Playing Rules
Updated September 1, 2023
General Rules
Florida State University does not provide accident insurance coverage for injuries received by Intramural Sports participants. Each participant should make sure that they have coverage either through family policies or the student insurance plan.
Florida State University PROHIBITS possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages on University property. Smoking and the use of smokeless tobacco is also prohibited at Campus Recreation facilities. This includes the Rec SportsPlex, Main Campus Fields, Westside Courts, and Tully Gym. Violators will be asked to leave the area. Failure to do so can result in forfeiture of the contest, suspension of individuals and/or teams, and appropriate action by the Office of Student Conduct & Community Standards and/or the FSU Police.
Sport Rules
Current United States Tennis Association (USTA) rules will govern play with the following modifications:
I. GENERAL ELIGIBILITY
1. Participation is limited to currently-enrolled, fee-paying FSU students, faculty members, and full-time staff. FAMU & TCC students and members of the community are not eligible.
2. In order to participate in an intramural contest, each player must present their current, valid FSUCard. Check-in takes place at designated sign-in locations at the facility, not at the fields or courtside.
3. Additional information regarding player eligibility, team rosters, and participant check-in is available in the Seven Principles of Intramural Sports, available online at the FSU Intramural Sports web site and in the Intramural Sports Office in 1035 Tully Gym. Requests for exceptions to any policy must be directed to the IM administrative staff during regular weekday business hours in the Intramural Sports Office. No exceptions are granted at the fields or courts.
II. TEAM COMPOSITION – TEAM TENNIS
1. Teams are comprised of four (4) players. A minimum of three (3) players is required to start a team match. Two players constitute a default, one or less is a forfeit.
2. A team match consists of two (2) singles matches and one (1) doubles match. The team that wins at least two (2) of the three matches will win the overall match-up.
3. All singles and doubles matches will occur simultaneously, therefore the team’s singles player may not play doubles during the same team match. Teams must have two (2) players for each doubles match
4. When a team participates with three (3) players, it must fill the doubles match and a singles match, forfeiting the remaining singles match. Additionally, if the opponent has a full squad of four (4) players, it may substitute mid-match for one of its players (only one substitution, the player replaced may not re-enter).
III. EQUIPMENT
1. Teams must furnish their own tennis balls and racquets. Racquets are available for checkout and tennis balls are available for purchase at the Leach Center front desk during normal operating hours.
IV. INDIVIDUAL MATCH SCORING
A. During the finals of tournament play, the players have the option to play an 8-game Pro Set or a best two-out-of-three sets regular match. If there is a disagreement on the type of final to be played, the 8-game Pro Set will be used.2. Due to time and space limitations, the “No-Ad” method of scoring will be used. A player only needs to win four points to win a game. That is, the score goes three-points-all (or deuce) the next point decides the game – it’s game point for both players. The Receiver has the right to choose to which court the service is to be delivered on the seventh point. If a “No-Ad” set reaches 6 games all, a tie-breaker shall be used.3. Singles tie-breakers will follow the following format.
‘A’ serves first point (from right tie-breaker court); ‘B’ serves points 2 and 3 (left and right); ‘A’ serves points 4 and 5 (left and right); ‘B’ serves point 6 (left) and after they change ends, point 7 (right); ‘A’ serves point 8 and 9 (left and right); ‘B’ serves points 10 and 11 (left and right); and ‘A’ serves 12 (left). If point reach 6-all, players change ends and continue as before. A tie breaker is won when a player or team reaches seven points (with at least a 2-point margin established), or after a 6-all, a player or team establishes a 2-point margin.
4. Doubles tie-breakers will follow the singles format with the following revisions.
Doubles partners will preserve the sequence of their serving turns. (Assuming A & B vs. C & D): Player ‘A’ serves first point (right); ‘C’ serves 2 and 3 (left and right); ‘B’ serves 4 and 5 (left and right); ‘D’ serves point 6 (left) and after team change ends, point 7 (right). Continue this order until a team wins.
V. SPORTING BEHAVIOR
1. The mission of Intramural Sports is to provide a recreational environment for the University community which is safe and enjoyable. While the game atmosphere is often competitive, ensuring participant safety, providing a fun, social atmosphere, and promoting positive behavior among participants, spectators, and team followers are our primary concerns. The game atmosphere should remain good-natured at all times. Participants shall maintain good sporting behavior throughout their participation in all facets of the intramural program.
2. The Sporting Behavior Rating System is intended to be an objective scale by which teams’ attitude and behavior can be assessed throughout the intramural sports league and playoff seasons. Behavior before, during, and after an intramural sports contest is included in the rating. The team captain is responsible for educating and informing all players and spectators affiliated with their team about the system.
3. A team is responsible for the actions of the individual team members and spectators related to it. Additionally, FSU Intramural Sports does not recognize the use of coaches. Only the team captain shall speak to the officials regarding administrative matters (protests, ejections, disqualifications, etc). Furthermore, the team captain’s efforts in assisting officials/staff to calm difficult situations and to restrain troubled teammates are key to controlling team conduct.
4. Good sporting behavior is vital to the conduct of every Intramural contest. In order to encourage proper conduct during games, officials, administrative personnel, and supervisors shall make decisions on whether to warn, penalize or eject players or teams for poor sporting behavior. These decisions are final. The Intramural Sports administrative staff will rule on further penalties as a result of unsporting conduct.
5. Each participant should choose their team members carefully, as all team members will suffer the consequences of any disciplinary action taken by the Intramural Sports staff against that team for violation of the intramural rules and sporting behavior guidelines. Protests or appeals of sporting behavior ratings will not be recognized. The Intramural Sports administrative staff reserves the right to review any rating given to a team.
6. Additional information regarding team and participant sporting behavior including the rating method, factors, and scale is available in the Sporting Behavior Principle of the Seven Principles of Intramural Sports, available online at the FSU Campus Recreation web site.
