Schedule of play

In order to play in the Baltimore Women's Interclub Tennis League, you (and your partner, if doubles) must be able to commit to playing at least 5 (of 7) matches during the course of each season. Below are listed the dates and times of play for the different teams/divisions. Note that matches are played at clubs throughout the Baltimore region; some matches may require a 30-40 minute trip each way.

Note that for home matches, Yon will run a warmup session for the team beginning at 9 am.

Doubles (late April through mid-June)

Singles (early September through mid-October)

Interclub doubles: challenge procedures

Internal challenges (among existing teams from the prior year) will be played as if Teams A and B were combined and in ranked order from 1-8 ( or 1-12, etc. if additional teams are added in future years) and must be played between January 1 and March 15 as follows:

• Existing pairs from the prior season will be permitted, but not required, to challenge the pair one spot above them.  Each team is entitled to two challenges within the challenge period.  That is, if you challenge and win, you may challenge the next team up. (If you lose, you may not re-challenge the same team.)
• The ordering of all teams from 1 through 8 in a single ladder means the top B pair from the prior season (pair 5) may, if they wish, challenge the bottom pair from the prior season’s A team (pair 4) during this internal challenge period. If pair 5 wins, they become pair 4 (pair 4 drops to pair 5) and would be allowed a second challenge.
• Challenges should be played at a mutually agreed upon time within two weeks of a challenge request.  While a pair may elect not to challenge up, they must accept a challenge from below.  If the team you challenged cannot play in a two-week window (especially due to illness, injury or travel) you may challenge the next team up. (e.g.: if team 3 challenges team 2 and team 2 is unavailable within two weeks, team 3 may challenge team 1). If the pair challenging loses, all teams stay in their original position. If the challenging pair wins, the losing pair and those below them drop down one position (including the unavailable pair).  When the unavailable pair is ready to play again, they may challenge the team that is now directly above them, provided the challenge period has not ended.
• Challenge matches must be played in order.  If your team receives a challenge before you have a chance to challenge up, you must play the challenge from below first and then challenge based on the results of that match.
• If a doubles pair loses a partner the remaining player may find another partner and retain their position.  The new partner pair is subject to challenge (and may challenge) as per the regular internal challenge rules.  If the partner is replaced during the internal challenge period, the pair directly below them can re-challenge even if they had lost to the old partner pair during that season’s internal challenge period.
• If a pair opts to drop out for a season, they will lose their place and must begin as a new pair if they choose to return to Interclub.  (See external challenges, below.)
• If there is a vacancy at the beginning of the internal challenge period, waiting pairs would fill the vacancy in the 4th or 8th position (team match determined by club pro) and participate in internal challenges.  If there is more than one pair that could fill a vacancy, they will play each other first to determine order of ability to fill vacant slots.

At the end of the internal challenge period, pairs ranked 1-4 will comprise the A team, and pairs ranked 5-8 the B team.

External challenges

Anyone belonging to BST is welcome to initiate a “challenge” for a regular place on an Interclub team.  The challenge period will run between March 16th, or the end of the internal challenge period, until April 15th or the day before official rosters must be submitted to the Baltimore Women’s Interclub Tennis League.  All pairs should be able to commit to playing at least 5 out of the 7 matches in the season and be prepared to serve as co-captains or delegates in the rotation (see Delegates and Team Captains, below).

• New players (including those who have subbed in prior years) must find a partner and let the club pro know they would like to play Interclub and are prepared to challenge in.  The club pro may be able to suggest available partners.
• The club pro will determine which team’s ability level the new challenging pair most closely matches.  If there is more than one pair that wishes to challenge into the same team, they must play challenge matches among themselves between January 1 and March 15 (the internal challenge period) to determine order of ability.  Although only one pair will challenge into each team per season, all new players are encouraged to join the substitute list.
• The winning pair among the new players will then challenge the pair in the 4th position of the respective team during the external challenge period.  The winning team will take the 4th position for the season and the losing team will be placed on the substitute list.
• The club pro has discretion to permit a challenge from a new pair to a pair above the 4th position.   If the new team wins the challenge above the 4th position, they will fill the position challenged and the losing team and those in lower positions will drop down one, with the 4th position placed on the substitute list.  If the challenging pair loses, they will be placed on the substitute list.

There is no limit to the number of substitutes for any team.  The club pro will determine team placement and order of ability for the substitutes.  Those losing external challenge matches are encouraged to serve as substitutes!!!!


Singles

• Singles team challenges will use the same procedure as doubles outlined above. The internal challenge period will begin on the day following the last match of the doubles season and end on July 31st.  External challenges will be played between August 1 and August 31.
• New players should consult the club pro about which team to challenge into.  If multiple players wish to challenge into a team, they must play challenge matches among themselves during the internal challenge period.

Interclub delegates and team captains

All interclub team members will serve, on a rotating basis, as co-delegates to the Baltimore Women's Interclub Tennis League and as co-team captains.

Each Doubles team in rank order based on the previous year’s ladder will serve as Bolton Hill delegates beginning with Kathy Vaselkiv and Danute Armstrong finishing a 2-year term in 2008.  2-year rotations by doubles team position will begin in 2009 with the team below Vaselkiv/Armstrong from 2008.  If you are in line to be a delegate and cannot fill this position for any reason, you must recruit someone else to take the delegate position. If neither partner has served as a captain in any prior year, the delegate positions will go to the next pair in line.

Doubles co-captains will rotate for 2-years beginning with the #1 position for the A team in 2008. Toby Ditz and Michelle Holliday will serve as co-captains this year and a rotation will begin with the position from 2008 below Ditz/Pepper in 2009.

2-year singles co-captain rotations will begin with the #1 and #2 position on each team in the fall of 2008.

Those who have served as delegates and/or team captains will be available to help those who might be new to this and two-year terms will ensure some continuity.


Questions? Contact Kathy Vaselkiv (team delegate), Toby Ditz (B team co-captain), Michelle Holliday (B team co-captain), or Yon Armstrong (club pro; 410-241-6742).