THURSDAY LEAGUE
(League Rules updated August 16, 2022)
League Administrators – Bill Englebreth, Kenny Nissel, Jie Nissel, Harry Karr
1. Eligibility
You must be a USATT and CTTC club member in good standing (dues paid up) to participate. Guests (USATT members) may be approved for play by either the league administrator or a CTTC club officer.
2. Registration and Start Time
Thursday evenings are league play at CTTC. If you wish to participate, you must sign in on the app https://ttcharlotteleague.org/ between Tuesday 6 AM and Thursday noon. Players that do not sign in before noon Thursday are not guaranteed participation in that week’s league The process of setting Divisions begins on Thursday afternoon. Play will start by 7:00 PM. If you cannot arrive before 7:00 PM and wish to participate, you must text message 704-560-2441 and leave your name. You must arrive before 7:45 PM to play.
3. League Ratings
League ratings are calculated using the USATT league webpage algorithm (the same as the USATT tournament algorithm). Initial league ratings are set using:
a. League rating from any other USATT league
b. Current USATT tournament rating
c. Average of best win and worst loss
For initial seeding, an unrated player is given an estimate by the league administrator or CTTC club officer
The Central Carolinas Super league is unsanctioned – USATT membership IS required to play but league matches do not have any effect on USATT tournament ratings.
4. Division Assignments
Players are assigned to Divisions in league rating order, with the exceptions of players selected for move up or move down by the criteria outlined below. Just because you play in a particular Division one Thursday does not mean you will be in the same Division the next Thursday. It all depends on how many players with higher ratings than yours show up to play. If you should find yourself in a Division lower than the previous week even though you believe you deserve to stay in the same Division, please do not annoy the league administrator with your complaint as he is busy arranging play for 30 or more other players and would appreciate participating in his own matches with a minimum of distraction. Resolve to play even better this week, win all your matches, and move up on merit. We strive for no less than 6 players and no more than 8 players in each Division, with a maximum of 6 Divisions.
5. Move Up
Players may be selected to move up the next time they play within 2 weeks to a Division higher than their previous Division by either most matches won or highest league rating points gain. The first player in a Division selected to move up will be the player to win the most matches in their Division. Ties are decided by head to head results first, then by highest league rating points gained for that Division. The second player to move up will be the one with the highest league rating points gain not including the player with the most match wins and not including players who do not win at least 2 matches. A move up is only good for the first league event played in the next two weeks.
6. Move Down
Players may be selected to move down the next time they play to a Division lower than their previous Division by fewest matches won or most league rating points lost in the Division. The first player to move down will be the player with the fewest match wins in the Division. Ties are decided by head to head results first, then by most league rating points lost for that event. The next player to move down is the player with the largest league rating point loss for that Division, not including players who win more than half their matches. A move down has no time limit and will remain until the player next competes in the league.
7. Defaults
Players that choose to not compete in all their assigned matches in a Division will forfeit all unplayed matches with corresponding loss of league rating points. The defaulting player’s opponent will mark the letter “W” on the digital match record sheet in the box corresponding to their number of games won and the letter “L” in the box corresponding to their opponent’s number of games won. The defaulting player’s opponent may decline the win and mark the letter “X” in both boxes.
8. Service and other Rules of Play
As this is a USATT league, our aim is to follow USATT rules and guidelines as much as possible. If there is some doubt as to the legality of a serve, there are several USATT certified umpires in the CTTC who are willing to observe if requested. (Ling Fan, Simon Brain, Bill Englebreth). Advice may be given informally by anyone, but only between rallies when the ball is not in play and provided the advice giving does not delay play.
9. Efficiency
Be considerate of others. Divisions run most efficiently when all players take turns and rotate appropriately. Look at the match record sheet and see who has not played as many matches and get them on the table next.
10. Player of the Week/Year
The Player of the Week is decided simply by the largest league rating increase for that week. The Player of the Year is decided by the player who is most often Player of the Week during a given year. In the event of a tie, the Player of the Year will be awarded to the player with the greatest total rating points gain for the year.
11. League Administrator
All matters not covered by these rules will be decided by the league administrator or by CTTC officers in the absence of the league administrator.
