In order to help players understand the new rules, we need to define the following terms:

 

South Jersey:  As generally agreed upon: South Jersey will be defined geographically for our purposes as the area below I-195 that includes the state's lower seven counties: Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem.

 

Qualified player: Any player that is from "Gloucester County" or a player from “South Jersey” that has been a “rostered” player  on one of the three Delsea teams in the 2022 and/or 2023 season.  In essence, a “rostered” South Jersey player has the same status as “Gloucester County resident”.  However, if they stop playing on a Delsea team for  2 consecutive seasons,  they can then only challenge back onto the ladder with a Gloucester County resident.

 

Rostered player:  any player, including players from out of state and players that were not from “South Jersey”, who were active members of Delsea Tennis Club and were rostered as a line player or a sub on one of the current three Delsea Tennis teams and played in the 2022 and/or the 2023 season(s). Active means that they paid dues and played within the last two (2) years.  

Rules for the 2024 Season:

 

1.  Each "rostered" line on any of the three Delsea teams must have a "Qualified" player as one of the players.

 

2.  Rostered out of State/Non “South Jersey” players can continue to play for Delsea Tennis Club, however, they can only be rostered on the doubles ladder if playing with a “Qualified” player (Gloucester County resident or a “rostered” South Jersey resident). They can continue to be rostered as Singles players. If, for any reason, that “out of State” or “non-South Jersey” rostered player does not play on a Delsea Team for 2 consecutive years, they are no longer eligible to be on either the Singles or Doubles ladder.

 

3.  Starting in the 2024 season, no "new" out-of-state or non-South Jersey players who have not played on a Delsea team in the 2022 and/or 2023 season can challenge onto any of the three Delsea teams even with a Qualified player. 

 

4.  Rostered line players are required to play a minimum of 4 matches/season unless a Bona fide reason is submitted to the board (i.e. injury, family crisis) that is restricting their availability to play. 

 

5.  Singles players challenging onto the singles ladder must be from Gloucester County or South Jersey. As noted above, a “Rostered” player from out of state or a “Rostered” non-south Jersey resident can continue to be a Rostered singles player for a Delsea Team.

 

6. A newly rostered singles player from South Jersey cannot be a rostered doubles player unless challenging onto the doubles ladder with a Gloucester County resident. 

 

7. Subs can be from Gloucester County and South Jersey. We discouraged the continuous use of a sub when a rostered Gloucester County resident is available to play