South Island Tennis Association organizes a doubles league each spring from mid April until late June, called the South Island Tennis League (SITL). The entry fee is $125 per team and everything is organized for you – home courts (your choice), schedules and a website where you enter your scores. We play on Greater Victoria public courts every Tuesday at 6:00 pm until dark. We try to include all levels of players. Novice teams play for free, and we can even supply mentors to help you out with scoring, and maybe some league rules and etiquette – whatever you need. Our main goal is to increase participation and to have fun playing tennis.
The entry form contains everything you need to know about the league, including rules, court locations....
If you'd like to play but aren't on a team, see the back of the entry form for some options.
If you have any questions about the league or want to send suggestions, email us at sitlinfo@yahoo.ca
To see 2011 results and team rosters, go to www.tennisbcleagues.com and select the 2011 SITL tab.
League play will start a week later in 2012. Dates are Apr 24 to Jun 26, though not all teams play the first week. Entries open Feb. 19 and close Mar. 30, 2012.
Questions and Answers about League
Why can't the league start later in the spring?
We could begin later, but we can't finish later. The courts are not available for league use in July, so the season would be shorter.
Have any rules changed since 2011?
No
When the schedules are made up, do you schedule full rotations within the division, or just every Tuesday?
We schedule as many games as possible, so you might play some teams one more time than other teams (i.e. not full rotations).
Are there spares available if we are short of players?
There are no 'spares', only people who are looking to join a team. We'll send you a list of people who want to play league. Keep in mind that this new person is then on your team for the season since the rules state that they can't play for any other team. New players could contact us during the season too, so let us know anytime if you need more players.
Can I add a player to the team at the last minute?
Sure, just be sure to add their name and TennisBC number to your roster on the scoring website within 24 hours. If they don't have a TennisBC number, send an email to sitlinfo stating that they will apply for one in the coming days.
How and when do we decide to call a rainout?
This must be done no earlier than 4:00 pm. If captains can't agree, then both teams must show up.
Why can't we go indoors or reschedule our meets if it's raining?
To make it fair for all teams in the league. There are limited indoor courts and some teams may not be able to reschedule.
What should we do if we arrive at the courts and they are unplayable due to construction, broken nets....?
There isn't much we can do because most other courts will be booked for league. Check the 'Reserved' poster for available courts that you could possibly go and play on. If you don't manage to play your meet, it will be treated as a rainout and not rescheduled. Please let us know about the courts as soon as possible.
What's the best way to tell the public to leave the courts, and can I do that before 6:00?
Nicely, and no. Point out the Reserved poster for a list of all reserved courts, and encourage them to play league next year.
How do I ensure that play begins on time? Sometimes it takes people awhile to get organized, and then we aren't able to complete play before dark.
The home team captain should take charge. Remind players to take serves about 6:10 and insist that play begins at 6:15.
A couple of my opponents arrived late. Should I declare a default?
Use your judgement, but remember that everyone wants to play. If you want to declare a default, see the rules to determine scoring.
When can players be substituted in during play?
Only following the first two sets, during the switchover. Give the new player(s) a 5 minute on-court warmup.
Some people like to hit overheads at the person at the net. Is that good sportsmanship?
It's all part of the game. You might want to back up.
How do you play no-ad scoring?
At Deuce, the receiving team picks which side to receive on and the next point wins the game.
What happens if my opponents want to quit due to darkness, but the set is almost finished and we are ahead?
Some people can't see very well as the daylight fades. Stop playing and if you think there is some gamesmanship involved, send details to sitlinfo within 24 hours and we will investigate. Gamesmanship is discouraged of course.
What if the home team doesn't enter the scores on the website?
Please send us an email and we'll get them entered.
