Contra Costa Spring League

News

Welcome to the CCSL 2022 Season

UPDATED PLAYING SAFELY GUIDELINES, TIPS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PLAYERS

CCSL recognizes that the coronavirus continues to affect the country in different ways and that it is possible for people to return to playing tennis indoors and outdoors under a number of different state and local government requirements as well as state and local government health authority guidelines. Because playing tennis does not require direct person-to-person contact, tennis players can enjoy the many physical and mental benefits that tennis offers while maintaining six feet physical distancing. By following the applicable requirements in your area and facility guidelines as well as the guidelines outlined below, you will be able to make informed decisions. Follow health and safety guidelines issued by your state and local government and health authorities. Stay current with guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). www.cdc.gov/coronavirus

SAFETY GUIDELINES

• Stay home if you are not feeling well.

• Stay home if you have come in close contact with someone who has been infected with Covid-19, and contact your healthcare provider for guidance.

• Check with the host facility ahead of time for any protocols that may apply in your area and at that facility.

• Arrive at the facility close to assigned start time, ready to play, and depart immediately after you finish play.

• Bring your own water bottles, towels, or any other personal equipment and store items inside your tennis bag when not in use.

• Do not share equipment.

• Bring your own chairs (if feasible) and avoid sharing a bench.

• Use headbands, hats, towels or wristbands to avoid touching your face during play.

• Wash hands often (before / after matches) or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available. Note: While there is no evidence that Covid-19 can be transmitted by touching tennis balls, potential droplet precautions can be taken to minimize risk while playing tennis, such as washing your hands thoroughly or using hand sanitizer before arriving at and after leaving the court, as well as avoiding touching your face.

• Except as may be otherwise required by your facility or by local guidelines, wear a mask over your nose and mouth at all times, except when you are active on court (or eating and drinking).

• Clearly verbalize score at the start of each point and use technology to report scores (text and email).

• Maintain safe physical distance between players during the racquet spin at the start of a match.

• Maintain physical distancing if changing ends of the court and when taking a break.

• Offer an acknowledgment such as a nod, a thumbs up or a “good match” or a racquet tap instead of shaking players’ hands.

Have fun! Be smart! Stay safe!

Season play begins: January 3, 2022

Season play ends: May 13, 2022

Awards luncheon Tuesday: May 17, 2022

Please be sure to read the new league rules! We are now playing 4 lines instead of 5.

Match Start Times: 4 lines starting at the same time is HIGHLY recommended. Home team determines whether to play a full third set or a 10 point super tie-breaker.

4 Line Match Start Times - The hosting team may choose to play all four lines at 9:30 or 10:00 a.m.

Play MUST begin at 9:30 or 10:00. If a team wishes to warm up prior to the match it must be done prior to the match start time. All players must be on the court ready to go at start time.

Split Start Match Times – Split Start matches must start at 9:30 a.m. SHARP for lines 1 & 2. If a team wishes to warm up, the team must arrive prior to 9:30. Second round Players (lines 3 & 4) should arrive by 10:30 a.m. and take the first available court.

ALL 9:30 PLAYERS SHOULD BE ON THE COURT AND READY TO GO AT 9:30 SHARP!

Last update: 01/07/22

Dear Spring League Captains,

Registration for the 2022 CCSL season will open on August 15, 2021 If you are NOT captaining your club's Spring League team please forward this email to your new captain or club manager.

Once again this year, all returning and new teams must register online and pay by credit card. There is no mail-in application. Registration is $65 per team. Applications will NOT be accepted after November 1st.

Please note that we have a new web address: http://contracostaspringleague.topdoglive.com

Follow these steps to register a team:

1. Click here and Log in

2. Navigate to the Contra Costa Spring League page. http://contracostaspringleague.topdoglive.com

3. Select the appropriate 2022 Division

4. On the left side, click on Register New Team

5. Follow the steps for creating a team. Please have your credit card information handy.

Remember, teams that won their Spring League division in 2019 must move up to the next division (with the exception of A1).

4.0s may only play on the A teams.

If your team came in last you may move down a division if you want or you may stay at your current level. However, please note that CCSL retains the right to move to teams if needed to balance number of teams per division.

Also, please be aware that registering in a certain division does not guarantee your team’s placement in that division. Divisions will be finalized at the discretion of the CCSL Board, in accordance with our rules and by-laws.

Each team's Home Page and match schedule on the TopDog Tennis website will be accessible by November 15th. Captains will be responsible for building their rosters online before the start of the season, but players may be added at any time.

Instructions for Adding a Player:

1. Log in

2. Click on your team name

3. Click on Player Roster-upper right corner in dark green (next to Calendar)

4. In the Team Roster section, click on Manage Roster

5. In the search bar, enter the player's name (first name, last name or partial) and click on Search

6. Select the player and click Save and Continue (or Save and Exit)

MUST COMPLETE ENTRY BY NOV 1, 2021

Answers to many questions can be handled by clicking on the very-useful Help button (in the upper right corner of the webpage). Additional questions about your team and/or roster should be directed to your Division Rep, whose contact information may be found on the CCSL Home Page, located under News & Announcements.

All Captains and Players in the League are responsible for following CCSL Rules & Regulations. Rules & Regulations are available online on the CCSL Home Page.

Thank you for captaining. Thank you for playing! Have fun out there. We're looking forward to another great Spring League Season! Do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns.

Kathleen Powers Dunlap

CCSL League Manager

kpowersdunlap@gmail.com

Last update: 09/07/21

Contra Costa Spring League Rules

Effective June 25, 2020

The CCSL Board is comprised of 4-9 volunteer members who serve as Division Representatives which entails assisting the teams, answering questions, and acting as a liaison between the captains and the Board. The CCSL Board may settle disputes, expel or penalize any player or team that does not abide by the rules set forth here.

During the registration process, the CCSL Board reserves the right to move teams up or down to different divisions in order to balance the number of teams in each division. The divisions are A1, A2, A3, B1, B2, B3 and C1. All matches consist of 4 lines of doubles.

The primary objective of the Leagues’ rules is that good sportsmanship should prevail above all else. CCSL rules, which may be amended by a majority Board vote, take precedence over any other tennis rules. USTA Local League Area rules apply in situations not covered by CCSL Rules.

1. Team Eligibility

a)The CCSL Board shall determine the eligibility of each team entering the League. New teams in Contra Costa County or nearby counties may be added at the discretion of the Board.

b)Captains must register and pay online by the specified deadline which is generally November 1st.

c)Captains must create their team rosters online before the start of the playing season.

i. A captain may add a player to the team roster at any time during the season, by contacting their Division Representative. The added player cannot have previously played on any CCSL team during the same season.

ii. Players not already in the database are added by the Division Representative.

iii. The team name registered must reflect the team’s home club

iv. 4.0 players may only play on Division A teams

d)Teams must have 3 tennis courts in one location.

e)If there is a change of captain, the Division Rep and all the team captains in the division must be notified immediately.

f)No team may have more than two defaults per match. We strongly urge ALL captains to be flexible and creative and to their utmost to avoid defaults.

1.Try to reschedule the match

2.Consider alternative locations

3.Stagger the days of the match

4.Contact your division rep for help

Failing to do all of the above and having three or more defaults in a single match, will result in the entire team being dropped immediately from the schedule, all points won and lost will be voided and the team and all its players will not be allowed to participate in CCLS the following year. If the defaulting Captain does all of the four steps listed above to try to avoid defaulting, the CCSL Board may elect not to penalize the defaulting team.

2. Captains’ Responsibilities

a)The hosting captain must contact the visiting captain five days prior to the match to confirm times, location, dress code requirements, etc. If requested by the visiting captain, the host should also provide complete directions to the match.

b)The captain must communicate with all team members the importance of providing correct and updated personal information on Top Dog. Players must understand and agree that email is the PRIMARY means of communication. Text capabilities are not in place.

c)The hosting team shall provide refreshments and 4 unopened cans of regulation tennis balls.

d)If a default is to be given, the other captain must be notified as soon as possible. If the playing schedule conflicts with an existing BALL match, school holiday, or if one of the teams is unable to field 3 lines, the captains should reschedule the CCSL match. Note: that a BALL Team may not bump a Spring League match in order to reschedule a BALL match. Refer to rule 4a below for rescheduling.

e)The host captain must enter the players, scores and results from a completed and signed score sheet into the league website @Contracostaspringleague.topdoglive.comwithin 24 hours of the match. The visiting captain must confirm the entered scores and results within 48 hours.

3. Matches

a)Sportsmanship - Contra Costa Spring League is a recreational tennis league created to foster fun, friendly, competitive tennis where good sportsmanship prevails above all else. To promote equitable play and in the spirit of good sportsmanship, captains should always play their lines straight up with the strongest players on line 1-3.

b)Lineups and Exchange Prior to Match Start - Each captain must fill out her line-up in ink on a CCSL score sheet and bring it to the match. Line-ups must be exchanged simultaneously. After the exchange, the line-up generally may not be changed. However, flexibility and good judgement should prevail. If a substitute player is sent of which the captain is unaware, or if an injury occurs during warm-up and replacement can be made within the default time -a roster change is permitted. Team positions may not be changed. Players may only be substituted. The captains should verify all players in the lineup are listed on the bottom of the scorecard. Exceptions should be acknowledged and noted.

c)Match Start Times: 4 lines starting at the same time is HIGHLY recommended.

d)Line Match Start Times - The hosting team may choose to play all four lines at 9:30 or 10:00 a.m.

Play MUST begin at 9:30 or 10:00. If a team wishes to warm up prior to the match it must be done prior to the match start time. All players must be on the court ready to go at start time.

e)Split Start Match Times – Split Start matches must start at 9:30 a.m. SHARP for lines 1 & 2. If a team wishes to warm up, the team must arrive prior to 9:30.

ALL 9:30 PLAYERS SHOULD BE ON THE COURT AND READY TO GO AT 9:30 SHARP

Second round Players (lines 3 & 4) should arrive by 10:30 a.m. and take the first available court.

f)All matches are STRONGLY encouraged by CCSL to play a full third set. HOWEVER, each line may decide by MAJORITY VOTE (3 out of 4 players) to play a 10-point tie breaker in lieu of a full third set.

The 10-point tiebreak results should be recorded as 1-0.

g)LATE PLAYERS:A default may be given if a player(s) are 15 minutes late and a court is available. If a player(s) arrives 15 minutes after the scheduled playing time; the opposing captain may call a default. However, if there are unforeseen problems (e.g., heavy traffic, freeway accident, etc.) and a player(s) arrives late, the teams should try to play the match regardless of the 15-minute default rule. A wait-time beyond 15 minutes is at full discretion of the opposing team or opposing team captain. Protests, if any, many be made to the division representative after the match has concluded.

h)Any additional changes in playing schedule must be mutually agreed upon in advance.

i)Best of three sets. All matches will consist of the best two out of three sets, with regular scoring. A 7-Point set tiebreaker must be played at 6 games all. The first team to win seven points by a margin of 2 points wins the tiebreak game. The tiebreak game shall continue until the 2-point margin is achieved.

j)USTA Rules. Play is governed by USTA rules. Players are allowed three minutes for an injury time-out. A ten-minute break may be taken between the second and third sets. Note: USTA day matches do not take precedence over CCSL matches.

k)Coaching. Coaching of players is not permitted by anyone during the match. Only players are allowed on the courts during the match.

l)Order of Defaults. Defaults start from the bottom up (e.g. the fourth doubles, then the third), except when matches are scheduled early and late on the same day or on different days, in which case no-shows and same-day defaults will affect that time period only.

m)Retired Match. In a retired match, all points, games and sets stand as played. The match is scored as played, giving a loss to the players who retired.

n)Team Scoring. Each team can earn a maximum of three points per match. The total score for a match cannot exceed 12 points. Each line grosses 3 points: 4 lines x 3 points = 12 points.

i.A team that wins in 2 sets earns 3 points; opposing team earns 0

ii.A team that wins in 3 sets earns 2 points; opposing team earns 1 point

PLEASE NOTE THAT A MATCH CAN END IN A TIE

4. Rain-Out

a)Notification of visiting team: If the courts are wet prior to 7:30 am and are not expected to be dry by the 9:30 a.m. start time, the home team must notify the visiting team no later than 7:30 a.m. and cancel the match. A later notification time is acceptable if both captains agree in advance.

b)Unplayable Courts Prior to Match Start: If the Visiting Team arrives and the designated courts are unplayable due to inclement weather before a first point is played, the visiting captain shall have the option of rescheduling the match at her home courts. Her Team shall provide balls and refreshments if she chooses this option. The captain must follow the rescheduling rules below. Captains may use different players for any or all of the positions. If a captain has called to default positions for a match that is cancelled before play begins, she may fill those positions for the rescheduled match.

c)Rescheduling Matches:

i.Within seven days of the original match date, the home team must offer two dates simultaneously to the visiting team (the match itself does not need to be played within 7 days, but must be played prior to the end of the season). If the home team does not follow up within the designated time, the visiting team takes home court.

ii.Within three days of receiving the two reschedule dates from the home team, the visiting team must choose one date. Home team picks the match date if the away team does not respond within three days.

iii.If the visiting team is already scheduled to play in a BALL match on both of the dates offered for the reschedule, the home team must offer two alternate dates.

d)Interrupted Match Play: If it rains AFTER a “team match” or any individual match has started, the make-up match shall be played at the original location, unless mutually agreed otherwise. If both captains agree, they may also allow their individual players to reschedule their own match at mutually agreed upon dates/times.

i.For the individual match or line that has started, the same players must return and complete the match, and start exactly where they left off. (HINT: Write it down!)

ii.For the match or lines that did not start, the captains may use different players.

iii.Once the match has begun and the rain interrupts play, any individual match that would have been defaulted shall stand as a default.

5. Division Winners

a)A team must complete all of its matches by the end of the season, and not after the season is over, to qualify to be a division winner.

b)If a team does not complete all of its matches, there could be a harsh penalty, which may include not being invited back to Spring League the following season.

c)The team winning all of its matches during the season will be d the Division Winner. A tie is not considered a win. If no team wins all of its matches, the team with the highest point total at the completion of all matches will be the Winner. The TOP DOG ranking system will apply to help determine the Division Winner. TOP DOG first ranks teams based on Total Points, Wins, Losses, Individual Match Wins, Individual Sets Wins, then Individual Game Wins.

d)Trophies or prizes will be awarded to each Division Winner.

e)The final League results will be announced at the Annual Awards Event. An invitation to the Annual Awards Event will be sent to the captains during the season.

f)A team winning its division must move up to the next higher division, except the winner of the A1 Division. All Team members except substitutes will be considered a part of the winning team and may not be eligible to remain in the lower division. (A substitute is a player who has played no more than twice during the season.)

The CCSL Board reserves the right to amended any of the above rules in any season and at any time for special circumstances and to serve the needs of our players and teams.

Last update: 09/07/21

2020-2021 Season

League Manager: Kathleen Powers Dunlap, 415-290-2110, kpowersdunlap@gmail.com

Treasurer: Katharine Wallace

Secretary: Paula Bellas

TopDog Manager: Joanne Quijano, 925-831-3023, jtq@sbcglobal.net

Board of Directors:

A1: Caroline Buckley

A2: Paula Bellas

A3: Amy Sofield

B1: Sandy Lemings

B2: Caroline Buckley

B3: Paula Bellas

C1: Katharine Wallace

Last update: 05/19/21

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