Updated 9/1/09
2009-2010 ORA CONDITIONS OF PLAY:
Playing in an ORA Tournament:
Our tour consists of 5 Tour Stops, a ORA State Doubles Championships, an ORA State Singles Championships and a USAR Regional event. Entries are available on-line for these events about 6 weeks prior to each event. You can download an entry, pay for the event on-line or send a check in the mail. A list of events is available at: www.OregonRacquetball.org>Events>Schedule: ORA Tour.
Prior to playing in an ORA Event, you must a Member of the USAR: United States Association of Racquetball. Check out the many benefits of becoming a USAR Member below.
USAR Memberships
All participants must be current members of the USAR before they play their first match. Your Membership is good for 12 consecutive months. The fee is $50. (Or if you wish you can pay a single tournament fee of $20 which is good for one tournament play only. Your $50 membership includes ($25 for Juniors 21 & under):
* 1 Year Subscription (4 issues) to ‘Racquetball Magazine’
* 6 USAR E-Issues (on-line newsletter)
* 1 Year USA Racquetball (USAR) Competitive License
* Secondary Accident Insurance Coverage during a Sanctioned Event Event
* National Voting Rights for Board of Directors and Policy Making
* Eligible to Hold Office at National Level
* Inclusion in State Affiliate Organization
* State and National Ranking Points
and upon joining the ORA:
* 1 Can of WILSON Balls (Upon New Registration or Renewal)
* ORA Players Awards Party
* ORA State Newsletters
* Mailings of In State and USAR Regional Tournament Applications
Payment Options
If you are not a current member, you have several payment options:
1. Go online to www.USRA.org and sign up for membership. Make sure to bring a copy of your card or receipt with you to your first tournament.
2. Send in a separate check with your entry to the next ORA tournament made payable to the ORA
USAR Approved Lensed Eye guards are Mandatory!
For a complete list go to: www.usra.org
Failure to wear approved eye wear may forfeit you from the tournament
Tournament Entry
Entry Fee... It is $45/1 Event, $60/2 Events, $75/3 Events in all regular ORA Tour Events. State/Regionals and money events may be a higher Entry Fee. You need to pay by the designated time on the Entry or their may be a late fee. (You also need to be a current member of the USAR or join with entry.)
Entry Fee/Waiver... for each Tournament must be paid (and signed) prior to playing your first event.
Requests for Special Time Considerations... must be in writing before the entry deadline. We will try to honor your requests. Scheduling changes will not be made after the draw is complete. (Include with your entry) No Special Time Considerations if you are playing 3 events.
Number of Divisions you may Enter... you may play any two events that you are qualified to play. If you choose to play a third event, you must play at least one singles event and one mixed doubles event. There are no time restrictions at all if playing three events! (Tournament Directors will have the right to allow a player to play 3 divisions without the above guidelines if they need someone so the division will go.)
Divisions of Play offered at all events*...
Mens: Open Elite** A B C D 35+O/A 35+A/B 35+C/D 45+O/A 45+A/B 45+C/D 55+ 60+
Womens: Open A B C D
Mens Doubles; Open Elite** A B 30+ 45+
Womens Doubles: Open A B
Mixed Doubles: Open Elite** A B
*The State Doubles only holds Doubles Divisions
**Mens Elite and Mixed Elites require a minimum of 6 players/teams
Follow Clubs Rules ... You must follow all the Rules and Regulations of the Host Club. This includes but is not limited to their ‘Children in Club’ Policy. At most tournaments children must be with an adult at all times or in their child care center. Each club’s hours vary, please check with the host site for times and fees.
There is absolutely zero tolerance for bringing your own alcoholic beverages onto the hosting clubs premise or giving alcohol to a minor.
Refund Policy... There are no refunds after tournament deadline. If a site chooses to allow you to enter by phone and you no-show for that tournament or you fail to pay for a tournament you have entered, you will not be allowed to enter any future ORA events until your prior debts are paid.
Combining or Cancelling Events... The tournament director reserves the right to combine or cancel event if not enough players in those events.
Rules of Play:
The Oregon Racquetball Association follows the USAR rules, unless otherwise noted.
Match... A match will consist of 2 games to 15 pts, tie-break to 11 pts. (Time Outs: 3 per person in game to 15 pts, 1 per person in 11 pt game)
Consolation Matches... All consolation matches, including the finals are 1 game to 21 You may have to ref own match. (Time Outs: 2 per person in one game to 21 points)
Ready Play... All players must be ready to play 30 minutes prior to their scheduled match time.
Referees... All losers must referee after each loss or find a suitable replacement.
Playing more than ONE ‘Skill’ Event... If a player chooses to play in more than one ‘skill’ event and the player reaches the semis in both events, they may finish the tournament in both events. For the rest of the season, you must play the higher level division. (Skill event are Open, Elite, A, B, C, etc)
Ratings... You must enter the division that you are rated in or any division higher than that. See next section on Ratings for more information.
Brackets... A full draw of 7 or more entrants will be a Single Elimination with Consolation. A draw of 6 players will be a split and go (round robin on each side of draw). A draw of 4 or 5 will be a round robin. We will cancel or combine divisions with 3 or less players.
Open Divisions... All Open divisions (does not include combined divisions such as Open/A) will play the one serve rule. If third place matches are not played, both players will receive 4th place points. If both players do not show up, they will both be awarded 4th place points.
Women Playing in Mens Divisions... Women may only play in the Mens Open or Elite or A Division (including age group divisions) if their event does not go. All other women must play up a division if their event does not go.
Age Group Requirements... Players must be that age or older by the first day of the tournament.
Forfeits... Winners by forfeit will go to consolation if they lose their first round played. The person who forfeited will not be put in the draw if they ‘no showed’. If the person who forfeited called and cancelled for a personal reason beyond their control, they will be placed in consolation if it was their 1st round.
Non-Payment/No Show... It is up to the discretion of the hosting club if they wish to take phone entries. Most will not allow it. However, if you sign up but then do not show up and pay or you send in a check that ‘bounces’, you will be put on the Non-Play Tournament List in Oregon and not be allowed to play in another ORA event until your prior obligations are met.
Seeding Tournaments:
All Events (except Open Singles and Doubles)...Seedings for the first tournament of the season is based on last years points. Seedings for the second tournament of the season are based on the above and the first tournament of this season. Seedings thereafter are based on the points earned in this seasons events.
We will do our best to catch all seedings, however, sometimes we may miss something.
Open Singles and Doubles...Seedings for all open divisions will be based on the above and the discretion of the ORA Board which reviews each tournament.
Rankings/Ratings:
Ratings
Each player has been assessed and assigned an individual rating for the state of Oregon as a singles player. The player has to play at that level or above in singles or doubles. If you are playing doubles, you must enter the division of the highest rated player.
New players on the tour play two tournaments before they get a rating. It is suggested that new players should get their rating assessment from an AmPRO certified Instructor or racquetball director. If neither of those are available, please contact ORA Board Director Brian Ancheta at 503-665-4142 or baancheta@aol.com.
The ORA will still continue the ranking system based on how a player finishes at tournaments. Players will no longer ‘Point Out’ by accumulating a certain level of points in that season, however, a player will be required to play a higher level/division after winning 3 tournaments in one season.
Players who get moved up a level during the season may play in the State and Regionals at the level you started that season.
Please check the website for your rating level. Players may submit a written request to the ORA Board for consideration if they think they should be in another division.
Rankings
Players earn points for placing in each event they enter. (You must win a match to earn points)
Earning Points... If a division is combined the player will earn points in the higher of the combined division unless they request in writing or email where they would like their points to go.
Regular Tour Events:
Draws with 7 or more players/teams
1st Place = 100 Points 2nd Place = 80 Points 3rd Place = 60 Points
4th Place = 40 Points Quarters = 20 Points 1st Cons. = 25 Points
2nd Cons. = 15 Points (with 16 or more players/teams in the draw)
Round Robins of 4 or 5 players*
1st Place = 100 Points 2nd Place = 80 Points
Split and Go of 6 players*
1st Place = 100 Points 2nd Place = 80 Points 1st Cons. = 25 Points
*In a Round Robin or Split and Go: All others who win a match will receive 20 points
State Singles/Doubles/Regional Events:
Draws with 7 or more players/teams
1st Place = 125 Points 2nd Place = 100 Points 3rd Place = 75 Points
4th Place = 50 Points Quarters = 25 Points 1st Cons. = 30 Points
2nd Cons. = 20 Points (with 16 or more players/teams in the draw)
Round Robins of 4 or 5 players*
1st Place = 125 Points 2nd Place = 100 Points
Split and Go of 6 players*
1st Place = 125 Points 2nd Place = 100 Points 1st Cons. = 30 Points
*In a Round Robin or Split and Go: All others who win a match will receive 25 points
The top rated player in each division at the end of each season will be a member of that year’s Oregon State Team and receive a special gift. (Play must have played in at least 3 tournaments in that division to earn the prize)
Note: We do our best to catch any problem areas but there are always a few people that will slip by.
Please inform us of anything we may have missed. You can contact Site Director: Brian Ancheta at 503-665-4142 or BAAncheta@aol.com