1. SWAT NORTH LEAGUE “Sophisticated Women At Tennis”
The League shall consist of women
’s tennis teams from adult communities in the North Fort Myers general area. (4/13/93)2. SWAT NORTH LEAGUE BOARD AND OFFICERS
The Board shall be made up of two (2) representatives from each team, who must be playing members of the team. Meetings shall be held at least once a year or more often if necessary. Officers shall consist of a President, Vice President, and a Secretary/Treasurer. (10/18/01)
The President shall schedule and preside at all meetings, but shall vote only in the case of a tie. She shall receive the scores of matches from the teams. She will be responsible for communicating the league standings to one of the representatives from each team on a monthly basis. She shall have the authority to appoint committee chairmen as necessary. The office shall be held in rotation, starting with Herons Glen, followed by Pine Lakes, Six Lakes and Sabal Springs. (10/18/01)
The Vice President carries out the duties of the President in her absence and assists the President as requested. A Vice President is selected each year for a one-year term and will succeed the President
‘s office the following year. The Vice President will be from Pine Lakes (2002-2003) followed by Six Lakes, Sabal Springs and Herons Glen. If another community joins the league, they will serve after a full rotation. (4/16/02)The Secretary/Treasure shall keep minutes of all meetings and provide copies to a representative from each team. She will assess each team for its pro-rated share of expenses. She shall collect and dispense all moneys and maintain a record of income and expense. The Secretary/Treasurer shall maintain a membership list consisting of those women who have met eligibility criteria (Rule #4) and have paid any required dues. The money shall be collected by a designated team representative and remitted to the Secretary/Treasurer. (4/13/93)
3. CHANNEL OF AUTHORITY
SWAT North League business or concerns should be brought to the team
’s representatives. If warranted, they will bring the matter to the entire SWAT North League Board. When matters require a vote, the majority will carry. Each Community shall have one vote. The President shall break a tie vote. (4/13/93)4. PLAYER ELIGIBILITY
Females who are fifty (50) years and older and who currently are or will be in residence for a minimum of three (3) months, not consecutive, are eligible to play. Each team may set its own standards for playing ability of its members. (10/15/93)
5. SUBSTITION
Substitutes who are from the same community may be used in emergencies provided they meet the eligibility requirements in Rule #4. (10/15/94)
A Team that has 6 regular players present may not use a substitute. (10/13/98)
A substitute must be brought up from a lesser League (I.e. SWIFT). (9/26/02)
If the same person is to be used a substitute in more than two (2) matches, she must pay any required SWAT League dues and be added to the membership list. (3/8/2000)
6. UNIFORMS
Each team shall have its own uniform. (10/9/03)
7. PLAYING SEASON
There shall be twenty (20) weeks of matches. (10/9/03)
In addition, there will be time off during the Christmas and New Year
’s holidays. The exact dates for the schedule will be determined each October prior to the start of the season. (4/13/93)8. TIMES OF MATCHES
These times shall be listed on a separate schedule each year. Courts are to be made available one-half (½/) hour before each game for warm-up practice. (4/13/93)
9. OFFICIAL MATCH
In order to play a match, a team must have a minimum of four (4) players present with no limit on the maximum number permitted. If less than four (4) players are available, the match will be forfeited (0-6). (4/13/93)
Six (6) sets must be played, providing weather permits. This shall consist of three (3) rounds on two (2) courts. (4/13/93)
A player shall not play more than two (2) rounds unless the team has only (4) or five (5) members present. A player may never play with the same partner twice. (10/10/95)
The captain will choose the player or players to play three (3) times. (12/9/97)
The strongest combination of players is not required to play on Court 1. (10/7/97)
10. TEAM COACHES
Coaches may be selected at the discretion of each team. Non-playing coaches may attend SWAT North League Board Meetings but do not have a vote. (4/13/93)
11. MATCH LINE-UP SHEET
The line-up for the first round is to be determined before discussion with the other team. For the second and third round, players may be designated at that time but should be listed on the team
’s own match sheet before receiving the opponent’s line-up. (4/13/93)12. SCOREKEEPERS
There shall be one scorekeeper provided by each team. The server shall call the score before each serve and, if necessary, confirm it with the scorekeeper. If scores are in dispute, players shall resolve score the (sic) score by reviewing each point played. If no agreement is reached among the players, the scorekeeper
’s decision is final. Spectators are not to be consulted nor comment during the match. (4/13/93)13. SCORING
Each set shall use the Coman Tiebreaker if a game score reaches 6-6. The home team shall use the dark numbers on the scoreboard. (10/21/08)
14. START OF PLAY
A racquet will be spun by the home team to start play. The winner chooses: end of court; or elects to serve or receive; or elects to have opponents make the choice (4/13/93)
Two (2) unopened cans of balls are to be provided by the home team for the match. (10/21/08)
15. FORFEIT
If one team is willing and able to play and the opponent for any reason is not, then a forfeit shall be incurred by the non-playing team and recorded as a 0-6 loss. (10/10/95)
16. WEATHER OUTS
If weather conditions require that a game be cancelled, it shall be rescheduled within a two-(2) week period at a mutually convenient time and place, or a forfeit will occur. (4/13/93)
If the match is stopped by weather conditions, it must be resumed precisely where it was ended and in accordance with paragraph one (1). No points shall be awarded to either team until the match is completed. (4/13/93)
17. COACHING DURING A MATCH
There shall be no coaching during a match. (10/10/95)
18. NEW PLAYER ENTERING A MATCH
There shall be a time limit of ten (10) minutes for warm-up between sets. Players may use the empty court for warm-up. (12/9/97)
19. TIME OUT
A maximum of five (5) minutes will be allowed for injury or restroom time out during a set. (4/13/93)
20. REMOVAL OF PLAYERS
Once a player is removed from the game due to injury or illness, she may not re-enter the match. Another players may finish the match (10/13/98)
21. RULE INTERPRETATIONS
SWAT By-laws apply to all play.
22. LET BALL
Any one of the four (4) players may call a “let” on her court. However, if “let” is not called immediately and the point is played, the point remains as played. (4/13/93)
Any player may make the call “Ball on Court” if she sees a player in jeopardy from a loose ball on the court. (10/17/00)
If play is stopped by anyone, the ball is then played as a “let”.
For example: if a player calls: “Ball on Court”, the server is then entitled to “first service”. (4/13/93)
23. LINE CALLS
Line calls shall be made only by the players on that side of the court and may not be challenged by the opponents, coaches, scorekeepers or spectators. If one of the partners calls a ball out, the ball is out! A player may ask her opponents (but not her partner) if they saw the ball as in or out. She then must go with that call. (4/13/93)
24. LEAGUE STANDINGS
Standings shall be determined by awarding one (1) point for each set won. Six (6) sets are t o be played. (4/12/94)
Scores are to be telephoned to the President by the Home Team captain or representative on the day of the match. A record of the standings shall be provided to each team on a monthly basis. (4/13/93)
25. ANNUAL MEETINGS
A luncheon meeting shall be held at the end of the season for the purpose of electing officers for the coming year and for presenting awards. (10/18/01)
Host for the luncheons will be the community that held the presidency the previous year. (10/9/03)