Recreational League Rules
Determining Ratings of Players and the Appropriate Division for a Team
NTRP ratings from the start of the local league are required for every player on the team roster for National play.
If at the start of the local league a player has a computer generated rating, that player will be allowed to compete at the National Qualifier with that rating.
If at the start of the local league a player does not have a computer generated rating:
And does not have a rating at the time of the National Qualifier, WTT will accept a self-rating. This self-rating is subject to the approval of the local league director, a completed player profile and the WTT National Office.
And at the time of the National Qualifier the player is using an accepted self-rating for USTA league play taking place in the same year as the National Qualifier, that player will compete at the National Qualifier with that self-rating.
And has started playing in USTA leagues either before, during or after WTT’s local league with an accepted self-rating and has that rating adjusted when the year end ratings are published (before the year of the National Qualifier), that player will be able to compete in the National Qualifier with their initial self-rating.
If a self-rated player has been disqualified at their current rating, prior to the National Qualifier, that player must compete at the National Qualifier at their adjusted rating.
If a self-rated player has had their rating adjusted after the National Qualifier and that player is attending the National Championships, the player will be allowed to play the National Championships with their National Qualifier rating.
* Ratings will only be accepted on a .5 basis (i.e., 3.5, not 3.4).
team will be used to determine your team's level of competition. Example of top 4 players: 4.0 + 3.5 + 3.0 + 3.0 = 13.5. 13.5 divided by 4 players = 3.375. This team would register for the 3.5 & under division.
1. GAME SCORING:
In WTT the scoring is no-ad. This means a game is won by the first team to win four points (1,2,3, game). When the game score is deuce (3-3) (game point), the receiving team chooses which side is to receive the serve. In the mixed doubles set the serve must be gender to gender at game point.
2. SET SCORING:
A match consists of five or six no-ad sets and includes one set of men's and women's singles and doubles, and one or two sets of mixed doubles. The five set format has one set of mixed doubles, and the six set format has two (mixed doubles is always played last). The five set format is an option used only on the local level. The six set format is the STANDARD WTT format used at all National Qualifiers and National Championship.
On two courts, order of sets will be:
On one court, order of sets will be:
women's and men's doubles
women's and men's singles
one or two sets of mixed doubles
doubles *
singles
doubles
singles
one or two sets of mixed doubles
* Home team captain has choice of sequence of sets (men's or women's).
Each no-ad set is won by the first team to reach six games. A nine-point tiebreaker will be played at five games all in any set.
It is imperative that you adhere to the WTT format. The only deviations possible will be extending the sets to an eight or ten game pro set provided ALL sets are extended and the nine-point tiebreaker, the thirteen-point Supertiebreaker and the overtime rules are enforced. All "local" league rules will be superceded by existing WTT rules printed in this handbook at the National Qualifiers and National Championship.
3. MATCH SCORING AND OVERTIME:
Six set format (two mixed doubles sets):
Home team captain must submit starting line-up to opposing team captain before the start of each set. Each team captain has until the end of the three minute break between sets to submit starting line-up for the next set. The winner of the match will be determined by the total number of games won. However, for purposes of determining whether a match will go into overtime, set number six will be the deciding factor. Note: Players cannot play in both mixed doubles sets.
After both mixed doubles sets are finished and scores are recorded and totaled, the procedure is as follows:
A. If the leading team won set number six, the match is over.
B. If the trailing team won set number six, the match continues into overtime until the leading team wins one game or until the score is tied. If a tie occurs, a Supertiebreaker will be played to determine the winner.
C. If the overall score ends tied, a Supertiebreaker will be played to determine the winner.
Overtime is a continuation of the sixth set. Team number six should be designated as the strongest mixed doubles team. Once you have come out of the mixed doubles set, you cannot return in overtime. The first person to serve in overtime is the person who was next to serve at the end of the sixth set. This OVERTIME rule gives the trailing team a chance to make a comeback. It also emphasizes the importance of the mixed doubles set.
Five set format (one mixed doubles set):
Home team captain must submit starting line-up to opposing team captain before the start of each set. Each team captain has until the end of the three minute break between sets to submit starting line-up for the next set. The winner of the match will be the team that wins the most games. After all games are totaled, if the trailing team won the mixed doubles set, the match is not over. Mixed doubles play continues until the leading team wins another game or the trailing team ties the score. If a tie occurs, a Supertiebreaker will be used to determine the winner of the match.
4. SUBSTITUTIONS:
A team can at any point, INCLUDING THE SUPERTIEBREAKER, substitute a player (same gender) into a set for any reason. Once a player is replaced, he/she cannot return in that set and players cannot play in both mixed doubles. If a substitution occurs in doubles, the remaining player cannot change the side on which he/she receives or the service order. Substitutions are allowed in overtime if a player has not already played in mixed doubles. The Supertiebreaker should be treated as a new set, and all substitutions are allowed.
5. WARM-UP TIME:
In WTT you warm up with your teammates. All players are allowed a five minute warm-up. All team members are encouraged to warm-up during this time. Once play has begun, a three minute warm-up is allowed between sets. This must be adhered to so that all sets will be completed in the time allotted.
6. SERVICE ORDER:
The home team serves first in all doubles sets. (In the six-set format, the away team serves first in the fifth set and the home team serves first in the sixth set.) The away team serves first in the singles sets. Note: Since the serving order is predetermined, the receiving team selects from which end of the court they want to receive.
7. CHANGING ENDS:
After every four games players change ends. In the nine-point tiebreaker, change ends only after the first four points. In the Supertiebreaker, change ends only after the first six points.
8. SERVICE LETS:
At the National Qualifiers and National Championship, lets will be played. When a serve hits the net and bounces within the service court, the ball is playable. In doubles, either player on the receiving side may return the ball after it bounces. If any player on the court calls “let” he/she loses the point. If players on both teams call “let” then the point will be replayed.
9. COACHING/LINE CALLS:
Coaching is allowed throughout the match as long as it does not interfere with continuous play. We encourage team members to stand along the court and support their team. Only the two players (singles) or four players (doubles and mixed doubles) can make the line calls. Team members along or near the court cannot make the line calls.
10. DEFAULT RULE:
If the home or away team player does not show up on time for his/her match, there will be a 15 minute default time should a substitute player not be available. If a set is defaulted, the score should be recorded as 6-0 in favor of the players present. The default rule will not apply when the missing player is on court playing a previous match. If the home or away team does not show up on time for the match, there will be a 15 minute default time. If a match is defaulted, the match score should be recorded as 36-0 in favor of the team present.
If a player defaults during a set and cannot be substituted, the score will be recorded with the games played standing with the opposing team receiving six games.
11. EXPLANATION OF TIEBREAKERS:
Nine-Point Tiebreaker
A nine-point tiebreaker will be played at five games all in any set. The person who is to serve next begins the tiebreaker. Each player serves two points in succession starting from the deuce court. Players change sides after four points. The first team (or person) to score five points wins the tiebreaker. If the tiebreaker reaches 4-4, the person who served the eighth point serves the ninth (final) point. The receiver, however, has the choice of sides (except in mixed doubles, where the service must be gender-to-gender). The winner of the ninth point is the winner of the set. Note: You do not have to win by two points.
Supertiebreaker
If the match enters into a Supertiebreaker, a coin toss will decide which
team serves first/receives or chooses side in the Supertiebreaker. The Supertiebreaker
should be treated as a new set and substitutions are allowed. Either player on the
serving team may serve first. The receiving team selects from which end of the court
they want to receive. In addition, court positions may be changed (i.e. the person who
played fore hand position may switch with his/her partner to play the backhand position).
Each player serves two points in succession starting from the deuce court. Players
change sides after six points. The first team to score seven points wins the Supertiebreaker.
If the Supertiebreaker reaches 6-6, the person who served the 12th point will serve the
13th (final) point. Since this set is mixed doubles, the final serve will be gender-to-gender.
The winner of the 13th point wins the Supertiebreaker and the match. Note: You do not have to
win by two points. The Supertiebreaker counts as one game in overall match scoring.
Recommendation for Breaking Ties for League Winner
League standings will be determined on the basis of the won-loss record of completed matches. If there is a tie in the final standings on the basis of the foregoing, the tie will be broken in favor of the team with the most direct wins over the tieing team. The best winning percentage (total games won divided by total games played) between the teams with tied match records will break the next tie. If a tie still exists, the team which has won the most total games in all of their matches during the regular season will be given precedence. If a tie still exists, it will be broken by the team who has lost the least total games in the regular season. Should a tie still exist, it will be broken in favor of the team which has scored the most games over the other during the regular season. If a tie still exists, there will be a coin toss, unless there is a chance both teams could play a Supertiebreaker.
RAIN MAKE UP AND RESCHEDULING:
Any rained out matches must be made up within a two week time frame. Once the parties have agreed on a date for rescheduling, that date and time cannot be altered. If a team cannot meet it's obligation to play on the agreed upon rescheduled date, they must forfeit the match points to their opponents.
Corporate League Rules
There must be a minimum of 4 teams to constitute an official league.
Teams must play a minimum of 3 matches to advance to the WTT National Championships.
Players must compete in at least 2 matches to be eligible to advance with their team.
Teams must consist of at least 2 men and 2 women per team, but can have up to 10 players per team.
Team Rosters must consist of a minimum of 50% employees of the participating company.
A WTT Corporate match must have a minimum of 2 employees present to play the match.
Teams winning their local league will advance directly to the WTT Nationals in November in Palm Springs, California.
The WTT Nationals will offer 2 divisions for the Corporate League Champions:
1. 3.5 and below division*
2. 4.0 and above division*
*Divisions are determined by the ruling listed below.
Team average NTRP rating of the top two men and top two women must be 4.5 or below.
For rules on how to play the WTT format, please see the WTT Rules.
"We really need to have both sexes and all people contributing equally to a world where anyone,
regardless of gender, can win. That's the idea behind World TeamTennis."- Billie Jean King, Founder