches where players have explicitly set time conditions for the match, but where one player elects not to continue may also qualify as retirements. Ideally, matches should be continued to a conclusion then or at another date.

Walkovers

A player may claim a walkover if they are unable to arrange a match during the round with another player, due to the opponent being unable to play (3 points). To be able to claim a walkover, the player must have offered at least 3 dates to play, and the opponent must have refused these dates without offering any alternative dates – if both players have suggested a date then no walkover can be claimed.

If two players arrange to play a match, and one fails to turn up at the arranged time, the player present will be awarded a default win (3 points).

Where a match does not commence due to an injury to one player, a walkover will be awarded but with only 2 points being awarded. If a player withdraws during a match as a result of injury, then the opponent is awarded the win (3 points) but the result at the point of withdrawal is to be recorded as the final score.

Ian Moriarty

Box League Organiser