Rules

1. The Association shall be called The Leigh and Westcliff Lawn Tennis Association.

2. MISSION STATEMENT:

  1. To advance the interests of league Lawn Tennis among all Tennis Clubs in the Southend District Area.
  2. To arrange Inter Club Leagues and Cup Competitions for Clubs, and Tournaments for the members.
  3. To organise competitive tennis for those players who might not get the opportunity.

Rules of the Association

The following are the rules of the Association.

3. AFFILIATION:-

The Association shall be open to all Lawn Tennis Clubs in the Southend District Area.

Clubs must be registered with the LTA.

4. APPLICATION FOR AFFILIATION:

Application for affiliation must be made to the Hon. General Secretary of the Association.  To take part in the following season’s league and cup matches, applications must be received by the last day in February for the Summer Leagues and the last day in July for the Winter Leagues.

5. SUBSCRIPTIONS:-

All league team subscriptions and entrance fees for tournaments shall be fixed at the Annual General Meeting.

Fees for the leagues are payable within fourteen days of the invoice date.

6. MANAGEMENT:-

The affairs of the Association shall be managed by a Committee consisting of the Chairman, the Hon. General Secretary, the Hon. League Secretary, the Hon. Tournament Secretary, the Hon. Treasurer, the Hon. Junior League Secretary, the Hon. Cup Competitions Secretary and not more than four ordinary members; all shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting.  Any six will form a quorum.  Life Members (Vice Presidents) of the Association may be elected at the Annual General Meeting for services to the Association, and whilst resident in the district, shall remain Vice Presidents.

7. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING:-

  1. The A.G.M. of the Association shall be held between 1st February and 31st March.
  2. The purposes of the Annual General Meeting are :-
    1. To receive the reports of the Officers
    2. To elect the Committee
    3. To fix subscriptions and fees for the following year.
    4. To consider any amendments to the Rules proposed by the Committee
    5. To consider any motions proposed by the Committee of a member club, seconded by the Committee of another club and given in writing to the Hon. General Secretary by the 31st December prior to the Annual General Meeting
    6. To appoint accredited Auditors.
  3. An Extraordinary General Meeting may be called at any time.
    1. By the Committee
    2. Or on written notice to the Hon. General Secretary by two member clubs specifying the business to be transacted.  The notice shall specify the purpose of the meeting and no other business shall be transacted.
  4. At least 21 days’ notice must be given of a General Meeting.
  5. Member Clubs may send any number of representatives to meetings, but a maximum of only two can vote.  All voting shall be carried by a simple majority.
  6. More than half the Member Clubs must be represented to form a quorum at an Annual General Meeting or an Extraordinary General Meeting.
  7. Member Clubs who do not send a representative to the Annual General Meeting shall be fined a sum of £25 (twenty five pounds).

8. POWERS OF THE COMMITTEE:-

The Committee shall:-

  1. Carry out the objectives of the Association.
  2. Decide all matters relating to the management of the Association.
  3. Deal with applications for affiliation.
  4. Revise the Rules of the Association, Inter-Club Leagues, Cup Competitions, Tournaments, Senior Competitions and Junior Competitions.  Such revisions will, however, be subject to confirmation at the next Annual General Meeting.
  5. Co-opt such additional members on to the Committee and/or sub-committee as may be needed from time to time.
  6. Enforce the rules for the Leagues and Tournaments.
  7. All clubs and players shall comply with the LTA Code of Conduct.
  8. The Committee shall have the power to expel a member club from the Association, subject to that clubs right to appeal, in writing, to an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Association, to be called for that purpose.
  9. The Committee shall have the power to expel or disqualify any tennis player from the leagues, competitions and/or Association. Any tennis player so expelled or disqualified shall be entitled to give notice of their intention to appeal against this decision within 24 hours of so being expelled or disqualified.  The appeal shall be heard by three members of the Appeals Committee and reported to the player within 48 hours of the decision.  The decision of the Appeals Committee shall be final.  The Appeals Committee shall chaired by the President or Life Vice President together with two neutral representatives from different unaffected L&W LTA Affiliated Clubs.
8.1 COMMITTEE & MEMBER LIABILITY:-

The L&W’s committee officers, members and subcommittee members, are excluded from any liability to the members or others:

  1. For any loss or damage to the assets of The Association, to include cash, trophies, record books, accounts or any other items.
  2. In respect of any breach of condition, contract or warranty, or any liability for negligence, personal injury, or other loss or expense.
  3. The decision of the properly appointed committee or member thereof as to the disqualification or expulsion of any Tennis Club and/or player from any tournament or competition shall be at the discretion of that committee or committee member.
  4. No committee or other member of the committee shall be liable for any claim for damages in contract or in tort howsoever arising from any decision of the committee, or committee member, in relation to the expulsion or disqualification of any tennis club and/or player from any tournament or competition.
8.2 APPEALS:-

Any club shall be entitled to give notice of their intention to appeal against a decision made by the Hon. League/Tournament/Cup Secretary within 24 hours of the original decision. The appeal shall be heard by three members of the Appeals Committee and reported to the club within 48 hours of the decision. The decision of the Appeals Committee shall be final. The Appeals Committee shall be chaired by the President or Life Vice President together with two neutral representatives from different unaffected L&W LTA Affiliated Clubs.

Rules for the Summer League

9. TITLE:-

The leagues shall be called the Leigh and Westcliff Mixed Lawn Tennis League, Leigh and Westcliff Mens Lawn Tennis League and Leigh and Westcliff Ladies Lawn Tennis League.

10. PLAYERS:-

  1. All players shall be playing members of the club represented.
  2. Players are ineligible to compete for a club in the Leigh & Westcliff competitions for the remainder of the current *season having played in the LTA Summer or Winter County Cups.
  3. Players are ineligible to compete for a club in the Leigh & Westcliff competitions for the remainder of the current *season having played in the Regional or National levels of the LTA National League.
  4. No player shall represent more than one club during a Winter or Summer season in a League.

* Year: 1st April until the completion of the Winter Cup Competitions circa March of the following year. There are two playing seasons in each year, the Summer Season; which includes the summer cups and tournaments; and the Winter Season; which includes the winter cups and tournaments.

11. REGISTRATION:-

  1. All players appearing for a club must be registered online before a match result is verified/confirmed by the away team. Registrations will only be accepted from a Leigh & Westcliff LTA Club Match Secretary or Team Captain.  Inclusion of a non-registered player or an ineligible player will be considered as an incomplete team, and the defaulting pair will lose their match to love.
  2. Players must have a BTM/WTN number from the LTA from the start of the Summer Season 2024.
  3. No new player will be registered for any club during the last two weeks of the summer league and the last four weeks of the winter league.
  4. A player to be eligible to play in the last two league matches, or play-off, of the season must be registered and have played for that club in the same competition in the Summer League or Winter League at least once in the first eight games of that season.

Dispensation of 11.c and 11.d can be applied for in writing to the Hon. League Secretary whose decision shall be final.

12. TEAM:-

  1. Each club team shall consist of three pairs.
    1. In the Leigh and Westcliff Mixed League , each club team shall consist of three mixed pairs.
    2. In the Leigh and Westcliff Mens League, each club team shall consist of three mens pairs.
    3. In the Leigh and Westcliff Ladies League, each club team shall consist of three ladies pairs.
  2. No player shall play in more than one event in any match.
  3. If a club team is not complete, the defaulting pair shall lose their match to love.
  4. A member of a club having played THREE times for an Inter-Club league team is not eligible for a lower Inter-Club league team of that club in the same league in the same season.
  5. A club member cannot play for more than one Inter-Club league team in the same league during the same week.
  6. All players shall play in a consistent playing order of merit; based on team selections and previous team playing positions for the duration of the playing period in question.  The Hon. League Secretary has the ability to expunge results for blatant misuse of the team playing order.

13. BALLS:-

Four new balls shall be provided for each rubber, of a make duly authorised by the ITF.

14. ARRANGEMENT OF MATCHES:-

  1. A match shall be played on the day and at the time, (starting no later than 7:30 pm) as indicated in the Hon. League Secretary’s fixture list.  Matches that fall upon a Bank Holiday may be re-arranged by mutual consent.
  2. If the pairs are not ready to play in the order arranged after the time fixed for commencement of play, the opposition shall be entitled to claim as follows – thirty minutes they can claim the first set and after a further fifteen minutes they can claim the second set and thus the match.
  3. Matches must be completed in the week as per the Hon. League Secretary’s Fixture List issued at the beginning of the season. In the event of a clash of fixtures, clubs may request a change of match date provided that they contact the opposing club before the start of the playing season.  The Hon. League Secretary must be advised of any change of match date in all instances.  At all times the Mixed matches shall have priority over the Mens and Ladies Leagues.  In the event of any league match not completing on the match night due to weather or available time, and the match continuing at an agreed time within the same playing week/period, then all nominated players for the match in question must be available to re-convene and complete the match on the continuing match date.
  4. No match shall be played on a Saturday or Sunday, unless it is a re-arranged fixture and it is by mutual consent.  At all times the Mixed League shall have priority over the Mens and Ladies Leagues.
  5. If a match cannot be decided on the day arranged, it shall be started or continued on another day (of the same week) as mutually agreed.  Both teams must turn up on the fixture date unless notified to the contrary by their Captains.  If either team is unable to field a team or complete team for the re-arranged fixture, the defaulting pair shall lose their match to love.  In the event of a match being stopped by bad light, weather or other conditions e. g, floodlights failing or going off at a predetermined time, the score shall stand and the match completed at the first opportunity.  If the match is still incomplete after the re-arranged date, no further re-arrangement is allowed.

15. MATCHES:-

Each pair shall play the best of three sets against the corresponding opposing pair. In the event of the score reaching 6 – 6 in the first two sets a Tie-Break shall operate. In the event of a rubber reaching one set all a Match Tie Break (first to ten points, winning by two clear points) shall be played to decide the winner.

16. SCORING:-

  1. Sets will be awarded to a pair if :-
    1. Both players are registered and available to play
    2. They play and win the sets, or the opposing pair are not available or are either not registered or are not eligible.
  2. Points will be awarded for the matches in the following manner:-
    1. One point for each set won.
    2. One bonus point for each completed rubber won by two sets to love.
    3. Three additional points to the team winning the most rubbers.
    4. In the event of a match not being played, six points to each team.
    5. In the event of a match being started but not finished, and where no re-arrangement is possible, one half point to each team for each incomplete set.
    6. One point will be deducted from a club for each pair not fielded.
  3. WALKOVERS AND DEFAULTS
    1. If a club is unable to field a team for a fixture, an additional point per pair will be deducted.
    2. If a team concedes three or more walkovers in a season, its record will be expunged, and will be deemed to be bottom of its division.

17. RESULTS:-

  1. The Home Club must enter the match result online within 48 hours of the match.
  2. The result must be confirmed online by the opposing club within 48 hours of the result being entered. Failure to confirm the result will mean that the entered result stands.
  3. If results are entered or confirmed outside of these time frames, the Hon. League Secretary may deduct 1 point from the relevant club.

18. CONSTITUTION OF THE DIVISIONS:-

  1. The league will consist of Divisions of not more than six clubs (or such larger number as may be decided by the Committee in special circumstances), who will play Home and Away fixtures against each other. New applicants shall join the lowest Division unless elected to a higher Division at the Annual General Meeting.
  2. The team to score the most league points in the first division shall be declared the Champions. The team or teams to score most points in the other Divisions shall be promoted to a higher Division for the following season, and the team to score the fewest number of points in all but the lowest Division shall be relegated to the next lower Division for the following season, unless exempted under rule 18.c.  When one or more teams have the same number of points as another in the same Division, the difference of sets won to sets lost shall decide the priority of the teams in the League Tables.  If in spite of taking the set difference of teams a tie results, for top or bottom of a Division, the difference of games won to games lost shall decide the priority of the teams in the League Tables.  If in spite of taking the game difference of teams a tie results, the Championship or Relegation shall be decided by a match between the tying teams at a venue to be decided with the toss of a coin by the Hon. League Secretary, or his/her representative.  The format of this match shall be as for Rule 15; the team winning two matches shall be declared the winner.
  3. A club may not have more than one team in any Division except the lowest.  If a team finishes top of a Division, but already has a team in the Division above, promotion will pass to the team finishing below them in that division, provided that they have not finished lower than third, unless they also have a team in the Division above, in which case no team will be promoted and therefore no team relegated from the Division above.  A team finishing bottom of a Division and already possessing a team in the Division below shall be relegated with consequent relegation of its lower team or teams, unless the lower team were eligible for promotion; in this case, both teams would stay in their present divisions.
  4. In the event of a Club being allowed two teams in one Division, which shall be the lowest Division, then the first fixture of their league shall be the match against each other. Players shall not transfer playing status between teams in the same league division.  This shall re-occur at the start of the second half of the league fixture table.

19. PENALTIES:-

The Committee reserves the right to exact penalties for non-compliance with these rules.

20. DISPUTES:-

  1. A report for any dispute concerning a match which cannot be mutually resolved by the Clubs concerned shall be forwarded in writing letter/text/e-mail to the Hon. League Secretary within 48 hours by the Secretaries of the clubs concerned.
  2. Such a dispute shall be decided by the Hon. League Secretary, unless the Hon. League Secretary is a member of one of the clubs involved then they shall ask the Chairman (if a disinterested party) to decide, and any two representatives of disinterested clubs.  These two representatives are to be appointed at the discretion of the Hon. League Secretary.  The decision of this Sub-Committee, communicated in writing letter/text/e-mail to the opposing clubs, is final.

Rules for the Winter League

21. TITLE:-

The three Winter Leagues shall be called the Leigh and Westcliff Lawn Tennis Mixed/Ladies/Mens Winter League, as appropriate.

22. PLAYERS:-

As for Rule 10.

23. REGISTRATION :-

As for Rule 11.

24. TEAM:-

As for rule 12 apart from

  1. Each club team shall consist of two pairs.
    1. In the Leigh and Westcliff Mixed League , each club team shall consist of two mixed pairs.
    2. In the Leigh and Westcliff Mens League, each club team shall consist of two mens pairs.
    3. In the Leigh and Westcliff Ladies League, each club team shall consist of two ladies pairs.

25. BALLS:-

As for Rule 13.

26. ARRANGEMENTS OF MATCHES:-

As for Rule 14.

27. MATCHES:-

As for Rule 15.

28. SCORING:-

As for Rule 16 apart from.

b.3 No additional points to the team winning the most rubbers.

b.4 In the event of a match not being played, three points to each team.

29. RESULTS:-

As for Rule 17.

30. CONSTITUTION OF THE DIVISIONS

As for Rule 18.

31. PENALTIES:-

The Committee reserves the right to exact penalties for non-compliance with these regulations.

32. DISPUTES:-

As for Rule 20.

Rules for Cup Competition

33. DRAWS:-

The Hon. Cup Competitions Secretary shall publish the Cup Fixture list .

34. ENTRIES:-

The cups shall consist of the Mens Jubilee Cup, the Ladies Jubilee Bowl and the Mixed Jubilee Shield. Entry is open to all cups is open to all member clubs of the Leigh & Westcliff Association.

The cups shall be played in two sections – between the end of the winter season and the beginning of the summer season and the end of the summer season to the Finals Weekend in September. All matches shall consist of two pairs and, other than the final, played on a home and away basis.

35. PLAYERS:-

  1. As for Rule 10.a.
  2. As for Rule 10.b.
  3. As for Rule 10.c.
  4. As for Rule 10.d.
  5. A player to be eligible to play in a rubber between the winter and summer league seasons must have played in the preceding winter league season for the same club.
  6. A player to be eligible to play in a rubber between the summer and the finals must have played in the preceding summer league season or previous round of the current cup competition for the same club.
  7. A player must not represent his/her club in the Mixed Jubilee Shield if he/she has represented another club during the preceding winter L&WLTA season prior to the start of the current cup competition.
  8. A player must not represent his club in the Mens Jubilee Cup if he has represented another club during the preceding winter L&WLTA season prior to the start of the current cup competition.
  9. A player must not represent her club in the Ladies Jubilee Bowl if she has represented another club during the preceding winter L&WLTA season prior to the start of the current cup competition.

36. REGISTRATION:-

As for Rule 11

37. TEAM:-

Each club team shall consist of two Ladies Doubles or two Mixed Doubles or two Mens Doubles pairs.  If a Club team is not complete the defaulting pair shall be considered to lose their match to love.

38. BALLS:-

As for Rule 13.

39. ARRANGEMENTS OF MATCHES:-

  1. Matches to be played in accordance with the date and time stated on the Hon. Cup Secretary’s Fixture List.
  2. No pair shall commence later than 7:30pm.
  3. Matches played between the winter and summer league seasons shall be played on the days and times in accordance with previous winter league season.
  4. Matches played between the summer and winter league seasons shall be played on the days and times in accordance with previous summer league season.

40. MATCHES:-

Each pair shall play the best of three tie breaker sets against one of the opposing pairs.

41. SCORING:-

One point shall be awarded for each completed set won.

The team winning the most sets (across both legs before the final) will be the winner. Where the number of sets are equally divided, the Captains will select one player from each pair who will play a match tie break set.

42. RESULTS:-

  1. The winning Club must enter the result online within 48 hours of the match taking place.
  2. Finals – Any team which is unavailable for the final must concede at match point in the semi-final.  If they fail to do so the organising Committee reserve the right to reinstate the losing semi-finalist.

43. PENALTIES:-

As for Rule 19.

44. DISPUTES:-

As per Rule 20

45. GROUND:-

The finals will be played on the Saturday of the third full weekend in September, to be known as the L&WLTA Super Weekend, preceding the Tournament Finals on the Sunday of that weekend.

Balls to be provided by the Association.

Rules of Tournament

46. ELIGIBILITY:-

Tournaments shall be open to all L & W LTA Registered Members of Clubs belonging to the Association as for Rule 10.

47. MANAGEMENT:-

  1. Tournaments shall be organised by a Sub-Committee consisting of the Hon. Tournament Secretary and other members as maybe appointed by the Committee.  The Sub-Committee may at their discretion abandon any tournament for which less than 8 singles or 16 doubles players have entered.
  2. The Committee reserve the right to accept or reject any entry into the tournament.

48. ENTRANCE FEES:-

To be fixed at the Annual General Meeting, and duly submitted with the application form.

49. CLOSING DATE:-

All entry forms must be in the hands of the Hon. Tournament Secretary by the date agreed by the Committee together with the appropriate fees.

50. DRAW:-

The draw shall be arranged by the Sub-Committee as soon after the closing date as possible.  They shall then decide the date by which each round shall be completed.  No extension beyond these dates shall be allowed and both competitors in the match concerned shall be eliminated.

51. ARRANGEMENT OF MATCHES:-

  1. The Hon. Tournament Secretary shall notify all competitors of their opponent(s) in each round, stating the Home player(s) and the date by which the round shall be played.  Home players shall be required to contact their opponent(s) within three days of the date of notification, failing which the opponent(s) shall constitute themselves the Home players and arrange the match themselves within a further three days.
  2. If after six days the match has still not been arranged, and neither has withdrawn, appeal can be lodged with the Hon. Tournament Secretary within the next forty eight hours.  
  3. Home players shall provide a court and at least three new balls of current year manufacture, as approved and specified by the Leigh & Westcliff L.T.A.
  4. No match may commence before 9:00am or after 7:30pm unless mutually agreed.

52. MATCHES:-

All matches shall consist of the best of three sets.  Tie-Breaks shall operate at 6 – 6 in all sets.  In the event of a match being stopped by bad light, weather or other conditions, the score shall stand, and the match completed at the first opportunity.  

If a player or doubles pair do not arrive within 30 minutes of the agreed starting time, the match is forfeited by default.

Any player or players who are unavailable for the Final must concede at match point in the Semi-Final.  Any unavailable finalist(s) shall be replaced by the losing Semi-Finalist(s).

Competitors conceding their first match are not eligible for the Plate event

53. RESULTS:-

Winners of each round shall notify the Hon. Tournament Secretary of the result within 48 hours of the match being played.

54. FINALS :-

The Finals for the Summer Tournaments shall be held on the Sunday of the third full weekend, to be known as the L&WLTA Super Weekend, in September at a venue to be decided by the Committee.

The Finals for the Winter Tournaments shall be held during April at a venue to be decided by the Committee.

A Sub-Committee shall be responsible for the arrangements for the finals.

In the event of a match reaching one set all, a championship tie-break will operate to decide a winner.  This shall apply to all events on Summer & Winter finals days.

55. PENALTIES:-

Any competitors failing to conform to these Rules shall be disqualified.  The Sub-Committee’s decisions shall be final.

56. DISPUTES:-

  1. A report of any dispute concerning a match which cannot be mutually resolved by the players concerned shall be forwarded in writing letter/text/e-mail to the Hon. Tournament Secretary within 48 hours.
  2. Such disputes shall be decided by the Hon. Tournament Secretary and any two representatives of disinterested clubs. These two representatives are to be appointed at the discretion of the Hon. Tournament Secretary.  The decision of this Sub-Committee communicated in writing letter/text/e-mail is final.