Adult 40 & Over Section Championships

USTA Middle States is utilizing the Match Tennis Team app for the Adult 40 & Over Section Championships. Each player must register in order to participate in the tournament. Please review the procedures below to learn how to use the app correctly.

** Please note: Match Tennis Team is a third-party vendor. If you have issues with your account or accessing the app, please contact Match Tennis Team customer support at support@matchtennisapp.com or use the customer support chat option on the app.

REGISTER HERE

Registration Steps:

1. Use your mobile phone, tablet, or computer: Register HERE for Match Tennis Team
2. Click the Start Registration button.
3. Select the appropriate division for your team.
4. Select your team from the list, then click Next.
5. Choose the role that applies to you:
   1. Captain
   2. Player
   3. Non-Playing Captain
6. Enter your USTA number and follow the prompts to verify it
7. Review the waiver and click the checkbox to accept it.
8. Enter the requested payment information and submit your registration.
9. Once your registration is complete, you will see a confirmation page. You will also receive a confirmation email with instructions for downloading and accessing the Match Tennis Team app.

• Download & Register Early: Download the app before arriving on site. You will use it to register, set and submit lineups, receive court assignments, report scores, and confirm scorecards.

   

• Check Schedules Frequently: Match schedules are subject to change. The final schedule will be posted at the start of the captain’s webinar. Please check the app regularly for updates.

   

• Arrival Time: Teams must arrive on site at least 30 minutes before their scheduled match time.

   

• Court Assignments: When a court becomes available, all players for that line will receive a text/notification via the app. Once notified, report to the tournament desk, show your ID, meet your opponents, and collect your match balls. Random ID checks may also occur.

   

• On-Court Scoring: Players must use the scorecards on court at all times. Home and visitor designations are labeled on the digital lineup.

   

• Reporting Match Results: At the completion of your match, confirm the final score with your opponent and record it in the app before leaving the court. If there is a dispute regarding the score, call a Tournament Official over immediately. Once you tap racquets and leave the court, the match is considered complete and played in good faith.

FRIEND AT COURT

COURT SURFACE: Hard

BALL TYPE: Penn Championship Extra Duty

PRACTICE COURTS: Players may call the facility to reserve and pay for any practice courts prior to the start of the first match on Friday.

SPORTSMANSHIP RECOGNITION: Players may nominate opponents for demonstrating good sportsmanship. A nomination form will be available online during championship weekend. Sportsmanship pins will be given out onsite, as available.

AWARDS: Awards will be given to the first-place teams of each division.

WATER/ICE: Players should come prepared with enough ice and water for the duration of their matches.

INDOOR BACKUP: There will be indoor back-up for all outdoor matches. Be sure your team is prepared to devote the weekend to being available for play. If we need to go indoors, times and scoring format may be adjusted because we do not always have the same number of courts available indoors.

COACHING: No coaching allowed by captains, teammates, or spectators. Please work out problems on court as best as you can. If players are not able to work out a dispute, one of them may come to the tournament desk to request the referee. (Please note that captains and/or players should not be involved with decision making or requesting an official without a player’s consent.) Cell phones and any electronic devices are not allowed on the courts and spectators’ phones should be turned off while observing matches. Smart watches may be worn to track steps, but they must be in airplane mode the entire duration of the match. At any time, an official or tournament staff may tell a player that they need to remove their smart watch at their discretion.

UMPIRES: There will be Certified Tournament Referees on-site at all times. Players are encouraged to play tennis without the need for umpires to be present for matches. In the case of disputed calls and upon the request of the player, the Tournament Referee may be requested to assist players as needed.

GRIEVANCE AND APPEAL PROCEDURE: The following guidelines and procedures will be used during this championship. Please review them carefully. Any staff member onsite will be glad to assist you with the forms and answer any questions on procedures. 3.03C(1) Any grievance alleging a violation during championships competition shall be in writing and delivered to the duly appointed site director or designee prior to whichever occurs first: (a) within 30 minutes of the completion of the involved team’s match or (b) the commencement of the involved team’s next match, whether or not the involved player participates except for Administrative Grievances (See Reg. 3.03A(2), Eligibility Grievances (See Reg. 3.03B(3) and NTRP Grievances (See Reg. 3.03E(3).) NTRP grievances will be accepted during section championships. Because of time constraints, they will not be handled until the tournament is over. All matches will stand as played.

RULES & REGULATIONS: The USTA Rules of Tennis, The Code, and the USTA League Regulations govern all play. The USTA Point Penalty system will be in effect.

SCORING: The format will be regular scoring for TWO SETS, with a Set Tiebreak (first to 7 by 2) when tied at 6-6, and with a Match Tiebreak (first to 10 by 2) in lieu of the third set. 

TIEBREAKS: The Coman Tiebreak Procedure will be used for all tiebreaks during the championship. First team serves one time, followed by two serves for each team thereafter. Change sides after the first serve, and then every four points thereafter.

MATCH CARDS and TIMING: Captains must report to the tournament desk at least 30 minutes before each scheduled match to receive your match card. Players must be present 30 minutes prior to the scheduled match time  — at which time your match card must be turned in. Matches will be called as courts become available, which may be up to 30 minutes prior to your scheduled match time. Penalties will be assessed from the time your match is called, not from the scheduled match time.

• We will try to give you a five-minute warning before your match will be called. When your match has been called, please have your entire team move to the tournament desk area. Some matches will be sent to the courts immediately – others may need to wait for a court to become available.

• Players who qualify to advance on more than one team (but at different NTRP levels) may play for both teams at Section Championships, but the match schedules will not be adjusted to accommodate those players. The players must choose which team and level they will represent according to the published schedule.

REPORTING SCORES: When a match is completed, vacate the court immediately and one representative from each doubles team must report back to the tournament desk to fill out the scorecard. Winner must return used balls. Scores will not count until all appropriate players have reported scores and balls are returned. 

2.03J SCORING OF INDIVIDUAL DEFAULTS: For the purpose of determining standings, individual defaults will be scored as a 6-0, 6-0 win for the player or doubles team receiving the default and a 0-6, 0-6 loss for the player or doubles team that defaulted the match. In the event of a default by both players or doubles teams, both sides will be given a 0-6, 0-6 loss and neither receives credit for a win. If a double default results in a tie, the tiebreak procedure shall be the same as in Reg. 2.03H Procedures in the Event of a Tie in order to determine a winner of that team match. 2.03H(1): For Section Championships, in the event of a tie, the tie will be broken by the first of the following procedures: 

• Winner of the most individual matches in the competition 

• Winner of head-to-head match (winner of head-to-head match only if all tied teams have played each other and one team defeated all the teams that are tied) 

• Loser of the fewest number of sets 

• Loser of the fewest number of games

• Game Winning Percentage: Total games won divided by total games played. 

• Winner of No. 1 Doubles 

*Format and schedule are subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances.

Hotels for September 18 – 20

Note: Be sure to use the code provided below if you call the hotel.

Hyatt Regency Princeton

• Address: 102 Carnegie Center, Princeton, NJ 08540
• Phone: (877) 803-7534
• Code: G-UT40

Doubletree Princeton

• Address: 4355 US Route 1, Princeton, New Jersey 08540
• Phone: (609) 452-2400

TEAM CAPTAINS MEETING: A virtual will take place on Wednesday, September 16 @ 7 p.m. Info will be emailed as we get closer to the event. 

TEAM CHECK-IN: Captains can check in their team on Friday, September 18. Report to the site of your first match at least 45 minutes prior to the start of the match. At that time, the captain will receive the team’s gift vouchers and lunch gift cards. 

TEAM ELIGIBILITY: Deadline to have the minimum required to roster a team is September 4. A minimum of nine (9) players who are on the final local roster must be available to compete at sectionals. Teams are expected to come with enough qualified players to field all 5 line courts for every section championship match. The Section Championship Committee has the authority to file a grievance and recommend the actions to take when multiple match default(s) given by one team result in a situation that may materially impact the championship’s standings. Team penalties may include but are not limited to, non-advancement, disqualification, or suspension. (See Regulation 3.03A(7)).

PLAYER ELIGIBILITY: For 18 & Over - A player rated (C or M) is eligible to advance to the 2026 USTA Middle States Section Championship if that player has played on that same team in at least two (2) matches, one default received. A player rated (S or A or D) is eligible to advance to the 2026 USTA Middle States Section Championship if that player has played on that same team in at least two (2) matches, no defaults received. 

(COMING SOON) ADULT 40 & OVER SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE

CHECK BACK IN SOON