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OWTC CHALLENGE BOARD RULES

REVISED OCTOBER 2004 

1.  The Challenge board shall determine the ranking of players for use in league and tournament play.  

2.  To institute a challenge, contact the challenge board chairperson Monday through Friday between 8 AM and 8 PM.  The challengers must notify the challenges within 24 hours that the challenge has been placed.   

3.  The challenged team has 48 hours to respond with THREE dates and times to play the match.  Failure to do so will result in loss by default.  One selection must accommodate working team members.  A challenging team that cannot accept any of the three dates shall default (see rule 9).  No withdrawals are allowed after a challenge has been placed. 

4.  For a new team to become active on the challenge board, it may challenge in at any position.  If the challenging team is defeated it shall have two options.  (1) Go to the bottom of the board and then proceed according to rule 5 or (2) Have one more opportunity to challenge in at a lower position (than the first attempt) after a one week penalty for the loss.  If the challenger loses a second time, they must go to the bottom of the board and are again on a one week penalty.  A new team may not get onto the board by default. 

5.  Teams already ranked on the board may challenge three positions above their present ranking. 

6.  Challenges must be played within two weeks starting the day after the challenge is issued with the chairperson.  Should weather prevent play on the 14^th day, the chairperson must be notified and the match will be considered nullified.  Both teams are now available for challenge.  Challenger may not re-challenge the same team for one week. 

7.  The winner of the match, whether by default or match played, must report the score to the chairperson within 24 hours of the time match is played.  If the winner fails to do this, it will be open to challenges immediately.  The winning team replaces the losing team’s position on the board and all other teams move down. 

8.  The winner cannot be challenged for one week beginning at 8 AM the day after playing match. 

9.  The loser, by default or match played, cannot place any challenges for one week, nor re-challenge the winning team for two weeks.  They are available for challenge 8 AM the day following match or default. 

10.  All matches are two out of three sets with a 12 point tie-break used at 6-all.  The challengers shall provide a new can of balls.  If no club courts are available, courts can be rented with the cost to be shared by both teams.  Challenges must be played at City Park, unless both teams agree to play elsewhere. 

11.  If a team is unable to accept a challenge due to injury or illness or if it chooses to become inactive on the board, the team can turn over their position for up to 21 days.  The chairperson must be notified to turn over and again to reactivate.  When a team reactivates, they may not place a challenge for one week.  If a team is still unavailable for challenge after 21 days, it will be removed from the board.  However, to become active again, that team may challenge in at the last position held in that playing season (September-May) or lower.  If they lose the challenge, they cannot issue a challenge for one week and shall go to the bottom of the board. 

12.  If a team breaks up, either or both members may find new partners and challenge on as a new team. 

13.  A team may only be involved in one challenge at a time. 

14.  The Chairperson must notify the league captains of any changes in the rankings by 8 PM on Thursday, the week before play is scheduled.  Teams 1 through 7 (both hard and rubico) will play on Crescent City A on Friday, and teams 8 through 14 play on Crescent City B on Thursday. 

15.  The challenge board will open on August 1^st and close on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, allowing all challenges to be played within two weeks after Thanksgiving.  It will reopen on January 2^nd and close on May 31^st allowing challenges to be completed by June 15^th.  Challenges cannot be placed during the following holiday periods and these periods shall not count in computing the 2 week challenge time.

a. Mardi Gras (Sunday through Wednesday)

b. Easter (Friday through Sunday)

c. Labor Day (Friday through Monday)

d. Any OWTC tournament weekend 

16.  There will be a Grievance Committee consisting of the captains of the A and B team, and the challenge board chairperson.  The OWTC president will replace or appoint a replacement for one of these positions if necessary.  They will resolve issues not covered in these rules and their decision will be final.