Central Mass Indoor Tennis Association (CMITA) teams operate from the fall through the spring during the indoor season. Both men’s and women’s matches are all played on Saturdays. The level of play is divided into three primary categories: A, B and C.
A running backhand during match play.
Similar to USTA matches, CMITA should be first and foremost fun, however the process of joining a team can be a bit vague and subjective at some clubs. At the MLTC, certain rules and parameters havebeen put in place so that the experience is enjoyable and the process is fair.
Open vs. Closed Teams
At our facility, we make a distinction between teams that we manage and teams that are managed by the players. “Open” teams are rosters that are controlled by our program and those rosters are open to any player of an appropriate level who wishes to play. “Closed” teams are groups that play under our banner, however we do not organize or coordinate them.
The closed team concept is made for players who have a group of friends that want to play together without a coach or a club dictacting their fate. We are more than happy to work with players, coach them and even assist with suggesting the line-up if requested, however the recruitment of players, contact with the league and overall management of the rosters must be handled by whoever is designated as the captain.
If someone is looking to join an open team, the following guidelines have been put into place to help make the process fair and transparent:
Open Team Guidelines for CMITA
Mark’s lefty slice preparation during a big point.
- Returning CMITA players have the right of first refusal on the coming indoor season until August 1st. After this date, the position becomes available to the next potential candidate. If one doubles player leaves the team, then their partner has the first opportunity to fill the vacancy with a partner of their choosing.
- CMITA matches consists of nine core positions: three doubles pairs and three singles players. Players who comprise those nine positions are expected to commit to the weeknight practices and weekend matches for the duration of the season from the fall through the spring.
- In CMITA, a team match consists of two doubles and two singles players, therefore one MLTC doubles pair and one singles player are off each week.
- MLTC practices consist of eight players. Six of the nine core players practice and the team also has two “alternates” who practice as well and who are called on to fill in any holes in the match schedule when the core players who are off cannot. The alternates practice on the singles court with the other singles players.
- In the event that a team cannot field six core players, then any open slots may be split between two players.
- Players must agree to find their own substitutes and take care of payment between each other in such an event.that finding a substitute is necessary.
- Although subs are often not asked pay, it is completely acceptable to do so. The club can help facilitate this by holding payments that are dropped off by subs. Players must specifically ask for a sub to pay and let the sub know who to make the check out to. Core players and alternates are ultimately responsible for the cost of the slot.
- If player cannot find a sub and requests that the captain find one for him/her, no remuneration can be expected.
Nice “trophy pose” for an overhead.
- Players who have a USTA or a verified TenCap rating are given priority over those who have either a lower rating or those who do not have an official rating at all.
- If a player cannot return to play on their team for the coming season due to an injury or illness, then the player must forfeit the slot to a replacement. If a player must leave the team after the season begins due to an injury or an illness, then the injured/ill player may have the right of first refusal on that position for the following year if they are healthy and able to participate.
- If after the end of a season, a fourth position doubles team or player has has played in five or more matches and lost 87% or more of those matches, then their position will become available for other members to fill for the following season. If a team or player has lost 87% or more of their matches but has not played in at least five matches, then it will be at the coach’s discretion whether the player(s) are moved down.
- The MLTC reserves the right to move individual players to a higher or lower division arbitrarily if those players are clearly too strong or too weak for their current divisions. This option is avoided since it is a much more subjective approach.
- If a player defaults a doubles match, he/she is responsible for all player court fees associated with the default of their match as set forth in the CMITA rules posted on their website.
These guidelines have been instituted to help foster an appropriately leveled team in an environment of camraderie amongst peers. The creation of a unified team is much more likely to happen when levels are consistent and players are committed to the group.
If you have an interest in joining a CMITA team, then please contact Marcus at marcus@marcuslewisenterprises.com.
