Frequently Asked Question

• If I have to forfeit a point, where must I forfeit?
  If you know in advance of the match that you will be short players, you must forfeit from the bottom up (#3 doubles or #2 singles). If you do not know in advance and your players are not present when line-ups are exchanged you need to decide whether you will change your line-up to reflect them in the #3 doubles or #2 singles position. Teams defaulting a match, other than from the lowest position, will have one individual point deducted from the final standings for each position forfeited.

• What is the default time if someone is late to a match?
  15 minutes after there scheduled time of the match if a court is available.

• Can I take games for a player(s) being late?
  NO. The match is a defaulted when a player is 15 minutes late.

• What do I do if my opponent wants to keep rescheduling the rainout match?
  Once the rained out match has been rescheduled, the day and time stand. The teams are expected to play that position at that time with any eligible player(s). If a team cannot play the position on the agreed rescheduled date, they forfeit that individual match. Both captains should contact the Local League Coordinator with the agreed upon date and time to prevent problems.

• Can we make up matches beyond the deadline day if both teams cannot play within the time period allotted?
  No, team captains and players do not have the authority to allow this.
  

• Can we call the match off without showing up?
  Yes, if it is obviously raining and the facility manager has canceled play, the match may be rescheduled via a phone call.

• If a point is forfeited to my opponent early, does a rainout allow me to play the point in a rescheduled match?
  Yes. Forfeits given prior to the actual line up being exchanged are considered a courtesy and are not binding.

• How long do you have to “warm-up” before the match?
  You are entitled to a 10-minute warm-up, including serves.

• If a team has exchanged the line-up and started warming up, and "Mother Nature" decides that the match cannot be played and will have to be rescheduled, do you have to keep the same line-up or can you change your line-up?
  Unrestricted substitutions from the team roster may be made in any individual matches tha have not begun. This includes moving a player from one position to another. Points awarded for forfeits during the original written line-up exchange will stand. Forfeits offered verbally prior to the original written line-up exchange are nullified when the match is rescheduled due to inclement weather.
  

• What happens when CORTA discovers a makeup match has not been scheduled and/or played by the make up deadline?
  Extension is given and no point is awarded to either team. It is recorded as a double default.

• Is a player allowed to be coached if the coaching is given by signals in a discreet way?
  No. Coaching is not allowed at any time. A player may not use electronic devices such as cell phones or digital messaging systems at anytime during a match.
  

• What do I do if I have a question?
  Consult your rules & regulations. Refer to documents provided in the captain’s packet. Contact our Local League Coordinator.

• Can anyone on the court call a let for a ball on the court?
  Yes, on both sides of your court. You may not call lets on adjoining courts even if your ball rolls onto another court. Exception: You may not call a let if the ball falls out of your own or your partner's pocket.

• What if an injury occurs during a match?
  A medical timeout shall begin when a player states the need for one. A maximum of three minutes is allowed for a medical timeout. His/her opponent(s) may begin timing the three minutes after which play must resume immediately or the match must be retired. A player may not take more than one medical timeout for the same condition.

• What if the net looks too high? How high should the net be?
  If no one has a tape measure, the court is deemed playable. The correct height is 36 inches.

• How much time is allowed between points?
  When practical, this time should not exceed 20 seconds. This limit does not apply if a player has to chase a stray ball.

• What happens when the server is interrupted during delivery of the second service?
  The server is entitled to two serves.

• If you are serving a first serve and go through the motion of hitting the ball, but you "whiff it" (miss it by swinging your racquet), does that count as a serve? Would your next serve be your second serve?
  Yes, this would count as a serve. The service is a fault if the server misses the ball when trying to hit it.
  

• The server shall not serve until the receiver is ready. True or False?
  True. The receiver is not ready until the receiver is in the ready position and has a second or two to make eye contact with the server.
  

• How much time is allowed between games?
  When the players change ends at the end of a game, a maximum of ninety (90) seconds are allowed. However, after the first game of each set and during a tie-break game, play shall be continuous and the players shall change ends without a rest.
  

• How much time is allowed between sets?
  At the end of each set there shall be a set break of a maximum of one hundred and twenty (120) seconds.
  

• Is the server required to call the score at the beginning of each game and the point scores as the games are played?
  Yes.
  

• What happens when there is a dispute in the score in a game?
  When there is a dispute in the score, the players involved in the match are to discuss each point in the game that has been played and play from a score mutually agreeable to all players.
  

• A player serves out of turn and this is not discovered until his service game is finished. How should this be handled?
  If a player serves out of turn during a standard game, the player who was originally due to serve shall serve as soon as the error is discovered. However, if a game is completed before the error is discovered the order of service shall remain as altered.
  
  NOTE: The general guiding philosophy regarding any mistakes made by players in failing to change ends, serving from wrong ends, serving to the wrong court, receiving from the wrong court, etc., is this: Any such error shall be rectified as soon as discovered but not while the ball is in play, and any points completed under the erroneous condition shall be counted. There are two exceptions to the “rectify immediately” requirement. One is in the case of a doubles match where the players of one team happened to reverse their left court/right court receiving lineup in the middle of a set, and the switch is discovered in the middle of a game. In this case, the players finish that game in the “new” positions, but resume their original lineup in all receiving games thereafter in that set. The third occurs in a Tiebreak, either singles or doubles, in various situations.
  

• Who wins the point if a player hits a ball that hits an object attached to the net or post (such as the scoring device) and then lands in the proper court?
  The player who hit the ball loses the point because it hit a permanent fixture before landing in the court. If the ball in play touches a permanent fixture after it has hit the correct court, the player who hit the ball wins the point (for example, the fence surrounding the courts).

Juniors:

• Am I ready to play Jr. Team Tennis?
  We welcome all players from beginner players to advanced players. To play Jr. Team Tennis a player must be able to serve, rally and keep score in order to compete successfully in JTT. CORTA offers many clinics to teach and train players of all levels.
  
  
• Who can play USTA Junior Team Tennis?
  Any child between the ages of 11 – 18 is eligible to participate in JTT. In an advancing season, such as the Spring JTT season, players are required to be age eligible in their age division through August 31, 2014.
  
  
• How much does USTA Jr. Team Tennis cost?
  JTT fees are $30. This fee includes court fees, balls, background checks, TennisLink fee, awards, end of season party and a one-year membership to CORTA.
  
  
• How do I join USTA?
  Click on the link on the CORTA Homepage and under Helpful Links click on United States Tennis Association (USTA) or call 1-800-990-8782.
  
  
• What if I’ve lost my USTA number?
  Call USTA at 1-800-990-8782 to get this info. The JTT coordinator can also look this up for you.
  
  
• What constitutes a team?
  Teams are made up of at least (6) players – 3 boys and 3 girls. The players must self-report their age and skill level when they register. The recommended maximum number of players on a team is twelve – 6 boys and 6 girls. Each match requires 4 boys and 4 girls to play.
  
  
• How long does the season last?
  The season will usually last 6 – 8 weeks and players will have at least 6 or more matches, according to the number of teams in each flight.
  
  
• What are the levels of play?

Beginners (1.5 – 2.0)
To be eligible to play in the Beginner Division, all players must be rated according to the NTRP guidelines at 2.0 or below. After a player has been rated, they must also meet the following criteria:
Players with 150 points in any age group on the posted Georgia Standing List as of the end of July 2013 may not play Beginner level. Point totals include both singles and doubles division from which points were acquired. There is a link on the CORTA website to access the USTA Georgia Points Per Round Search as of July 2013. 

Intermediates (2.5 – 3.0)
To be eligible to play in the Intermediate Division, all players must be rated according to the NTRP guidelines at 3.0 or below, and may not have a July 31, 2013 Southern Standing of 1 – 300 in the 12’s – 18’s, and/or 1 – 100 in the 10’s, regardless of the age division of the team. If 10’s are playing in the 12’s – 18’s, they cannot have a rating between 1 – 300 in the 12’s – 18’s and play intermediate.

2.5 Division – This flight is for the player that is coming up from the Beginner division into the intermediate division. Although this player is no longer in the beginner division, they may not have the skills of the high level intermediate player. This will give that player the chance to play against other players of the same ability. However, this is a NON-ADVANCING division. After the local season, this level is over.

3.0 Division – This flight is for the experienced intermediate player. This player has usually played Intermediate previously and has some tournament experience. This is the only division of Intermediate that WILL ADVANCE to the State Championships.

Advanced ( 3.5 and up)
Any player with a July 31, 2013 Southern standing of 1 – 300 in the 12’s – 18’s age divisions, regardless of the age division of the team, must play in the advanced division. Any player with a 1 -100 in the 10’s, must play Advanced in the 10’s division.

• How do I determine what level I play?
  We ask that you use three tools to determine your level: 1) NTRP rating scale, 2) The Southern Standings or USTA Georgia Points per round, 3) The results of the Player Experience Scorecard.
  The National Tennis Rating Program (NTRP) offers guidelines in order to assess and group players of similar skill levels. A separate link on this site will take you to the NTRP descriptions. Ask your tennis coach to help you assess your skill level. To keep this in perspective, note that most teach pros are 4.5 – 5.0 players; most top-notch junior tournament players are 4.0 – 4.5. The vast majority of experienced recreational players are 3.0 – 3.5, even those who have been playing for many year
  Southern Standings or USTA Georgia Points Per Round – These ratings/points are generated by USTA sanctioned tournament play. A link on the CORTA website is provided for you to access this criteria. Click on the link and enter your child’s USTA membership number.
  Player Experience Scorecard – This scorecard has been developed with a series of 7 questions for players to answer, which will assist in determining the level. The experience scorecard is to help determine the child’s skill level based on the NRRP guidelines so that the player is placed at the appropriate level for JTT. After answering these 7 questions, it will give you a recommended division for your child to play. This link is provided on the CORTA website.
  
  
• Why do they use July 2013 Standings?
  The Southern Sectional Jr. Team Tennis Championship is in August each year. Therefore, August 1 of the preceding year marks the beginning of the qualifying period for the coming year’s championship.
  
  
• What teams advance to the State Championships?
  For every 4 teams, one team may advance to state. So the number of teams in a division determines the number of teams that may advance. Teams that advance are: Beginner, 3.0 Intermediate and Advanced.
  
  
• What format do teams play?
  Team play five individual matches per team match. Singles (boy/girl), doubles (boy/girl) and Mixed doubles.
  
  
• Does my team need a coach?
  Coaching is not required for the local Jr. Team Tennis season. However, we encourage all interested players to take advantage of the many opportunities for junior lessons and drills. CORTA has many instructional programs, as do many of the clubs. Many teams who advance to the State Championships will arrange to work with a coach during June and July to better prepare for that event.
  
  
• Where will the matches take place?
  Matches will be played at Cooper Creek, LakeBottom Park, Double Churches Park, Columbus College, Country Club of Columbus and Green Island Country Club.
  

• I still have questions!!! Who do I call?
  For more information call the CORTA office at 706-317-4136 or email:
  Hanane Toumi – hanane@corta.org
  Deby Caldwell – deby@corta.org