FORMAT

 All games are played to 11, win by 2 points. Home teams stay on the same courts for each round. Visiting teams switch courts after each round.

All team matches will be three rounds with two games played as follows (see scoresheet):

Round 1:

(1)   Home team line 1 plays Visiting line 1.
(2)   Home team line 2 plays Visiting line 2.
(3)   Home team line 3 plays Visiting line 3.

Round 2:

(4)   Home team line 1 plays Visiting line 2.
(5)   Home team line 2 plays Visiting line 3.
(6)   Home team line 3 plays Visiting line 1.

Round 3:

(7)   Home team line 1 plays Visiting line 3.
(8)   Home team line 2 plays Visiting line 1.
(9)   Home team line 3 plays Visiting line 2.

MATCH DAY TEAMS
On match day the captain will bring six players to play on three doubles teams.

Lineups identifying the doubles teams and substitute(s) on the scoresheet will be exchanged prior to the start of the match after which they may not be changed. The doubles team partners will stay together for that day’s match unless substitutions are made (see substitution rules). Captains or their designees are encouraged to be on-site at each match.

MATCH PROCESS 

To begin a match, the visiting teams choose to serve or receive or court side to start on. Teams shall switch sides after the first game. At the end of each round the visiting doubles teams will switch courts to play the next home doubles team noted on the lineup/scoresheet.  On team match day, each doubles team will play six games (three rounds): two games against the opposing line 1 doubles team, two games against the line 2 team, and two games against the line 3 team.

MATCH SCORING

Two match points are awarded for each game won by a doubles team. If the losing team scores 6 or more points in a game, they are awarded 1 match point. No match points are awarded for a score of 5 points or less. Whichever team earns the most match points in all the games played in a match, will be the winner of the match and will be awarded a win in their division team standings. Games are played to 11, win by 2.  If a game goes into extra points, a team will win at 15, win by 1.

BREAKS

A break of two minutes is allowed between games. After each round of two games, a break of up to five minutes is allowed commencing at the time the last two opposing doubles teams in the round complete their second game.

TIME OUTS

A single one-minute time out is allowed per game per team. Water breaks are not meant to be time-outs and should be limited to 10 seconds with no talking. Bathroom breaks should be taken between rounds. One medical time-out is allowed per player per match, limited to 5 minutes, at which time the player may continue.  If the player cannot continue, refer to the Substitutions During Match Day for scoring purposes.

COACHING 

Per USAP rules, coaching by anyone is ONLY allowed after completion of each game, between rounds and during time outs.

SUBSTITUTIONS DURING MATCH DAY

Each team is allowed one substitute once play has begun. If a player is late, see below. Any such substitution is permanent for the remainder of the match. Players removed may not return to the match. Substitutions may only be made with players on the current team roster. There is no warm-up time allowed for the substitute unless a time out is used. A substitute may only enter the match at the beginning of the next round.  For Mixed Doubles one substitute for each gender is allowed.

Scoring for the round that a player came out will be: the team retiring a player will keep their earned points and the opposing team will get 11 points.  If the player retired in the first game, the second game will be scored 11-0 and will be identified as a Win by Default on the scoresheet drop down box that designates the winner.

MATCH PLAY OVER THE ALLOTTED RESERVATION BLOCK

If a venue has a reservation block of time enforced, the players must relinquish the court if other people are waiting to play. The game(s) in process can be completed on an open court abiding by the rules of the venue (i.e. paddle rotation system, etc.). The games cannot be rescheduled to another day. If no other court options are available, all games in process will terminate and scoring will be recorded as follows:

• The team with the highest score will be the winner and will get two team points. If the losing team has scored at least half or more of  the points of the winning team, they will be awarded one team point.
• If the game is tied, a sudden death point shall be played. The winning team will get two points, and the losing team will get one point.
• If there are unplayed games, they will be scored 0-0.

Unless otherwise specified, the schedules state the time matches are to start. It is always a good idea to verify the start time with your opposing team captain a few days prior to the match. The following rules apply to late players: Matches shall start no later than five (5) minutes after the posted match start time. If a player has not arrived by then, the identified substitute may be utilized in the place of the late player, or the game(s) can be forfeited. Upon arrival, if games(s) were forfeited, the late player may play in any ensuing games. If the sub has played, the late player will fulfill the role of substitute for the remaining games. The late player can go into the match at the beginning of the next round. No warm-up time is allowed. All games forfeited will be scored 11-0 against the team with the late player. If there is no substitute and the late player shows up while the teams are still in the first round, then the late player may play one game of the first round.  If the round has still not finished after one game, the player can then start the second game of the round.