
Frequently
Asked Questions
About the Boys' Tennis Dual Match Format
What is the NEITA default format?
The NEITA recommends that member schools use the 7-point college match
format for all team play. This format has been approved for use by the
Intercollegiate Tennis Association. It is the default
format for all dual matches between NEPSAC District IV (Connecticut and
western Massachusetts) schools, as well as schools in the Founders
League. Increasing numbers of schools in eastern New England have
adopted this playing format as well. It is also the format used in the New
England Team Championships. It works as follows:
Doubles
Play begins with three doubles matches, each played as
eight-game pro-sets. Advantage scoring is employed. A
twelve-point (first to 7 by a margin of two) tiebreak is played
should the score reach 8-all. If a school wins the first two
doubles matches completed, the third pro-set may be abandoned if
it is not obviously near its conclusion.
Singles
Immediately following the completion of the doubles, the six
singles matches are contested as
best-of-three-sets matches using advantage scoring. A
twelve-point (first to 7 by a margin of two) tiebreak is played
should the score in any set reach 6-all.
Team Scoring
The three doubles pro-sets are collectively worth one point,
so a school winning at least two of the doubles pro-sets gets
the point. The six singles matches are each worth one point. Once a school wins four points, the remaining matches
MAY be abbreviated or abandoned by mutual consent.
Philosophy
On average, this format takes less time than the traditional 6-3
college format most schools in New England used to use. Coaches
have leeway in abbreviating or abandoning matches once the team
result is determined, but there
should be clear communication about this, for it is based on the
principle of mutual consent. The NEITA encourages coaches to
bring matches to a completion--even in abbreviated
form--whenever possible.
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How are team positions for matches determined?
From rule K.3 of the ITA Rules: "The
line-up shall always be based on order of ability. 'Matching up' is prohibited.
In singles, players must compete in order of ability with the best player on
the
team playing at the No.1 position, the second best at No.2, and so on through
all positions. In case of injury or sickness, all players must move up. This
rule shall also apply to doubles play with the strongest doubles team at No.1, etc.
a. A player who has established a winning record
at a team position in six team matches and whose . . . results show that he
clearly is stronger than the players below him may not be moved down.
b. If a top-six player (or team) is clearly
stronger than the player immediately above him, then the player must be moved
up a position.
c. Players of equal ability and equal record may
alternate between two adjacent positions so long as the alternating is not
done for the purpose of 'matching up.'
d. A player shall not be moved down in the
line-up because of:
i. An injury which has lasted less than three
weeks;
ii. Disciplinary measures
e. When team
matches are played at an altitude of 3,500 feet or above, the line-up may
be changed to preserve the true order of
ability at high altitude."
Can a singles player be removed from the
line-up and a substitute added?
From Rule K.5 of the ITA Rules: "Before
the start of an individual team match, the coach may remove any player from
his singles line-up. All players shall then move up a spot. If individual
matches have begun, and this prevents players from moving up, then the
withdrawn player forfeits that match.
When is coaching allowed?
Rule J.1 of the ITA Rules specify: "A coach may coach
a player any time during the match so long as he does not interfere with
play."
What is the difference between abbreviating
and abandoning an individual match?
Once the team result is determined, coaches may wish to bring remaining
singles matches to an earlier conclusion, especially given travel
considerations, weather or light conditions, or the lateness of the
hour. There are two ways to do so: coaches may agree to abbreviate
a match, perhaps by converting a remaining or in-progress match to a
pro-set or by having the players play a tiebreak in lieu of the third set should
they split the first two sets. Any approach to abbreviating a match is
fine as long as it is mutually agreed upon. Once finished, abbreviated
matches are considered complete and are counted in the team scoring. Any
matches in which play is stopped before there is a final outcome (or in
which play never begins) are considered abandoned and are not
counted in team scoring.
What happens if a match is interrupted (e.g.,
by inclement weather) and resumed another day?
The two teams resume all matches in progress at the point of
interruption on the same courts. (When play stops, coaches should note
score, end of court, etc.) A team may not change its line-up of
players on court when play resumes. If a player who was on court is
unavailable for the rescheduled competition, that match is forfeited. If
singles play had not begun when play was stopped, however, the singles
line-up may be altered.
Does the team score matter in
consideration for playoff berths in the Team Championships?
No. Because schools in New England still are playing different
dual match formats, the computerized ranking system we are employing--based
on the Western New England soccer model--only factors in wins and losses
(and ties), not match scores. (The formula considers overall win-loss
record, win-loss record within the
class, and strength of schedule.)
Are results from abbreviated or
abandoned individual matches considered in awarding NEPSITT berths?
Yes. Invitations to the NEPSITT are necessarily more subjective, so the
Committee looks at all available data, with an eye to the overall
quality of a playing record. It is unlikely, however, that an anomalous
performance in an abbreviated match would be held against a player. In
the case of abandoned matches, the Committee will recognize the
significant difference between a lead of a set and 4-0 and a match
called off at 3-all in the first.
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