GENERAL ADMINISTRATION MEN S AND WOMEN'S TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP The Championship is under the control, direction, and supervision of the host institution subject to requirements, standards, and conditions prescribed by the coaches and the NCAA. Championship policies, and dates and sites of these championships are subject to approval by the athletic directors and faculty representatives of the Conference. DATES AND SITE The Tennis Championship shall be held two weeks prior to the NCAA Championships. The sites for all championships will be determined annually by the Presidents at the Spring meeting. (See Calendar of Events for current year's dates and sites.) The site rotation shall be as follows: 2013 Sacramento State (Bid) 2014 Sacramento State (Bid) 2015 Portland State University 2016 University of Montana 2017 Eastern Washington University 2018 Weber State University 2019 Northern Arizona University 2020 University of Northern Colorado 2021 Idaho State University 2022 Sacramento State 2023 Montana State University If a school passes in the rotation, it will go to the end of the rotation, unless otherwise approved by the Championships and Competition Committee for circumstances out of the control of the original hosting institution. All teams will play a Big Sky Conference regular season schedule. Conference teams are permitted to fulfill regular season Conference obligations at neutral sites. There will be a championship site rotation for teams that accept hosting and meet the minimum requirements. The Conference will set the schedule, travel partners, and start date. CHAMPIONSHIP STRUCTURE The Tennis Championship will be a six-team format -- men and women at the same site -- with annual alternating sessions (men first odd years; women first even years). The championship will consist of the eligible teams finishing one (1) through six (6) at the conclusion of the regular season. CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE Quarterfinal Rounds Friday morning 3 vs. 6 4 vs. 5 Friday afternoon 3 vs. 6 4 vs. 5 Semifinal Rounds Saturday Morning 2 vs. HRS 1 vs. LRS Saturday Afternoon 2 vs. HRS 1 vs. LRS Championship Sunday Morning semifinal winners Sunday afternoon semifinal winners DETERMINING CHAMPION - NON COMPLETION In the case where the post-season tournament cannot be completed by NCAA Selection Day (e.g., inclement weather), the automatic representative to the NCAA Championship shall be the No. 1- seeded team as determined by the tiebreaking procedure, or the highest remaining seed if the tournament is already in progress. 106
TIEBREAKER The tie-breaking system will be used for the purposes of determining Championship seeding and the site of the Conference Tournament. 1. Head-to-Head Competition: Consider the head-to-head record during the Conference season 2. In the case of more than two tied teams, consider the Conference regular season record for head-to-head competition among all tied teams. This process is used to break ties between the tied teams, but once a team (or teams) can be broken out from the others, the remaining tied teams will return to the process of criteria 1 (Head-to-Head, above). 3. If more than two teams remain tied after utilizing criteria 2 (above), consider in order: a. Won-Loss record versus teams in descending order of finish b. Total matches won among tied teams c. Total matches won versus teams in descending order of finish d. Total sets won among tied teams e. Total sets won versus teams in descending order of finish 4. ITA Rankings 5. Coin Toss CHAMPIONSHIP MANAGEMENT An independent referee shall be selected, with approval of the Big Sky Conference office, whose responsibility shall be to conduct the championship according to (in order of application) the Big Sky Conference, NCAA and ITA rules, where applicable. A championship committee consisting of the championship director (non-voting), an administrator from the host institution, a representative from the Conference office, the head championship official, and two neutral coaches shall be utilized when critical decisions relating to the championship need to be made. MILEAGE POLICY There shall be a 450 mile limit under which air travel shall not be used for team travel to the Conference Championship. Waivers of this policy may be granted in unique circumstances by the Commissioner. CROWD CONTROL The responsibility for crowd control rests with the championship director. Competitors and fans alike are expected to demonstrate good sporting behavior at all times. Prior to the start of competition each day, the public address announcer shall read the following statement: The Big Sky Conference and (name of institution) promote good sportsmanship by student-athletes, coaches, and spectators. We request your cooperation by supporting the participants and officials in a positive manner. Profanity, racial or sexist comments or other intimidating actions directed at officials, student-athletes, coaches or team representatives will not be tolerated and are grounds for removal from the site of competition. MEDIA ARRANGEMENTS Requests for all media credentials should be directed to the sports information staff of the host institution. All coaches are requested to make themselves available to media representatives ten (10) minutes after the conclusion of the competition. PRE-CHAMPIONSHIP MEETING 107
A Conference office representative shall chair a coaches meeting the evening prior to the start of the championship. The purpose of this meeting is to: a) present lineups for the championship; b) be informed on championship conduct, referees, facilities, and pertinent information by championship officials; c) review all championship regulations; d) hear discussion on all timely matters; e) review, approve or disapprove and correct the placement of all players in the lineups. The coaches may change, alter, or add to any provision of the mechanics of the Championship by a three-fourths majority vote on any subject. Such changes shall apply to the current championship. MEDICAL PERSONNEL/FACILITIES The Championship requires: 1. The presence of a CPR certified/and or CPR certified licensed athletic trainer to render emergency care; 2. Planned access to a physician, preferably a team physician, by phone or nearby presence for prompt medical evaluation; 3. Planned access to a medical facility, including a plan for communication and transportation between the athletic site and medical facility for prompt medical services, and 4. A thorough understanding by all parties, including the leadership of visiting teams, of the personnel and procedures involved. AWARDS The Conference maintains a standard awards structure for all Conference sports. See Appendix for details. INSTRUCTIONS TO COMPETING TEAMS 1. All hotel/motel selections will be made by the host institution, with assignments determined by the Conference office. The host institution will provide the Conference office with a list of the hotel(s) it has secured, and a Conference representative shall contact participating teams in order of seed to choose their hotel. Teams are required to stay in the hotel assigned, must reconfirm the reservations with the property and thereafter are responsible for payment of the rooms. The host institution will reserve 6 rooms for each institution. As an alternate procedure, the host institution will provide a list of approved hotel properties to each competing team, with every effort made to secure discount room rates. Each institution is responsible for securing its own accommodations, and it must be at a property on the list provided by the host institution. 2. Athletic Training facilities will be made available to competing teams by the host institution. 3. Transportation arrangements to and from the site of the meet shall be made by the competing teams. 4. Each competitor is required to wear clothing with institutional identification during the competition. 5. The courts on which the championships will be played shall be made available for practice the day prior to the competition. The host institution will inform all competing teams of the times the courts will be available. 6. To host the Championship an institution shall have available 12 outdoor courts (can be 2 sites of 6 courts) and 6 indoor (back up) courts (1 site), all in playable condition. 108
MECHANICS OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP 2012-2013 CHAMPIONSHIP POLICIES - Men & Women s Tennis The Big Sky Conference championship shall follow (in order of application) Big Sky Conference, NCAA, and ITA rules except as specified below: 1. In the event that indoor courts are needed at the championship, the host institution shall be responsible for the cost. 2. During the championships, the host institution will have the option of playing matches so that classes are not missed. 3. The 4-0 rule will apply in the championship. 4. Line-ups will be presented the night before the championship begins. Challenges will take place at this time with the coaches votes being final. 5. There shall be three (3) USTA officials and one (1) athletic trainer onsite at each Big Sky championship match; the cost to be shared by all the Conference members. 109