Garden State Athletic Conference - Tennis

Section I - Method of Play
A.) Intraconference play between colleges shall be on a double, round-robin basis.
B.) Six singles matches and three doubles matches shall constitute a dual match between member’s teams. Singles players may play in doubles. (NOTE: The order of placement within the team of individuals competing in tennis should be according to the current order of ability and merit of the competitors and should not be arranged according to the wishes or desires of a coach or other team representative, and the juggling of lineups is unethical.)
C.) A player may move up or down only one position between played GSAC matches. Documentation of lineup shall be made available to opposing coach upon request. Violation results in forfeiture of team match by 9-0 score.
D.) A team arriving near or after the scheduled starting time will be given a ten (10) minute warm-up period. Any match not beginning within one-half hour after the scheduled start shall be forfeited unless extenuating circumstances prevail.
E.) Every member college must submit a roster of players in rank order to the appropriate Tennis Chairman as appears on your original eligibility form, postmarked no later than the same day of your first match. Violation results in forfeiture of team matches until list is received.
F.) Doubles matches are played first, followed by singles. Doubles are played as a pro set. Each match is scored as one point in the team score.

Section II - Rules
A.) USTA Rules and “the code” shall apply for all conference matches and the tournament unless otherwise stated.
B.) Three (3) new balls meeting USTA specifications are to be provided for each match by the home team. The color is to be yellow.
C.) Lineups for singles matches must be exchanged simultaneously, before the matches begin.
D.) No coaching by Coaches is permitted during match play. Coaches may only instruct/coach during the "change over" between the fence enclosure. A player refusing to adhere to the aforementioned rule shall forfeit the remainder of his/her matches. A coach refusing to adhere to the aforementioned rule shall have his/her team forfeited from the remainder of the tournament. Persons/spectators not adhering to this rule will be barred from viewing the remainder of the matches or escorted from the tournament site.
E.) The Point Penalty System updated from ITA or USTA Rules is in effect.

Section III - Scoring
A.) No-add scoring shall be used in all GSAC competition.
B.) Two out of three sets determines the winner of a match.
C.) The ITA sanctioned “7-of-12” tiebreak is to be used when a set is tied at six games each (6-6). The set is won by the first player to score seven (7) points with a two-point lead. If the score reaches six-all (6-6), play continues until one side establishes a two-point lead.

1. Singles
a. The order of service during a singles tiebreak is as follows: For the first point, player (a) serves from behind his right court. For the second point, player (b) serves from behind his left court. For the third point, player (b)serves from the right. The fourth and fifth points are served for by player (a), from the left and from the right. The sixth point is served for by player (b) from the left.
b. After the sixth point, the players change ends. Player (b) then serves from the right for the seventh point. Player (a) serves for the eighth (left) and ninth (right) points. Player (b) serves for the tenth (left) and eleventh (right) points. Player (a) serves from the left for the twelfth point.
c. If the score is equal at six-all, players again change ends and the order of service is as from the beginning of tiebreak.

2. Doubles
a. In a doubles tiebreak, the order of service is basically similar, with partners following the sequence of their serving turns. Except for the first server, players serve twice consecutively, first from the left and then from the right.
b. Doubles is played as an 8-game pro set which must be won by 2 games. At 8-all, a tiebreaker will be played. It will be a 12-point tiebreaker (7 points wins).

Section IV - Conference Championship
A.) A plaque will be given to the team with the best won/loss record during the regular season in double round robin play against member colleges.
B.) Each college must play every member team in the conference.
C.) In case of a tie in the final standings, a champion will be declared. When two teams’ standings are equal, head to head play will determine the champion. If head to head play is equal, Co-champions will be declared.

Section V - All-Conference Team
A.) Certificates will be awarded for first team in singles and doubles in each flight.
B.) Six singles players, one from each flight, and doubles teams, one from each flight, will be awarded during the Region XIX Tournament. Records are to be submitted during Region XIX seeding meeting.

Section VI - Coach of the Year

A.) The Coach of the team winning the GSAC championship shall be designated Coach of the Year and receive the appropriate award. The Assistant Coaches of the winning team will be named GSAC Coaching Staff of the Year.
B.) A certificate will be awarded to the Coach of the Year.

Section VII - Fighting/Ejecting Statement
An athlete in any contest involving a Region XIX College who is ejected for violent conduct or fighting shall not be allowed to participate in the next two played contests as determined by the schedule of that institution. (Ejections are for both single and doubles matches).
Players and coaches will be ejected for the following:
  • Vulgar language
  • Tobacco products/smoking
  • Dress code violations

If this ejection occurs in the last contests of a given season, the suspension shall be in effect the first regular game of the player’s next season.

SECTION VIII- Uniforms
Only college issued team uniforms and clothing should be worn. Headwear is optional but should be college issued.

Date Approved:
Last Revision: 2/01/04