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
Three Strike Conduct Policy
We are committed to providing quality opponents that follow the rules and produce a postive 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.
Conduct Requiring Immediate League Suspension
- Falsifying scores which includes:
- Fabricating or changing match scores
- Reporting substitute matches that were 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