STA U10 Orange Ball
Rules & Regulations
Official rules governing tournament format, player responsibilities, conduct and match procedures for all STA Orange Ball events.
Important
Players are responsible for checking their schedule of play one day before the tournament. Failure to attend a scheduled match may result in a default.
Authority
The STA Tournament Supervisor / Referee shall act as final on-site authority for the interpretation of the applicable STA Tournament Rules & Regulations, ITF Code of Conduct and Rules of Tennis. Abuse of officials by parents may result in suspension of the player's future STA tournament participation.
1.1 Competition Format
All events shall be played on a Round-Robin system.
1.2 Orange Ball: 10-Under Format
- All matches will be played on a time-based format of 6 minutes.
- If scores are tied after 6 minutes, players will play one deciding point to determine the winner.
- Players will change ends after every 6 points played.
- The format of play may be changed at the referee's discretion.
- The serving order is in 1221 format.
- The first server, Player A, serves 1 point.
- Service switches to Player B, who serves 2 consecutive points.
- Service switches back to Player A, who serves 2 consecutive points.
- Service switches to Player B, who serves 1 point.
- This completes one 1221 serving cycle.
- After changing ends, the 1221 serving pattern continues, with the next point served by the player who served last.
- The winner earns 1 point for winning the match.
- Simple numerical scoring is used: 1, 2, 3, 4... instead of the traditional 15–30–40 system.
1.3 Round-Robin Ranking Method
Players are ranked based on their number of match wins. The player with the most wins is ranked highest.
The tie will be decided by the head-to-head result, with the winner ranked higher.
If the head-to-head results do not determine the ranking, players will be ranked by their percentage of total points won across all Round-Robin matches.
The player with the higher percentage will be ranked higher.
1.4 Official Ball
U9: Stage 2 Orange Ball.
2.1 Entries
The minimum number of entries shall be 5. If insufficient entries are received, the event may be cancelled and players may be drawn into the next older age group. In the event that happens, participants will be upgraded to the older age group unless otherwise stated in writing, which will be taken as withdrawal and refund will be made.
2.2 Schedule of Play
The match and draw schedule will not be mailed. It will be uploaded on the STA website: www.singtennis.org.sg. It is the players' responsibility to check their schedule of play 1 day before the start of tournament and turn up accordingly, otherwise they will be defaulted. The referee reserves the right to make changes to the schedule. Change of schedule will not be made at the request of players. The Tournament Referee shall communicate with players only, not with coaches or parents.
2.3 Sign-In & Punctuality
Players will be defaulted if they are not ready to play within 15 minutes of their scheduled time, only if a court is available and weather permits. No appeal will be accepted.
3.1 Serving Rules
The serving order shall follow a 1221 format. Player A serves 1 point, Player B serves 2 consecutive points, Player A serves 2 consecutive points and Player B serves 1 point. This completes one 1221 serving cycle.
3.2 Scoring & Disputes
Matches will be played without a Chair Umpire. Players must keep their own score. If a player feels that the opponent's line calls are inaccurate, the player should inform the referee IMMEDIATELY. Dispute of any nature regarding a match should be brought to the referee's attention immediately. Protests will not be entertained after a match is completed.
3.3 Courts & Facilities
The condition of the courts and lightings are provided by the SportSG. Players must play on any court assigned by the referee. Requests for additional lighting or specific courts will not be accommodated.
3.4 Warm-Up
Warm-up is strictly limited to 3 minutes only.
3.5 Match Courts
Match courts are strictly for players only. Warm-up courts will not be provided.
4.1 Dress Code
As part of an educational programme for players, the referee shall advise players to comply with the ITF Dress Code. The following are not allowed:
- Casual round neck T-shirts with logos larger than 4 square inches or 26 square centimetres
- Bermudas
- Jogging shorts
- Jogging shoes
- Shoes with marking soles
Players who do not comply will not be allowed on court to play.
4.2 Coaching Policy
No outside coaching is allowed. Communication of any kind, audible or visible, between player and a coach or concerned party shall be construed as coaching. The referee has the discretion to ask any member of the public to move away from the courts. If coaching continues despite being advised by the referee to stop, the player will be defaulted.
4.3 Conduct Towards Officials
If a parent abuses an official, it may result in his or her child being suspended from future STA tournaments.
5.1 Breach of Rules
Any player who violates the Rules and Regulations above shall be defaulted immediately, immaterial of which rounds he/she has reached.
5.2 Defaults & Suspension
Players who default matches shall be subjected to suspension at the next age group event unless medical or other valid reasons with documentary proof is submitted.
5.3 Unsanctioned Tournaments
Players who have played in any unsanctioned tournament will not be allowed to play in this tournament.
6.1 Administrative Error
In the event any player is left out of a tournament, the lowest ranked player with a 'bye' will have his/her 'bye' replaced with the left-out player. If the player who was left out would have been seeded, the error in seeding may be corrected by switching the positions of the affected players. The seeding positions will remain.
If a player is defaulted for not showing up for a match because of an administrative error, the Referee can reinstate the match and players must play the reinstated match as scheduled by the Referee.
6.2 Entry Form Discrepancy
Any discrepancy on the entry form, including name, age or events, may cause the entry to be rejected. No appeal will be entertained.
7.1 Withdrawals & Refunds
Entry fees will only be refunded if withdrawals are made in the player's profile page before the entry deadline.
For tournaments starting from 1 January 2023 onwards, withdrawals will incur an admin fee of $2.00 inclusive of GST and convenience fee of $3.27 inclusive of GST.
7.2 Alternate Sign-In
No on-site alternate sign-in will be accepted.
8.1 Liability
Competitors play at their own risk. STA and SportSG are not responsible for injury, loss or other mishaps during the tournament.
8.2 Medical Time-Out
No qualified medical personnel will be available. The referee shall allow the player to be treated by any person selected by him/her. Injury time-out is 3 minutes only.
8.3 Rain Policy
In the event of rain, the referee shall make an announcement informing all players to dry their courts when the rain stops. Should any player fail to report 15 minutes after the announcement is made, the player will be defaulted, meaning he or she concedes a walk-over. No appeal will be accepted.
9.1 Media Consent
Player allows his or her image and trademarks to be published by all media partners of Singapore Tennis Association in their content.
9.2 Social Media Policy
This policy applies to inappropriate conduct and behaviour towards any person, including STA staff, players, officials or members of STA, through social media platforms.
When using social media, individuals must not:
- Make posts that are abusive, harassing or threatening towards any other person, including STA staff, players, officials or members of STA.
- Abuse or expose others to content that is offensive, inappropriate, obscene, insulting, provocative or hateful in relation to STA staff, players, officials or members of STA.
Consequences of a breach or suspected breach of this policy may include:
- Making a necessary public comment such as a correction, clarification, contradiction or apology regarding the breach.
- Issuing a formal warning to the individual responsible for the breach.
- Reporting any breach of law to the local authority or wronged party.
- Taking disciplinary action, beginning from imposing a one-year playing ban on the individual.
STA may also request those who are bound by the policy to remove posts from their personal social media pages.
Individuals who communicate their opinions and any other materials on social media do so at their own risk. An individual may be held personally liable for any commentary and/or material which may be defamatory, obscene or proprietary.
