Mixed 18/55 & Over Section Championships

In order to compete at Mixed 18s & 55s League Section Championships, you must register at the link below before the start of the event. 

REGISTER HERE 

FRIEND AT COURT

COURT SURFACE: Hard and Har Tru

BALL TYPE: Penn Championship Extra Duty and Penn Championship Regular Duty for Har Tru Courts

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.

Hotel Rates for May 28 – May 31

Note: Be sure to ask for the USTA Middle States Rate or use the codes provided below.

Hilton Garden Inn
101 Granite Run Drive, Lancaster, Pa. 17601 | 717-560-0880 

Group Code: 91H | Hotel Code: LNSLHGI

Deadline: April 28

Heritage Hotel

500 Centerville Rd, Lancaster, Pa. 17601 | 717-898-2431

Group Code: usta052826

Deadline: May 15

Spark By Hilton

150 Granite Run Drive, Lancaster, Pa. 17601 | 866-994-7079

Group Code: BFWS

Deadline: May 14

Hampton Inn 

545 Greenfield Rd., Lancaster, Pa. 17601 | 717-299-1200

Group Code: USTA 2026

Deadline: May 7

TEAM CAPTAINS MEETING: A virtual will take place on Wednesday, May 27 @ 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, May 29. 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, lunch gift cards, and match cards for their first match. 

TEAM ELIGIBILITY: A minimum of six (6) players who were on the final local roster must be available to compete at sectionals. Teams are expected to come with enough qualified players to field all three 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 2025 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) is eligible to advance to the 2025 USTA Middle States Section Championship if that player has played on that same team in at least two (2) matches, no defaults received. For 55 & Over - Any player is eligible to advance to the 2025 USTA Middle States Section Championship if that player has played on that same team in at least two (2) matches, one default received. A retired match shall count for all players involved. USTA Memberships must be current through the duration of the tournament.

COMING SOON