DIAA APPROVED POLICIES/PROCEDURES
The following policies and procedures were approved by the DIAA Board of
Directors and will be in effect for all sports during the school year.
SEASONAL/WEEKLY LIMITS [Team/Student]
School teams are allowed 15 total contests during the season. There is a limit of 3
contests per week for both teams and students, unless the make-up provisions of
Regulation 1009.4.3.3.1 are in effect.
LIGHTNING POLICY
The site management or the contest officials, if they have assumed control of the
game, will stop the game at the first observation of lightning or sound of thunder.
The playing area will be cleared and all participants and spectators will be advised
to seek shelter. The contest will not be resumed until 30 minutes after the last clap
of thunder or flash of lightning.
PROHIBITION AGAINST USE OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS
Contest officials shall not use any tobacco products from the time they arrive at
the game site until after they depart from the game site when officiating any event
sanctioned by the Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association. Smoking on all
state property (public schools) is prohibited by law.
USE OF INSULIN PUMP
The use of an insulin pump during competition is not necessary for most
participants because the dosage can be adjusted prior to the event and the pump
can be utilized during timeouts, between quarters, at half-time, or whenever play
is suspended. If a medical condition necessitates wearing the device during
competition, written verification from a licensed physician must be presented to
the contest officials prior to the event and the device must be padded so as not to
be dangerous to the other participants.
DIAA Approved Rules, Regulations, and Procedures for Conducting Regular Season
Tennis Matches
Regular Season competition will be conducted in accordance with the rules, regulations, and
procedures listed below;
The current edition of the United States Tennis Association official rules. [Friend at Court]
The following regulations are approved by the DIAA Board of Directors including the 7 point
tiebreak, 10 point tiebreak and the adjusted point penalty system:
1. Team competition will consist of three singles and two doubles matches. A match begins
with the first serve. The number of matches may be increased by mutual agreement of
the participating schools. However, the first three singles matches and the first two
doubles matches will determine the team score. A singles or doubles match will consist of
best out of three sets. In all matches, once the Team score outcome has been
decided, all individual remaining matches MUST play the ten [10] point tie
breaker.
2. Players may not compete in both a singles and a doubles match in the same team
competition.
3. Players will keep their own scores and call the lines but may exercise the
option of asking for two line judges if they feel it is warranted. Each coach
will be responsible for providing a line judge if requested. The server will be
responsible for announcing the point score and at the beginning of each
game, also announcing the game score. If the score is in dispute, the match
score will revert to the last score both opponents can agree upon.
4. If the score reaches six games all, the seven-point tiebreak will be used. The procedure
that is stipulated in the current edition of the United States Tennis Association official
rules (Friend of Court) will be used in all instances. [see below as well]
5. The home team will provide a new, pressurized can of top quality tennis balls for each
singles and doubles match. [5 cans]
6. The winning team will assume responsibility for publicity and will report the results of
the singles and doubles matches and the team score to websites4sports.com.
7. The pre-match warm-up will be limited to a maximum of 10 minutes and all practice must
take place during this 10-minute period. No coaching will be allowed during pre-match
warm-up.
8. Coaches will position their players based on a challenge system, of their own
determination so that the team’s best player competes against the opponent’s best
player at singles. The team’s second player will compete against the opponent’s second
best player at second singles and the team’s third best player will compete against the
opponent’s third best player at third singles. The doubles teams will be chosen from
the remaining team members with the best doubles team playing in the 1 st doubles
position and the second best doubles team playing in the 2nd doubles position. If a
player is absent, his/her substitute may be selected from one of the following
options:
a] Any player ranked below the absent player on the Challenge System may
be moved up, Then all needed substitutions can be enacted to move
players into any vacated slot(s) by moving other lower ranked players up
into a vacated slot.
a] The Player ranked 8th on the Challenge System may be moved into the
absent player’s slot.
9a. If a singles player is absent for more than 2 weeks, DUE TO INJURY OR ILLNESS, the
other singles players must move up and the substitute Player may compete NO
HIGHER THAN THE 3RD SINGLES POSITION. The absent player may regain
his/her position through challenge matches. If a doubles player is absent for more than
2 weeks, his/her substitute may be any player below him/her on the challenge ladder.
The strongest doubles team must compete in the #1 doubles position.
9b. In the case of a player who QUITS, IS ACADEMICALLY INELIGIBLE, OR DISMISSED
FROM THE TEAM, the substitute player will be considered the 7th ranked player on
the team and everyone else must move up by the next match. In this instance,
challenge matches must consist of a minimum of a pro set (8 games) and the substitute
cannot advance any higher than the 3rd singles position, for the remainder of the
season.
10. A record of each challenge match should be kept on file in the athletic director’s office. If
a question arises regarding the legitimacy of a particular team’s line-up, the DIAA
Office should be notified by email [thomas.neubauer@doe.k12.de.us]or phone call
[302-857-3365] They will then request the records of that team’s challenge matches.
Failure on the part of that school to provide the proper documentation will result in
forfeiture of the match(es) in question.
11. A brief instructional period (maximum of 2 minutes) will be allowed between the 1st and
2nd sets of a match provided coaches and players adhere to the following procedures:
a. Players must remain on the court or the playing surface immediately surrounding the
court but must not interfere with the match on an adjacent court.
b. Only the local school board approved coach(es) may instruct a player and he/she will,
when feasible, remain outside the playing area so as not to interfere with the match
on an adjacent court. The opposing coaches should agree upon a procedure before play
begins.
c. If two or more players finish at the same time, the coach must determine which player
( except when the players are on adjacent courts ) to advise during the 2 minute
instructional period.
d. If the coach is not available during the 2 minute instructional period to advise his/her
players, then the opportunity is forfeited. No coaching by parents, other players, or
spectators will be permitted.
e. Non-participants must remain off the playing courts and out of the coaching area
immediately surrounding the playing courts.
12. A brief instructional period (maximum of 90 seconds) will be allowed during one change
over per set provided coaches and players adhere to the following procedures:
a.
Players must remain on the court or the playing surface immediately surrounding
the court but must not interfere with the match on an adjacent court.
b.
Players may not stop during the change over between the 1st and 2nd
games of a set.
c.
Only the local school board approved coach(es) may instruct a Player and he/she
will, when feasible, remain outside the playing area so as to not interfere with the
match on an adjacent court. The opposing coaches should agree upon a procedure
before play begins.
d.
If two or more players switch sides at the same time the coach must determine
which player to advise during the 90 second instructional period, unless they are on
adjacent courts.
e.
If the coach is not available during the 90 second instructional
period the opportunity is forfeited. No coaching by parents, other players, or
spectators will be permitted.
f.
Non participants must remain off the playing courts and out of the coaching area
immediately surrounding the playing courts.
13.
A rest period of not more than 10 minutes will be allowed between the 2nd and 3rd
sets of a match during which time players may leave the court
14.
No coaching is allowed BY ANYONE during the seven [7] point and ten [10]
point tie breakers. However, in the 2 minute period before the ten [10] point
tie break coaching is allowed. THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO THE SEVEN [7]
POINT TIE BREAK.
15.
Any match which is not completed and is postponed to a later date, must be finished
by the same player/s that originally started the match. Failure to do so would result
in a forfeit of that court. Coaches need to record all match data at the time of
suspension/postponement [ lineup, score, sides, serve]
16.
Players should be dressed in proper tennis attire so as to present a neat appearance.
Teams are required to have a school approved uniform consisting of at least
matching tennis shirts, shorts or skirts. Midriffs must be covered and no lettering or
logos other than the school logo and a manufacturer’s original logo will be
permitted.
THE 7 POINT TIE-BREAK (TIE-BREAK GAME)
Singles: A, having served the first game of the set, serves the first point from the right court. B
serves points 2 and 3 (left and right), A serves points 4 and 5 (left and right); B serves point 6
(left) and after they change ends, point 7 (right). If necessary, A serves points 8 and 9 (left and
right). B serves points 10 and 11 (left and right), and A serves point 12 (left). A player who
reaches 7 points, provided there is a margin of 2 points over the opponent, wins the game and
set. If the score has reached 6 points all, the players change ends and continue in the same
pattern until 1 player establishes a margin of 2 points, which gives him/her the game and set.
Note that players change ends every 6 points and that the player who serves the last point of one
of these 6 point segments also serves the first point of the next one from the right court. For a
following set, the players change ends and B serves the first game.
Doubles follows the same pattern with partners preserving the serving sequence. Assume A- B
vs C-D, with A having served the first game of the set. A serves the first point (right), C serves
points 2 and 3 (left and right), B serves points 4 and 5 (left and right),
D serves point 6 (left) and the teams change ends. D serves point 7 (right). If necessary, A
serves points 8 and 9 (left and right), C serves points 10 and 11 (left and right), B serves point 12
(left). A team that wins 7 points provided there is a margin of 2 points over the opponents, wins
the game and set. If the score has reaches 6 points all, the teams change ends. B then serves
point 13 (right) and they continue until 1 team establishes a 2 point margin and thus wins the
game and set. As in singles, they change ends for 1 game to start a following set with team C-D
serving first.
THE 10 POINT TIE-BREAK (MATCH TIE-BREAK)
The 10 point Tie-Break is just like the 7 point tie-break except that the winner is the first
player/team to reach 10 points (ahead by at least 2 points). When it is used in lieu of a third set.
There is only a 2 minute break after the second set and players do not come off the court. In
doubles, the serving team may decide who is serving first for their team. A doubles team may
also change receiving positions at the start of a match tie-break.
ADJUSTED POINT PENALTY SYSTEM
Table of Violations and Penalties
Code Violations - Delay/ Conduct
Penalties
Intentional delay after warm-up or
between points or intentional violation
of the 90 sec. rule.
Warning is given during the
prematch introductions.
Not resuming play within 30 sec. after a
Medical timeout.
Game
First Offense – Loss of Point
Second Offense- Loss of
Third Offense – Default
Delay caused by obvious cramping (but
only if the player has already received
a Medical timeout for cramping).
Receipt of evaluation or treatment for one
condition on more than 2 changeovers or
Set breaks.
Taking more than 2 Medical timeouts during
1 stoppage of play.
Not resuming play after a changeover or Set
Break during which the player received
treatment.
Not playing within 20 sec. of having been
directed to resume play.
If a player defaults as a result
of a verbal or physical
misconduct which is
sportsmanship related, he/she
would also be suspended for
the next match in accordance
with the DIAA game ejection
rule.
The point penalty system
should be enforced by the
coaches during the regular
season and by DIAA tennis
committee members or site
officials during the state
tournament.
Passage of 20 sec. after any time violation.
Delay caused by getting a replacement racket
that is not on the court.
Visible or audible profanity or obscenity.
Abuse of racket, balls or equipment.
Verbal or physical abuse of a player or official.
Coaching
Abusive conduct by a player or a person associated
with a player (IV.C.10. refers to this situation).
Retaliatory calls (obviously bad calls made in retaliation for opponents calls).
Unsportsmanlike conduct (any other conduct that is abusive or detrimental to the
sport).