Code of Conduct

Summary

The main purpose of The Dunlop Cleveland League is to provide an organised format of tennis fixtures to enable Clubs to enter teams and play tennis in various divisions and formats of each of the Leagues.

The League is, however, a voluntary organisation and, as such, relies heavily on committee members willingly giving their time and efforts to help the League to run smoothly. The support of the Clubs and their members is essential to develop a sense of partnership with the League and strengthens the social network, developing a community of tennis within the Cleveland Tennis League.

Both parties must strive to be respectful of each other and all are aiming to provide the opportunity to play tennis in a welcoming environment across the county of Durham and Cleveland. The commitment by the Committee, Clubs and Club members to ensure rules are followed, data and results entered and lines of communication are well established are needed to ensure the smooth running of the League and to allow the Community of Tennis within the Cleveland League to be successful.

Points to note

Clubs who are involved in the League:

Responsibilities: It is the responsibility of all clubs when inviting teams to play League matches to ensure that the visiting clubs are aware of any domestic situations that they as a club may be encountering at that time to enable the forthcoming match to run smoothly.

Social Media / Website / promotional material:  If you wish to take photographs for your club during a League match, you must ensure that you have checked with the visiting club they are happy for this to take place and that they understand where the photos will be used.

When visiting other clubs you must consider the following:

Facilities: There are a variety of facilities available at the clubs that you will visit within the League some will be part of a bigger complex and other tennis facilities will be limited. Please be respectful of all clubs facilities as they all strive to provide a tennis facility not only for visiting players but for their own members as well. 

Courts: The outdoor court surface at clubs varies across the County and all players in the League must be prepared to play on courts which are offered to them, if however poor weather sees a match potentially being cancelled and there is the opportunity to play indoors both captains have to agree to move the match indoors.

Pavilions: Not all clubs have access to a Pavilion or similar building for changing and toilets so be prepared for this, please check available facilities before visiting.

Court attire: Only shoes suitable for tennis should be worn on the courts. Trainers with black soles or deeply ridged soles must not be worn as they will mark and/or damage the court surfaces. Only clothes suitable for sports (white or coloured) should be worn – defined as recognised sports clothing as sold in sports shops and major stores.

Conduct on court

When walking on and off the courts, please consider other players. Wait until a point has ended before walking behind them. If your ball strays into the other courts, please ask for it to be returned at a convenient moment in the other player’s game. 

Appropriate conduct on court is expected, loud and / or vulgar language should not be used and aggressive or threatening behaviour will not be tolerated. Unacceptable actions include:

• Being abusive or showing aggression towards another player

• Swearing

• Racket throwing

• Intimidating another player

• Creating a danger to another player

In regard to line calls:

• Only call the lines on your side of the net

• Call clearly and firmly what you see and what you honestly believe to be correct

• If you are not absolutely certain or didn’t see the ball clearly, the ball is considered in and must be given in the opponent’s favour

• If there is uncertainty on both sides, and if both teams agree, replay the point

• Nobody, beyond those playing in the match, should make line calls or attempt to sway decisions in any way 

When changing ends please respect players on the other courts and always ensure you walk around the net.

To avoid any scoring dispute the server should clearly announce the score prior to each point.  When a game is completed the server should confirm the match score and ensure all players agree before continuing.

Disputes and complaints

Should you feel a club or individual has breached this code or the league rules either before, during or after a match you can report it by following the Complaints and Disciplinary Policy.

If we consider that an incident is a safeguarding concern the committee will raise it with the LTA in line with their safeguarding policies.

Version 2 - last updated 22/02/25