Note: This information is a summary. Interested parties should consult the 2021-2022 ITA Rulebook for official rule language. The 2021-22 ITA Rulebook is scheduled to be published electronically and in hard copy in early August 2021.
ITA Rules Committee Members (in alphabetical order):
- Mark Booras (Tulane University – NCAA DI)
- Bev Buckley (Rollins College – NCAA DII)
- Brooks Buffington (Jones College – NJCAA)
- Robert Dallis (Dartmouth College – NCAA DI)
- Andrew Girard (Carnegie Mellon University – NCAA DIII)
- Rebel Good (ITA Official)
- Jose Martinez (Warner University – NAIA)
- Anthony Montero (ITA Official)
Rules Additions, Changes & Clarifications for All Divisions
- Direct line substitution in doubles: If one player is removed from a doubles team, the new player substituted in must be listed on the lineup sheet exchanged prior to the start of the match, either in the singles or doubles portion. The lineup must remain in order of ability.
- Number of courts available: The host institution must provide a minimum of three varsity quality courts for outdoor, single gender dual match competition unless both coaches agree prior to the start of the match in writing.
- Coach may overrule own player: A coach may overrule a call made by his or her own player if either of the following conditions are met:
- There is no official present.
- There is an official present but the official chooses not to overrule the player.
- Any such overrule by the coach shall not count towards the player or team’s number of overrules by an official.
- Coach assessed penalty: Coaches may assess a point penalty or default against his or her own player/team for any inappropriate conduct if either of the following conditions are met:
- (a) There is no official present.
- (b) There is an official present but the official chooses not to penalize the player.
- Any such point penalty assessed by the coach shall not be part of the ITA Point Penalty System for that match.
- Suspension of an outdoor match due to weather: If an outdoor match (with no indoor backup) is suspended due to weather and resumed on the same day, the following conditions shall apply for warmup:
- Matches suspended for less than 15 minutes do not qualify for a warmup
- Matches suspended for over 15 minutes may receive up to a 10-minute warmup period. This warmup shall be done with the players’ teammates prior to resuming the suspended match.
- Bench players and empty adjacent courts (clarification): Once an adjacent court opens to any court the bench players are viewing, bench players and team personnel must go to that open court to support their teammates and whenever possible remain on the side of the teammate(s). If an adjacent court is not open to the court the bench players are viewing, bench players and team personnel may remain at their original designated location.
- Example: If there are six courts in a row, and one of the end courts is the first to finish, all bench players are not required to stand on that empty adjacent court. They may remain in their original location (designated area). However, if a bench player is only watching the match adjacent to the empty court, that player should watch from that empty adjacent court. Once only one or two matches remain, all bench players and team personnel must watch the remaining match(es) from an empty adjacent court.
- Varsity quality tennis facility: Indoor and outdoor facilities have been separated into two sections and specifications have been provided for both.
Rules Additions, Changes & Clarifications for Division I
- Doubles matches: If both coaches agree prior to the start of the match, all three doubles matches may be played to completion. The dual match scoring – one point for doubles – remains the same, even if a team wins all three doubles matches. (This rule aligns DI with DII & NAIA)
Rules Additions, Changes & Clarifications for Division I & Division II
- Lineup changes once a match has begun: If a dual match is played on fewer than six courts, lineup changes may be made within two minutes of a court becoming available. ITA Regulations I.D.6. (Removing players from the singles lineup) and I.F.6. (Order of play on fewer than six courts) must still be followed. (This rule aligns DI & DII with DIII, JUCO and NAIA)
- Advertisement -
