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"Join SMTC to Enjoy Open Play Most Sundays, Free"
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As a rule, all mail to SMTC should be addressed to P.O. Box 2012, Santa Monica, CA 90406.
However, entry blanks for club events usually specify the event director's address.
The club's phone number is (310) 281-3196 (Voice Mail).
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The club's newsletter, On The Line, is the most reliable source for keeping abreast of all club activities.
Each issue includes: Calendar of Events, Welcome New Members, SMTC Board of Directors, Challenge
Ladder Standings, entry blanks for upcoming events and articles about club activities.
SMTC urges its members to read On The Line thoroughly to be aware of event deadlines and other pertinent club news.
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Members are required to wear proper tennis attire during all scheduled
tournaments and the same is suggested at Sunday open play. This includes shirts and proper tennis shoes.
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NTRP - National Tennis Rating Program refers to guidelines to help players best determine their personal level of play
USTA - United States Tennis Association uses NTRP guidelines to determine official USTA ratings.
SMTC members whose rating in the roster is followed by an asterisk (*) have attained an official USTA rating
by participating in an official USTA rating clinic or event.
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To Enter An Event:
- You must be an SMTC member by the entry deadline.
- If you enter a Grand Prix event without an NTRP rating you will be placed in the open bracket (see page 24).
- Complete the entry form printed in the newsletter.
- Include a self-addressed, stamped, #10 envelope or an E-mail address with the entry.
- Make your check payable to Santa Monica Tennis Club (please don't staple it to the entry form).
- Note the deadline and mail your entry, check and self-addressed, stamped, #10 envelope as directed on the entry blank.
All entries received by the deadline will be considered; entries received after the deadline will be included, if possible.
If too many entries are received for any event, entries will be selected from those received by the deadline.
If a player is not selected for this event every effort will be made to include him or her in the next event entered.
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If, after entering an SMTC event, you must withdraw, notify the event director as soon as possible.
If the entry deadline has not yet passed, your entry fee will be refunded. If you notify the director
after the entry deadline your entry fee will be refunded only if a member of similar ability is found
to take your place in the event. If you must withdraw on the day of a tournament, please call Reed Park
(394-6011) and leave a message notifying the tournament director of your withdrawal.
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SMTC holds club tournaments approximately once a month, usually for members only.
Tournament directors set up separate divisions according to NTRP categories. Look for specific
details of these tournaments as announced in the monthly newsletter. Two SMTC tournaments, primarily
social in nature, are the Hello Tournament in February and the Turkey Shoot in November. Consult the
Calendar Page for a schedule of the current year's events. SMTC's major tournament of the year is the Club
Championships held over two weekends in the fall. Members may enter this elimination tournament in singles,
doubles, and mixed doubles.
On the final Sunday, following the finals in each division, SMTC hosts an awards party.
INTERCLUB TOURNAMENTS
Throughout the year SMTC makes arrangements with other clubs to hold interclub tournaments, some social and others more
competitive. As with club tournaments, interclub tournaments usually have separate NTRP categories. Watch the bi-monthly
newsletter for announcements of these tournaments. An entry does not guarantee a place in these events. Teams to represent
the club will be selected by the Interclub Director.
ROUND ROBIN TOURNAMENTS
SMTC offers two round robin tournaments each year. These are Major Grand Prix tournaments (see below). Entrants receive a
list of all players in their division and play one match each week until everyone has played each other. Prizes are awarded
to the winners and runners-up.
GRAND PRIX EVENTS, POINTS AND AWARDS
SMTC tournaments are divided into three categories:
- Major Grand Prix tournaments
- Minor Grand Prix tournaments
- Social tournaments (no Grand Prix points)
If you enter a Grand Prix event without an NTRP rating you will be placed in the open bracket.
Grand Prix points are awarded during the year at the Grand Prix tournaments and prizes are presented after the year's
end for the most points earned during the year in several classifications.
In Major Grand Prix tournaments,
points are awarded as follows:
| | Singles | Doubles |
| Winner | 320 | 160 |
| Runner-up | 240 | 120 |
| Semifinalist | 160 | 80 |
| Quarterfinalist | 80 | 40 |
In Minor Grand Prix tournaments,
points are awarded as follows:
| | Singles | Doubles |
| Winner | 160 | 80 |
| Runner-up | 120 | 60 |
| Semifinalist | 80 | 40 |
| Quarterfinalist | 40 | 20 |
See the Calendar Page for a schedule of Grand Prix tournaments.
Up to 500 Grand Prix points can be earned
each year for ladder matches as follows:
| | Singles | Doubles |
| Winner | 20 | 10 |
| Runner-up | 10 | 5 |
Year-end Grand Prix point totals are published annually in the newsletter.
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Open play is free and open to all club members. SMTC reserves three courts for open play at Reed Park each
Sunday when there is not a club or a city-sponsored tournament. Open play hours will be noted in the calendar
in the monthly newsletter.
General Open Play Guidelines Applicable To All Courts
- SMTC posts a sign-up board at the south end of the grandstand alongside Court #1. There are two lists on this board-1). Regular Open Play and 2). Challenge Court.
Club members may sign up to play on either list as they arrive or come off a court. Players may have their names on only one list and, therefore, may not sign up for both the Challenge Court and the Regular Open Play Courts.
- A player may not sign in another player.
- Players should cross out their names before entering a court to play.
- Players not present when their turn comes to play will forfeit their place in line and will be crossed off the list. Players who leave or go to play on another court should cross their name off the list.
- Club members playing a match on open play courts in the hour prior to the start of open play must relinquish the court promptly when open play begins and may then sign in at the bottom of the list.
- Warm-ups are limited to FIVE (5) MINUTES.
Courts 2 and 6 - "Regular Open Play"
- When others are waiting, one set of doubles must be played. If no others are waiting, a set of singles may be played to completion.
- Teams will play a regular set-first to 6 by 2 games-with a 12-point tiebreak at six-games-all. Scoring used in all games shall be sudden death at second deuce (40-40 is first deuce; at sudden death gender serves to gender when applicable).
Court l - "Challenge Court"
- A men's, women's or mixed doubles team of any level may sign up to compete on the Challenge Court. Only teams may sign up. Single players may not sign up and add a partner later.
- Teams will play a total of eight games with a 12-point tiebreak at four-games-all. Scoring used in all games shall be sudden death at second deuce (40-40 is first deuce; at sudden death gender serves to gender when applicable).
- The winning team remains on the court for a maximum of two (2) matches. As each match ends, the next team on the list takes the court to play the team remaining from the previous match. (If only three teams are present and the winning team has beaten the other two teams, the winning team must relinquish the court to the other two teams.) When only one pair is signed up on the Challenge Court and waiting to play and two pairs are currently playing - should the winning team have completed two consecutive matches, that team shall be deemed eligible to play one additional match so as not to reward the losing team with another round of play.
- Any player leaving a Challenge Court match will forfeit that match for the team.
Guests at Sunday Open Play
Guests, accompanied by a member, are welcome to play one set, one time only, at Sunday open play as an introduction to SMTC. This also applies to past members who have not yet renewed their membership for the current year.
Members should check On The Line for open play times and changes.
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SMTC maintains five challenge ladders: two singles ladders-designated as the Open Singles ladder and the Women's Singles ladder-and three doubles ladders-designated as the Men's Doubles, Women's Doubles and Mixed Doubles ladders.
- Both men and women may play on the Open Singles ladder.
- Men may not play on the Women's Singles ladder.
- Ladder activity, standings and announcements appear each month in the newsletter, with a more current version here on the website - see the Challenge Ladders page.
Entering a Ladder
- Read all ladder rules thoroughly before making your first challenge. It is not necessary to call the ladder director unless you have a specific question.
- New ladder challengers winning a match enter the ladder in the position of the challengee(s) they have just defeated.
- New challengers on the Open Singles ladder have three opportunities to find their proper level. If they lose all three matches, they are placed at the bottom of the Open Singles ladder.
- New challengers on all other ladders who lose their first match will immediately be placed at the bottom of the ladder.
- A challenger not yet on a ladder cannot enter that ladder by a default (see "Defaults"). However, if a player or team already on the ladder does not play such a challenger within four weeks of the challenge, the challenged player or team shall be demoted three places on the ladder.
- A player not yet on the Open Singles ladder may not challenge the top five players on that ladder.
Arranging a Challenge Match
- Players/teams may challenge up to six positions above their present position. Both players/teams must check their current positions by consulting the current ladder here on the website (see Challenge Ladder page), or posted in the SMTC glass case at Reed Park, or by calling the ladder director.
- If the challenger and challengee are within six places of each other when the challenge is made, the challenge remains binding even if the challengee moves more than six places ahead of the challenger before their match is played. (In such a case the challenger will advance more than six places by defeating the challengee.)
- To arrange a challenge match, contact the intended opponent, offer some alternatives and agree on a time and place for the match. The challenger must speak directly with the challengee to issue a proper challenge. One message left on an answering machine or with a member of the challengee's household does not constitute sufficient notice.
- Once a challenge has been issued but a mutually agreeable date has not been worked out, the challengee must get back to the challenger with alternate days and times when he or she is available to play. The challengee does not have the right to tell the challenger to call back in a couple of weeks.
- The challenger must arrange court reservations and supply a new can of USTA-approved tennis balls. Both players/teams pay any court fees due.
- After completing a challenge match, the same two players/teams cannot play another challenge until one month has passed. If a challenge is issued immediately for one month later, the four-week default rule (see "Defaults") doesn't begin until that one month has elapsed.
- Challengees should respond to messages in a timely fashion. Any dispute over communication difficulties should be resolved between the players themselves. In cases of total impasse, consult the ladder director.
Defaults
- Challengees must accept and play a challenge match within four weeks in order to avoid a default (but see "Entering a ladder" and " Arranging a Challenge Match") Challengees giving defaults will exchange position on the ladder with the challenger receiving the default. There are no exceptions for injuries, vacations, out-of-town business or any other reason.
- Challengees must inform challengers of alternate days and times they are available to play. If the challengee cannot play the match within four weeks after the challenge, the challenger may request a default from the ladder director.
- Two successive defaults will result in removal from a ladder and the player/team must wait at least two months to challenge onto that ladder again.
- The ladder director has final discretion to determine all defaults and details must be verified by both players/teams involved.
Reporting Results
Winners must report match results to the ladder director within 48 hours. (Losers may also report to ensure they receive credit for the match. ) Please give 1) the names of all players, 2) who won and 3) the date of the match. It is not necessary to report the score. Please, no calls before 9 a.m. or after 10 p.m.
Position on a Ladder
Challengers who win a match advance to the position immediately above their opponent. Challengees who win a match (i.e. defend their position) retain the same ladder position.
Rules Governing Ladder Matches
- Challenge matches consist of either:
- Two-out-of-three regular sets or
- One 8-game pro set, only if both parties agree, using regular scoring. The first player to reach eight, with a margin of two games (i.e. 8-6, 9-7 etc.), is the winner. In case of an 8-8 tie, playa 12-point tiebreak.
- A default may be called 10 minutes after the scheduled starting time.
- Warm up may not exceed TEN (10) MINUTES.
- Players shall agree in advance on the maximum amount of time to be allotted for the match and, if it is not completed within that time, must finish the match within two weeks.
- Rain-outs of challenges must be rescheduled.
- Good sportsmanship shall prevail at all times and players must resolve their own disagreements. Please don't ask the ladder director to resolve on-court disputes or to interpret tennis rules. However, any disagreement interpreting the challenge-ladder rules may be presented to the ladder director for a ruling.
Dropping Off a Ladder
- Players/teams unable to accept challenges for a period longer than a month (e.g. because of injury) are encouraged to drop off the ladder. Players/teams who drop off a ladder must wait two months before challenging back onto that ladder.
- A minimum of two matches a year must be played to avoid removal from a ladder.
Awards for Ladder Play
For each singles ladder match the winner is awarded 20 Grand Prix points (see "Grand Prix. .." above) and the loser 10. For each doubles ladder match, the winners are each awarded 10 Grand Prix points and the losers 5 points. The man and woman earning the most Grand Prix points on the ladder each year will receive an award. If there is need for further clarification, consult with the ladder director.
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During the year, SMTC arranges tennis weekend trips to nearby resorts. The package usually includes Friday and Saturday nights'
lodging, unlimited tennis including open play and organized tournaments, and various other activities,
depending on the resort chosen. Consult the calendar for information on upcoming trips. Refunds for cancellations cannot be guaranteed.
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1.0 - This player is just starting to play tennis.
1.5 - This player has limited playing experience and is still working primarily on getting the ball over the net; has. some knowledge of scoring but is not familiar with basic positions and procedures for singles and doubles play.
2.0 - This player may have had some lessons but needs on-court experience; has obvious stroke weaknesses but is beginning to feel comfortable with singles and doubles play.
2 5 - This player has more dependable strokes and is learning to judge where the ball is going; has weak court coverage or is often caught out of position, but is starting to keep the ball in play with other players of the same ability
3.0 - This player can place shots with moderate success; can sustain a rally of slow pace but is not comfortable with all strokes; lacks control when trying for power.
3.5 - This player has achieved stroke dependability and direction on shots within reach, including forehand and backhand volleys, but still lacks depth and variety; seldom double faults and occasionally forces errors on the serve.
4.0 - This player has dependable strokes on both forehand and backhand sides; has the ability to use a variety of shots including lobs, overheads, approach shots and volleys; can place the first serve and force some errors; is seldom out of position in a doubles game.
4.5 - This player has begun to master the use of power and spins; has sound footwork, can control depth of shots and is able to move opponent up and back; can hit first serves with power and accuracy and place the second serve; is able to rush the net with some success on serve in singles as well as doubles.
5.0 - This player has good shot anticipation; frequently has an outstanding shot or exceptional consistency around which a game may be structured; can regularly hit winners or force errors off of short balls; can successfully execute lobs, drop shots, half volleys and overhead smashes; has good depth and spin on most second serves.
5.5 - This player can execute all strokes offensively and defensively; can hit dependable shots under pressure; is able to analyze opponents' styles and can employ patterns of play to assure the greatest possibility of winning points; can hit winners or force errors with both first and second serves; return of serve can be an offensive weapon.
6.0 - This player has mastered all the above skills; has developed power and/or consistency as a major weapon; and can vary strategies and styles of play in a competitive situation. This player typically has had intensive training for national competition at junior or collegiate levels.
6.5 - This player has mastered all of the above skills and is an experienced tournament competitor who regularly travels for competition and whose income may be partially derived from prize winnings.
7.0 - This is a world class player.
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Overview
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