Tennis Advisory Committee Meeting Summary

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

*1.    Recommend to accept the following proposal allowing the third place finisher from the district tournament to compete in a defaulted player’s spot. 

 Proposal – Inviting a Third Place Finisher to Compete in the State Tournament

If a player who qualifies for the individual state tournament should become unable to compete (at any point between districts and state), the third place finisher from the district will be invited to compete.  The process will involve:

      a.   The coach of the player who is unable to compete must contact the MSHSAA no later than noon Monday the week of the state tournament.  It is recommended the school notify the MSHSAA Office as soon as the school becomes aware of the absence/default.

      b.   MSHSAA will contact the school of the third place finisher ASAP.

      c.   If the third place finisher is unable to compete, the fourth place finisher will not be invited.  The absent/defaulted player’s spot will remain empty in the state draw.

      d.   The above procedure will apply to doubles teams as well.

The third place finisher will substitute directly in for the defaulted player.  The third place finisher should be advised that he/she may or may not be included in any printed material (i.e. program, t-shirts) due to the last minute nature of the replacement.

2.   Recommend to accept the following proposal outlining doubles line-ups. 

 Proposal – Doubles line-ups may be played in any order provided:

               1.   Doubles rank orders will be determined by the sum total of the singles rank order value.  Example:  if the #1 and #2 singles play together their sum total is 3 points.  If the #3 and #4 singles play together their sum total is 7 points.  Therefore, #1 and #2 must play at the #1 doubles spot; #3 and #4 must play at the #2 doubles; etc.

               2.   When the sum total of the teams are the same (example:  #3 and #4 play together and #2 and #5 play together–both teams point value is 7), the team with the highest ranked player must play at the higher doubles position.  Therefore, #2 and #5 would play at the #1 doubles spot; #3 and #4 would play at the #2 doubles spot; etc.

Exception:  If a team line-up can be justified based on doubles abilities it is legal to use that line-up in post-season only if the line-up has been used three times during the regular season in a 6 and 3 format or in doubles tournament(s) where 3 or more doubles teams were entered. 

3.   Recommend that tennis players be allowed to receive pay for giving lessons or instructions during the summer months. 

4.   Recommend that the Tennis Manual wording in Appendix A, A.3. be changed as follows:  “Once individual district competition starts in singles and/or doubles, no substitutions can be made.”

5.   Recommend that the Tennis Manual wording in Appendix A, B.1. be changed as follows:  “Between individual district matches and team sectionals, and between …” 

6.  Recommend that the Tennis Manual wording in Appendix A, B.1. Note 2 be removed because of the new wording above.

7.   Recommend that the higher seed will host or choose the site for each round of the team district tournament.

8.   Recommend a four-year rotation be used for the host of the team sectionals. 

9.   Recommend that in the event of inclement weather, post season contests may be moved to an out of state location if agreed upon by all participating schools.

10.   Recommend that the Tennis Manual wording in Section 5, A.8.a. be changed as follows “Two four singles players and two four doubles teams shall be seeded at each individual district tournament.  By majority vote, the seeding committee may place additional players on the bracket, beyond two four, when deemed necessary.”  Also recommend deleting “The #3 and #4 seeded players or teams shall be placed on the bracket opposite the second and first seeds respectively (not determined by lot as in USTA procedures).  (Exception:  If two seeds involve the same school they have to be placed on opposite halves of the bracket.)  in Section 5, A.8.b.

11.   Recommend to revert back to playing singles before doubles from the district team tournament through the state finals beginning with the 2010-11 school year.  


    *   Denied

  **   Tabled for further study

***   Approved as amended

         All other approved