Page 200 - 2019-20 NJCAA Handbook - May, 2020

Section 6. Qualification of Teams – Divisions I & III
A. Regions may send three certified teams per division to the NJCAA National Tournament.
B. All ties should be resolved at the regional level. Should the first, second, or third place teams be unable to attend the national
tournament, the Region may designate a substitute team.
C. The number one singles champion and runner-up and the number one doubles champion and runner-up from each region
qualify regardless of their team’s standing.
D. If a doubles team qualifies for participation in the tournament, the individuals may compete for the #1 and #2 singles flight
competition. If a #1 singles player qualifies for participation in the tournament, his or her doubles partner can compete with him or
her at the #1 doubles flight and the #2 singles flight.
E. After completion of Regional qualification for the National Men’s & Women’s Tennis Tournament (Division 1) at-large team(s) will be
selected to fill a full field. A full draw is defined as 32 participants. After flight 1 singles and flight 1 doubles draws are full there will
be no more at-large positions offered. Eligible teams will be identified as the highest ranking teams in the final national top 25
NJCAA poll not already qualified for the tournament. Selection will start with the highest ranking team not qualified and end when the
field is full.
F. All regular season and/or region play must be completed one week prior to the start of national play. If a problem exists, such as a
rainout, the Tournament Director should be notified.
G. Lineups from the Regional Tournament to the National Tournament remain the same. All lineups are considered official on the date
of the entry for the National Tournament for teams with only one team in their Region. Extenuating circumstances must be
presented to the Tournament Committee upon arrival at the tournament.
H. Subsequent to the completion of regional play, Regional Directors shall phone the National Tournament with the tournament results.
I. Within a 48-hour period following the Fall/Spring Regional Tournament, Regional Directors shall send to the National Tournament Director
and the NJCAA National Office by electronic mail, the teams that have qualified from each region and their rosters by flights. The names
of individual winners and finalists at No. 1 Singles and No. 1 Doubles, whose teams did not qualify shall also be sent.
J. If the host college for the NJCAA Tennis Tournament does not qualify through participation in their Regional Tournament, they will
automatically be given a berth in the NJCAA Tennis Tournament in addition to the authorized qualifiers.
K. It is strongly recommended that Regional qualifying competition follow the National Tournament format of three doubles and six
singles.
L. Deadline for participants to enter the NJCAA Tournament will be set by the Tournament Director.

Section 7. Rules and Procedures
A. The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Rules and point penalty system shall be followed in the tournament with the following
exception: Coaches are allowed to coach during the tournament.
B. A three person committee at the NJCAA Tournament, consisting of the NJCAA Representative, the President of the NJCAA Tennis
Coaches Association and an appointed member shall handle any unusual circumstances. In case a committee member's own
player is involved, the tournament referee would replace that committee member.
C. Tournament Seeding and Draw:
a. The host will schedule the seeding meeting on the day prior to the start of the National Tournament for Divisions I & III.
b. Tournament seeding structure.
1. Seeding will be on the basis of merit alone. Regional winners will not get an automatic seed in thistournament.
2. Division I Women: The NJCAA Representative will appoint a group of four coaches to serve as the seeding committee. The
NJCAA Representative will vote only in case of a tie.
3. Division I Men: The draw seeding committee will be comprised of coaches from geographic regions of the country to seed
each geographic region. One representative from each geographic region will then meet to seed the tournament. The
committee of four will be chosen by the NJCAA Coaches Association President.
4. Division III: All coaches who have a player in the tournament may participate in seeding discussions. Each head coach may
vote in the seeding discussions for any draw in which they have a player participating. The NJCAA Representative will vote
only in case of a tie.
5 USTA seeding rules will be followed.
6. Coaches or their proxy must be physically present at the seeding meeting to have their players/team considered for seeding
and participation in the tournament. In the event of extenuating circumstances a ruling will be made by the NJCAA
Tournament Committee.
c. At the conclusion of the draw the Tournament Director will assign court sites for each flight.
d. The evening before the tournament starts, the Tournament Director will distribute typed draw sheets with the names and colleges
of all contestants listed.
e. At the conclusion of the tournament, the Tournament Director will send a copy of the complete draw sheet and point total to each
participating college.
D. Tournament Format:
a. A flighted tournament with a backdraw will be played for singles and doubles.
b. The main draw tournament format will consist of two-out-of-three sets. At the discretion of the NJCAA National Tennis
Tournament Committee (as outlined in the NJCAA Handbook), the backdraw can be changed to pro sets or amended sets to
accommodate the host facility or weather conditions.
c. To accommodate the host facility and/or weather conditions the playing format will be determined by the NJCAA Tournament
Committee.
d. No team will play another from its own region in the first round, regardless of whether or not the respective teams or players have
competed against each other.
e. No entry shall play more than three two-out-of-three set main draw matches per day (2 singles/1 doubles or 2 doubles/1 singles).
f. A strict 15 minute default time will be observed. It is the responsibility of each coach to make sure their players are at the court
sites on time.