ROCKCLIFFE LAWN TENNIS CLUB
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Rules and Conduct

Club Bylaws
The Club's bylaws are available here.

Responsibility Code
The purpose of this Responsibility Code is to strengthen relationships among RLTC members, employees, and elected officers.  The code sets out the basic principles, standards, and behaviour expected from all.
RESPECT
  • A member of this Club has read and agreed to adhere to the Club Rules and Etiquette..
  • A member of this Club agrees to treat the Club premises with respect, for the enjoyment of all.
  • A member of this Club recognizes the need for the existing By-Laws and policies to be fairly applied.
INTEGRITY
  • Members agree to uphold the highest standards in protecting the good reputation of the Club.
  • Members agree to treat one another in an open, honest, and equitable manner.
ACCOUNTABILITY
  • Elected officials of the Club are charged to enforce By-Laws and policies of the Club in good faith and are accountable to the Annual General Meeting.
  • Members have rights and privileges granted by their membership. At the same time, membership must be exercised within existing regulations.
  • Employees are committed to serving members and to resolving member concerns in a diligent and fair manner, and must account for their actions to the Board

Club Rules and Etiquette

Court Usage by Members (RLTC Court Rules as of 2019)

RLTC Staff follow the guidelines below when booking courts for members. Please respect their decisions, should there be any issues, please speak to management. We are happy for suggestions and aim to provide a fair system for all. Our system ensures one hour of play for any member that books a court, unless it is understood there is a booking for an event or tournament that cuts the hour short.
In our system, members have the advantage to book again, shortly after being bumped. This encourages players who would like to play longer than one hour to do so during less busy times. This is often in the mid afternoon and late evenings. Ask staff or management about these times, as they often change during tournaments and events.

Courts are booked in accordance with our first come, first serve policy. Morning staff will mark down members from the time their shift starts, normally at 8am. When a member comes, they are booked from the exact time they sign up for one hour. Players waiting for courts can sign up for the next available time in person. Should a member be bumped off court once their time is up and wish to re-book, they must let clubhouse staff know and be entered in queue with other waiting members. They are then free to take the next available court. Should many courts become available at once, the court who has played for longest should be bumped. In the event the playing times are the same, it is the waiting members choice which court they would prefer.

Adult members have priority on clay courts. Juniors have priority on courts #5 and #6. A combination of Adult and Junior players may play on any available court, clay or hard, in accordance with the “first-come-first-served” policy.

Prior to and after the Junior Summer Tennis Camps, official round robins have priority on up to four clay courts and two hard courts, if required from 10:00 a.m to 11:30 a.m.

During the Junior Summer Camps, round robins have priority on up to four clay courts, while the camps can occupy up to 3 of the hard courts. When summer camp or after-school groups are on court, Juniors also have priority over Adults on court 7 (if two are being used by program) or court #8

The Club’s teaching staff gives lessons on court 8 of the hard courts. A clay court may be used, upon approval by the Club Manager. Each Monday at noon, there will be a clinic on court 4. Typical busy times will be taken into consideration before approval is confirmed. If approval is not given beforehand, members will have priority and are able to “bump” the lesson on clay.

A a hitting session with a pro (No basket) is considered the same as regular member play and booking times should be respected as such.

Note that use of the ball machine may be reserved for a specific time on court #8. Staff may limit this time to permit lessons and junior members adequate court time on court #8 during busy periods.
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Before going on court - Appropriate tennis sportswear (RLTC clothing policy)
Members should respect each other by wearing proper tennis attire that reflects a level of decorum that is in keeping with the Club’s traditions.  Blue denim clothing, including but not limited to jeans, pants, shorts, skirts, shirts, and jackets, is not permitted on the courts.  Cargo style pants or shorts, and any cut-offs, are not permitted on the courts.   Men’s sleeveless shirts are not permitted.   Large logos, advertising, or colour images on clothing are not acceptable.

Proper footwear is essential as incorrect shoes have a detrimental effect on the court surface.    Members must wear proper flat-soled tennis shoes on the court.  Basketball shoes, joggers, track shoes or cross-trainers with large treads will not be permitted on the clay courts as they tear up the court.  Players leaving the clay courts are asked to wipe their shoes.

Members and their guests who are unsuitably attired will be asked to leave the courts. Please inform your guest of the Club’s dress code in advance. If you have any doubts as to whether or not your attire is proper, feel free to seek the advice of the Club Manager. 

In tennis, one shows consideration not only for one’s partner and opponent, but also for those who are playing on adjacent courts.  Please keep your voice low while on the clubhouse veranda and grounds so as not to disturb players on the courts.

When entering the court
If possible, use the back gate to enter Court #4, to avoid disturbing Court #3.
When preparing to enter the court, please wait quietly at the gate until the players on the courts nearest the gate have finished a point.  Then, quickly go to your assigned court, ensuring that you are not moving behind a court where a point is in play.  Wait until the point is over then move quickly along the fence line to your own court. Make sure you completely close the gate so balls cannot roll out.

During play
The rules of tennis call for “play to be continuous”. The server should be sure his or her opponent is ready before serving; while the receiver must be prepared  to play to the pace of the server.
The server should always have two balls available before serving to avoid delays between first and second serves.
Always control your temper – do not throw your racquet or equipment; do not smash a ball in frustration.
Changing ends after every odd numbered game of each set (1 – 3 – 5, etc.) is consistent with the rules of the game and helps balance the effects of sun and wind.
Players should not argue about the score. It is the responsibility of person serving to call out the score in advance of serving. Each player (or team) should call all balls that bounce on their side of the net.
One of the most fundamental principles of tennis when played without an umpire is that you must always give your opponent the benefit of the doubt . The rules provide that a ball is “in” unless it is clearly seen as “out”. If a ball has touched even a portion of the line, it is good. If you are in doubt as to how to call a ball because you have not seen it clearly, you may ask your opponent to help you on the call. If you do so, you must accept your opponent’s call. Never play a let because you are unsure of the call.
Do not offer calls on your opponent’s side unless asked for assistance by him or her.
A ball is in play until it strikes the ground or fence outside the court. Allow a ball that appear to be going long to bounce before calling it out or hitting, catching or otherwise touching it.
Never ask a person not directly involved in your match for assistance on a matter of ‘fact’. You may seek the advice of the Club Pro regarding the ‘rules’ of tennis but not for assistance with interpreting the facts of any given situation on your court.
Do not talk or shout to a player while a point is in play. And do not talk to players involved in a match on another court until their match is over.

Ball rolling onto other courts
If a ball rolls onto your court from an adjacent court and you are rallying (not yet playing a match) – stop rallying and return the ball immediately to one of the people on the next court. If the players from whose court the ball came are in mid-point, wait until they finish or gently roll their ball along the fence behind them. If the ball is from a court farther away, wait until play on any intervening court is stopped.
If a ball rolls onto your court from an adjacent court and you are in the middle of a point – either stop the point immediately, if the ball disturbs you or your opponent (in which case you must replay the point), or return the ball as soon as the point is over.
If your ball rolls onto an adjacent court, stop rallying, wait until the players on other court are not in the middle of a point, then tell them that the ball is from your court and ask for its return.
When your opponent is serving and the point is over, if there are any balls on your side of the net, pick them up quickly and return them directly to the server.
If your opponent has served a fault, quickly clear a ball that is interfering with play but otherwise do not go after it. Wait until the point is over to return balls to the server. If an extraordinary delay is created between first and second serves replay the first serve.

When leaving the court
When you have finished playing, always thank your opponent(s), and your partner in doubles.  In match play, shake hands with your opponent(s).
Wait until players on the court between you and the gate are finished a point before crossing their court. Then, move quickly along the fence line to the exit, ensuring to completely close the gate behind you.
Please clean the clay off your shoes before entering the clubhouse.
Thank you to our supporting partners
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PHONE:  (613) 749 - 5494
info@rltennis.ca
HOURS: 8AM - 8PM
  • Home
  • Memberships
    • Membership Registrations
    • Membership Policies
  • Tennis Programs
    • Junior Tennis Programs
    • Ladders
    • Roundrobins
    • Tennis Lessons
    • Tournaments
    • Learn About Tennis
  • About the Club
    • About the Club
    • Contact
    • Online System
    • Rules and Conduct
    • 2020 AGM
    • Newsletters
    • Ball Machine
  • Member Login