2025-2026-NCHSAA_Handbook

only if the substitution was due to a legitimate injury/illness.

(12)

Full rosters, individual results, and team results are required to be entered into MaxPreps.

(f)

Format

(1)

Singles - Two out of three sets in singles, using standard scoring. If players split sets in singles,

a 10-point tiebreaker (first to 10, win by two) will be played to decide the outcome of that

match. A three-minute break is allowed before the tiebreaker, and player may NOT leave the

court during this time to confer with their coach.

(2)

Doubles - Doubles matches are played after singles competition and a 15-minute break and

the format is an 8-game pro set, using standard scoring. At 8-all, the set tiebreaker (first to

seven and win by two) will be played.

(3)

If mutually agreed, the match may conclude as soon as one team wins by achieving five points.

(g)

Injury Time Outs - One injury time-out is permitted per match for each different injury, three minutes

during match play (four minutes on a changeover).

(1)

Medical condition includes but is not limited to an injury, illness and heat-related condition or

cramping.

(2)

Play shall never be suspended, delayed or interfered with for the purpose of enabling a stu­

dent-athlete to recover his or her strength, breath or physical condition.

(3)

A blister is considered loss of condition, but a blood blister qualifies as an injury time-out.

This is the USTA rule.

(h)

Coaching - Coaching is allowed only after every odd-game (exception: not after game one) and only

by the designated high school coaches (limit 2).

(1)

The coaches may not enter the court. All coaching must be done from outside the fence. Only

the designated high school coaches are permitted to coach.

(2)

The 90-second period for coaching begins immediately following their last point, not when

conversation begins.

(3)

Coaching is permitted to be continuous throughout the match as long as it does not interfere

with play and only during the 90 second changeovers. The purpose of such coaching is solely

to offer advice to the student-athlete and not in any way to distract or annoy the opponent.

(4)

All coaches must be compliant with Handbook Rule 2.1.7 to coach during a match.

(i)

Sportsmanship - [See Rule 4.11.1(g)]

(j)

Expenses - Schools bear their own expenses.

(k)

Awards - At the regionals, team plaques will be presented to the champion and runner-up.

(l)

Game Ball: In playoff contests in which the NCHSAA provides complimentary adopted game balls,

that model of game ball must be used for the playoff contest. Noncompliance is subject to 3.3.6(a)(5).

4.11.4 Playoffs (Pre-Regionals and Regionals-Individual Competition)

(a)

Dates - Pre-regional tournaments will be seeded on October 4 (Women) and April 18 (Men) and con­

tested October 6 (Women), April 20 (Men).

Regional Tournaments will be held October 17-18 (Women) and May 1-2 (Men). Play on Fridays in

regionals begins at 1:00 p.m. (coaches meeting 12:00 p.m.). The 2A-8A Classifications will have four

Regionals; 1A will have two.

(b)

Site Determination

(1)

Pre-Regional sites and Directors will be determined by the NCHSTCA.

(2)

At the regional meet a meeting of coaches must be held to select a Regional site and director for

the upcoming season. This is a mandatory meeting that will be conducted by the current

regional director, who will then notify the NCHSAA office within 10 days after the completion

of the tournament.

(c)

Assignments (Men’s and Women’s) - Pre-Regional/Regional assignments, along with the most cur­

rent information about regional sites, dates and times, are posted on the NCHSAA website.

(d)

Number of Entries - Conference Tournaments are not required to qualify for Pre-Regionals. Every school

will send two doubles and two singles to a Pre-Regional to compete for the opportunity to advance to

the Regional. If eight or fewer schools are in a region, a Pre-Regional is not required. From Pre-Region­

als, 16 doubles and 16 singles will advance to the Regionals. The top two from each of the four Regionals

will advance to the state tournament.

(e)

Playoff Entries - The deadlines for playoff entries are October 13 (3:00 p.m.) for women and April 27

(3:00 p.m.) for men.

(1)

Pre-Regionals/Regional entries can be found on the NCHSAA website. Any school planning to

participate in tennis but not listed in the Pre-Regional/Regional assignments, should notify

the NCHSAA.

(2)

A student-athlete may qualify for either singles or doubles, but may not participate in both.

(f)

Seeding and Pairings - Will be done under the direction of the tournament director, as determined by

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