Resolving Disputes

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A. On Court Conflicts

To ensure a positive match experience players are responsible for knowing the rules, enforcing them while on court and conducting themselves in a manner representative of the league's Code of Conduct. The majority of conflicts that occur during a match come down to players not understanding the basic rules and etiquette of the game. Conflicts are broken down into two categories:

B. Protestable Conflicts:

Protestable Conflicts occur when an actual rule violation happens while on court. In this case the violation may justify filing an Official Protest with the league office. The league office will only mediate disagreements between players where an Official Protest is justified and was issued to the offending player at the time of the infraction.

C. Non Protestable Conflicts:

Non protestable conflicts are disagreements between players that are subjective in nature and will not be ruled on by the League Office. While the league office will not rule on these events, we do want to be informed of all negative behavior. Players who encounter flagrant unsportsmanlike conduct are asked to report the incident to the league office so that a complaint may be logged and appropriate action taken per our Three Strike Policy.

These conflicts include:

• Bad line calls and the excessive questioning of calls

• Foot Faults

• Scoring Issues

• Rude Behavior

Because a league representative is not present during matches, we cannot take one player's word over the other. Players who encounter conflicts on court are expected to resolve them in an adult like manner on the court. The League Office will not mediate matches or settle disputes between players regarding these types of conflicts. Resolving on Court Conflicts provides helpful information on how players can work together to solve conflicts if and when they occur.

D. On Court Disputes

The best way to avoid scoring conflicts is to call out scores clearly before the start of each point as well as each game. When a dispute in scoring occurs, players must go back to the last point or game in which they agree upon and resume the match from there.

• Example 1: Player A calls the score 30 to 15
Player B believes the score is 30 to 30
The last score they both can agree on is 15 to 15
Play resumes from 15 to 15

• Example 2:
Player A calls the game score of 4 games to 2
Player B states the game score is 3 games to 2
They last game score the agree on is 2 games to 2
Play resumes from 2 games to 2

E. Code of Conduct

Good sportsmanship begins with treating opponents with respect. The tone of the match is set from the first call to an opponent, to the last handshake over the net. Because matches are played without an official, players are on the honor system and must conduct themselves in a sportsmanlike manner both on and off the court.

This includes:

• Responding timely to phone calls/emails from opponents related to match scheduling

• Playing matches on time and reporting scores accurately within the given time periods

• Notifying opponents in advance when a match cannot be played for any reason

• Arriving on time for matches

• Understanding the rules and apply them fairly and honestly

• Refraining from the use of profanity

F. Three Strike Conduct Policy

We are committed to providing quality opponents that follow the rules and produce a positive overall match experience. Players that produce complaints or behavior that is consistently offensive to other members will be removed from the league. All players are subject to our Three Strike Conduct Policy so that we may quickly remove disruptive and/or unsportsmanlike players.

Unsportsmanlike conduct includes:

• Being non-responsive to opponent's phone calls and or emails

• Difficulty in scheduling

• Repeated bad line calls

• Excessive questioning of line calls

• Excessive gamesmanship or distracting behavior

• Rude or argumentative behavior

• Verbal abuse towards an opponent

To accomplish this, We ask that unsportsmanlike behavior be reported to the league office as soon as possible.

Each valid complaint is logged into a player's conduct file and begins the Three Strike process:

• 1st Complaint - Complaint is recorded

• 2nd Complaint - Player is contacted by phone and given a verbal warning

• 3rd Complaint - Player is suspended from the league for one year.

• Players returning after a one year suspension are on a "One strike - zero tolerance policy". ANY new complaints will result in a "Permanent lifetime suspension" from the league.

G. Conduct Requiring Immediate League Suspension

• Falsifying scores, which includes: Fabricating scores, changing scores, or reporting substitute matches not played

• Verbal or written abusive language towards UT staff members

• Physical abuse

• Verbally threatening to use physical abuse

Players subjected to threatening verbal abuse should issue a warning to their opponent stating they are violating the Code of Conduct and request that the behavior stop. If further abuse occurs, the player should leave the match and report the violation to the league office immediately. Ultimate Tennis will review the offense and make a ruling. If, during the course of our investigation, we determine a complaint to be valid, the offending player will not only lose the match but will be subjected to immediate and permanent suspension from the league.

Note: Players suspended from league play will not receive a refund or credit for the season