Fiend at Court Unplugged
In “Life on the Border: Tennis in DFW” I wrote about a practice colloquially known as “double dipping” in league tennis. It is fairly common in the DFW area for players to play league tennis in both Dallas and Fort Worth. Additionally, most local leagues allow players to play on more than one team within a league, as long as those teams are in separate flights or divisions.
I am in the middle of contemplating a situation that was recently actively discussed in the Facebook group for Texas tournament players. The specific point of debate is whether allowing a single person to serve as captain of multiple teams in the same flight/division. There is currently no rule that prohibits the practice.
Playing on Multiple Teams
On more than one occasion I have entertained grumbling from some of my tournament friends from other parts of the section, that “Double Dipping” should not be allowed in USTA league tennis. That sentiment would include playing in multiple Community Tennis Associations (CTAs) in addition to multiple flights/divisions within each league. Having a lot of opportunity to play on league teams is sometimes viewed as “unfair” by players who live in areas with fewer options for play.
I cannot imaging that a rule that prohibits that practice would ever be imposed by any of the three tiers of USTA league governance. The reason for that is because to do so would be contrary to the mission statement of the USTA: “To promote and develop the growth of tennis.”
There is also a financial incentive for CTAs to allow crossover play between flights. Players who double up create more player registration fees. That puts more money into the coffers of the local CTAs. More money provides the local organization with more reach and options for carrying out the mission of promoting and developing the growth of tennis at the grassroots level.
Imposing rules that restrict otherwise eligible players from engaging in a playing opportunity is contrary to the purpose of the USTA. I am aware of some rules imposed by CTAs that could arguably work against participation, but those are topics for another day.
The Rules of Playing on Multiple Teams
Playing on multiple teams within the same league generally comes with a stipulation that the player needs to inform the two captains which team would be considered to be “primary” in the event that both teams reach the playoffs. This is to prevent a team from reaching the playoffs and then discovering that there aren’t enough players to participate.
A player is only allowed to play in each tier of the playoffs for one team. In other words, once a player is declared to be primary for one team and participates in playoffs, they can’t switch teams in the middle of that event. However, they can participate for the secondary team in subsequent playoff events. In other words, the sectional championships.
In Fort Worth, but to my surprise apparently not Dallas, there is a “duplicate player” rule in the league regulations. Essentially there can be no more than 4 common players on the rosters of two teams at the same level. If this occurs, then both teams are disqualified from playoffs. This prevents the same team from entering two flights of the same league.
The duplicate player rule in Fort Worth forces a lot of “mingling” of players. Ultimately this seems to prevent teams from becoming overly insular. This practice provides the opportunity for players to get to know each other as both a teammate and opponent. I think that is a good rule.
At the same time, it has also forced me into the habit of sitting in my car reviewing the rosters of both teams prior to league matches. It is embarrassing to walk up to the wrong team for warm up and lineup strategy discussions.
Conflict of Interest and Multiple Teams
I have experienced losing the championship match of local league playoffs where members of my team were also on the roster of the other team. In those cases they usually sheepishly and apologetically slip off to join their other team in the post match celebration.
I have also been on the winning side of that phenomenon, celebrating a league championship victory with vanquished competitors. In fact, I once played an entire singles match without realizing that my opponent was also on the roster of my team. In retrospect, she was unnaturally cheerful throughout a tough match tie-break loss. That should have been a clue.
I suppose that a player who was fortunate enough to reach the championship match of playoffs on the roster of both competing teams could have a preference of which group advances to the next level. While loyalties would most likely align with the declaration of the primary team, there is no compelling reason why that would necessarily have to be the case.
It would be possible for a player to tank a match to influence an outcome in favor of the opposing team. Alternatively, disclosing the lineup to the opposing team in advance of the exchange could be a significant factor. I genuinely hope these situations do not occur. In any case, I would think this would be pretty rare.
The player preference scenario could also occur during the regular season. I have a story from the waning weeks of regular season play that will have to wait for another time. It is very possible that a team that is out of playoff contention for one flight may have an ability to influence who ultimately advances, which may in turn help their team in another flight. It is all very incestuous.
Recap So Far
Within the confines of the USTA League system, I do not consider the fact that players are allowed to play on multiple teams to be a significant ethical concern. While it is possible for players on multiple teams to have a conflict of interest regarding match outcomes, in my experience players in that situation arrive at that point from a genuine desire to play as much tennis as possible. I don’t think a player ever joins a team with the intent of manipulating the system.
To recap where we are in this examination, yesterday the concept of non-playing captains was examined with the conclusion that the practice should generally be allowed. Today, the ability of players participating on multiple teams in separate flights/divisions was examined primarily because it illuminates the rules governing participation on multiple teams.
Tomorrow we will look fully at the original question that sparked the debate on Facebook. Should a person be allowed to captain several teams in the same flight/division of a league.
Referenced Sources
- 2020 USTA League Regulations, https://www.usta.com/content/dam/usta/pdfs/190517_2020_National_Regulations.pdf
- 2020 Operating Procedures USTA Texas Section Tennis Leagues, https://www.usta.com/content/dam/usta/sections/texas/pdf/2020_League_Operating_Procedures.pdf
- 2020 CATA League Regulations: A handbook for captains and players, Capital Area Tennis Association, https://www.austintennis.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/CATA_League_Regulations.pdf
- How the USTA Works for You, USTA National Web Page, viewed 9/11/2020.
- 2020 Greater Fort Worth Tennis Coalition League Regulations, viewed 9/11/2020.
- USTA Dallas Local League Rules & Regulations, 2020, Dallas Tennis Association, viewed 9/11/2020.
