THE LAWSON WOOD CUP RULES
(Rule changes for 2008 – Rule 9 only)
Rules
1. The President and the Honorary Treasurer of the Derbyshire Lawn Tennis Association shall for all intents and purposes be the legal guardians of the cup in trust for the Association.
2. The Management of the Competition shall be entrusted to the League Committee.
3. Each affiliated club will have the opportunity to enter the Cup Draw when returning the entry form for the Summer League.
4. Each club may enter one team consisting of six players and forming three couples for mixed doubles, the players being bona fide members of the club, i.e. members who pay full annual subscriptions and entrance fee. Players who are members of more than one club are not entitled to play for more than one club in the Competition. An entry fee of £5 per club will be payable to the League Secretary on or before the AGM.
5. The Competition shall be played on the knock-out system. The various rounds are to be played by the given date, the Home team must contact the Away team by the Monday after the last date of the preceding round. If three dates cannot be offered, and a date cannot be agreed, the Away team can claim the match. If the Away team cannot accept any of the three dates then the Home team can claim the match.
6. Matches in the first round and semi-final will consist of nine rubbers. Each rubber shall be two sets with a tie-break played if five games all is reached in either set. Team shall be awarded one point per set won. The team winning the most points (ie. most sets) shall win the tie. If the overall result is a tie there will be a count-back of games. Should the number of games be equal then one nominated couple form each side will play one deciding set with the tie-break coming into operation at five games all.
7. The Final shall be the best of nine three-set rubbers with a tie-break played if five games all is reached in either of the first two sets.
8. A club is not bound to play the same team throughout the Competition but no change shall be made in the composition of teams engaged in a tie after the start of play. If a match be postponed before any play shall have taken place the competing teams may be changed..
9. A minimum of two pairs from either side must be on court and ready to play for the match to proceed (within 15 minutes of the appointed start time). Any team sending only one pair will automatically forfeit the match. The match should commence at the start time agreed by the fixture secretaries/captains. ie. 6-30pm for a weekday match. If any pair of doubles is not ready to play within ten minutes of the appointed start time (unless by prior agreement between the two clubs), they shall forfeit one set.. If not ready within 30 minutes of the appointed time they will forfeit two sets. Subsequent lots of two sets shall be forfeited if a pair is not ready to play at the end of their next opponents’ last set
10. The club on whose ground the match is being played shall provide not less that three new balls per court of a type and quality approved by the Lawn Tennis Association. Note: The LTA uses the ITF approved list of balls as its approved list. Ball retail containers will usually state if they are LTA/ITF approved. If in doubt consult the League Secretary. The approved LTA/ITF list of balls can be found at www.itftennis.com
11. The winning team shall send notice of the result in WRITING WITHIN 48 HOURS OF THE TIE to the Honorary Secretary of the Competition. The result to include the composition of the teams. If a side receives a walk over from their opponents they must still submit the team they had selected to play the tie to the League Secretary within 48 hours of receiving the walk over.
12. The Cup shall be held by the club of the winning team for one year and the Club will be held responsible for it’s safe custody.
13. No player (man or woman) who has played for a County Senior Team DURING THE PREVIOUS CALENDAR YEAR shall be eligible to play in the Lawson Wood Cup Competition.
14. A player (man or woman) CANNOT play in the final unless they have played in at least one earlier round unless authorised by the League Committee. Any dispute arising between the clubs in the Competition, whether regarding questions or eligibility, qualification of competitors, interpretation of the rules or otherwise, shall be referred to the sole arbitration of the League Committee whose decision shall be final.
