STF Bylaw #2, Para 2:
Interclub Committee shall be responsible for the organization of the Interclub league schedule, rules and regulations, and procurement of all prizes for division and league play-off champions.

2) TEAM PLAYERS / TEAM CAPTAIN
A team will consist of six (6) men and four (4) women, all being paid up members of the club involved.
Each team will name a captain prior to April 15, who will be responsible for general duties relating to the team. These names should be reported to the Committee Chairman (VP Interclub or designated person).

3) CHANGE IN TEAM CAPTAIN
If there is a change in the team captain as listed at the beginning of the season, it is the responsibility of the new captain to call all the other captains in his/her division to inform them of his/her name and phone number (this is to aid the visiting captain in the making of the pre-match contact).

4) REGISTRATION FEE
Each team in the League will have to pay a registration fee of $70.00 per year to join the League. Invoices will be sent to all clubs with the amount to be paid to League.
Payment must be received at least two weeks prior to the start of the season or that team will be dropped from the League. This rule will be strictly enforced.

5) TEAMS USING L'AMOREAUX
Teams are responsible for arranging playing times at L'Amoreaux, as needed. The telephone number for L'Amoreaux is (416)396-4510.

6) PROCEDURES & PENALITES FOR LATE OR NON-RESPONSE
The following rule applies to request by the Interclub committee or VP-Interclub, for such things as entry submission, team fees, captains form, etc.
A delinquent club, after a deadline has passed, will be telephoned by the VP-Interclub League and be requested to make a personal delivery of the requested item within 7 days. If, after the second deadline has passed, the club has not complied, a fine of $50 will be levied. The VP-Interclub will again contact the club, request personal delivery of the requested item and fine within another 7 days. If, after the third deadline has passed, the club still has not complied, then that club's team will be dropped from the league.

7) LEAGUE DIVISION WINNERS
The winners in each division will be the team with the most points at the end of the season. If a tie exists, the winner will be the team with the most wins during the season. If a tie still exists, the winner will be decided by isolating the record of play between the teams involved in the tie only; the first criterion used to reduce the number of teams involved in a tie by one only, shall be accumulated wins. The process of isolating the record of play of the teams still remaining will be continued with the purpose of eliminating one team at a time to end up with an eventual winner. If a tie still exists, the teams will play a complete rematch, the team having the home court to be decided by the flip of a coin.

8) TEAM PROMOTION / PLACEMENT / ADDITION
The teams finishing first and second in each division must advance to the next higher division. The lowest two teams must drop into the next lower division. The VP Interclub may, at his/her discretion, make an exception to this rule if there are extenuating circumstances. Each club is limited to two teams per division. When a team is dropped from the STF league, the VP Interclub will first approach the second last team of the higher division to give them the option to remain in that division, then the third team of the lower division to give them the option of moving up, etc., when adjusting the division. The VP Interclub may, at his/her discretion, make an exception to this rule if there are extenuating circumstances.
New clubs entering teams for the first time will normally be placed in the lowest division. It will, however, be the responsibility of the League Committee to make final decisions for a team in any division.

GENERAL PLAYING INFORMATION

9) LEAGUE MATCH
A league match will consist of five events, namely two Men's Doubles, two Mixed Doubles, and one Ladies Doubles.
In Men's Doubles and Mixed Doubles, the first team designated shall be deemed to be the stronger of the two teams.
A spare called up to a higher team must play on the #2 line where applicable.

10) GAME RULES
All matches shall be played in accordance with the rules of the game as authorized by the O.T.A.

11) GENERAL
These rules must be read, understood and adhered to by all concerned. Where Team Captains are allowed to make changes or adjustments "by mutual agreement", please act in the best possible spirit of goodwill and co-operation. Such latitude as is allowed should be used to alleviate real problems, not merely to achieve a stronger playing position.

12) ETIQUETTE
Verbal and Physical Abuse
Home team captain (acting captain) is responsible to ensure that proper etiquette and court conduct is enforced. The visiting team captain (acting captain) should be informed first of any problems involving the visiting team's player(s). The team captains are expected to resolve etiquette problems. Unresolved etiquette problems will be addressed to the STF VP Interclub League or Scorekeeper.

GETTING THE TEAM TOGETHER

13-a) PLAYER ELIGIBILITY

i) Team players shall be paid-up members of the clubs involved, and must play in only one event per match. Players must play for only one club in any one season. Violation will result in suspension from STF Adult League play for the equivalent of 16 matches. Captains are required to enter Team Rosters on the league web site by the end of May listing their regular players as well as their spares.

ii)During the first three weeks of the playing season, players may only play on one team.

iii) A male player is only eligible to play in another same club team twice during any single season. In other words, a male player is only able to play fourteen (14) regular season matches for one club team, and then up to two other matches for another same club team(s) for a total of 16 matches in any single season.
A female player is only eligible to play in another same club team three times during any single season. In other words, a female player is only able to play fourteen (14) regular season matches for one club team, and then up to three other matches for another same club team(s) for a total of 17 matches in any single season.

iv) A male player having played more than twice in any higher division or, in the case where the club has two teams in the same division, a male player having played more than twice on the designated #1 team, must not play for a team in a lower division or on the #2 team in the same division during any single season. Even if the player does not actually play because the opposing team defaulted or the match was rained out, the player is considered to have played.
A female player having played more than three times in any higher division or, in the case where the club has two teams in the same division, a female player having played more than three times on the designated #1 team, must not play for a team in a lower division or the #2 team in the same division during any single season. Even if the player did not actually play because the opposing team defaulted or the match was rained out, the player is considered to have played.

v) Once a male player has played a third match for one club team, then that male player is "locked " from playing in any other equal or lower same club team(s) for the rest of the season.
Once a female player has played a fourth match for one club team, then that female player is "locked " from playing in any other equal or lower same club team(s) for the rest of the season.

vi) Post-season playoffs (when organized) will only allow players who have played at least three times for their team. In the event that a sub from a lower team must be used, that player must not have used his two sub opportunities or her three sub opportunities. (refer to rule 13-a) I)).

vii) Violation of these rules will result in forfeiting the match or matches concerned, and point(s) will be awarded to the opposing team(s).

13-b) If a club operates two teams within the same division the following guidelines will apply:
1. The club will have to number their teams #1 and #2. The #1 team should be the stronger of the two teams.
2. The club in question will have to submit a list of team players on these teams to the VP-Interclub before the start of the season.
3. The #1 team will be treated as the higher team and the #2 team will be treated as the lower team.
4. Spares can then be used as within divisions, e.g. 2 teams in B2 division.
1a) A male player that is on the #2 team can play on the #1 team or another higher team twice. Once the male player has played up three times, he can not play on the #2 team or any lower team again in the season.
2a) A male player from the spare list could play for the #1 team and then the #2 team. Once the male player had played three times for the #1 team, he cannot play for the #2 team or any lower team again in the season. Once a male player has played three times for the #1 and #2 team together, he cannot return to a lower team again that season.
1b) A female player that is on the #2 team can play on the #1 team or another higher team three times. Once the female player has played up four times, she can not play on the #2 team or any lower team again in the season.
2a) A female player from the spare list could play for the #1 team and then the #2 team. Once the female player had played four times for the #1 team, she cannot play for the #2 team or any lower team again in the season. Once a female player has played four times for the #1 and #2 team together, she cannot return to a lower team again that season.

ARRANGING MATCH WITH OTHER CLUB

14) PRE-MATCH CONTACT
It will be the responsibility of the visiting team captain to contact the home team captain, at least two days before the match, to discuss the various factors which may have a bearing on the match, such as scheduling of events, availability of player(s), starting times, apparel, etc. (see rule #11).

15) ORDER OF PLAY
If the visiting team captain has made the pre-match contact as required by rule #14, he/she has the right to set the order of play. If he/she has not (regardless of the reason) then the right goes to the home team captain.
For the purpose of scheduling, forty-five minutes should be allowed for each event.
A minimum of three courts will be used for League matches.
Officially scheduled matches played at member club courts will begin at 7:00 pm unless indicated otherwise in the schedule or unless changed upon mutual agreement between team captains. Matches at L'Amoreaux will begin at 7:00 pm and 8:30 pm. Duration of play will be 1 ½ or 2 hours as indicated on the schedule.

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Code of Conduct:

Ontario Tennis Association

The highest type of ethical behaviour is expected from every player!  Players are under an obligation to avoid acts which are unethical or detrimental to the game of tennis.

1.         Loud, abusive, or profane language, racquet throwing, or hitting balls indiscriminately is prohibited.

2.         Do not stall.  The Rules of Tennis allow a maximum of 90 seconds for changing ends of court on odd games and 25 seconds between points and between games when there is no changeover.

3.         Intentional waving of a racquet or arm or making distracting noises is prohibited.

4.         Coaching, except during the break between the 2^nd and 3^rd sets, is prohibited. (Spectators, including parents, friends and coaches, should not interfere with or participate in on-court matters.)

5.         Do not attempt to make a mockery of a match, whether winning or losing.

6.         Do not withdraw from a tournament after the draw has been made or default in a tournament (whether during the course of a match or prior to its commencement) except for illness, injury or personal emergency.

Tennis Etiquette

1.        Wait until a point is over before walking behind a court where a match is in progress.

2.         To retrieve a ball from another court or to return a ball to another court, wait until the players have completed a point.

3.         Players should present a neat appearance and abide by local dress regulations.

On-Court Rules

1.         If you have any doubt as to whether a ball is out or good, you must give your opponent the benefit of the doubt and play the ball as good.  You should not play a let.

2.         It is your obligation to call all balls on your side, to help your opponent make calls when the opponent requests it, and call against yourself any ball that you clearly see out on your opponent’s side of the net.

3.         Any “out” or “let” call must be made instantaneously (i.e., made before either an opponent has hit the return or the return has gone out of play); otherwise, the ball continues in play.

4.          Do not enlist the aid of spectators in making line calls.

5.          If you call a ball out and then realize it was good, you should correct your call.

6.         To avoid controversy over the score, the Server should announce the set score (e.g., 5-4) before starting a game and the game score (e.g., thirty-forty) prior to serving each point.

7.         If players cannot agree on the score, they may go back to the last score on which there was agreement and resume play from that point.

8.         Foot faults are not allowed.  If an opponent persists in foot faulting after being warned not to do so, the Referee should be informed.

9.           Do not stall, sulk, complain, or engage in un-ethical behaviour.

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