Guidance Notes for Captains

NORTH KENT LAWN TENNIS ASSOCIATION

Guidance Notes for Team Captains – Summer 2025

Fixtures Secretaries should have distributed Team Captain instructions for entering match results together with the LTA User manual. A full copy of the NKLTA Rules can be found at:

Northkentlta.org.uk/

All Draws can be found on the new Online League Planner by clicking this link:

North Kent Head Inter Club Summer League 2025

MATCHES

START AND FINISHING TIMES

To avoid evening matches being unfinished due to light, please follow these guidelines/rules to assist with completing matches:

DO ENSURE THAT:

1. Match courts are booked well in advance in accordance with Club’s booking system.
2. The START time is just that, not the arrival time. All players should arrive at the match venue at least 10 minutes before the start time. Late arrival can cost you sets or even rubbers.
3. Captains mutually agree a sensible finishing time allowing for Daylight hours or use of floodlights (in accordance with the home club’s policy). Failing mutual agreement play shall cease not later than 00pm plus two games if a result could be achieved.
4. If there are time restraints, take into account a finish time which allows for two games to be played as above.
5. Floodlights are encouraged to be used (with mutual agreement) maximising time to obtain a result.
6. Enforce Rule 15 ‘If any player is NOT ready to play within 20 minutes after the time fixed for the commencement of the match, it is mandatory that one love set shall be conceded in the rubber from the player is absent, and if 40 minutes late, the rubber shall not be played and the opponents shall receive two love sets. If the player is still absent by the time the final round of rubbers is due to commence, then his or her team shall also incur a penalty of one point deduction from its points total for the season.
7. PLAYERS MUST KEEP TO A STRICT FIVE MINUTE WARM UP. Late arrivals should not expect any warm up.
8. Play is continuous and without unnecessary delay from the first service until the rubber is completed.

DO NOT:

1. engage in general conversation during change of ends. There is plenty of time for this during post match refreshments!
2. delay in starting the second rubber, allowing only for a bathroom break and drinks refill.
3. spend time looking for a lost ball or wander off to retrieve one that has gone a distance, until a game has finished.

If the above guidance is followed the majority of matches should be completed.

Format of ALL Summer Matches

• Only two rounds shall be played in which each rubber shall be two tie-break sets
• Each team player needs to be registered as an LTA Advantage Member (previously BTM) to play in NK competitions
• If you are not yet registered please do so at this link:

www.lta.org.uk/advantage

• You can also amend you own personal LTA Profile Details eg Mobile at this link:

            https://www.lta.org.uk/account-details/

• You must also register any venues that you play at here or you won’t be found for selection on the match results process.

Match Protocols

1. Arrange team: 6 players for Mens and Mixed matches.

4 players for Ladies and ALL Veterans matches

• Order of Play - 3 pair matches ie Mens and Mixed is as follows:

FIRST ROUND          SECOND ROUND    

Home 1 v Away 1        Home 1 v Away 2       

Home 2 v Away 3        Home 2 v Away 1       

Home 3 v Away 2        Home 3 v Away 3                   

2. Order of Play - Midweek Mixed Vets League (Mens 045 / Ladies O40)

FIRST ROUND                                               SECOND ROUND
Home Mixed 1 v Away Mixed 1                       Mens Doubles
Home Mixed 2 v Away Mixed 2                       Ladies Doubles

3. O70s Mens League: One O65 Player (if they have reached the minimum age or will do so by 31 December in the Calendar year in which the Competition starts) is permitted to play in each match.
4. Home teams must ensure they have four new ITF approved tennis balls per court.
5. Without detracting from the competitiveness of your team, ensure that court etiquette and proper conduct are observed during the match.
6. Match teas and refreshments to be provided by the Home team but is down to mutual agreement by each Club and should be agreed at least 3 days before the match.
7. Home Team must fill in the result card in every detail, not forgetting:

Full names of the players of both teams   Date of Match

Names of the Clubs                                      Competition & Division

Total rubbers, sets & games                      Signatures of both Captains

Home Team Captains must ensure they send a digital photo of the completed match card via WhatsApp to the relevant Competition Secretary / Group within 24 hours. They are also required to enter all results onto the Online League Planner system. Competition Secretary details can be found below.

The Away Team Captain must check that the card has been filled in correctly and sign it, only when completely satisfied. Both Home and Away teams must take a digital copy in case the original match card is mislaid.

8. Away Team Captain must check that the result has been correctly recorded on League Planner and notify the relevant Competitions Secretary with any issues.
9. Only the Competition Secretary should confirm the match to allow for any mistakes to be corrected.
10. Should the match be postponed, or not completed, for any other reason, you or your Fixtures Secretary should notify the appropriate Competition Secretary immediately and then inform them of the rearranged date. The future rearranged date is to be agreed within three days.

Competition Secretaries

Mens & Mens Veterans: Andy Hanks – 07980 620158

Ladies: Maria Perfect – 07919 003423

Mixed: Matt Perfect – 07964 721007

ALL Midweek Veterans: Gill Nason – 07771 816194 (result cards should be sent directly to Gill)

Over League Planner Administrator

General Queries: David Helps – 07862 204773