Springston Tennis Club - Junior Interclub Rules

JUNIOR REGULATIONS & INTERCLUB RULES

2026-27

Website: www.sporty.co.nz/ellesmeretennisjuniors

1. POWERS
The Junior Advisory Committee has the power:
a) To promote Junior tennis at all times.
b) To organise and control competitions between affiliated clubs and to deal with all matters
arising.
c) To organise and control the Tournaments and to deal with all matters arising.
d) To deal with the eligible entries received under competitions and tournaments rules.
e) To investigate and determine any breach of rules at any given time.

2. APPEAL
Any Club objecting to a decision of the Junior Advisory Committee shall first:
a) Write to the Junior Advisory Committee setting out any new grounds for overturning the
original decision.
b) If this subsequent decision of the Junior Advisory Committee is not acceptable to the Club
appealing, the Club shall then write to the TSI Committee setting out the grounds of the
appeal.
c) The TSI Committee shall hear the appeal. If any member of the Junior Advisory Committee
is a member of the TSI Committee, then such members cannot vote on any appeal.
d) At the appeal a number(s) from each party shall be invited to attend – such attendance is not
compulsory.
e) From receiving the notice of appeal, the TSI Committee shall within two weeks hold the
appeal. If interested parties cannot get to this appeal, there shall be one week of further
extension.

3. ENTRIES
a) Junior Teams are entered through Tennis Selwyn MatchHub, by Club Administrators.
b) A player should only be named in one team. No player can then play in a lower division or
section in that season.

4. QUALIFICATIONS-STATUS and PLAYING ORDER
a) The qualifications to play for a Club, shall be a financial affiliated member of that Club and
not in default of any monies to any other club.
b) In singles matches the players must play in order of merit. The first interclub match
establishes the playing order for the season.
c) The playing order of players shall remain consistent and any changes should be no more than
two places, after the order is established.
NB: Players should only be changing positions through genuine club challenges played prior to matches and in
accordance with their Clubs rules. Players may not change position for illness or injury without written approval
from The Junior Advisory Committee prior to game. Please do not rotate playing orders!
d) The number one player must play top doubles and singles. In doubles the number one player
may play Top doubles with the number 2, 3 or 4 player.

Combinations allowed for doubles:
● Top Doubles: 1 and 2 or 1 and 3 or 1 and 4
● Bottom Doubles 3 and 4 or 2 and 3 or 2
e) A player ranked 3, 4 or 5 in a team may fill in for a team in the same section in order of merit.
This excludes those moving position due to sickness or injury.
Penalty points apply – 1 point deducted for each player out of position.

5. COMPETITION GRADES AND FORMAT

High School (Saturday morning)
Primary School (Saturday morning)
Comets (8-10yrs) (Saturday morning)

All teams are divided into sections if necessary.

Players may not fill in, in a lower division or section.

Promotion/Relegation
The competition will consist of two rounds.
Each round to be at least 7 playing Saturdays.

1. Grading Round: Prior to Christmas. At the end of the Grading Round there will be
promotion/relegation between all divisions, within each grade. This will be done
after the last match of the Grading Round. Certificates will be awarded to winning
teams of each section at the end of season Prize Giving.
2. Championship Round: After Christmas. All rules will be strictly enforced for this
round. Certificates for the winners of each Section will be awarded at the end of
season Prize Giving.

High School: Premier Section 1 & 2
Teams of four players except for finals where 5 players can be played

Singles
● One match to 9 games
● Tie break at 8 games all
● Full deuces
If score becomes 8 games all then a player must win 9-7 or a tie break to be played. Tie break counts as 1 game e.g. Player wins 9-8 and recorded like this on the scoresheet.

Doubles
● One set to 6 games
● Sudden death deuces
● Tie break at 6 games all
If score becomes 5 games all then a player must win 7-5 or a tie break to be played if the score reaches 6 games all. Tie break counts as 1 game e.g. Player wins 7-6)
“Sudden Death” Deuces when at deuce the next point wins the game (1st deuce is game point –no advantage played)

High School: Divisions 2 & 3
Teams of four players except for finals where 5 players can be played

Singles

● One match of 2 sets to 4 games, 3rd set a 7-point tie-break. (At 3 all best of two games, at 4 all a 7-point tie break to decide set)
● Full deuces
Tie break counts as 1 game e.g. Player wins 7-6 and is recorded as such on score sheet.

Doubles
● One set to 6 games
● “Sudden death” deuces
● Tie break at 6 games all

If score becomes 5 games all then a player must win 7-5 or a tie break to be played if the score reaches 6 games all. Tie break counts as 1 game e.g. Player wins 7-6
“Sudden Death” Deuces when at deuce the next point wins the game (1st deuce is game point –no advantage played)

Primary: Divisions 1 – 2
Teams of four or five players

Singles
● One set to 6 games
● Full deuces
● Tie break at 6 games all
If score becomes 5 games all then a player must win 7-5 or a tie break to be played if the score reaches 6 games all. Tie break counts as 1 game e.g. Player wins 7-6

Doubles
● One set to 6 games
● Sudden death deuces
● Tie break at 6 games all

Primary Grade Teams can play 5 players per Tie. Please ensure all players in teams are getting an even number of games where possible.

Recommended for beginners in this grade to serve from part way between the Service line and the Base Line to enable them to develop the correct service action.
● While underarm serving is legal we recommend it is only used in the Grading round for the second service from nearer the base line until they are confident to use the
overarm service.

Tennis Attire
All players to wear suitable tennis clothing

Draw
Please note carefully the times and VENUES of matches. The home team of the venue named in draw is the ‘host’ club. Where both teams are from the same club the first named
team is the host team.

Host Club
The host club is to provide morning tea - e.g., biscuits and a drink.

Balls
Each team to provide a pair of good quality tennis balls per contest as follows:
a) High School Division 1: Balls are to be of a high standard. Teams shall supply new
balls every 3 weeks.
b) Primary Grade Div 5 and Comets to use Green Dot balls.
c) All other grades: Teams to supply 1 pair of good used balls per match
d) Balls are to be replaced immediately if nearly bald, balding or flat.

Electronic Devices
Electronic devices belonging to a player are to be on silent during a match and are not to be used or on the player during play.

Non-Playing days
Labour Weekend, Show Weekend & Waitangi Weekend

6. WET WEATHER

● First approach If your courts look unsuitable because of the weather please notify the Tennis Selwyn Junior Co-ordinators What’s App group by 7.30am.
● Place announcements on MatchHub platform for all managers to see
● Cancellations will be notified on the Selwyn (Ellesmere) Tennis Facebook page for all junior interclub matches. https://www.facebook.com/EllesmereTennis
● Cancellations will be made around 7.30am, Saturday mornings for the entire mornings play (both 8.30am and 10.30am start times)
● A contact from each club will be notified
● They will then contact Team Managers to contact their teams.
● Please note if 8.30am games have not been cancelled no cancellation will be made for 10.30 games.

If there is no official cancellation but weather is doubtful then the following will apply:
● Contact opposing team, if possible, before leaving for venue to see what the
conditions are like. Teams are to make a decision with the team Manager of their
opposing team
● If players arrive at venue and play cannot commence and no official cancellation has
been made, then by mutual agreement;
● Both teams to receive 5 points each, or you can reschedule the match to be played
between the two teams for another day preferably within the following week or by
the end of that particular round. Please advise the Competitions Secretary of the
arrangement.
Other scenarios:
● If play has commenced, the match may be abandoned after a 15-minute delay by
mutual agreement by both teams. Teams that have not completed all games shall
share the remaining points for the match.
● If 2 players are in the middle of a game, e.g. 2 - 2, then teams no point awarded as
only full points can be awarded. If two games are drawn, then both teams share 1/2
point each. If one player leads, e.g. 3 - 1 then the player with 3 shall be deemed the
winner. The score is to be recorded as it stands on the score with the winner taking
one point.

7. COMPETITION POINTS
Winners of all Grades will be decided on the basis of the highest accumulation of points
gained as follows:
a) For each win against an opposing player or doubles, one point.
b) The winning Junior team will be awarded 4 bonus points.
c) In the event of a drawn match (equal matches and games), 2 bonus point will be award to each team.
d) In the event of second round format being played to decide the competition grade winner, all points earned in previous round or rounds return to zero.
e) Team defaults: 8 points will be awarded to the team defaulted to.

8. RESULTS
The Tennis Selwyn MatchHub online platform is to be filled out before play commences with full team name, grade, section, date, Christian and Surnames.
a) Please check your playing order is correct and that players step out on court against the correct opposition. Once games have started it is too late to make changes.
b) It is to be given to appropriate person in your club at the end of play accordingly signed and sent to your Club Coordinator no later than 8pm the following Monday

All Fill-ins – Full name, Gender and Date of Birth must be noted in comments.

Tie-breaks count as one game – player therefore wins 7-6 or 5-4 for High School Premier singles matches.
At the end of play teams total up matches played – each contest is a match. Maximum of matches is six (4 singles and 2 doubles). A team that reaches more matches than the other team is deemed the winner and there is no need to total up games.
Where teams’ matches are tied 3-3 then total up all games from the score column only, to determine the winner. (Do not total Tie-break points as this has already been included in
games total as one game). Where a team is tied in both matches and games then both teams share the winning point.
Results to be entered online into the Tennis Selwyn MatchHub online on the day of play. Should any issues arise or you are unable to access the app then by your Club
Administrator by 8pm on the Monday following the match.
Home team to enter result, away team needs to check the result within 36hrs or the result will auto confirm as entered.

9. UMPIRES
All matches to be either self-umpired or preferably umpired by team members. If supervisors have to umpire then please do not umpire your own child if possible. No person (including supervisor) is to intervene in a match except in the case of misconduct or a circumstance which the players cannot resolve themselves (common sense to prevail). Supervisors should communicate with each other prior to adjudicating.

10. STARTING TIMES AND COMPLETION OF MATCHES
a) All matches shall start according to the time specified by the Junior Advisory Committee in preparation of the draw.
b) Recommended order of play be doubles followed by singles.
c) Any team not ready to proceed with one match within fifteen minutes thereafter, shall lose one match by default, subject to appeal to the Junior Advisory Committee.
Such matches shall be in default of agreement.
d) In the event of rain, refer Wet Weather Rule (6).

Teams starting at 8.30am to start play at 8.30am sharp: Please arrive approx.10min before this

Short-handed teams
Any team short by one player will default the 4th singles but may play both doubles with the number 2 player playing both doubles (see Defaults Rule 11c).
Any team not ready to proceed with one match within fifteen minutes of the start time, shall lose one match by default. Such matches shall be in default of agreement (see Starting Times and completion of Matches Rule 10c and 10d).

Fill-ins

Players may not play for another team in a lower Section or Division.
Players may not play for another team in the same section except for the current number 3 or lower ranked players.
Any player whose normal playing order is in the top 2 positions of their team during the season may not play for another team in the same section if they later have their order of play changed to a lower position. This does not apply to players whose order is normally 3rd or lower but had to play a higher position because of their higher listed players being away or on stand down (see Rule 4g).
Penalties: Each game will be defaulted and points awarded to other team. In the event of count back these games will be recorded as 6-0.
Sometimes teams do play players in breach of above in order to give the rest of their team and the opposition a game rather than default – These games should be recorded as defaults on the scoresheet so that scoresheet can be correctly totalled.
Players may fill-in for a higher graded team without limit. They may also fill in at any position provided this is in order of merit.
Fill-ins maybe from another Ellesmere club subject to above conditions. Matches won will count for the team they fill in for.

11. DEFAULTS
a) Defaults must be notified to competitions secretary and to the opposing team by 6pm on Friday night for Saturday matches or 10am Friday morning for Friday afternoon play.
A penalty may apply for a default.
b) Any team short by one player shall default the fourth singles, but may play both doubles with the number 2 player playing both doubles. The number 1 player cannot
play bottom doubles or a lower-singles.
c) Where a team is more than one player short all matches shall be defaulted.
d) Where a player is incapacitated by injury, illness or any other cause during a match, a replacement will be permitted in any doubles match still to be played by that player.
Their singles matches will be defaulted if not already played. The replacement player must be from within the team playing on that day and from that team. Any games won
by an injured player must stand. If a player is unable to continue after 5 minutes the match will be defaulted.
e) No player shall substitute more than once and No 1 player shall not be allowed to substitute.

12. DISCIPLINE
Where any player’s behavior warrants discipline a written report within forty-eight hours of the offence is to be submitted to the Junior Advisory Committee Secretary who shall affect such discipline upon that player as the Committee thinks fit.

Where a Supporters/Spectators behavior warrants discipline a written report within forty-eight hours of the offence is to be submitted to the Junior Advisory Committee
Secretary who shall refer such matter to Management to discipline such person as Management Committee thinks fit. Discipline may include person or players Club.

13. GENERAL
● In the event of the match being wet or other circumstances intervening to prevent play, the draw shall be automatically cancelled.
● Any matters arising out of these Rules and not provided for in these regulations shall be dealt with by the Junior Advisory Committee in conjunction with the TSI Committee.
● The Laws of Tennis currently sanctioned by Tennis NZ Inc, and the regulations of the Tennis Selwyn Inc Committee as laid down in the Tennis NZ Inc Regulations.
● Should any team fail to comply with any of the foregoing rules and regulations, the Management Committee shall have power to deal with the Club in the appropriate manner.
● Any Club wishing to lodge a complaint of breach of rules by another Club must notify the TSI Secretary in writing.

Court Allocation
High School Premier Division 1 Section 1 & 2 will be allocated 4 Courts High School Division 2 & 3 will be allocated 2 courts only.
● Please check before using any spare courts as they may be allocated to High School Division 1 who use 4 courts – you must vacate them immediately if they need them.
● If the club you are playing at has 3 courts playing one doubles and two singles is quicker but if playing orders for doubles do not match, then use only 2 courts.
● You cannot force a team to change their doubles orders to suit.

Tie-breaker
A tiebreak shall commence at a game score of
● 8 all in a 9-up game
● 6 all in a 6-up game
● 4 all in a 4-up game

A player who first wins 7 points shall win the game provided they lead by a margin of 2 points. If the score reaches 6 points all the game shall be extended until the margin is 2. The player whose turn it is to serve, serves the first point starting from (facing opponent) the right. His opponent shall be the server for the 2nd and 3rd points starting from the left and thereafter each player serves alternately for 2 points (starting on the left) until the tie-break is complete Player’s change ends every 6 points. The tie-break counts as one game.

Courts/Venues
Ellesmere

Broadfield Robinsons Road – opp Broadfield School
Doyleston Osborne Park, Drain Road, Doyleston
Leeston South JTC Leeston Park, Carston Street (netball grounds behind rugby grounds)
Dunsandel Dunsandel Domain, Tramway Road, Dunsandel
Greenpark Greenpark Domain, Greenpark Road, Greenpark
Hornby Hornby Domain, Main South Road, Hornby
Irwell Sudeley Park, Selwyn Lake Road, Irwell
Killinchy Leeston Dunsandel Road– old Killinchy School
Ladbrooks Ladbrooks School, Barnes Road
Leeston High Street, Leeston (behind bowling club)
Lincoln Lincoln Domain, North Belt, Lincoln
Prebbleton Prebbleton Domain, Tosswill Road, Prebbleton
Rolleston Rolleston Domain, Moore Street, Rolleston
Southbridge Cryer Street & Taumutu Road corner, Southbridge
Springston Springston Domain, Ellesmere Junction Road
Tai Tapu Rhodes Park Domain, Old Tai Tapu Road, Tai Tapu
Tai Tapu School Christchurch Akaroa Highway
Waihora Waihora Domain, 166 Park Road, Motukarara

Malvern

Courtenay Courtenay Domain, Old West Coast Road
Darfield Darfield Recreation Reserve adjacent to Horndon Street
Hororata Hororata Domain
Kirwee Kirwee Recreation Reserve, 30/32 High Street
West Melton West Melton Domain 597 West Melton Road