The following guidelines
are presented to assist the tournament facilities and directors in planning,
scheduling and successfully executing a TXRA sanctioned racquetball tournament.
The items listed below and on the
following pages were researched by the TXRA board via a member survey, and
reflect a standard of quality that
(1) On the weekend of sanctioned state level
(or higher) tournament, no other
sanctioned tournaments shall be held within the
state.
(2)
On any other weekend, no tournament should be sanctioned within 200 miles of
a previously sanctioned event. Requests for dates will be processed on a first come,
first served basis by the Director of Scheduling.
(3) Only TXRA
approved balls may be used for a sanctioned tournament. These must be provided in adequate numbers to
insure consistency throughout the final rounds of play.
(4) A
reduced entry fee for junior divisions must be offered. At a minimum, this
reduction must represent a 25% discount of the adult fee.
(5) In
determining a referee policy, four options are available: refereeing by losers,
refereeing by winners, paid refereeing or self refereeing. A minimum of $3 is the current standard fee
for non-certified paid referees. A minimum of $5 is the current standard fee
for certified paid referees. An option for the player to provide a suitable
replacement should be made known to the players.
(6) The
most recent available USAR/TXRA rankings should be used to determine the
seeding within the draws. Rankings must be available to the players for
inspection throughout the tournament.
(7) All
racquetball courts to be used for tournament play must conform to USAR
specification in regard to size and marking.
(8) All
players must hold a current USAR License at time of play proven by either a
membership card, appearing on the approved list to participate or by showing a valid
receipt as proof of membership. USAR
License applications must be made available at the tournament entry for
non-members.
(9) All
open singles events with a draw of 8 or more, should include a drop down to an
elite division, if an elite division is not otherwise offered.
(10) All
players should be guaranteed the opportunity of playing in a minimum of two
matches, either through single elimination with a consolation event or a round
robin event.
(11) The
tournament entry form shall advertise to the player exactly and correctly what
will be provided by the facility as well as specify required details concerning
the tournament. The minimum information that must be included in the tournament
entry form is as follows:
DATE: The full date of the event must be listed with
emphasis on any unusual or early play. (Thursday for example)
SITE: The club or facility name, full address and
telephone number must be listed. A map with major highways and directional
details should be included.
ENTRY FEE: All fees must be listed. All exceptional fees, discounted fees, increased
fees, late fees, telephone fees should be emphasized.
ELIGIBILITY: You must note that players are required to
hold a USAR License for participation and that such membership must be held
upon check-in.
PLAY: If there
is a limit of the number of events per player then it should be noted and a
statement must be included stating a player entered in two or more events may
be scheduled to play back-to-back matches without a rest period.
RULES: Must note that current USAR rules with TXRA adaptations,
(i.e. male serving to left side in mixed doubles) will apply. Must note if
consolation matches are being waived or provided. If the format of third place playoff matches
is changed in any way, you must note. Must indicate tournament policy regarding
“sandbagging”.
REFEREES: The referee policy must be clearly stated.
STARTING TIMES: Should be available a minimum of 48
hours before the start of scheduled play. Every attempt must be made to have
times available when advertised.
ENTRY DEADLINE: The deadline must be set at least 48
hours prior to the published availability of the published start times.
ACCOMODATIONS: The nearest available hotel or
sponsoring facility must be listed. Address, Phone number, map and any mention
of group discount rate.
HOSPITALITY: The TXRA recommends a minimum of the following
be provided:
· Fruit such as oranges, bananas for fresh hydration
and nutrients.
· Some type of electrolyte replacement drink should be
offered throughout the
tournament.
Gatorade or Powerade are examples.
· Continental breakfast and lunch or dinner should be
offered.
· If t-shirts, collared shirts or other articles of
clothing are offered, they must be of adequate quality and screened or
embroidered as a souvenir of a “racquetball” event.
· The logo of any TXRA sponsors (ball or equipment)
must appear on the entry
form and the
shirt at no cost to the association or sponsor.
BALLS: TXRA provides racquetballs for the tournament
at no charge, therefore the logo of the ball providing company should appear on
the entry form and the tournament shirt, if possible, at no cost to TXRA or the
sponsor.
TOURNAMENT DIRECTORS: The name listed on the entry
form should be an on-site Tournament Director. This allows the player to speak
directly to someone knowledgeable about the tournament. The Tournament Director should appoint a
tournament rules committee consisting of an odd number of qualified persons to
resolve any disputes that the referee or Tournament Director cannot resolve.
FORMAT: The format of the event should be stated as
either single elimination format in which divisions of less than six players
may be played as a round robin or as a round robin format. In either case the scoring format should be
stated as two games to 15 points with an 11 point tie-breaker or the mini-match
format of two games to 11 points, with a 7 point tie-breaker. Any non-conventional scoring format should be
clearly stated on the tournament entry form.
AWARDS: The
type of recognition to be presented should be clearly stated. Cash awards should be specific as either
guaranteed or prorated. If prorated, state
the minimum number of players required for presentation of the full
amount. The level of presentation, that
is, first, second, third and consolation or first and second only should also
be stated.
(12)
It is the
responsibility of the Tournament Director to send the results of the tournament
to the TXRA Rankings Director within five days after the event to insure
ranking points are awarded to the deserving players. Completed tournament
draw sheets for each division and a tournament roster of names are required to process
the official results into the USAR ranking system.
ALL RESULTS INCLUDING DOUBLES MUST LIST FIRST AND LAST NAMES FOR
IDENTIFYING PLAYERS PROPERLY.
All USAR License applications and membership fees along with a complete
player roster must be sent to the TXRA Membership Director within five days
after the event. All checks should be made payable to TXRA. Tournament
Directors are responsible for insuring that all players hold a current USAR
License at time of play. If a player,
for whatever reason, is found to have played without a license then the
Tournament Director is responsible for contacting that player and obtaining a
completed application and the appropriate fee. Failure of Tournament Directors
to meet these responsibilities in a timely manner may result in suspension of
sanctioning privileges.
Revised 05/12/2006