Tournament Information

USTA League Tennis Champion teams from the nine States in the Southern Section will be invited to compete in the 2008 USTA League Tennis Southern Sectional Championships to be held July 19-27, 2008 in Mobile, AL.  A wildcard team is invited to complete a ten-team draw in each level. Additional wildcards are offered as needed. The wildcard procedure has been established for each level where each state will be offered a wildcard in a nine-year rotation. Each participating team will be scheduled to play at least 3 matches during the Championships.  The format will be round robin.  Based on the number of teams entered, this format may be changed by the Tournament Committee. 

Tournament Headquarters

Mobile Tennis Center                   
851 Gaillard Dr.
Mobile, AL  36608
251.208.5181

Additional Sites

Mirror Lake Racquet Club
3900 College Lane
Mobile, AL  36608

Oak wood Country
5260 Perin Rd.
Mobile, AL  36693
251.661.1922

Heron Lakes Country  Club
3851 Government Blvd.
Mobile, AL  36693
251.666.7040

Team and Individual scores and standings will be posted at the tournament headquarters each day.  Results will be entered into Tennis Link throughout each day and can be viewed on the Sectional Championships website at www.southernleaguetennis.com

Tournament Site Desks
All captains are asked to turn in their lineups at least 30 minutes prior to the scheduled match time with all team members present and ready to play. The USTA Point Penalty System will be in effect with lateness penalties imposed.  A fifteen-minute default time will be strictly enforced.

Practice Courts
Available on a first-come-first-serve basis.  A Player Guide with map/directions to practice sites and availability will be distributed at Registration.

Awards
Awards will be presented to champions and finalists.

PENN will be the official ball

Court Conduct
All players will abide by the USTA Rules and "The Code."  The server will call the score after each point, clearly and loudly enough for his/her opponent to hear.  Line calls will be made as accurately as possible, always giving the benefit of any doubt to your opponent.  Remember that if you cannot call your opponent's shot out, it is presumed good!  Do not ask opinions from spectators.  No coaching of any player will be permitted at any time.  Please follow all rules of considerate behavior.  Return balls from other courts promptly.  Be ready to receive serve promptly.  Always ensure that your opponent is ready for your serve.

Court Surfaces
Initial schedule: (In the event of inclement weather, court surfaces may change based on availability.)
All adult levels Outdoor Hard Courts
All senior levels Outdoor Clay Court

  2008 Southern Sectional League Championships Cancellation Policy

 Should inclement weather or other circumstances prevent the completion of a Sectional Championship the  Tournament Committee will determine whether the matches played at the point of cancellation will be used to determine round robin group winners and a champion and finalist in each of the levels.

If the Tournament Committee determines that there was a lack of "equal opportunity" for all teams in the level due to the schedule of play, the Tournament Committee will place all teams in a drawing to determine the champion and finalist in each level. (For instance, in a five team round robin, one team may be in first place at the time of cancellation with two matches played, while other teams in the round robin have fewer matches played.  This example would not provide "equal opportunity" for all teams in the round robin and would not be used to determine the round robin group winner).  If any team in a round robin flight is mathematically out of contention at the time of championship cancellation it will be excluded from the drawing.

The Tournament Committee has reserved courts for a rain date on Wed. July 23 and Mon. July 28 Initial travel plans should not be based on this date, as the Tournament Committee would shorten format, play at night, etc. first.