NorCal League Rules FAQ

Players are responsible for all line calls on their own side of the net. Each player (or team in doubles) calls the balls that land on their side. You may not call a ball out on your opponent's side of the net.

If players cannot agree on whether a ball was in or out, the point must be replayed. However, a player may only ask for a replay if they genuinely did not see the ball clearly. You cannot call a ball out and then ask for a replay.

When in doubt, the ball is in. Always give your opponent the benefit of the doubt on close calls.

Yes — a player may correct an out call to in at any time. The point is then replayed only if the correction was made promptly and before the opponent has played the next shot. If the opponent has already played a shot following the out call, the correction stands and the point is awarded to the opponent (since the out call caused the hindrance).

No. Once a player calls a ball in, they cannot change that call to out. The ball remains in play.

If partners give conflicting calls, the ball is considered in. The team loses the right to call that ball out.

Yes. On clay, a player may ask their opponent to show them the mark. Both players should go look at the mark together. If the mark clearly shows the ball was in, the out call must be reversed. If no agreement is reached, the point is replayed.

Under USTA regulations, a player who is not ready to play within 15 minutes of the scheduled start time may be defaulted by the opposing team. Captains should agree on the start time and policy before the match day.

NorCal practice: Facilities and local regulations may specify a shorter or longer grace period. Check your local league supplement.

Players are entitled to a 5-minute warm-up on the match court before play begins. If a player arrives late and warm-up has already started or ended, they cannot claim additional warm-up time — the match starts on schedule.

If a player cannot complete the match due to injury or illness, the opponent wins by retirement. The result is recorded as a default/retirement and counts as a loss for the player who retired. The score at the time of retirement does not count for win/loss purposes — the match is simply recorded as a loss.

A walkover occurs when a player or team does not appear for a match that was scheduled and no advance notice was given. It is similar to a default but typically indicates the opponent simply didn't show up. The team present wins the match.

No. Coaching is not permitted during a point. Between points and during changeovers, communication is allowed but only if it does not unduly delay play. In most USTA league formats there is no on-court coaching allowed at all during the match.

Yes. If a player is genuinely hindered by something outside their own control — a ball rolling onto the court, a loud noise, spectator interference — they may call a let and the point is replayed. A player cannot call a hindrance for something they caused themselves.

• Between points: 20 seconds from the end of the previous point
• Changeovers (odd games): 90 seconds — players may sit and rest
• End of a set: Up to 120 seconds before the next set begins

In recreational USTA league play, these limits are rarely enforced strictly, but deliberately wasting time is not allowed.

Either player may call a let immediately. The point is replayed. Do not wait until after the rally to call the let — it must be called before the next serve or it is too late.

• Touching the net with the racquet, body, or clothing during a point = loss of point
• A player may reach over the net only if the ball has bounced back over the net due to spin or wind — in that case reaching over to play it is allowed
• A follow-through after striking the ball that crosses over the net is allowed, as long as the racquet did not cross before the ball was struck

Both teams must agree that conditions are unplayable. If one team wants to play and the other does not, it is generally best to attempt to start and see if conditions improve. If a facility official or site director is present, they may have authority to suspend play.

Safety first: If there is lightning in the area, all players must leave the court immediately — no agreement is needed. Lightning is the one situation where play must stop regardless.

If a match is suspended before completion:

• The captains must agree on a date to resume or replay the match
• Completed sets and games are retained if play resumes; in some formats a suspended match may be replayed from scratch — check your local league rules
• If the teams cannot agree on a makeup date, the local league coordinator makes the determination

Match scores must be entered into TennisLink within 24 hours of the match's completion. The winning team's captain is responsible for entering the score. Failure to report on time can result in a fine or other league penalty.

If the scores entered by the two teams do not match, TennisLink will flag a discrepancy. The local league coordinator will contact the captains to resolve it. Always confirm the score with your opponents immediately after the match to avoid discrepancies.

Yes, but only with mutual agreement from both captains and approval from the local league coordinator. Postponements must be requested in advance — you cannot unilaterally cancel or postpone a match. The match must be rescheduled within the league's allowable makeup window.

Players may only participate in a league at or above their current NTRP rating. You may play on a team one level higher than your current rating (e.g., a 3.5-rated player may play on a 4.0 team). You may not play on a team below your current NTRP level.

USTA rules limit players to playing for one team in any given flight/level within a league. However, a player may play for teams in different flights (e.g., a 3.5 Singles team and a 4.0 Doubles team) subject to local league rules. Check the NorCal supplement for specific restrictions in your division.

Players who have exceeded their NTRP level — identified through "benchmark" matches played against strong opponents — may be disqualified from continuing to compete at that level mid-season. NorCal monitors benchmark results and can disqualify a player for the remainder of the season if they are found to be playing below their true level.

Strikes are an enforcement mechanism used in NorCal for self-rated players. When a self-rated player posts results significantly above their stated level, they accumulate strikes. Players with 3 strikes in a season are disqualified from further play in that flight.

Self-rated players should rate themselves honestly. Playing below your true level to gain an advantage is against the rules and can result in your entire team being disqualified.

• Sets: Best of 3, with a match tiebreak (10-point) in lieu of a 3rd set
• Scoring: No-ad scoring (one deciding point at deuce)
• Set tiebreak: 7-point tiebreak at 6–6 within a set

Format can vary by flight and year. Always confirm your specific format with your captain before the season starts.

In doubles, the receiving team chooses which partner receives the deciding point at no-ad. In singles, the receiver chooses which side (deuce or ad court) to receive from.

No. Teams must use the format specified in the league regulations. Both teams must use the same scoring format for the entire match. You cannot switch formats mid-match.

The home team is typically responsible for providing new, approved tennis balls for the match. Check your local league supplement for the specific brand requirement — NorCal typically specifies Wilson US Open or Penn Championship balls, but requirements can change.

Standard USTA league matches are played with 3 balls for the entire match. A new can (3 balls) is provided at the start of the match. If a ball becomes unplayable, it is replaced with another ball of the same age.

Players must wear appropriate tennis attire. Cutoffs, swimwear, and non-athletic clothing are not permitted. Footwear must be appropriate for the court surface. Some facilities have additional dress code requirements — always check with the host facility.