StateRegionDivision
Tennis
Published 26 January, 2026
This page outlines the official competition rules, match formats, and requirements for SSV Secondary Tennis, supported by Tennis Victoria. It covers seeding protocols based on Universal Tennis Ratings (UTR), scoring systems, match-day procedures, and equipment requirements for all competition levels.
Secondary Competition Rules
- Team Size: 4 to 8 players.
- Match Format: Each match consists of 6 sets (4 singles and 2 doubles).
- Scoring: Singles and doubles sets are played first to 4 games, with a short tiebreak (first to 5 points, sudden death at 4-4) at 3 games all. All sets use sudden death no-ad scoring.
- Seeding: Players with a UTR must be seeded accordingly and have their rating listed on the team sheet. Players without a UTR are seeded by ability as determined by their coach. Failure to adhere to seedings results in a set forfeiture.
- Match Winner: Determined by the number of sets won; if tied, by games won.
- Round Robin: Decided by matches won. Tie-breakers include head-to-head results, set percentage, and game percentage.
- Semi-Finals/Finals: If tied on sets and games, each team nominates one doubles pair to play a ‘Super Tie Break’ (first to 10 points with a 2-point advantage).
- Warm-up: Maximum 5 minutes hit-up before each set. Players must be ready within 1 minute of the warm-up ending.
- Change of Ends: Players must change ends continuously and must be ready within 60 seconds. Sitting down is not permitted during change of ends.
- Coaching: Communication with players during play is prohibited.
- Injury Rule: A 3-minute injury timeout is permitted. If unable to continue, the player forfeits remaining games in that set.
- Dress Code: School sports uniform or neat tennis attire. Flat-tread tennis shoes are mandatory; tracksuits and board shorts are not permitted.
- Lateness: Teams 30 minutes late without notice forfeit the first two sets; this penalty repeats every 30 minutes.
- Documentation: An up-to-date team sheet featuring the correct seeded order and UTRs (where applicable) must be provided to the convener on the day of competition.
- Match balls will be provided for the State Final,
- Teams will need to bring their own 8 new Tennis Australia-approved balls practice balls.
- First aid kit and sports tape. Schools are responsible for all injury prevention strapping; the First Aid Responder is not permitted to perform this.