2011 ITA Rules Updates & Changes

2011 Rules Updates & Changes

(New verbiage is indicated in BOLD)

(If you would like a copy of these changes sent to you personally, email me at: rmtennis@yahoo.com and I will be glad to send you a copy.)

ITA Rule I.E.9. (page 245) Player outbursts may be penalized.

An official following an appeal, who hears a verbal outburst or grunting that is loud

enough to disrupt play on a neighboring court, shall caution the player that subsequent

outbursts shall be penalized under the ITA Point Penalty System.

If a loud outburst is in a language that the official does not understand, the

official shall caution the player that further foreign language outbursts that are

not understood by the official will be penalized as unsportsmanlike conduct

under the ITA Point Penalty System.

New Rule: ITA Rule I.B.21 (page 247) Hindrance- loud outburst following a

perceived winning shot. A solo chair or roving umpire (only if standing at the net

post) should immediately call a “hindrance – loss of point” when a player(s)

makes a loud outburst following a perceived winning shot that the opponent(s)

has a play on. (current ITA Rules I.E.10-13 become I.E.11-14.)

ITA Rule I.P.(page 255). Eligibility for Collegiate Competition. Only players who are

considered eligible for intercollegiate competition at the time of entry: by their school;

their conference (if any); AND by their national governing body (e.g. NCAA or

NAIA) shall be eligible to participate in ITA sanctioned events and regional and

national collegiate championships.

ITA Rule II.B. 7. (page 257) Home coach is responsible for spectator conduct.

The home coach shall make sure that the behavior of the spectators remains fair and

non-abusive. Failure of the coach to insure proper behavior

shall result in the application of the ITA Point Penalty System against the home team

and in extreme cases, forfeiture of the match.

ITA Rule II. B.13.a.iii (pg 258) Determining playable outdoor weather conditions.

iii. When no indoor back-up is available, the match must be played outdoors. If play is suspended due to weather conditions, it

is suggested that play resume within two hours of the delay.

ITA Rule II.C.1. (pg. 259) Varsity quality tennis facility. A varsity quality tennis

facility is one used exclusively for tennis. The playing surface shall be of hard court

construction, designed specifically for tennis, and coated with a recognized tennis

surface. The only lines on the playing surface shall be standard tennis court lines,

including USTA approved 36’ and 60’ (QuickStart) lines within the same color

family as the interior court. A multi-purpose recreational facility is not acceptable…

ITA Rule II.D.1. (page 260) Practice Courts.

Practice the day before or the morning before the match. Upon request, the host

school, at its expense, shall make a minimum of 2 practice courts available to the

visiting team. The practice courts shall be the same courts that will be used in

the match or if not possible due to extenuating circumstances, courts of similar

quality and surface shall be secured. Practice courts must be made available:

- for a minimum of two hours the day before the scheduled

match; and

- for a minimum of one hour on the morning of the match.

The visiting coach must request these arrangements in writing at least one week

before his team’s arrival. The only exception is if circumstances governing varsity

court usage renders compliance impossible. This must be confirmed in writing by the

Director of Athletics of the host school. If the visiting school requests to practice 2

days prior to the match date, the expense will be the responsibility of the visiting

team.

ITA Rule II.E.1. (page 260) Home coach is responsible for providing officials. The

home coach shall have available qualified persons to serve as officials. USTA

certified officials are considered qualified. In order for an official to be considered

“qualified,” the official must attend both an ITA and a USTA Sectional recertification

class, pass both the USTA Sectional and ITA tests every year, and do the

required work. To avoid a possible conflict of interest, an employee of the

college/university should not officiate school matches.

ITA Rule II.K.9. (page 264) Appeals concerning unfair line-ups. … A coach has the

right to appeal a protest ruling made by an ITA Ranking Committee to the National

Ranking Committee (for rulings made by Regional Ranking Committees). There are no appeals permitted to rulings made by the National

Rankings Committee.

New Rule: ITA Rule II.L.2 (page 266). Grievance of an official. Any grievance

related to inappropriate conduct by an official involving out of conference

schools at a dual match or ITA sanctioned tournament (excluding the NCAA,

NAIA and NJCAA Championships) should be sent directly to the ITA. Any

grievance of an official in a match between two conference teams, should be sent

to the conference office.

ITA Rule IV.A. (page 267)Withdrawal from ITA National Intercollegiate Event.

A. Withdrawal from ITA National Intercollegiate Event

1. Once a player accepts an invitation, he/she cannot withdraw within 7 days

prior to the start of the event except in extreme academic circumstances

attested to by the Dean’s office (in this case the ITA office shall be notified in

writing by the Dean’s office immediately).

2. Any withdrawal due to physical injury or sickness shall be made with

written documentation from physician and athletic department, which shall be

provided to the ITA office within 24 hours of injury.

3. A player shall not accept entry if injured and not sure if he can play except

with the written approval of the ITA office. In this case, if approval is granted,

the coach must notify the ITA office by phone and fax no later than eight days

before the start of the main draw event, if the player is still injured and not

fully recovered at that point.

4. Failure to follow these rules will result in:

- a letter of reprimand to the Head Coach with a copy sent to the

school’s Athletic Director; and

- a fine to the head coach in the amount of $500.

ITA Rule IV.C. (page 268) ITA National Small College Championships (Men and

Women). When making the draw for each Division, 4 singles players and 4

doubles teams shall be seeded. (See ITA Regulation III.A.4. “The Draw” for

additional draw making criteria.)