League Guide for Players

Browse Available Leagues

1. 1Navigate to the Leagues section from the main menu
2. 2Filter by sport, location, and skill level
3. 3Review league schedules to find one that fits your availability
4. 4Look for leagues accepting new registrations

Understanding League Types

League Information to Review

1. 1Season dates (start and end)
2. 2Match frequency (weekly, bi-weekly)
3. 3Match format (singles, doubles, best of 3, pro-sets)
4. 4Division structure and skill levels
5. 5Registration deadline and fees
6. 6Venue(s) where matches are played
7. 7Playoff/championship format

Understanding Divisions

1. 1Leagues are often split into divisions by skill level
2. 2Check division requirements (NTRP, UTR, DUPR ratings)
3. 3If you're between divisions, contact the organizer for guidance
4. 4Division placement affects competition level and enjoyment

League Fees

1. 1Registration fees vary by league and cover the season
2. 2Some leagues include court fees; others require separate payment
3. 3Team leagues may have team fees or per-player fees
4. 4Review what's included (courts, balls, shirts, playoffs)

Payment Process

1. 1Complete payment during registration
2. 2Payment processed securely through our system
3. 3Receive confirmation email with league details
4. 4Registration appears in your Dashboard

Payment Issues

Refunds & Withdrawals

1. 1Check league refund policy before registering
2. 2Full refunds are typically available before season starts
3. 3Partial refunds may be available early in the season
4. 4Contact the league organizer for withdrawal requests
5. 5Late withdrawals may affect team standings/scheduling
6. 6Important: Platform fees (NextOnCourt fee) and processing fees (Stripe fee) are non-refundable, even if a refund is issued

Understanding Fees

1. 1Registration amount: Set by the league organizer
2. 2Platform fee: A small percentage (3.5%) to support NextOnCourt operations
3. 3Processing fee: Stripe payment processing (2.9% + $0.30)
4. 4Only the base registration amount is eligible for refund—platform and processing fees are non-refundable

Before Your Match

1. 1Confirm match details with opponent the day before
2. 2Check the match card for date, time, and location
3. 3Arrive 10-15 minutes early to warm up
4. 4Bring necessary equipment (racket, balls if required by league)
5. 5Review the match format in the league rules (best of 3 sets, pro-sets, etc.)

Match Protocol

1. 1Greet your opponent and conduct a spin/toss for serve
2. 2Play according to the league's specified format and rules
3. 3Keep track of the score throughout the match
4. 4Play fair and make honest line calls
5. 5In case of disputes during play, replay the point
6. 6Shake hands after the match regardless of outcome

Submitting Your Score

1. 1After your match, go to the Matches tab on your league page
2. 2Find the match—it now shows 'Needs Score Submission' status
3. 3Click 'Submit Score' or 'Enter Score' on the match card
4. 4Select the winner (your team/you or opponent)
5. 5Choose the number of sets played (Best of 1, 3, or 5)
6. 6For each set, enter games won by each side
7. 7If a tiebreak was played, enter tiebreak points
8. 8Add optional notes about the match if needed
9. 9Click 'Submit Score' to send for confirmation

Score Entry Details

Confirming Opponent's Score

1. 1If your opponent submitted the score first, you'll see 'Pending Confirmation' status
2. 2Click on the match to review the submitted score
3. 3You'll see the score breakdown, who submitted it, and when
4. 4A timer shows time remaining in the confirmation window (typically 48 hours)
5. 5If the score is correct, click 'Confirm Score'—match is immediately marked complete
6. 6If the score is wrong, click 'Dispute Score' to open the dispute form

Disputing a Score

1. 1Click 'Dispute Score' if you disagree with the submitted result
2. 2Select a reason: Score is incorrect, Player eligibility issue, Rules violation, or Other
3. 3If disputing the score, enter what you believe the correct score was
4. 4Provide details explaining the dispute in the text field
5. 5Submit the dispute—match status changes to 'Disputed'
6. 6The league organizer will review and make a final ruling
7. 7You'll be notified when the dispute is resolved

Match Status Flow

Forfeits & No-Shows

1. 1If your opponent doesn't show, wait the default time (usually 15 minutes)
2. 2Take a timestamped photo at the court as proof of attendance
3. 3Report the no-show through the match card using 'Report No-Show'
4. 4The organizer will mark the match as a forfeit in your favor
5. 5If you can't make a scheduled match, notify your opponent ASAP
6. 6Excessive forfeits may result in removal from the league

Score Submission Deadline

Qualifying for Playoffs

1. 1Top finishers in regular season standings qualify
2. 2Number of playoff spots varies by league/division
3. 3Check playoff format before season ends
4. 4Tiebreaker rules determine bubble positions

Playoff Format

1. 1Typically single elimination bracket
2. 2May have different match format than regular season
3. 3Higher seeds may get home court advantage
4. 4Schedule is usually fixed for playoff rounds

Championship

1. 1Finals may be held at a specific venue/time
2. 2Some leagues have awards ceremony after finals
3. 3Winners may receive prizes, trophies, or recognition
4. 4Results posted to league page and potentially social media

End of Season

1. 1Final standings are published
2. 2Rating updates may be submitted to UTR/DUPR
3. 3Look for next season registration announcements
4. 4Provide feedback to help improve future leagues