Club Championships 2024 Regulations

Sunday 25th August – Saturday 7th September

TOURNAMENT RULES

Eligibility rules

• The tournament is open to all members, with the exception of Auxiliary Members, who have reached the age of 14 by 31st December 2023.
• Juniors who have a national singles ranking of 5 or higher in the U14 age group may play in the Club Championships SINGLES event.
• Members who played Summer League in 2024 for another club may not enter the GLTC Club Championships.

Graded events eligibility rules

• Juniors (aged 17 or under on December 31 2023) are not eligible to enter graded events. They may enter the championship events and are eligible to enter the singles plate should they lose their first round.
• Players who won a graded event last year will not be eligible to play in the same grade this year but they may play in a higher grade or in the championship events.
• The referees reserve the right to move a player from a graded event to a higher grade or to a championship event if they feel that the player is too strong for the grade in which they entered.
• Ladies’ Class 5/6 events: Ladies who played Class 5 or below in Summer League 2024 are eligible to play in the Class 5/6 Singles and Doubles events. Class 4 ladies can play in the Class 4-6 Mixed event.
• Men’s Class 4-6 events: Men who played Class 4 or below in Summer League 2024 are eligible to play in all Class 4-6 events.
• Class 7/Non-league events: Players who played Class 7 or below in Summer League 2024, or who did not make a league team, are eligible to play in the Class 7/Non-league events. Players who did not play league in 2024, but who are deemed by the referees to be stronger than Class 7 will not be eligible for Class 7 events.

Match formats

• The following formats are subject to change in the event that courts 1 and 2 are not available for part of the tournament.
• Championship matches to be best of 3 sets with tie-breaks to be played at 6-6 in all sets.
• Men’s Class 4-6 and Ladies’ Class 5-6 and Mixed Class 4-6 matches to be best of 3 sets with tie-breaks to be played at 6-6 in the first 2 sets; the 3rd set being a championship tie-break (first player to 10 points leading by 2 points).
• Class 7/non-league matches shall have short games – i.e. 1 point after deuce with the receiver choosing which side to receive on. Set format is same as for Class 4-6 events.
• The referees may decide to lengthen the format of the graded events in later rounds should the schedule allow time for it.

General rules

• Matches must be played at scheduled times unless previously agreed with the referees. The referees reserve the right to cancel an event if the number of entries is inadequate, and to regrade any entry.
• Players must provide their own balls, but club will provide balls for finals.
• As there will be Senior League matches on the middle Sunday (Sep 1), the tournament committee may decide to start matches the previous week on Sunday 25th August, depending on size of draws. Players should indicate on their entry form if they are unable to play on this day.
• Players must be available for the period of the championships. The committee will endeavour to accommodate unavailability on one day only (in addition to August 25) and this must be indicated on the entry form. However, players must be available to play on Saturday 31st from 9am-6pm and Sunday 1st September from 5pm-10pm. If unavailability interferes with the running of the tournament, players must concede a walkover.
• All matches will be scheduled & posted on tournamentsoftware.com, accessible via the GLTC website, www.glenagearyltc.ie. It is the player’s responsibility to check the schedule. The referees WILL NOT phone players.
• Matches will be scheduled from 6pm on weekdays and from 11am on Saturday 31st August and from 5pm on Sunday 1st September (this is to accommodate Senior League matches on that day). Players may arrange to play outside these times on or before the scheduled date, by mutual agreement and approval of the captains. This helps to free up court space for the evening sessions.
• Players are asked to check in at least 15 minutes before their scheduled start time – matches may start earlier than scheduled if all players are checked in. This facilitates the smooth running of the tournament and optimal use of court time.
• Walkovers will be given if players do not show up on time – no appeals on this matter will be granted.
• Players taking part in more than one event must be available to play two matches back to back.
• Regulation tennis attire to be worn for all matches
• In all matters the tournament referees’ decision is final
• Singles Plate events (Men and Ladies) will be held for those who lose their first round match in Singles Championship events (if numbers are sufficient).
• Players who concede a walkover in their first round will not be eligible for the Plate events
• Mixed and possibly some Plate finals will be played on the evening of Friday 6th September.
• All other finals will be played on Saturday 7th September starting at 11:00

IF YOU ARE NOT AVAILABLE TO PLAY IN THE FINAL OF AN EVENT YOU WILL BE EXPECTED TO RETIRE AT MATCH POINT IN THE SEMI FINAL