Frequently Asked Questions
Click on the question and the answer will be displayed.
How many matches will I play?
This depends on the number of players in your league. One match should be played against all other players in your league. Leagues will contain between 4-7 players.
What is the format of matches?
Matches in all leagues should play the best of 3 sets. The first 2-sets should be decided by a tie-break at 6 all, the third set should be decided by playing a match-tiebreak only - first to 10 by 2 clear points.
Will my results count towards my Rating?
All results are sent to your County Office. For more info on ratings click on the following link: http://www.lta.org.uk/Articles/Players/AEGON-British-Tennis-Ratings/
Will my results count towards my Ranking?
No, as this is not a tournament rankings points are not available.
Where are the matches to be played?
Details will be sent out on the contacts spreadsheet for each league, but it will be a combination of home and away matches. It is the responsibility of the home player to organise a court for the time and date arranged.
When are the matches to be played?
Matches can be played at any time that is mutually agreed between the players. However, all players are strongly encouraged to arrange their matches early and not to leave them all to the end of the run. Remember you only have 6 weeks!
When will my results be sent to the LTA?
All results will be sent to your County office the day after the finish date at 12pm and not before this time.
Who is responsible for forwarding the result of the match?
The match winner should forward the result.
Where do I send the result?
Results should be sent via www.tennisgoat.co.uk and clicking on the ‘submit results’ section of the website. Please do not email results through as this will not count.
Where will results be displayed?
All results will be displayed on the website under ‘results’. Please allow a few days for these to appear.
When must all matches be completed?
The completion date for all matches is Sunday 22nd August.
Who provides the balls?
The home players should provide the balls.
How much time should I allow for the completion of my matches?
It is the responsibility of the home player to ensure enough court time is available to complete the match. It is suggested that a minimum of 2-hours be made available. It is also down to the home player to check visitors are allowed to play on their chosen courts.
What happens if my opponent turns up late or failed to show?
The first set can be claimed after 30 minutes. The County Office will issue players with a caution if they fail to turn-up for matches. Regular offenders will be withdrawn from the league.
What happens if we start but are unable to finish the match due to the following reason?
Injury - The injured player concedes the match.
Bad weather - The match should be rescheduled and start from the point it was stopped.
What happens if my opponent refuses to play or I am unable to contact them?
Surrey players contact us on surrey@tennisgoat.co.uk, Essex players contact us on essex@tennisgoat.co.uk to ensure you have the correct contact details for the player. If the match cannot be arranged after 4 or more dates have been provided a walkover will be given and 3 points will be awarded.
Will it count towards my Rating if I am awarded a walkover?
No, only completed matches will count towards your Rating.
What should I do if my opponent was badly behaved on court and/or cheated?
Please report this to us and we will take appropriate action. The LTA Code of Conduct defines what is and is not acceptable behaviour on court. This is available via www.LTA.ORG.UK
Can I be moved to a higher league if my rating at the start of the run improves part way through a run?
No - you will have to wait until the next run, however we aim to coincide the leagues with the rating runs!
Can I play if my club is not affiliated to the LTA?
Yes - so long as you have access to a court for the home matches.
Can I play if my club is outside the county?
Normally no, however do contact us to discuss. We need to avoid players travelling long distances outside of the county.
Will I play all children of the same age?
Normally yes however if there are not enough of the correct age we will contact you to confirm you are happy to play slightly older players.