Tennis, whether played professionally or recreationally, demands the highest respect and regard both on and off the court.

Spectators are welcome at all games, but please demonstrate game sense while the match is in play. Players and spectators alike are expected to exhibit good sportsmanship and conduct. Coaching between points is allowed, but please maintain silence during active play.

Team pairings are determined by individual captains for their respective teams, based on player strengths and league rules. Always support your captains, partners, and opposing teammates.

Taking a picture of the Playing 4 and sharing it in the WhatsApp group is encouraged and appreciated.

The tournament will feature 14 teams, each consisting of 13 players, divided into two divisions: Division A and Division B, with 7 teams in each.

The competition structure includes 7 league matches, followed by Quarterfinals, Semifinals and Finals matches.

Each team will compete against 6 other teams within their division and 1 team from the other division picked at random. During the league phase, each team must play 5 lines. Refer to the Match Schedule section for details.

Every player will participate in a minimum of 5 matches during the league division. The maximum game rule has been removed.

The line formation rules remain consistent throughout all stages of the competition.

Each player will belong to one of the following groups: 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5.

• Group 1: Rounds 1 & 2
• Group 2: Rounds 3, 4 & 5
• Group 3: Rounds 6, 7 & 8
• Group 4: Rounds 9 & 10
• Group 5: Rounds 11, 12 & 13

Group 1 players are eligible to play in L1 or L2. There are 2 players in this group. Both Group 1 players may play together in Line 1, but they cannot team up in Line 2. Additionally, both players cannot be rested simultaneously in the same week. When both Group 1 players are in the lineup for the week, the highest-ranked player (R1) must play in L1. This rule addresses a sandbagging issue from the previous season.

Group 2 players can compete in L1, L2, or L3, and there are 3 players in this group.

Group 3 players are eligible for L2, L3, or L4, with 3 players in this group.

Group 4 players can play in L3, L4, or L5. There are 2 players in this group, and they cannot play together in L5.

Group 5 players are eligible for L4 or L5, with 3 players in this group.

Lowest ranked player for that week has to play L5

For playoffs, there should be at least one player in the lineup from Group 5.

The home team captain should initiate discussions and manage court bookings with the visiting team captain once the lineups are shared, ensuring adherence to scheduling rules.

The home team has to provide balls for the match.

If captains do not submit their lineup by 11:59 PM on the submission deadline. If you are missing the submission deadline more than twice, then the ECs will deduct a point from the respective team(s).

The home team captain is responsible for submitting the match scores to the CTG EC team on the day the match is completed.

Team players should collaborate with their captains to resolve any conflicts that arise.

There is no provision for temporary player replacements.

Captains are allowed to make up to 3 permanent replacements throughout the season.

Replacements will not be allowed during the playoffs; all replacements must be made during the league stage and before the playoffs begin.

Captains must provide a rationale for requesting replacements, and ECs have the authority to request proof from captains to make an informed decision.

The ECs will offer replacement player options to the requesting captain, and the replacement will be confirmed through a voting process involving other captains (the requesting captain cannot participate in that voting).

Matches must be scheduled within the first 3 days of the 15-day play period. For example, a match set between 2/1 and 2/15, must be arranged by 2/3 EOD. Captains must provide an explanation if scheduling is not complete.

The home team must propose at least three available dates. If the away team does not agree with these dates, they must offer a minimum of three alternative dates. If a scheduling conflict persists, captains will have 2 options:

• The match will be automatically set to play on the play-by date at 7 PM and the Home team needs to provide the court & balls.
• If one of the teams is not available on the play-by date at 7 PM, they have a choice to use the late pass to extend the play-by date by 1 week.

Every team will be provided 3 late passes. Late passes will expire by week 6 and are not applicable for any lines in the Week 7 match. Only one late pass can be used for the same line.

Matches cannot be canceled without providing 12-hour notice. Matches can only be canceled if all players agree on an alternative date within the play-by period. If a consensus on a new date cannot be reached, the team initiating the cancellation must:

• Either forfeit the match unless a valid reason is presented (see below for valid reasons).
• Or replace with another team player (refer to “Rules for Changing a player in a published line”) to meet the deadline.

Valid reasons for cancellation include player injury or weather impacts. Even for valid reasons, all teams need to provide it before 12 hours of match start time.

Any other reasons will be discussed between the ECs and respective Captains to determine if an extension can be granted.

ECs will have the ultimate authority over any extensions.

If both captains fail to adhere to the scheduling rules and subsequently seek ECs for conflict resolution, the ECs may decide to award 0 points to both teams.

If both teams are unable to agree on a match time, the default match time will be 7:00 PM on the scheduled "play-by" date. If neither team is available at the default time, both teams will receive 0 points. If one team is available at the default time:

• The players must go to the court, take a photo as proof of presence, and wait for 15 minutes.
• If the opposing team does not arrive within that time, the present team may claim a forfeit win.

Teams earn points as listed –

• Winner of Match – 1 Point
• Team losing with 0 Winning Set – 0 Point
• Team winning by opponent’s forfeiture – 1 Point
• Team losing by Forfeiture – 0 Point

ECs will have the ultimate authority over any exceptions and extensions.

We won't be replacing any player unless the player gets injured or takes an unplanned vacation:

The original player must only be replaced with a player from a lower round who is not playing in the originally published lineup for that respective match. (In this scenario, any replacement must comply with the line formation rules.)

Even when a player is replaced, the match count will be applied to the original player in the published lineup.

If no lower round player is available, or if all lower round players are already in the published lineup, then Captains and ECs can collaborate to determine a possible extension.

ECs will have the ultimate authority over the final decision.

A 15-minute default rule will be enforced for all games. If one team is not present within 15 minutes of the mutually agreed start time, that team will forfeit the game, and the opposing team will be awarded the points.

Scoring Format: All matches will be played as best 2 out of 3 sets, with a full 3rd set. However, if all four players agree at the start of the match, a 12-point match tiebreak can substitute for the full 3rd set.

Rest time during changeovers is limited to 1 minute, except between sets, which allows for up to 5 minutes.

In the event of an injury during a match, a medical timeout of up to 5 minutes will be permitted. Only one medical timeout is allowed per injury, and if the same injury recurs, no additional medical timeout will be granted.

Once a match has started, it cannot be paused or stopped to be completed on another day, nor delayed for more than 5 minutes, unless for valid reasons (see below). Any team causing such a pause or stop (without a valid reason) will forfeit the match, and the opposing team will be awarded the points.

Valid reasons include rain delays or deteriorating court conditions, such as non-working lights. Player injury, leaving court for family or other commitments are not valid reasons.

Any exception to this rule must be discussed between the ECs and the respective Captains to reach a resolution.

ECs will have the ultimate authority over any exceptions.

The total number of points earned at the end of the league stage will determine the teams eligible for the playoff. Top 3 teams from each division will qualify for playoffs.

In cases where the total number of points earned by teams are tied within the division:

• If there are only 2 teams tied, the team that has won a higher number of lines head-to-head between them during the league matches will qualify for the higher rank in the division. Even then if they are tied, we will go with the highest number of sets head-to-head and then by the number of games head-to-head.
• If there are more than 2 teams tied, the team that has won a higher total number of lines during the league matches will qualify for the higher rank in the division. Even then if they are tied, we will go with the highest number of sets and then by the number of games.

Division winners get rewarded by direct entry into semi finals.

Quarterfinals format -

• QF1 – Division A Rank 2 vs Division B Rank 3
• QF2 – Division B Rank 2 vs Division A Rank 3

Semifinals format -

• SF1 – Division A Rank 1 vs Winner of QF2
• SF2 – Division B Rank 1 vs Winner of QF1

Finals format -

• Winner of SF1 vs Winner of SF2

For playoffs, all 5 Lines have to be completed within the dates decided. The Team winning 3 lines is declared as the winner.

For any undefined scenarios, conflicts, extensions, exceptions etc., ECs will try to find resolution based on ALTA rules as guidelines. ALL DECISIONS BY ECs ARE FINAL.