Flex Overview – League Overview – Rules & Guidelines – Scheduling Tips – Conduct & Commitment
What Are Flex Leagues
HTC Flex Leagues packages all the thrills of organized league tennis into a flexible schedule so everyone, regardless of time constraints and ability, can play. All you need is a racquet, a few free hours a week and a favorite tennis court (public or private)!
The Flex League format groups players of similar ability together in an organized seven to ten week league that allows participants to schedule matches on their own terms.
HTC currently offers singles leagues four times a year and organizes leagues by NTRP ratings, ensuring fair and competitive matches. What makes Flex Leagues so unique is that you play your matches when it’s convenient for you, as either player can take responsibility for setting up a match in any given week. That allows players to compete at a time and a date that’s mutually convenient.
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League Overview
Scoring
Matches will be 2 out of 3 sets.A tiebreak should be played for the third set if court time is nearing expiration. A tiebreaker may be played for any reason if mutually agreed by the player. If play is suspended by weather, light, or end of court time, both players should take note of the score and agree on a time to finish the match.
Match Scheduling
The home player (designated on schedule) is required to bring three new tennis balls, reserve two hours of court time, initiate contact with opponents and give the exact address of preferred court.
League Winner
The player with the highest winning percentage at the end of the season is crowned champion. Unless two or more players have the same winning %, there will be no playoffs.
Court Fees
Court fees will be split equally up to $7 per player. Fees exceeding $7 per player are the responsibility of the home player. (Including visitor passes if your home court is a private club.) League policy is to reserve at least two hours of court time.
Line Calls
Matches will be unofficiated and played under USTA Rules. Line calls should be made without delay and with 100% certainty. Any abuse should be reported to HTC.
Inclement Weather
In the event of inclement weather players must verbally communicate and agree the match may not take place due to poor weather.
Reporting Scores
Match winners shall login to post scores within 12 hours of match completion. All match scores must be turned in the by deadline.
Court Conduct
Players are expected to display proper sportsmanship and behavior during league matches. The league takes on court behavior very seriously. If your opponent displays inappropriate behavior, please contact us. Suspension from the league is possible. *Verbal or physical abusive behavior will likely result in immediate suspension.
Forfeiture
If a match is not played by the deadline with no reason both players will receive a loss. We recognize situations will occur when one player does not honor scheduling commitments or is not reasonably available.
Match Cancellations
When canceling a scheduled match it is required to verbally cancel with your opponent 12 or more hours from scheduled match time. If you do not have a verbal confirmation from him/her of the cancellation you are subject to penalty. Please inform HTC if a player does not cancel properly.
Scheduling Tips
Contacting Opponents
When contacting opponent to schedule your match, provide as much details as possible. Include your home court location, inform your opponent of court fees, and provide multiple times during the week that you are available.
If you know that you will be unavailable during a given week, inform yoru scheduled opponent as soon as possible. This should be done whether you are the home player or visitor.
Reserve your courts early! Court time may be reserved up to one week in advance at most tennis centers. Again, reserve early, courts fill up fast.
At the conclusion of each season, players with a win percentage of 75% and above are subject to move up a division.
Forfeiture
If a match is not played by the deadline with no reason both players will receive a loss. We recognize situations will occur when one player does not honor scheduling commitments or is not reasonably available.
A loss by forfeit will be given to a player according to the following rules:
A player is not available 3 times during the assigned play period. The play period includes the scheduled week and the make-up week.
Player cancels less than 1.5 hours before the scheduled time of play.
Player cancels a scheduled match with the same opponent twice.
Player is more than 20 minutes late for a match.
Player resigns during the match due to injury or for any other reason.
Player has withdrawn from the league.
Player is designated as the home player and a court is not available within 20 minutes of the designated time.
Player does respond to opponents emails/calls within 48 hours.
Though rules are in place we also encourage players to attempt to reschedule and complete their matches. Please be flexible when possible and complete your matches. If the “available” player accepts win by forfeit, the HTC the winning player to contact us with the name of the opponent who forfeited and a reason why. After accepting a win by forfeit, you may reschedule the match at any time. But take note: The rescheduled is counted for league standings.
A player will forfeit their season according to the rules below:
Player is sited on 3 or more occasions of inappropriate court behavior.
Player is physically or verbally abusive to opponent or league administration
If a division has a forfeited/withdrawn player before the start of week four we will attempt to find a replacement. Wins, losses, and schedule will remain the same. If we are unable to find a replacement or it is after the end of week three each remaining player in division will receive a Win for the played or unplayed match against the forfeited/withdrawn player.
Standard League Time
Matches can be scheduled any time of the week as long as both players agree. However, because the majority of the players work, players should expect to schedule most of their matches on nights and weekends.
The following hours are considered standard league play times:
Monday – Friday: 5:30 pm – 8:30pm
Saturday – Sunday: 9am – 7pm
These hours are used as a basis for determining when players are not reasonably available to play a match, giving their opponent the right to report a forfeit. See forfeiture rule #1 for details.
Commitment
Out of respect for everyone in our tennis league, we ask all players to complete each and every scheduled match. When scheduling difficulties arise, it is crucial that players cooperate with each other to schedule and play each match. Time is valuable for everyone. Please be respectful and follow through with your commitments.
Again, respecting the game and its players, the HTC monitors the commitment of league members. If a single member misses or forfeits two or more matches without rescheduling, we reserve the right to suspend that member for upcoming league seasons. Of course, we understand serious circumstances come up. We’ll decide those case by case.
Liability
YOU EXPRESSLY UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT HOUSTON TENNIS CONNECTION, LLC AND ITS AFFILIATES, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, PARTNERS, AND LICENSORS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS, GOODWILL, USE, DATA OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES (EVEN IF HTC HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES), RESULTING FROM:
THE USE OR THE INABILITY TO USE THE SERVICE
THE COST OF PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS AND SERVICES RESULTING FROM ANY GOODS, DATA, INFORMATION OR SERVICES PURCHASED OR OBTAINED OR MESSAGES RECEIVED OR TRANSACTIONS ENTERED INTO THROUGH OR FROM THE SERVICE
UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS TO OR ALTERATION OF YOUR TRANSMISSIONS OR DATA
STATEMENTS OR CONDUCT OF ANY THIRD PARTY ON THE SERVICE
OR ANY OTHER MATTER RELATING TO THE SERVICE.
