September 10, 2009

PLAYING A PLAYER TWICE IN A MATCH SERIES

A team need not advise the opposing team of which team members are present for league play.

If a team does not have all 5 players present for the evening, in order to help avoid forfeits and only if opposing team agrees, teams may play a player twice in one night. In the event that both teams only have 4 players present, both teams may play a player twice. In a situation such as this, a fair way needs to be decided on how to choose which players will play. If needed, include your Division Rep.

If a team member accepts the request from the opposing team to play a player twice, the team is committed, regardless if the captain or co-captain was not consulted. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the captain to instruct the team members on who has the authority to do what.

Opposing team picks which player plays twice.

Team must still meet the 23-Rule (5 players). Having a player play twice can only happen if the 23-Rule can be met with players that are present. IE, if a team has 5 players present, and skill levels of the 5 add up to more than 23, that team would be subject to the 23-Rule violation of the APA Team Manual. As such, that team would play 4/19, forfeiting the last match or 3/15 and forfeit the last two matches. That team would not be eligible to simply play a lower ranked player twice in order to avoid the 23-Rule violation.

Two players can be played twice, but one player can't play more than two matches.

Not allowed in Play Offs or higher level tournaments: tri-cup, city cup

If an opposing team decides not to allow a team to invoke this rule, then in the spirit of good sportsmanship, give a reason why you’re choosing to take the forfeit point/s (i.e., not good strategy, we don’t have enough points to warrant doing this, etc). Keep it friendly!

Playing a player twice should be the final match of the night (or final two, if two matches will be played in this manner).

This is meant ONLY as an option to avoid forfeits, not for strategizing or avoiding the 23-Rule violation.

Both scoresheets should indicate player played twice. Examples: Player #, Played Twice - at the bottom of the score sheet (P2031, played twice), or simply mark “2X” next to player name that played twice.

The local APA office reserves the right to cancel this program at any time.