League Captain’s FAQs
Frequently Answered Questions for new USTA League Captains.
Q. What information is available?
A. Check out the Maryland District web site for information. Specifically a captain should get a copy of the Section and District Rules, print it out and read carefully.
Q. How many players can play on a team?
A. USTA/Maryland District rules set the following roster limits: for teams in leagues that play 2-singles, 3-doubles format the maximum number is 20 players; for teams in leagues that play 1-single, 2-doubles format the maximum number is 12; for teams in leagues that play 3-doubles format the maximum number is 12; for tri-level leagues 22.
Q. Can a player play at more than one level during the same league season?
A. Yes. With certain restrictions, Mid-Atlantic Section rules allow players to play on more than one team at different levels. However, captains having player(s) who are playing are risking having their Dynamic NTRP rise quickly during the season owing to playing higher NTRP-level players in the upper league. Players who accumulate “3-strikes” at any point during the season are disqualified.
Q. How many matches per week and how many per season for the team?
A. This will depend on several things. First, the ‘matches per season’ will depend on how many teams in your league and how many times the teams play a round-robin. The captains for each league will vote on their league format that the Captain’s Meeting, and that vote shall be the recommendation to league coordinators for scheduling purposes. The season will run from the end of April until early July, and you’ll probably play one or two team matches each week.
Q. How many doubles/singles matches are played in each team match?
A. For 2.5, 5.0, 5.5 and Open leagues the format is 1 singles match and 2 doubles matches (5 players/team match). For all other leagues the format is 2 singles matches and 3 doubles matches (8 players/team match).
Q. Can a player play singles and doubles in the same team match?
A. No. All individual matches start at the same time.
Q. Does every player on the team have to be a current USTA member?
A. Yes. When you commit to being a team captain you will be given a ‘team number’ for TennisLink. When you and your teammates sign up for the team on TennisLink, the program will make sure that you are current USTA members for the duration of the league season (through July).
Q. What does it cost to register for the league?
A. First, you must be a current USTA member. When you sign up for the team on TennisLink, you will be charged: $20.50 Maryland District fee (Adult 18& over, Adult 40& over, Mixed Doubles 18 & over, Mixed Doubles 40& over) $16.50 Combo, $5.25 Mid-Atlantic Section fee, a $3 fee to TennisLink and a local league fee. There may also be a per-match court cost.
Q. Can both captains agree to change the time of the match?
A. Yes, providing that both captains agree and the match is played no later than one week after the scheduled date (per Mid-Atlantic Section rule). If captains agree to reschedule a match be played and recorded in TennisLink
within one week after it is scheduled, the match will result in a double default. Captains can check with their local league coordinator to request that a match is rescheduled. When any match is rescheduled the Local League Coordinator must be notified by the captains. The Local League Coordinator will notify the Maryland District Leagues Administrator to make the necessary changes in TennisLink.
Q. When will the schedule of matches be made available to teams?
A. The full schedule will be available on TennisLink by mid-April. Any of your players can view the team schedule on TennisLink.
Q. Can captains replace/substitute players on the team after the season has started?
A. Players may be deleted from a roster on TennisLink by your Local League Coordinator. A player may not change rosters after s/he has played in her/his first league match. You may add players to your roster (date identified in your local league rules), up to the 20-player limit (for leagues with the 5-match format) or the 12-player limit (3-match format leagues).
Q. What are the responsibilities of the team captain?
A. There are many, see the attached document “Captain’s Responsibilities which details mandatory and optional responsibilities. Basically you will want to get your team together early, schedule ‘team practices’ so that your team can get acquainted and you as the captain can learn who plays well together and who is stronger. You will be responsible for coming up with a lineup for the match, you will print out the other team’s current roster from TennisLink for your information before the match, and you will exchange lineups with the other team captain 5 minutes before the match. Both captains will fill out and sign the scorecard after the match, and you’ll both have to post/verify the results on TennisLink.
Q. How do I print out a scorecard before the match?
A. 1. Use your webrowser to go to TennisLink.
Note: you must have Javascript and cookies enabled.
2. Enter your USTA number in the tennis ball at the bottom. The number
you enter must be listed as a member of one of the teams involved in
the match.
3. Click “Go”
4. On the new screen, click “Score Entry” in the navigation bar on the
lefthand side (red).
5. Enter the match number for the upcoming match.
6. Verify the team names to confirm that you entered the right match#.
7. Press the “Print the Scorecard” button. You should now see a new
screen with the blank scorecard along with the current rosters for
both teams at the bottom.
8. Use your brower’s “print” function (bottom) to print out TWO copies.
2014