Tennis Rules
Intramurals
Team Tennis Rules
Mission Statement:
The mission of the Department of Campus Recreation is to develop and provide high quality innovative
fitness, recreation, and leadership programming to promote retention and long term relationships to
The University of Arizona and our community.
Rule 1: ELIGIBILITY
1. All participants are subject to Eligibility Rules, which are listed in the current Intramural Sports Handbook.
2. Participation is limited to currently-enrolled, U of A fee paying students. U of A Faculty/Staff that have a
current Department of Campus Recreation Membership or purchase an Intramural Sports participation
card.
3. All players must sign in with Supervisor at site prior to game time with Current U of A ID or a government
issued photo ID.
4. NO ID- NO PLAY- NO EXCEPTIONS!
Rule 2: The Game & Players
1. A team consists of four to ten players (minimum 2 women, 2 men).
2. The format consist of five no-ad sets which include one set of men’s and women’s doubles, one set of
men’s and women’s singles and one set of mixed doubles in that order.
3. Players may warm-up with other teammates. All players are allowed a five-minute warm-up. Once play
has begun a three-minute warm-up is allowed between sets. This must be adhered to so that all sets
will be completed in the time allotted.
4. Teams can at any point substitute a player (same gender) into a set for any reason. Once a player is
replaced, he/she cannot return in that set. If a substitution occurs in doubles, the remaining player
cannot change the side they receive on or the service order.
5. The first team listed on the schedule for that specific match determines home team.
6. The Teams shall change ends at the end of the first, third and every subsequent alternate game of each
set, and at the end of each set unless the total number of games in such set is even, in which case the
change is not made until the end of the first game of the next set. If a mistake is made and the correct
sequence is not followed the players must take up their correct station as soon as the discovery is
made and follow their original sequence.
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Tennis Rules
Intramurals
Rule 3: Scoring
1. In Team Tennis the scoring is no-ad. This means a game is won by the first team to capture four points (15,
30, 40 game or 1, 2, 3, game). When the game score is deuce (game point), the receiving team chooses
which side is to receive the serve. In the mixed doubles set the serve must be gender to gender at game
point.
2. The first team to reach six games will win each no-ad set. A nine point Tiebreaker will be played at five
games all in any set.
3. The winner of the match will be the team that wins the most games. After all games are totaled, if the trailing
team won the mixed doubles set, the match is not over. Mixed doubles play continues until the leading
team wins another game or the trailing team ties the score. The overtime rule gives the trailing team a
chance to make a comeback. It also emphasizes the importance of the mixed double set. If a tie occurs, a
super tiebreaker will be used to determine the winner of the match.
Rule 4: Tie Games
1. Nine Point Tiebreaker - The person who is next to serve begins the tiebreaker. Each player serves two
points in succession starting from the deuce court. Players change sides after four points. The first team or
person to score five points wins the tiebreaker. If the tiebreaker reaches 4-4, the person who served the
eighth point serves the ninth (final) point. The receiver, however, has the choice of sides (except in mixed
doubles, where the service must be gender-to-gender). The winner of the ninth point is the winner of the
set.
2. Super Tiebreaker - If the match enters into a super tiebreaker, a coin toss will decide which team serves
first. The super tiebreaker should be treated as a new set; therefore substitutions may be made during the
super tiebreaker. Each player serves two points in succession starting from the deuce court. Players
change sides after six points. The first team to score seven points wins the super tiebreaker. If the super
tiebreaker reaches 6-6, the person who served the 12th point will serve the 13th (final) point. Since this set
is mixed doubles, the final serve will be gender-to-gender. The winner of the 13th point wins the super
tiebreaker and the match. NOTE: You do not have to win by two points.
NOTE
1. The Intramural Sports Program reserves the right to act or decide upon any situation, rule, policy or
procedure not specifically listed in these rules or in the Intramural Sports Handbook.
*Note: Rules adopted from Advanta World Team Tennis
Tennis Rules
Intramurals
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SINGLES TENNIS RULES
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EQUIPMENT:
Participants must provide their own racket and tennis balls.
FORFEIT TIME
If at the scheduled game time a player has not shown up or is not ready to play, they will be given 10
minutes to be on the court and ready to begin play before the match will be called a forfeit. It at any
time during the 10 minute forfeit period, the player shows up, they will be allowed to play, but will be
assessed the following forfeit period penalty. They will begin the first set with a three game deficit.
UP TO QUARTERFINALS
All matches up to the quarterfinals will consist of one pro-set to eight games, using conventional
scoring, with a 12-point tie break game played if games are tied at 7-7. Matches will be scheduled
every hour and a half with warm-up limited to 10 minutes. NOTE: At the above point of finish using the
time limit, the player (team) ahead in games won will win the match. If the match is tied in games,
players (teams) should play a 12-point tiebreaker to determine winning teams.
*QUARTER-FINALS, SEMI-FINALS & FINALS
All matches will consist of the best of 3 six-game sets, using conventional scoring, with a 12-point tie
break game if games are tied at 6-6.
This scoring system will be voted on by the players.
12-POINT TIE BREAK GAME
(SINGLES) A serves first point (from Right court), B serves points 2 and 3 (Left and Right); A serves
points 4 and 5 (L & R); B serves point 6 (L) and after they change ends, point 7 (R); A serves points 8
and 9 (L & R); B serves points 10 and 11 (L & R), and A serves 12 (L). If points reach 6-all, players
change ends and continue as before with A serving point 13 (R); B serves points 14 and 15 (L & R),
etc. until one player establishes a margin of 2 points. Players change ends for one game to start the
next set, with Player B to serve first. (R=Right/L=Left)
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RULES:
USTA Rules will govern except where modified by Intramural scoring rules.
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SERVING ORDER
After being assigned to a court, players should spin a racket to determine who serves first.
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SCORES:
The winning player(s) should report scores to the Intramural Supervisor immediately following a match
Tennis Rules
and check for their next match.
Intramurals
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DOUBLES TENNIS RULES
The Game & Players
1. A team consists of two to four players.
2. Participants must provide their own racket and tennis balls.
3. The format consists of one pro-set to eight games.
4. Matches will be scheduled every hour and a half with warm-up limited to 10 minutes. Players may warmup with other teammates.
5. Teams can at any point substitute a player into a set for any reason. Once a player is replaced, he/she
cannot return in that set. If a substitution occurs in doubles, the remaining player cannot change the side
they receive on or the service order.
6. The first team listed on the schedule for that specific match determines home team.
Up to Quarterfinals
7. All matches up to the quarterfinals will consist of one pro-set to eight games, using conventional scoring,
with a 12-point tie break game played if games are tied at 7-7.
8. Matches are scheduled every hour and half hour, so at the above point of finish using the time limit, the
team ahead in games won will win the match.
9. If the match is tied in games, teams should play a 12-point tie-breaker to determine the winning teams.
Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals & Finals:
10. All matches will consist of the best of 3 six-game sets, using conventional scoring, with a 12-point tiebreaker game if games are tied at 6-6. *This scoring system will be voted on by the players.
11. When serving in the tie-breaker set, the player whose turn it is to serve shall be the server for the first
point. His opponent shall be the server of the second and third points, and thereafter each player shall
serve two consecutive points until the winner of the game and set has been decided.
12. From the first point, each service shall be delivered alternately from the right and left courts, beginning
from the right court. If service from the wrong half of the court occurs and is undetected, all play resulting
from such wrong service shall stand, but the inaccuracy of the station shall be corrected immediately
when discovered. Players shall change ends after ever six points.
Rules
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Tennis Rules
Intramurals
13. USTA Rules will govern except where modified by Intramural scoring rules.
Serving Order
14. The pair who will serve in the first game of each set decides which partner will actually be serving that
game.
15. The opposing duo decides similarly for the second game. The partner of the player who served the first
game serves the third.
16. The partner of the player who served the second serves the fourth, and so on. Then the cycle starts
again.
17. If the set ends in the middle of the cycle, the cycle starts a new with the next set.
Order of Receiving
18. The pair who will receive service in the first game decides which partner will receive the service for the
first point, and that partner will receive first service in every odd game throughout the set.
19. The opposing pair does not rectify it until the end of the game.
Errors in Order
20. If an error in serving order is made the mistake should be fixed immediately, but the score, including
any faults, stands.
21. However, if the players realize an error in receiving order, they should not rectify it until the end of the
game.
Other Rules
22. Partners are not required to play the ball alternately.
23. If both partners strike the ball when returning it, loss of point. (Clashing of rackets does not count as a
double hit).
24. If you strike your partner with the ball during play, loss of point.
25. If you strike your partner with the serve it will be a service fault.
26. You are not allowed to take on your opponents single-handedly.
Tennis Rules
Intramurals
Scores
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27. The winning player(s) should report scores to the Intramural Supervisor immediately following a match
and check for their next match.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON RULES CAN BE FOUND IN OURCURRENT INTRAMURAL SPORTS
HANDBOOK.
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