Rescheduling Guidelines

These guidelines are designed to promote fair play, clear communication, and timely completion of matches while accommodating weather, facility limitations, holidays, and approved championship conflicts. Captains are expected to communicate promptly and work collaboratively to avoid defaults whenever possible.  PLEASE NOTE:  These guidelines are based on the official Local League Regulations. They are not a substitute for the regulations themselves. If any inconsistency exists, the Local League Regulations are the controlling authority.

Timeframe to Complete a Match

Matches must be completed on or before the originally scheduled match date listed in TennisLink unless:

• The match is designated as a Floating Match and courts are not yet open

• The match is affected by inclement weather

• The match is affected by an approved championship or holiday conflict

Any match played after the original match date without an approved reason will be recorded as a double default.

Floating Matches

Matches scheduled close to a facility’s clay court opening date may be designated as Floating Matches. This designation allows flexibility when clay courts are not yet open and hard courts are unavailable at the facility.

Key Floating Match Guidelines

• Matches may be rescheduled to another available date at the same facility within four (4) weeks of the clay court opening date.

• Matches must be played before the season end date.

• The Local League Coordinator may assist in identifying dates or arranging a neutral facility if needed.

Line-by-Line Floating Matches

• Floating Matches may be scheduled line by line.

Setting the Reschedule Date

• Within one (1) week of the clay courts opening, captains must agree on a rescheduled date.

• The home team should propose two to three date/time options based on court availability.

• Teams are encouraged to play as early as possible within the four-week window.

• If captains cannot agree, the match will default to the last Friday of the four-week window at the available time closest to the original match time.

Court Reservations

• Captains are responsible for securing court reservations unless assistance is requested from the Local League Coordinator.

Rescheduling Matches Early (Play-Ahead Matches)

Captains may mutually agree to play all or part of a match before the scheduled date to avoid forfeits or invalid matches.

• Once a new date, time, and location are agreed upon, that information becomes the official match date for the lines being played.

• Captains are responsible for canceling the originally scheduled courts and reserving courts for the new date.

Inclement Weather on a Play-Ahead Date

• If inclement weather occurs, the match reverts to the original scheduled date unless captains mutually agree on another play-ahead date.

Obligation to Play Early

• Captains are not required to agree to play early.

• If failing to play early would result in a full team default, captains are strongly encouraged to make every reasonable effort to play the minimum number of lines needed to make the match valid.

Inclement Weather

Definition

Inclement weather includes:

• Rain, snow, sleet, or severe storms

• Extreme heat or cold ("feels like" temperature of 100°F or higher, or 35°F or lower)

• Unhealthy air quality (AQI above 100)

• Other conditions rendering courts unplayable (e.g., malfunctioning lights)

Play may proceed in inclement conditions only with mutual agreement of both captains and players.

Determining Court Playability

• The home team/facility determines court playability.

• Decisions should not be made more than two hours before match start unless courts are officially closed.

• The home captain must promptly communicate delays or cancellations to the visiting captain.

Communication Requirements

• The home captain must notify the opposing captain by text or phone.

• Confirmation must be received. Without confirmation, both teams must arrive ready to play.

After Play Begins

• If weather worsens after scorecards are exchanged, captains may stop play.

• Players must remain on site for 30 minutes to determine whether play can resume.

• For courts where play has started (first point played):

  • Lineups stand

  • Play resumes with the same players, positions, score, and site (unless mutually agreed otherwise)

• For courts still in warm-ups:

  • Substitutions are allowed, but only with players not on the scorecard - players on the scorecard may not move from one line to another.

Defaults and Started Matches

• If play has started on any line, all defaults stand and cannot be made up.

• Defaults may only be reinstated if no line has started.

Make-Up Matches

Match Rescheduling Options

Captains may mutually agree to:

• Full-Match Reschedule – one date for all lines

• Individual Line Reschedule – lines scheduled separately without exchanging player names in advance

Timeframe

• Matches must be completed within 14 days, before playoffs, or by season end - whichever comes first.

Setting the Make-Up Date

• The home captain initiates contact.

• Captains must exchange at least one contact per line within 48 hours.

• The home team should provide at least two date options.

• Within four (4) days, captains must agree on dates.

• Once agreed, the match may only be postponed again for inclement weather.

If Captains Cannot Agree

• The match will default to the last Friday of the make-up window at the original or closest available time.

• If home courts are unavailable, the Local League Coordinator will assign an alternate location.

• Failure to complete the match results in a double default.

Inclement Weather on Make-Up Date

• The make-up window resets unless the match was scheduled prior to the original match date.  In that case, the match reverts to the original scheduled date unless captains mutually agree on another play-ahead date.

End-of-Season Matches

• Matches rained out during the final two scheduled matches must be completed within one (1) week and before season end.

• The Local League Coordinator must be notified within two (2) days.

Indoor Courts

• If indoor courts are available within a 20 minute drive and 30 minutes of match time, teams are encouraged to play.

• Cost sharing is recommended but not required.

• If one team is willing to cover the full cost, both teams must play unless travel is unsafe.

Holiday Schedule Considerations

• Matches may be scheduled on major holidays due to court availability.

• Teams scheduled on Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Easter, Memorial Day, July 4th, or Labor Day are encouraged to play as scheduled or earlier.

• Captains must notify opponents at least one week in advance if rescheduling.

• Other holidays require a request to the Local League Coordinator within two weeks of season start.

Championship and Local Tournament Conflicts

Purpose

These rules prevent forced forfeits due to participation in approved championship events. They are not intended to guarantee availability of specific players.  Eligibility for rescheduling lines depends on league type, roster size, and number of affected players. Please refer to the official Rescheduling Chart in the Local League Regulations for detailed requirements by league.

Approved Events

• USTA State, Sectional, or National Championships

• Asheville Open, Banana Open, Apple Open

Notification

• Captains must notify the opposing captain and Local League Coordinator at least one week in advance.

• Captains must complete the Reschedule Request Form.

• The Local League Coordinator will verify participation and determine eligible lines.

Rescheduling

• Affected lines must be rescheduled under inclement weather rules and completed within 14 days or before season end.

Failure to Follow Procedures

Failure to follow these rescheduling procedures may result in:

• Individual or team defaults

• Double defaults

• Filing of a grievance

Captains are expected to act in good faith and communicate clearly to support fair and timely league play.