USTA league teams are an important opportunity for Club members to play together and compete in teams against other clubs and in the broader community with players of similar ability. All team members must adhere to the rules of the Club and league while showing good sportsmanship throughout the season. The STC Director of Tennis is charged with communicating and administering the policies and guidelines regarding USTA teams. Any questions about USTA team rules or STC team policies can be directed to the Director of Tennis or the Club Tennis Captain.
1. It is the Club’s intention that teams consist primarily of members and for the benefit of members. It is required that team captains first look within STC to build their team roster at the specific level of play.
2. A limited number of non-members and social members (non-members hereafter includes social members) can be added to a team in order to build a competitive roster when enough competitive players at a particular level within the Club do not join the team.
3. The Director of Tennis will provide a copy of the STC USTA League Policy and Guidelines to the captains of all USTA teams prior to approving the registration of each team within the Club. The captain is then responsible to adhere to the USTA team policy and associated rules.
4. Upon a team’s registration, a notice shall promptly be posted in the Pro Shop lobby announcing the formation of the team in order to give members the opportunity to join. Additionally, the tennis staff will assist the captains in announcing openings electronically to eligible players.
1. A team captain must submit for approval and register the team through the Director of Tennis.
2. The team captain is responsible for informing the team players about STC USTA League Guidelines and Policies.
3. All players and team captains must adhere to USTA League Guidelines and Policies.
4. Non-members may join only STC USTA teams at the 4.5 level or above. Any captain who proposes to add non-members to their roster in a number that exceeds a ratio of one non-member for every 4 members (20%) must seek the written approval of the Director of Tennis. The Director of Tennis may approve or disapprove the captain’s proposal or in rare cases recommend the proposal be reviewed and approved by the Tennis Captain and/or Tennis Committee. The basis of approval shall be an adequate showing by the team captain that he or she attempted, but was unable, to fill roster spots with STC members competitive at the appropriate rating level. Any STC USTA team roster that consists of less than 50% Club members is strictly prohibited. A non-member may not be on more than one STC team at a time.
5. If non-members join a team, the captain is responsible for making sure the non-members pay 1) a guest fee for each practice time or an appropriate share of the lesson fee (if applicable) and 2) a guest fee for home matches held at STC.
6. A non-member on a Club USTA team must comply with the guest rules, but has the benefit of a limited exemption from some rules. STC members on the team shall have priority over non-members for all organized team practices on reserved courts.
7. The USTA League Guidelines and Policies are enforced by the STC Director of Tennis and/or STC Tennis Captain. Teams will be periodically monitored for rules violations. Teams failing to follow the rules are subject to disciplinary actions by the STC Tennis Captain including suspensions and loss of STC sponsorship.
8. The Tennis Captain can adopt additional rules to implement and enforce these policies and guidelines.
12/3/15: Foregoing USTA Guidelines and Rules approved; 1/23/25: First sentence of Section 4 of the USTC Team Policy added to reflect current rules as discussed.
9. Visiting teams may use a vacant court for warm-up ten minutes prior to the time of the match.
10. For USTA matches that are scheduled back-to-back, the earlier match will receive a 15-minute grace period to complete their match if necessary.
The Cup Executive Committee is responsible for bringing organization and fair decision making to this program, and helping to find resolution to conflicts in a collective, democratic way.
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10/27/22: Chapter 124 approved by the Board.