INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCATION

1. INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCATION

2. 2009-10 TENNIS RULES INTERPRETATIONS

3. WELC0ME T0 THE IHSAA TENNIS RULES INTERPRETATIONS PRESENTED VIA POWER POINT

4. Attendance of coaches for men and women tennis is mandated for this meeting by the IHSAA with the support of ICGSA and IHSTeCA. Discussions are for clarification of existing rules and are not subject for debate in this format.

5. 2009-10 TENNIS RULES INTERPRETATIONS

6. USTA CHANGES • Clarifies who may call a let- only an official or player may call a let. A player may call a let only on the player’s court (Comment 23.4, page 17 Rules of Tennis) • Expands the definition of Electronic devices that a player can not bring to the court - A player may bring to the Court written notes that were prepared before the start of the match and may read these notes during the match. A player may not use electronic devises such as cell phones, digital messaging systems, radios, mp3 players CD and DVD players , cassette players, and any device capable of receiving communication. Hearing aids and watches not capable of receiving messages are permitted. A player desiring to use any other electronic device should first ask the coach and/or referee if the device may be used, Comment 30.1, page 26

7. Lets called when balls roll on the Court – clarifies which players may call a let when a ball rolls into the court. When a ball from an adjacent court enters the playing area, any player on the court affected may call a let as soon as the player becomes aware of the ball. The player loses the right to call a let if the player unreasonably delays in making the call, Code 19

8. USTA Touches, hitting ball before it crosses net, invasion of opponent’s court, double hits, and double bounces – clarifies who makes the call. A player shall promptly acknowledge when: a. A ball in play touches the player; b. The player touches the net or opponent’s Court while the ball is in play; c. The player hits a ball before it crosses the net; d. The player deliberately carries or double hits the ball; or e. The ball bounces more than once in the player’s Court. The opponent is not entitled to make these calls (Code 20).

9. Inclusion of the Emergency Care Guidelines • Emergency Numbers • Supplies • On-Site Emergency Care • Universal Precautions • Heat Illness • Thunderstorms and Lightning

10. 2009-10 TENNIS RULES INTERPRETATIONS

11. Schools may determine the combination of dual matches and season tournaments as long as they meet the following requirements: - 16 dual matches maximum - 5 regular season tournaments maximum-every opportunity to play must be counted as a match

12. - The maximum number of contests, total dual matches and tournament opportunities, for the regular season for the team and each individual shall not exceed 22 total. The new rule gives flexibility in scheduling for the season while providing a maximum number of total matches for the team and each player.

13. STACKING - Defined as juggling the tennis line-up to gain an advantage. In a stacking situation, the singles 1, 2 and 3 players would not be played in positions equivalent to their ability level; i.e., #1 highest ability level followed by #2 and #3 players in that order.

14. STACKING Continued… - Grievance Procedure: the form in the back of the Tennis Coaches Guidebook should be completed and forwarded to the IHSAA and the other school involved. - Information should be given about the line-up used and your opinion of what the line-up should be and why.

15. 2009-10 IHSAA TENNIS RULES QUESTIONS – Part I

16. 2009-10 IHSAA TENNIS RULES INTERPRETATIONS

17. PARTICIPATION DURING THE SEASON 1. May receive private non-school instruction as long as: a. not mandated, scheduled or paid for by the school b. school practices and competitions are not missed c. no student from another school is participating in the same session d. NEW – high school coaches may not provide paid private lessons to students who are a part of their high school team

18. Participation (cont.) 2. Student-athletes may practice in the same facility as other athletes as long as they are separated. 3. Student-athletes may receive group lessons so long as all the students in the group are from the same school and it is outside of the normal practice. 4. A student who is competing for his/her high school team may hit with a student who is not competing.

19. 5. NEW – A professional coach who also coaches a high school team may not give private lessons on Sunday to his players from the high school team.

20. PARTICIPATION DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR, OUT OF SEASON 1. Conditioning – designed to promote physical fitness 2. Open Facilities- the school’s tennis courts, school gym, or tennis courts used for competition are open to all students in the school. a. No more 3 times a week; exception the month prior to the official practice b. Member school coaches may supervise the facility 3. There can be no conditioning or open facility sessions on Sunday.

21. PARTICIPATION DURING THE SUMMER 1. Begins Monday of week 49 ( June 7, 2010) or the close of school whichever comes first; ends at the end of the day on Sunday of week 4 (July 25, 2010). 2. Participation during the summer is voluntary 3. Awards may not be acceptable except those of a symbolic nature. 4. Participation in Camps and Clinics should end at the end of the day on Sunday of week 4 (July 25, 2010) 5. Moratorium – week that include July 4 from Monday to Sunday (June 28 – July 4) – absolutely no contact between coaching staff and student-athletes, and no activities

22. COACHING • Considered to be instructions or advice to direct player performance • Words of encouragement are not coaching, i.e., “let’s go” • Only the head coach and one designated assistant coach can coach the team on odd games during the 90-second changeover period and during the 10-minute intermission between 2nd and 3rd sets. • Parents, spectators and professional coaches (who are not employed by the school system) are forbidden to coach or offer advice at any time during the march, including the break at split sets.

23. 2009-10 IHSAA TENNIS RULES QUESTIONS – Part II

24. 2009-10 IHSAA TENNIS RULES INTERPRETATIONS

25. Pre-Match Instructions • Should be given by the Host coach or administrator; Review • Format • Point Penalty System • Responsibilities of players • Responsibilities of coaches • Expectation for Exemplary Behavior

26. Instructions (cont.) • Option for Junior Varsity Competition • May play 8-game pro set or another agreed upon format during one team match • No JV player is allowed to participate in a second 8-game format or other agreed upon format, unless the second set is against an opponent who would not have otherwise had an opportunity to compete • A player who participates in the varsity match is not eligible to participate at the JV level during the same team match, • All individual matches played must be counted in the team score for that session.

27. PRACTICES • Students who are absent from school for 5 consecutive days or more due to illness or injury, or are physically unable to practice for 5 consecutive days or more due to illness or injury, upon return and prior to return to participation, shall present to the principal or designee a statement from a physician, who holds an unlimited license to practice medicine, stating the player is again physically fit to participate in interschool athletics. • Prior to stating competition, the player then shall participate in the designated number of practices based on the days missed • 5 – 10 days missed – 4 practices required • 10 or more days missed – 6 practices required • Special practices set up for this player alone are not allowed

28. Tournament Entry Forms • Electronic form to be sent to the AD who will submit it • Top 7 players shall be listed in the singles and doubles positions for the tournament series • Lesser skilled players shall be listed as alternates • The line-up shall not be shuffle after the Sectional Draw

29. IHSAA Tournament • Doubles 50% Rule – To qualify for the doubles tournament series, both participants shall have played in a doubles position for a minimum of 50% of their team’s total playing opportunities (dual and season tournament matches) • The IHSAA has the authority to grant a waiver to the 50% rule if satisfactory proof is presented to the Commissioner • Compliance was missed by a minimal number of contest and; • Failure to meet compliance was for clear, verifiable reasons, such as a debilitating injury and; • Failure to meet compliance was the result of reasons beyond the control of the athlete, coach, school and parents

30. Substitution During IHSAA Tournament • Rounds With One Match Per Day • Substitution may be made until actual play has begun or between rounds • Substitutes may compete in either singles or doubles, not both for that session • A player for whom a substitute was made in rounds 1 or 2 may play in round 3 (sectional and regional only) • If a player cannot complete a match for some reason, he/she shall default that match

31. Substitution During IHSAA Tournament (cont.) • Rounds With Two Matches Per Day • At any level of the IHSAA Post-Season Tournament (sectional, regional, semi-state or state) any player who fails to finish a first match cannot return to the lineup for a second match that is played on the same day. • If the player Retired from the first match due to personal injury or health emergency; to be allowed to return to play the second match • The personal injury or health emergency incurred in the first match shall be evaluated by an athletic trainer/doctor and • An official written release from the athletic trainer/doctor shall be presented to the tournament director indicating the player is physically able to return to competition before the player will be allowed to compete in the second match.

32. Substitution During IHSAA Tournament (cont.) • Rounds with Two Matches (cont.) • If for some reason, the second match is re-scheduled for the next available day, the ruling remains in effect.

33. 2009-10 IHSAA TENNIS RULES QUESTIONS – Part III

34. Substitutions during the Regular Season - Coaches have the option to use the IHSAA Tournament format for injuries or illness (for a limit of two consecutive dual matches or one one-day tournament) or • During the regular season if a player misses a third time for the same injury or illness, then the coach must move the line-up up. • If a player misses for disciplinary reasons during the regular season, the lineup must adjusted by moving other players up instead of by substituting in the affected player’s position.

35. One Day Tournament • In all one-day varsity tournaments that require three rounds of competition, all matches must use a 10-point match tie-break in lieu of a third set. • The intermission is two minutes between the second set and the 10-point tie-break

36. Scrimmages • The prescribed format for scrimmages has changed. The document is located at www.ihsaa.org under Tennis for each gender. • The new format is set and should not be altered.

37. Making the Tough Call Guiding principles: In matches where there is no chair umpire, The Code governs the dual role which must be played by a player in a match, specifically that of a player and an “official.”Similarly, the IHSAA Tennis Coaches Guidebook governs the dual role which must be played by the coach, the simultaneous responsibilities of coach and match official. This is true in all IHSAA sponsored events whether or not there is a roving umpire. (If there is a roving umpire, the coach must follow the umpire’s directives given before the match.) The coach is not a passive observer whose main mission is to “let them play.” In general, the principle to follow is that the coach must not only help to solve problems once they occur, but to also forestall difficulties just as a roving umpire or chair umpire would. In addition, the coach is to give any warnings called for and assess any penalties due, and then immediately (to the extent that it is practical) fully inform the roving umpire and the other coach or coaches involved.

38. Situations • Situation 1: A player announces a wrong score and play continues. • Solution: Take no action unless players disagree about the score. If players seek help, instruct players to follow the three-step protocol given in The Code. In this situation, the coach’s opinion of the correct score is irrelevant. However, note Situation 2 below where scoring might be affected.

39. Situation 2: Players are about to make a procedural error. Examples include players’ failure to change ends when games total an odd number, a player is about to serve from the wrong court, a player is about to receive out of order, the wrong team (or member of a team) is about to serve, or a procedural error in a tiebreak is imminent. • Solution: The coach must stop play, clarify what the procedural problem is, and instruct players what to do. The ensuing discussion could affect players’ opinions about the stated score.

40. Situation 3: A player slams the court with the racket in exasperation after making an error, potentially damaging the court and/or the racket. • Solution: This is clearly racquet abuse, assess a point penalty; if the situation occurs again assess a game, then default the match.

41. Situation 4: The coach points out to the opposing coach that his or her player is committing a Codeable offense, but the coach of the offending player does nothing about it. • Solution: Assess the penalty. (Both coaches are officials.) In the end, any dispute which results between coaches may be referred to the IHSAA Assistant Commissioner of Tennis.

42. Situation 5: A player stops playing because of muscle cramps or injury. • Solution: The coach first needs to seek medical help. Once help arrives, start a clock immediately in order to follow the directive that up to three minutes may be taken for evaluation after medical help arrives. Up to 2 minutes more are allowed to treat the condition. After two minutes, either coach is to direct players to resume play. Play must resume within 30 seconds. Delays after 30 seconds are Codeable, but there is no legitimacy to a complaint if a clock has not been started.

43. 2009-10 IHSAA TENNIS RULES QUESTIONS – Part IV

44. 17. It is racket abuse to B a. Tap the ground with the racquet b. Slam the ground with the racquet c. Twirl the racquet d. Cause a string to break while playing the ball. • The coach has the responsibility for A • Calling procedural errors to the attention of the players. • Giving the correct score to the players when the count is lost • Both a and b • Neither of a and b

45. 19. The substituting process for the regular season allows the coach to replace an injured or ill player twice without moving other players up. T • 20. Both coaches must agree to enforce Code violations. F

46. DATES FOR 2009-2010 IMPORTANT DATES BOYS GIRLS First Practice 8/3 3/15 First Authorized Contest 8/17 3/29 Sectional 9/30 – 10/3 5/19-22 Regional 10/6-7 5/25-26 Semi-State 10/10 5/29 Team State 10/16-17 6/4-5 Singles and Doubles State 10/23-24 6/11-12 The Fall Bulletin for 2009-10 will be posted on the IHSAA website with additional information for the tournament series or you can get this information from your local athletic director

47. ADDITONAL INFORMATION • Coaching Ethics – It is the responsibility of every IHSAA coach to learn the rules of his/her sport, teach the sport to the athletes and then execute the rules in the manner in which they were intended to be enforced.

48. Tennis Coaches Guide will become an on-line document which coaches will need to pull from the website beginning with January 2010 calendar year. It will be a printable document. Coaches will be notified when the document is ready in 2010.

49. The tennis rules books will be distributed every two years effective with the 2010-2011 school year. Coaches will need to hold onto the rule book provided by the IHSAA for two years. These books will not be replaced if lost.

50. FINALLY… • The IHSAA Board of Directors voted to expand the number of schools that will be brought to the State Tournament for Tennis from four to eight. • The format will be a two-day format with play beginning on Friday afternoon much like with the singles and doubles state tournament. • The semi-state will become a four team format with two teams advancing from each of four sites.