Annual CALTA Captains' Meeting

March 18, 2002

The 2002 annual captains' meeting was held on March 18 at 9:30AM in the auditorium of the Charleston County Library on Calhoun Street.  

Of the 48 CALTA teams, 39 were represented.  

Each team had one vote on the issues requiring a vote. 

The major issues discussed and conclusions reached were as follows:

• Web Site: The CALTA web site was reviewed -- how to access it, what our members can find on it, and how important it is to utilize the site on a regular basis.  The site is updated frequently and important information is gathered and passed on through the site.  Captains were urged to visit the site regularly and to encourage their teammates to do so.  Our members were reminded that they can easily communicate with the Board through the Board's e-mail address (board@caltatennis.net).  If appropriate, members' comments and opinions that are received by the Board can be posted on the web site -- making continuous dialogue among our membership readily available. 

• The On-Line Roster Entry Form, requested by several captains during this past season, is now available on the web site.  Its format was presented and explained.  It will not be required for the 2002-2003 season but its use is strongly encouraged.

• Rosters On-line: The captains were asked to vote on whether to have the team rosters, including subs, available on-line (names only, no telephone numbers) for the 2002-2003 season as soon as the rosters are finalized.  Approved with no dissent.

• New Team Application: It was announced that the deadline for requesting to add a new team has been changed from May 1 to June 1, and the Charter amended accordingly.  If a new team wants to join CALTA and if their tennis center has adequate court availability, they are guaranteed admission if they apply by June 1.  Teams that apply after June 1 can be included only if the scheduling process and division structure allow for it.  Application should be made in writing (e-mail acceptable).

• Make-up dates were included for the first time in the schedule this season.  They were not fully effective since they were staggered on different dates for the five divisions, resulting in some problems in court availability.  The Board will try to schedule the same make-up dates for all divisions next season.

• Date of Captains' Meeting: A vote was taken as to whether to continue to have the annual CALTA Captains' Meeting on Monday morning, rather than on a Tuesday.  Approved by overwhelming majority. 

• Division Structure and Movement of Teams at End of Season:  The members were reminded that the removal of the automatic 2-up/2-down movement of teams was approved by the captains last year when the CALTA Charter was enacted.  The policy covering movement of teams at the end of the season is covered in articles VI and VII of the Charter.  Teams who want to request to change divisions at the end of this season and teams who think they may be asked to move up or down and would prefer to not move were asked to notify the Board by June 1.  The Board will make every effort to accommodate the request of a team to play in a specific division, but the division structure takes precedence.  In order to avoid the small divisions necessitated by our 5-division structure (8 teams in Div. 3 and only 6 teams in Div. 5), it was proposed that the preliminary structure set up for next season should be four divisions instead of five. The Board will proceed on that basis. Last year's almost unanimous captains' vote requesting that the Board avoid having 11 or 12 teams in a division (since this generates an unmanageable schedule) was reviewed -- and the captains once again gave overwhelming approval to continuing the same structure. 

• The new rules introduced in this season were reviewed and discussed: 1) the new warm-up guidelines received positive response; 2) the requirement for USTA-approved balls was explained and again accepted without dissent; and 3) the new option to play a match tie-break instead of a third set was again approved -- with the captains voting to change the format to a 10-point tie-break next season rather than the current 7-point tie-break.

• A vote was taken on whether to allow 2 minutes between 1st and 2nd set (instead of the current 20/90 second allowance); it was overwhelmingly opposed by the captains.

• The "cold weather" clause in Rule XII was discussed.  Under the current rule, the home team captain makes the decision whether or not to play; if the home team captain decides to play, the visiting team must come or a forfeit results.  In order to give to the visiting team the opportunity for some input, the following addition to the rule was proposed and accepted by the majority:  "The visiting team has the option, upon arrival (between 9:00 and 9:30), to require a reschedule if they can demonstrate with a thermometer that the temperature on the courts is 32 degrees or below." 

• Conduct and good sportsmanship was discussed and the captains were asked to vote on whether additional specifications were required in the Rules.  It was voted that no addition be made to the Rules -- but it was proposed that the captains should take a more active role in dealing with on-court disputes and should consider communicating with the Board immediately if they become aware of a conduct problem with a team or an individual.

• "Stacking" ("playing strength") was discussed and the captains voted overwhelmingly not to institute any policy concerning this issue. 

• Restroom & Seating Facilities: It was announced that the Board will add to the Charter minimum requirements for restroom facilities and seating adjacent to the court for a new tennis center.  And the captains agreed that a clause should be added to the Captains' Responsibilities document next season indicating that, if appropriate bathroom and/or seating is not available at a member club because of construction or other situations, the captain must notify the CALTA Board -- and the Board and division coordinator would work with the teams involved to find an acceptable solution.

• Junior Scholarship Program:  A report was given on the number and types of nominations received to date and it was announced that applications from CALTA members will be accepted for one more week.  In early April the Board will meet to choose the winners. 

• The captains were asked if they would be interested in having one large year-end party in 2003 (the 30th anniversary year of CALTA/City League) instead of separate division luncheons.  The captains were enthusiastic and the Board asked them to poll their teams and to think about a possible location in the Charleston Area that could accommodate our membership.

• There will be an open position on the Board in May for a Director At-Large (3-year term); interested members were asked to contact the Board.