Adult Leagues

• Players without a computer rating self-rate on the USTA national site.
• Ratings take 2-3 days to transfer to NorCal site.
• Captains can call the NorCal League office for self-rating assistance.

• Captains are responsible for accurate player ratings.
• Grievances challenge both player and captain; upheld grievances lead to penalties.

Limits players from Section Championship teams forming new teams at the same or lower level in the next season.

• Teams must meet minimum player requirements at the team’s NTRP level before the first match.
• Insufficient at-level players result in a loss for the team.

Each league has a minimum age requirement.

• Players can be removed if they haven’t played a match; use the “Remove From Roster” option.
• In 2025 Leagues, non-playing players receive a $29.85 credit within two weeks of the season end, applicable for 12 months.

Local League Playoffs are the first level of postseason play. Playoffs determine the winning team(s) from each local area.

• Flights: Flights of five or fewer teams have playoffs with the top two teams; six or more teams have playoffs with the top four teams. In the first round, the top-seeded team faces the fourth-seeded team, and the second-seeded team plays against the third-seeded team. The winners then compete in the second round, with the victor becoming the Local Area Champion and advancing to the Sectional Championships.

• Scheduling: Captains may agree not to hold playoffs, and matches must be completed by the scheduled deadline. All playoff matches must be completed by the scheduled deadline. If a match is unfinished, USTA NorCal League staff will conduct a draw, weighted to reflect the playoff positions, to determine the winner.​​
  1. EXCEPTION: In leagues with a wild card, if a playoff match isn’t necessary for advancement, captains can agree not to play it (2.00D(3)).
  2. USTA NorCal encourages all teams to anticipate playing in a playoff round. If a team is unable to participate, USTA NorCal will make efforts to offer the playoff opportunity to another team.

1. Sectionals are the next step after the Local League Playoffs.

• Leagues Advancing Directly: Adult 55, Adult 65, Mixed 18, Mixed 40, and Mixed 55. Smaller levels of Adult 18, Adult 40 and Combo may advance directly to Sectionals as well.
• Format: Sectionals follow a round-robin and match structure similar to Sectional Championships.
• Winners: Adult 18, Adult 40, Adult 55, Mixed 18 and Mixed 40 in the fall. Adult 65 section champions advance to a January National Invitational.

The winners of Sectionals advance on to National Championships where teams represent NorCal against the 16 other sections in the country.

• Winners: From Sectional Championships in Adult 18 & Over, Adult 40 & Over, Adult 55 & Over, Mixed 18 & Over, and Mixed 40 & Over.
• Adult 18, Adult 40, Adult 55, Mixed 18 and Mixed 40 advance to National Championships in the fall. Adult 65 and Mixed 55 Section Champions advance to a National Invitational.
• Most Sectionals take place on weekends; Sectionals schedule will group Local Area winners into flights which play round robin format, with 3 to 4 team matches over two days (generally, Fri and Sat). Then flight winners, and sometimes wildcards, advance to semifinals and finals (generally, on Sun).

Check the USTA League National Championship Schedule for more details.

• Designated Dates: Found on the team standings page.
• Responsibility: Home team is the first place team in a flight with a two-team playoff, or first and second place teams in a flight with a four-team playoff. Home captain is responsible for posting the playoff date and time.
• Home Team: The higher-ranked team posts and notifies the away team of the playoff match date and time.
• Notification Deadline: 9 PM on the Monday following the previous segment’s conclusion. *Excluding holidays
• Changes: Playoff date and time may not be altered without agreement from both captains.

• Determined by the number of team matches won.
• Tiebreakers:
  • Follow a set of procedures involving individual matches
  • Head-to-head results
  • Loser of the fewest sets
  • Loser of the fewest number of games and coin toss.
• Note: USTA NorCal may always modify the standard procedures and schedules when needed. Refer to the USTA NorCal Adult League Rules for additional details.

Captains can check their team standings under the Team Information tab on their Team Page. Standings prioritize teams based on:

1. Total team match wins
2. Total individual match wins
3. Lowest number of sets lost
4. Lowest number of games lost
5. Winner of head-to-head matches
6. Coin toss