OUR RULES
RRL is committed to providing a structured and competitive tennis environment for players of all skill levels. Below are the league’s rules and regulations designed to promote fair play, consistency, and enjoyment for all participants.
Spring League
1.League Structure
The Richmond Racquet League offers leagues for Adults (18 and older) and is only league that is mixed (men, women and upcoming senior collegiate players) players offering 3 divisions for all levels of play.
Each season includes:
- Divisions based on player ratings, ensuring fair and balanced competition.
- Automatic promotion and relegation based on performance.
2. Player Eligibility and Ratings
RRL uses the USTA NTRP system to assess player skill levels and organize fair matches. Each player’s NTRP rating is updated based on match outcomes to reflect current performance levels accurately.
Self-Rating and Verification: New players must complete a self-rating assessment upon joining. Ratings may be verified by the league committee if necessary.
Promotion and Relegation: Players with a win percentage of 80% or higher may move up a division, while those with a win percentage below 20% may move down, ensuring balanced competition.
For detailed eligibility guidelines, please refer to our Eligibility for Play page.
3. Match Format
Each team match includes four singles followed by three doubles matches:
Minimum of 8 players and maximum of 20 players per team although there isnt a set upper limit.
Matches are arranged based on combined UTR ratings to ensure balanced competition.
Match Setup
- Doubles Matches are best of three sets, with a 7-point tiebreaker at 6-all and a 10-point tiebreaker for split sets
- Singles Matches are best of 10 game pro-set with a 10-point tiebreaker at 9 games each.
4. Captain Responsiblities
Team captains play a vital role in ensuring smooth operations before, during, and after matches:
- Pre-Match Coordination: Home team captains must contact the visiting team captain at least 4 days prior to each match to confirm details such as court type, location, and timing. Home team captains will also need to have four courts blocked off for singles match play between 8.30am and 9.30am and three courts from 9.30am to 11am for doubles match play.
- Lineup Submission: Captains exchange lineups in writing before the start of each match. Failure to exchange lineups may result in forfeiture of points.
- Score Reporting: Captains must login and submit match scores on the website immediately after each meet. All results should be reviewed and confirmed by both team captains.
Sandbagging Prevention
RRL prohibits sandbagging, or placing stronger pairs in lower positions or moving winning pairs down to secure victories. Any violation will lead to forfeiture of points from the point of infraction onward.
5. League Seasons and Schedule
RRL operates two seasons per calendar year:
- Spring Season: April – June
- Fall Season: September – November
Each team plays one match weekly, typically scheduled on Wednesday for the weekday league and Saturdays morning between 8.30am to 11am for the weekend league. In cases of rain-outs, matches must be rescheduled and completed within one week.
6. Membership and Fees
- Team Fee: $150 per team, per league season
- Membership grants access to all RRL matches, exclusive events, and league benefits.
- Team-Based Payment: Secure payment options for teams to digitally pay
7. Scoring, Play-off’s & Championship
- Each match won earns one point for the team. The team with the most points at the end of the season qualifies for playoffs.
- In cases where divisions have an unequal number of teams, rankings are determined by percentage of matches won.
- If two teams have equal number of match wins, then line win percentage will be used for playoff ranking and eligibility.
Playoff and Championship Eligibility
- Teams qualifying for playoffs must submit lineups for approval by the league committee based on regular-season performance and team strength.
- Players who have only played at-least two matches prior to playoffs are eligible and qualify for semi-finals and finals.
Promotion and Relegation Criteria
- Teams or players with a win percentage of 80% or above may be promoted.
- Teams or players with a win percentage below 20% may be relegated.
8. Prizes and Recognition
Each season, RRL recognizes outstanding performance with awards:
- Champions: Trophy Banners + Prize Money (* up to $500)
- Thalhimer Cup Challenge: Winning teams may decide to have their prize money written towards Thalhimer Cup Challenge sponsorship.
Additional awards may be presented for clubs that wish to
9. Conflict Resolution & Disputes
The league aims to maintain a positive environment for all. In case of disputes, captains may escalate the issue to the league coordinator for resolution.
Key Notes:
- Disputes regarding lineups or rule interpretations must be addressed before play begins.
- All rulings by the league coordinator are final.