Oct. 30, 2007 Meeting Summary

Held October 30, 2007

1. Recommend the MSHSAA adopt the following policy on stacking to be included in the MSHSAA Tennis Manual:     Stacking: The MSHSAA Tennis Advisory Committee and the Board of Directors is fundamentally opposed to “stacking.” Stacking is the practice of placing tennis players in the line-up in a manner not consistent with rank ability, but rather for the purpose of gaining an advantage due to the match-ups created. This is a practice that is unacceptable due to the detrimental way that certain players (usually the lower-level players) are placed and forced to compete. Coaches must be able to justify line-ups to competing coaches.

1. Line-ups and Comprehensive Results shall be exchanged prior to the start of the match. Varsity lineups and scorebooks/score sheets shall show all team/tournament results throughout the year up to that day. If a coach does not have his/her scorebook, the opposing coach shall submit a special report to the MSHSAA.

2. Players must play in the order of ability. The line-up shall always be based on the order of ability. “Matching up” is prohibited. In singles, players must compete in order of rank ability with the best player on the team based on challenges and match results. In case of injury or sickness, all players must move up. This rule shall also apply to doubles play with the strongest doubles team at No. 1, etc.

a. A player shall not be moved down in the line-up because of:

i. an injury that has forced a player out of the lineup; or

ii. disciplinary measures.

b. Rank order shall be set by the Saturday of Week 12 (girls season) and Week 43 (boys season). Rank order is based on a player’s ability, match results, and challenges. All members of the eligibility roster shall be included in the rank order.

i. Rank order shall be submitted to the district manager prior to the start of the district tournament. The district manager shall submit the rank orders to the coaches whose team qualify for state play.

ii. Rank Order shall be submitted with the district entry forms to the MSHSAA.

iii. Rank order shall be submitted to all coaches at the regional meet.

iv. Rank order shall be submitted to all coaches at the sectional meet.

v. Rank order shall be submitted to all coaches prior to state competition.

3. Lineup changes in back-to-back dual matches. In back-to-back dual meet matches (two consecutive dual meet matches played regardless of time between matches), the team line-up (as played) may be changed. A player may move up or down only one position in this situation. The line-up must still stay in order of ability. Prior to the start of the match and during the line-up exchange, it is the responsibility of the opposing coach to appeal any player being moved two or more positions in the line-up.

4. Appeals concerning unfair line-ups. If a coach feels that the opponent’s lineup as presented is unfair, he should notify the opposing coach of the protest. Any coach who wishes to submit a match protest (after the completion of the match) must first inform the opposing coach in writing (by fax or e-mail), with a copy sent at the same time to the MSHSAA. This is necessary even when the opposing coach was informed of the protest at the time of the match. This written protest must be made within 48 hours of the start of the match.

5. Cases in which stacking is determined, the offending school shall be disqualified from the match or the tournament.

*    2. Recommend that the top four positions for the state doubles and singles tournament be seeded based on wins and losses in head-to-head competition, wins and losses to common opponents, win-loss record against quality competition, number of matches played together (doubles only), objective evaluations by coaches that have viewed the players, previous state results, and additional information provided by each participating coach. The seeding committee shall consist of the tennis advisory committee (boys representatives for boys tournament, and girls representatives for the girls tournament) along with the state tennis manager.

*    3. Recommend that all byes at the state tournament be filled with the third place winner of the district tournament. Effort to fill the byes will be made 48 hours prior to the state tournament. All third and fourth place winners should be named on the district winners report.

* Denied

All others approved