Format and VJTTA Match-play Guidelines

Author:  Randy Cummings

Published:  June 2006

Team Composition and Roster Guidelines

Teams: 

We have divided the kids registered for the program into 4 age groups: 6-7. 8-10, 11-12, and 13-15; and have organized the teams around the community tennis courts (ie., Ross Corners, African Road, SUNY, Vestal HS, Vestal Center).  Teams are fairly even in terms of number of players on each team, but the skill levels might vary considerably, with some of the kids being new to the game and others having had lessons for a couple of years.  Given our format, however this inequality should not pose a problem, as it might in other sports.

We have deliberately made our season long in order to keep kids involved as long as possible before we move indoors in the fall.  Because of this, we can expect team members to drop out as school begins and other sports and activities take precedence.  Balancing this somewhat, we can also expect that new players will be added to the teams from time to time as word of the program spreads.  Try to take these fluctuations in your roster in good spirits.  They shouldn't jeopardize the overall goals and objectives of the program.

Match Rosters:

Coaches should bring a copy of their team roster to their matches to give to the opposing team.

Balls:

We will use the Gamma Revolution ball for the 6-8 year olds; and we will use the Dunlop PTR ball for the 9-10 and 11-12 age groups. The older kids will use the Gamma 1st Set ball.   Later in the season we may try to introduce the lst Set Ball to the 11-12 year olds, as well.  The 1st Set ball is of regulation tennis ball size, but softer and easier to hit.  Please resist the pleadings from kids and parents to use regular tennis balls.

Each coach should bring their own cart and balls to the match.  This is important.  Coaches will need their own cart and balls for pre-match warmups and for feeding balls during the match.  The two coaches can divide up the balls between them after the match.  Since each coach has been supplied the same number of new balls, this shouldn't create a problem.

 Racquets: 

Encourage parents to get their kids appropriate racquets.  Ancient, adult, hand-me-downs are going to inhibit the child's progress and enjoyment.  Junior racquets with covers are available in all sizes and cost approximately $15.  Please contact Randy Cummings for details.

Court Dimensions: 

 For the 6-8 year olds, the court consists of only the 2 service boxes on each side of the net.  The doubles alleys are out of bounds.

For older kids, make an imaginary line parallel to the net but a few feet beyond the service line, extending from one doubles side line to the other doubles side line.  The court will then consist of the area between the net and this new line, plus the corresponding alleys.  You can mark this line with chalk, use Scotch Painter's Blue Tape, or lay a couple pieces of pliable rubber on the court (e.g., an old Rubbermaid sink mat cut up into strips).  No need to be exact in this dimension, but be consistent on both sides of the net.  It can be anywhere from 3 to 5 feet beyond the service line.  The farther it is, the longer the rally but at some point it may shorten the rally as there is too much court to cover.  Play this by ear.

Please resist requests from kids under 12 and their parents to use the full tennis court.  The stroking of these softer balls in order to keep the ball within bounds on a shortened court is what helps the kids groove the desired groundstroke swing pattern.  Bashing a soft ball from one end of a court to the other does not develop good tennis strokes.  Quite the contrary.

Match Play

Spin a racquet to see which team starts the feed; that team will also start the feed in the 3rd set.  The team receiving the feed in the 1st set will feed first in the 2nd set.

The two teams line up on opposite sides of the net off the court.  Kids' lines should be parallel to the outside doubles line and off the court.  Two players from each team come onto the court, one in each service box, or slightly beyond, to begin the rally.

For the 6-6 year olds, a coach should feed the ball underhand over the net to one of his players.  For the 9-10 year olds, a coach can feed or the child can do a self-feed.  If after several attempts the self-feed is not successful, the coach can feed.  There are no "double faults" so feed until the ball is put in play.

Alternate the feeds with each new rally, such that one coach feeds to his team, and for the next rally the other coach feeds to her team.  Each coach should also alternate her feeds to her team.  That is, feed to the right box for the 1st rally, and then feed to the left box for your team's next feed.

Underhand feeds are easier to control than overhand feeds.   If the coach stands more in the middle of the court, rather than at an angle, the child will find it easier to hit.  Mix up the feeds, with some to the forehand and some to the backhand.  Coaches with good racquet skills may find it easier to feed from across the net with a racquet.  As soon as the feed is completed, the coach should quickly get off the court so as not to interfere with the rally.  As stated earlier, each coach feeds from his or her own cart.  Keep the carts off the playing area.

Scoring: 

For the 6-7 year olds and 8-10 year olds, each successful hit by a player, including the feed that puts the ball in play, earns that player's team one point.  A successful hit is one that goes over the net and lands in the inbound area on the other side of the net or is struck in the air by an opposing player before the ball touches the ground.  A rally lasting several hits of the ball will thus result in several points for each team.  The team that successfully struck the ball last receives one more point.  Team scorekeepers should tally the total points for each player on their team during a set.  A suggested scoring chart is given at the end of this guide.

For the older kids, the team hitting a successful shot gets the point, just like in regular tennis; use regular numerical scoring (not 15, 30, 40, deuce, etc).

A ball is dead and the rally concludes when it is hit into the net, hit out of bounds, or bounces twice before being struck by the opposing team.  Make sure balls are picked up and placed in the hopper as soon as a point is over.  Don't allow your players to practice hitting other balls while the match is in progress. 

Although we want to play down the competitive aspects of the game, kids will want to know who won.  Keep track of the total points scored by each team for each set.  The team that wins the most points over 3 sets wins the match.  If there is a tie, then the team that won the most sets wins.

Line Calls: 

A ball that touches any part of the line is good.  If in doubt, call it good.  Within reason, encourage players to play balls to keep the rally going.  Kids tend to see a lof of balls out of which are really in.  Try to impress upon the kids that we want long rallies and that they should go ahead and play balls landing near the line.

Lets & Do Overs: 

Any ball striking the top of the net and then passing over the net is still in play, even on the feed.  There really are no do-overs in Ralleyball.  If there is a dispute about a line call or any other infraction (e.g., two bounces before a hit), try to resolve it quickly and move on to the next rally.

Rotations: 

After the conclusion of each rally (or point for the older kids), the two players on the court rotate off the court and two players from their team come on the court to play the next point.  If there are an odd number of players on a team, rotate out one at a time.

Players rotating out should get in line on the opposite side of the court, but on the same side of the net.  When all the players in a line have played a rally, a new line will have formed on the other side of the court, and those players rotate back in to play a rally.  Players should maintain their order in the lines and if rotating 2 at a time should stay paired with their partner.

Encourage your players to cheer their teammates.  This keeps them involved in the action, and the rotations will proceed at a good pace.  Bored, uninterested players will slow down the rotations.

If players forget to rotate, rotate out of turn, change partners, etc., correct the infraction by continuing in the new order.  All points stand as played.

Time Outs: 

There are no timeouts, other than for injury or for equipment reasons.  Play shall be continuous.

Match Duration: 

A match consists of three 15 minute sets, with a 5 minute wamup before the 1st set, and 5 minute breaks between the 1st and 2nd set, and the 2nd and 3rd set.  Breaks can be used for drinking water, coaching, or just catching their breaths.  A match thus shouldn't take more than one hour.  Try to get a parent or an assistant to keep track of the time.  The scorekeeper can do this too.

Match Conclusion: 

At the end of the match have the two teams line up and shake or slap hands as they pass each other.  Encourage your players to say "nice game" or "good match" to the opposing players.

Match Quorums: 

There will be times when one team shows up for a match with only a few players.  It not a big deal.  Put both teams together, divide them into two teams, and let them go ahead and play.  We are not crowning a championship team at the end of the season.

Coaching During the Match: 

This is an instructional league, where kids learn by playing.  If during a match you as a coach see something one of your players is doing wrond you can correct him gently and encouragingly.  "Show the logo," "Swing from low to high," "Keep your head still," "Wrap your thumb," "Let it bounce," etc. are examples of legitimate verbal coaching you can give your players.  Coaches shouldn't delay the game with their coaching, however.  If a child is having trouble hitting the ball and you feel that he could be assisted by getting behind him and guiding his racquet through a proper stroking pattern, have your assistant do that while the player is offcourt waiting to come on.  Don't do it while the player is on the court.  Coaching on strategy should be saved for the breaks.

Spectators: 

We encourage parents and friends of the players to come out and watch our matches and show their support by cheering and clapping.  Unlike Wimbledon, we don't demand silence.  Spectators should stand outside the fences or outside the playing area (this will depend on which court is being used).  Spectators should not be allowed to interfere with match play or to disrupt coaching or other official roles.