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CHAMPIONSHIP INFORMATION

USTA Louisiana would like to welcome each of you to the 2024 USTA Louisiana State Championship. We look forward to a fun and exciting weekend of tennis! This Tournament Information provides players with relevant information pertaining to the championship. Players should become well-versed with the Tournament Information and Championship Procedures prior to arrival to the championship.

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65 & OVER ADULT USTA LOUISIANA INVITATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

  • No Local League play, all teams invited to championship

  • Levels Offered: 3.0, 3.5, 4.0 Men and Women teams

  • Format: Each team match consist of 3 courts of doubles

  • Residency requirements -50% of players registered on the team must be Louisiana residents

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Want to join the fun and need a team? Fill out the players looking for a team form to be listed on the looking for a team list!  Click to fill out form

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Click topic to jump to section

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​CREATE A 65 & OVER TEAM IN TENNISLINK (Team Registration Opens July 1st):

  • Direct Link to create a team: Click Here

  • Drill down to your local league area to create a team.

  • If you are in need of players check out the players looking for a team list: Click Here

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IF YOU NEED A TEAM OR IF YOU NEED PLAYERS FOR A TEAM:

If you are in need of a team, please fill out the contact form: CLICK FOR FORM

Need of additional players, look at the list of players looking for a team CLICK HERE FOR LIST.

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PLAYERS REGISTERING FOR A TEAM  IN TENNISLINK:

  • All players must be a registered member of a team in TennisLink.

  • Cost to register on team in TennisLink is $5 plus $3 TennisLink fee.

  • Team registration opens on TennisLink - July 1, 2024.

  • Team registration closes on TennisLink - August 20, 2024.

  • Direct link to register for a team (get team number from captain): Click to register for team

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PLAYERS REGISTRATION FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP:

  • PLAYERS MUST BE ROSTERED MEMBER OF A TEAM IN TENNISLINK PRIOR TO REGISTERING FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP.

  • Players must register for the championship on the championship website, after registering for the team in TennisLInk.

  • ​Information on player registration, fees, deadline dates and refunds, please see Player Registration Page and Results on championship website.

 

Note: Teams must have a minimum of six team members (three eligible pairings) registered on team in TennisLink and must be available and eligible to combine and compete by the end of team registration in TennisLink.

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PLAYER ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS for Championship:

  • Must be or turn 65 years old by 12/31/24.

  • Adult 65 & Over - There is no match requirement for Age Groups/Levels playing their Local League at a USTA Louisiana State Championship.​

  • Must be registered on a team in Tennislink. 

  • Players must also register for the championship on the championship website.

  • All players must possess current USTA memberships through the conclusion of the USTA Louisiana State Championship Invitational.

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CHAMPIONSHIP DATES:

  • 65 & Over Adult State Invitational September 20 - 22, 2024.

  • All teams should be prepared and committed to playing the entire weekend starting Friday morning – conclusion of the championship.

  • Schedules will be published once all teams are committed with deposit holds and alternate spots filled if necessary. Usually 1 week prior to the championship.

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TEAM DEPOSIT:

  • Captains are required to submit a team deposit authorization of $300.00 within 72 hours of team committing to attend the state championship. Teams committing within 14 days of the championship shall make deposit hold within 24 hours. Deposit authorizations will be made on the championship website.  No checks  will be accepted.  Click Make Deposit Hold

  • Only registered team captains can make deposit hold authorization. One per deposit hold per team.

  • See Team deposit procedure in the 2024 USTA Louisiana State Championship Procedures (In menu bar above).

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​​CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM CHECK IN:

  • ​Team captains or designee are required to check in their team at the state championship headquarters prior to playing their first match. The championship headquarters location and times will be listed on the championship website. Click Here

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CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM MATCHES:

  • The captain is responsible for checking his/her team in at the site of the match and picking up match scorecard. 

  • Captains or acting captain should turn in lineups 30 minutes prior to match time but no later than match time.

NOTE: All players should be ready to go to court when captains turn in line ups.  This includes, having water and ice prepared, bathroom break and all equipment with them (including shoes on).

  • Players may only be listed on a scorecard once per scheduled match time. If a player is submitted on two line-ups per scheduled match time, the priority scorecard for player will be the first submitted in MTTA. (For example, Player A is listed on a 7.5 Combo Doubles scorecard (submitted at 7:42 AM) and 8.5 Combo Doubles scorecard (submitted at 7:52 AM), with both matches scheduled for Friday at 8:00 AM. The 7.5 Combo Doubles scorecard will be deemed priority, and Player A will be disqualified from the 8.5 Combo Doubles Scorecard. Please see below on eligible substitution rules.)Names must be same as on official roster in TennisLink.

  • We must be able to read your scorecard, as it will be used to enter results into TennisLink.

  • Captains should check to make sure players have arrived at the facility prior to turning in lineups prior to match time.

  • If a team has a known default, the opposing team will have the opportunity to revise their scorecard once both scorecards are turned in and the default has been announced by the site director.

  •  Once both line ups are received, site directors will call teams up. All players in the lineup should be present and ready to head to the court.  Site directors will introduced to opponents – players should greet opponents to ensure correct opponents. Then site director will assign courts.

  • Staying on schedule is contingent on getting players on and off the court as quickly as possible. Therefore, one player from each team is to report scores and return the balls to the site desk immediately after each individual match.

  • Captains are expected to sign each scorecard after each scheduled match is completed before leaving the tennis facility. Failure to sign the scorecard 15 minutes after the last individual line is completed may result in scores posted online only confirmed by opposing captain (and not future score updates).

  • Scoring Format: All matches will be the best 2-out-of 3 sets with a 10-point match tiebreak in lieu of a full 3rd set. The Coman Tiebreak Procedure will be used for all tiebreaks (including the 10-point match tiebreak).

  • Changeovers: The rest time for all changeovers is 90 seconds, except between sets which is limited to 2 minutes.

  • Warm-Ups: Players are limited to a 10-minute warm-up prior to match play. If players exceed the 10 minutes, the players may be told to start play regardless of where they are in warm-up, so  it’s important to stay within time on your warm-up.

  • Court Surface: Teams should expect to play on any USTA approved surfaces at the state championships. The Championship Committee may use available courts of any type in order to complete the championship.

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Court/Team Defaults:Teams are expected to complete all individual courts/matches scheduled. For full details please refer to the championship procedures.

  • If a team defaults an individual court/line during the championship, an administrative fee of $50.00 per individual court will be deducted up to the full amount of the deposit. 

  • If a team does not successfully complete the USTA Louisiana championship, the entire deposit will be forfeited and grievance filed against the team.

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Rain Procedures: If there is a rain delay, players are not permitted to leave the tennis center unless otherwise released by the Tournament Director and/or Tournament Referee. If pulled from the courts due to rain, players must report their match scores in progress to the site coordinator.

  • Match Postponement: If a team match is postponed following the exchange of line-ups, the original line-up will stand for the make-up match UNLESS teams are released from the tournament site by the Tournament Director and/or Referee. If teams are released, the line-up would stand only for those positions that have already started (first service attempt) and all other positions (even those that were in warm-up) may be changed including defaulted courts.

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REMINDERS FROM THE REFEREE:

  •  Cell Phone/Pager warning: This is your official warning. Please make sure all players have their cell phone and pager off or on vibrate. If a cell phone or pager goes off in the middle of   point, the opponent may claim the point.  Smartwatches must be removed during  championship matches.

  • Note: All issues should be resolved on the court by the players involved. The Championship Referee should only be requested if all players on court cannot resolve the problem on their own and if requested by the players on court. Spectators are not permitted to request a Referee unless the players on court request it. Tournament Referees will not be used to make line calls or call foot faults.

 

LATENESS:

  • The Point Penalty System, which includes the 15-minute default time rule, will be strictly enforced.

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BATHROOM BREAKS:

  • Bathroom breaks are for emergencies and players encouraged to take breaks during changeovers or between sets. Player will be given reasonable time to get restrooms and back, extended time could result in time penalties/default. No coaching during bathroom breaks.

 

MEDICAL TIME OUT:

  •  Request for a medical time-out may only be made by a player on the court and should be made immediately.  The player in need of the medical time-out should not leave the court. All medical time-outs will be addressed in compliance with “Friend at Court.”

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PRACTICE COURTS:

  • Players are permitted to practice on hard courts, if available, till 30 minutes prior to the scheduled start of each championship day.

  • Once the championship begins for the day, players are not permitted to practice on courts used for the championship.Failure to comply may result in the assessment of suspension points by the Referee for failure to comply with Championship Procedures.

  • If the championship is on soft courts, players may not warm up at any time on the soft courts.

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COMMUNICATIONS DURING THE CHAMPIONSHIP

  • Players/captains may be notified via text through Match Tennis Team app portal that weather page on championship website has been updated.

  • The full USTA Louisiana Championship Procedures can be found by clicking the Championship Procedure button located above.

 

Please be nice to the site workers and other volunteers.

They are giving up their time to provide you with an outstanding championship experience.

Players who display inappropriate behavior to any of the site coordinators, volunteers and/or tournament staff will be subject to a sportsmanship grievance.

Team Deposit
Player Eligibility
Check In
Champ Date/schedules
Team Match
Defaults
Rain Procedures
Reminders from th Referee
Lateness
Bathroom
Medical
Practice Courts
Communications
Create a Team
Player REg Team
Play Reg Champ
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