1. CODE OF CONDUCT applicable to all affiliated clubs and places-to-play.

All players must observe the code of conduct adopted by Tennis Scotland (TS) as detailed on its website
www.tennisscotland.org, i.e. that code issued by the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), together with the guidelines for a non-umpired match – see LTA website www.lta.org.uk for all of its competition rules/regulations.

1.1 LTA REGISTRATION. It is mandatory for all venues which take part in Tennis Borders leagues to be LTA registered.

2. SUBSTANCES PROHIBITED to all players:
Tennis Borders (TB) supports the anti-doping policy enforced by TS and the LTA as described on their websites, and does not allow use/abuse of the prohibited substances detailed.
NOTE: Hereinafter, “club” refers to all Tennis Borders affiliated clubs and affiliated places-to-play.

3. PROCEDURE PRIOR TO ALL DOUBLES MATCHES:
3.1 Matches are played as per the fixture lists agreed by the Adult and Junior management committees of the association.
3.2 At least 48 hours before the scheduled time detailed in paragraph 4.2 hereafter, the away team confirms its intention to play the match and notifies the home team of the intended time of arrival.
3.3 In the occasional event that a club cannot raise the full complement of couples, that club, at least 24 hours prior to the match, must advise the other club of the likely shortage. On arrival, the opposing team is awarded the total number of rubbers for each missing couple, and these are entered on the result sheet and count each scored as 6-0, 6-0.
3.4 The only standard reason for a postponement of any match by captains is inclement weather. If a match has to be cancelled or rearranged for any other reason the match secretary must be informed and they will decide whether the match can be rearranged or that a win must be awarded to one team or the other.
3.5 In the case of postponement, the latest time that a match is called off is 4.30 pm on weekdays and midday on Saturdays and Sundays. Postponement times for Junior matches scheduled for other times are as previously advised by the Junior Management Committee (JMC) via its separate rules, which follow – see appendix.
3.6 In the case of postponement of a league match an agreed alternative date should be set as soon as possible. In the event a date cannot be agreed, the home team will offer the visiting team two dates for the playing of the match. The Away team must concede if they are unable to play on these dates. If
this is different for Junior matches, the JMC additional rules will specify.
3.7 In a Knock-Out event or play-off, a neutral venue is used.

3.8 If at the start of a match it looks unlikely that it will get finished in time then captains can agree to play sudden death deuce (the no ad rule) with receiving couples choosing which side the server serves towards.

4. PROCEDURE FOR THE PLAYING OF DOUBLES MATCHES:
4.1 Prior to the start of each match, captains shall –
(a) enter on the result sheet the agreed time limit, usually 10pm limit for evening matches dependent on lighting. Play must stop when the time limit is reached regardless of whether or not the game is complete.
Only completed games should be recorded on the result sheet. The only exception to this finish time is where two rounds need to be completed to avoid players having to return to complete the match. In this instance, captains’ discretion should be used to decide if conditions are playable beyond 10 pm.
(b) enter on that sheet their pairs in order of playing strength (1 being the strongest);
(c) make the draw as required except in two-couple leagues where the order of
play is fixed as
1v1 on Court 1 and 2v2 on Court 2
then 1v2 and 2v1
(d) ensure that play commences by the starting time detailed in paragraph 4.2 hereafter, i.e. that warm-up
procedures have ended by that time.
4.2 Match play commences not later than 6.15 pm or, if requested in advance by either captain, not later than 6.30 pm on weekdays and 2.30 pm on Saturdays and Sundays with Junior match play, if different, starting at times agreed and previously notified by the JMC via its separate rules – see appendix. If a player or couple are unable to start by one quarter of an hour after the agreed starting time, they will then start the match as soon as possible but must concede any remaining sets as soon as the other matches in the 1st round are complete.

5. ALL LEAGUES:
5.1 The rules governing the playing of the Scottish Inter-Club Challenge Cup, as detailed on the TS website, apply to TB league matches, together with the exceptions and conditions detailed herein.
5.2 The order of play must be strictly adhered to – please check 
5.3 A normal tie-break to seven points (or more) winning by at least two clear points is played at 6-6 in all sets of Adult matches.
5.4 Two points are awarded for a team’s win and one point awarded to each team if a draw is declared. Additionally, a bonus point is awarded for each team producing a full complement of players.

At the end of the season, in the event of a tie on points in Adult leagues, sets are counted and the team with the highest proportion of sets won is awarded the higher placing. If still even, games then count. 
5.5 Playing of league matches is not permitted during annual TB tournaments unless agreed by the Match Secretary.

6. TOP/FIRST DIVISIONS OF MEN’S AND WOMEN’S LEAGUES:

6.1 The Men and Ladies top division is comprised of 6 teams with 6 players in each team. Each match has two rounds. The first round involves playing 2 normal sets and if necessary a 3rd set 10pt tiebreaker against your opposite number. The second round involves playing matches 2v1, 3v2, 1v3.

6.2 Rubbers are scored 2-0 unless a champs tb has been played in which case it will be 2-1.

6.4 In the event of teams being tied for places at the end of the season the number of rubbers won, sets won, games difference will be taken into account to finalise placings.

6.5 The lowest team in the league will be relegated to Division 2

7. OTHER ADULT LEAGUES:
7.1 Each competing club is represented by a team of two couples, who, for Senior (formerly known as Veterans) leagues,
each are or will be 40 years or over in the year in which the league matches are being played.
7.2 Play proceeds as detailed in paragraph 4.1(c), with each rubber consisting of two normal tie-break sets (see Rule 5.3), and if required the third set shall consist only of a match tie-break, i.e. first to 10 points (or more) winning by at least two clear points.
7.3 Men’s and Women’s second division leagues consist of only six teams, each playing the others home and away. Third divisions contain the remaining competing clubs which play each other home and away unless there are seven or more teams, in which case each team plays each other only once in a season. The highest finishing team in either division will gain promotion, the lowest team in Division 2 will be relegated to Division 3

8. ADULT MIXED DOUBLES LEAGUES
Each competing team is composed of three couples in Division 1 and two couples in Division 2.

Division 1 plays two rounds of rubbers consisting of 2 normal sets  and a 10pt tiebreaker if one set all. The rounds played are decided by an ABC draw.  Division 2 plays two rounds of 2 normal sets plus a 10pt champs tiebreaker if required.

A completed set in an unfinished rubber will count as 1 point towards the result on the night. Completed games in an incomplete set will only count towards league placings at the end of the season.

At the end of the season the top 4 teams in each Division will go on to play a Mixed Knock-Out event.

9. JUNIORS PLAYING IN ADULT LEAGUES

Any player under 18 years wishing to play in the adult leagues must, in conjunction with their parent or guardian, coach and club safety officer, agree to the LTA pledges provided. A document must be signed and presented to the match secretary to this effect.

10. CLUBS WITH MULTIPLE TEAMS

10.1 The 1st team must always take priority and field a full team to the detriment of the 2nd or 3rd teams if necessary. Failure to produce a full 1st team, or 1st and 2nd team for three team clubs, whilst fielding full lower teams will be penalised. The 1st team would receive a penalty point and the other team(s) would have their first couples matches conceded.

10.2 Before the start of the season clubs must produce a list of the top 12 of their squad of players in ranking order. The top players will be locked into the 1st team (6 or 4 depending on Division) and the next appropriate number locked into the 2nd team if the club has more than one team. These players cannot play for a lower team. Lower team players can play up to replace a missing player. These will normally come from the first couple in the next lower team but if this is not possible and a lower ranked player plays then the match secretary must be informed as to the reason in case of complaint. Named players must play at least once for their team in the League - naming a non-playing player to free up others to play for a lower team could result in rubbers being disqualified.

10.3 In all cases couples must be played in order of strength, throughout the teams as a whole if a club has more than one team entered.

10.4 Note that in the event of a match being rearranged where a club has multiple teams entered, the captain must take into account which players played for their other teams on the scheduled match night as these players may not play in the rearranged match. This is to prevent teams being strengthened by rearranging matches. Captains should note ineligible players as soon as a match is postponed.

10.5 Note that if a named player is going to be out for the season because of injury etc., then the captain should inform the Match Secretary as soon as possible and replace the player with another named player. This will avoid any potential penalty points. 

11. TENNIS BALLS - the home team will provide new tennis balls. These must be ITF approved ones. Most clubs now use Dunlop Fort All Court and these are recommended for consistency throughout our leagues.

All of the above rules are subject to the Match Secretaries discretion.