By default, the following League Rules and Regulations are applicable to all league and tournament games organized using the Game.Set.Match™ (GSM) platform. It is understood that leagues and tournaments are available on the platform are considered recreational only and non-professional and no implied professional tennis rules, ranking and tennis organization are associated whatsoever. The Rules and Regulations are given to create a fun, safe, friendly but competitive level of play for all participants. GSM is a template-driven technology platform that serves as a tool for organizers (league directors) to streamline the coordination of recreational league plays in their areas of jurisdiction. As we build new templates and formats of leagues and tournaments, this rules and regulations document will be updated accordingly.

As a default, the following Standard Rules and Regulations apply to all FLEX leagues available on the GSM platform unless explicitly stated on the League Information. The League Directors have the option to upload their own customized leagues rules and regulations (which are subject to review). In any case, GSM reserves the right to update this document from time to time to reflect the formats available through this platform.

Opening an account (“membership”) on the GSM platform is open to all players over the age of 18. However, the platform owners, administrators and/or directors reserve the right to suspend any account for any reason especially with regards to on-court conduct, and online account abuse or misrepresentation (see terms of use for details).

Players compete at their own risk. The players assume the responsibility to ensure that they are in good and healthy condition before playing in any type of participatory sports and event such as the leagues available through GSM’s platform. The player is also responsible to ensure that the equipment, balls, shoes, and outfit are suitable and safe for use. It is also the player’s responsibility to ensure any courts used are safe to play on (that includes the environment and weather situation). It is the right of any player to refuse or discontinue to play if they do not feel safe. Please report any concerns to whoever is responsible for managing the courts. If your personal safety is compromised, please report it to the authorities.

The GSM platform owners (and its employees or contractors) or the league coordinators CANNOT take responsibility for the safety or security of players whether playing on the courts or in the facilities associated with the leagues, or elsewhere. PLEASE USE YOUR BEST JUDGEMENT WHEN IT COMES TO SAFETY. Remember: Safety first.

Level of Play

The platform will continue to strive to improve its algorithm to automatically recommend a league or event as appropriately as possible to our members. However, all players are encouraged to select a level and level that offers good, competitive matches or events that matches their needs and preferences. The final determination of level placement will be made by the league director using the following criteria: 1) Self-rating 2) GSM Ratings (for established players) 3) Requested Level 4) Play History 5) USTA NTRP Level 6) Scheduling Needs

Note: while we strive to make sure everyone is “Right-Fitted“to their preferred groupings, THERE IS NO GUARANTEE OF 100% PERFECT FIT.

Start Dates and End Dates

There are many reasons (i.e. such as weather, state mandates, low turnout, etc.) why it is necessary to change or cancel an upcoming league. The players already signed up for a league will be notified via email/SMS when a change occurs. The GSM platform owners and/or league directors (we) reserve the right to modify the published league start and end-dates at will. In which case we offer to refund the league fee of any player who can no longer play due to the change (see refund policy for more details).

Extensions

When necessary, due to extenuating circumstances, we may decide to extend the entire league by an appropriate timeframe. In these circumstances, no refund can be given even if a player can no longer participate. For individual matches, in general, time extensions for individual matches are not typically granted with a few exceptions. Exceptions may sometimes be made within a few days of the end of the league, primarily to allow time for players to report their scores that was played toward the tail end of the league.

Entry Fee and Payments>

League Entry Fee payments are priced per person and are not transferable to another player. You may cancel for a refund any time up until the day before a league starts. After this, fees are not refundable or transferable to another league, for any reason. If we are unable to find you a track or division to play in or if for any reason we cannot run the league at all, the fee will be refunded in full or get credit for another upcoming league. For instances when late-registrants are permitted, players who join after the deadline may be included at the discretion of the organizers (normal refund rules apply).

Discounts and Promo Codes

• Promo codes are optional and given upon the discretion of the GSM Platform Owners from time to time as an incentive to promote participation. • Promo codes that offer a percent off can be used in combination with other percent off promo codes. • Promo codes are not transferable or redeemable for cash or credit. • Promo codes are exclusive for use on the GSM Platform only are not valid on other affiliate sites. • Certain products are excluded from promo codes. See the specific details of the promo code for excluded products. • Promo codes have an expiration date and GSM will not be obligated to issue a refund after expiration. • To apply a promo code, you must enter it prior to completing the order.

Refund Policy

Refunds are only given when withdrawing or cancelling before a league starts (after the schedules are posted). There will be no refunds or credits for withdrawals after schedules are posted. Note: we do not store or have access to customers’ credit card details; you may be asked for your credit card again, use VENMO/ZELLE or send you a check (whichever is most convenient).

Late Registration

It is upon the League Organizer’s discretion whether to allow late registration or not. A Flex-Timeboxed type of league typically does not allow late registration due to the fixed schedule created prior to the League Start and only the Flex-Open types can accommodate late registration (normal refund rules apply).

League Withdrawals

Players can withdraw or cancel anytime from a league before the league starts without penalty. There will be no refunds or credits for cancellation after schedules are posted. A player who withdraws from an ongoing league due to injury or scheduling constraints is required to notify the league director or administrator of the withdrawal. This player will either be removed from the schedule or be flagged accordingly in the system to indicate his withdrawal. Again, the player will NOT be entitled for a refund of the league fee.

League Grouping and Tracks

New players are added according to the answers they gave in the Self-Rating selection during the initial sign up. Depending on how the league is setup by the organizers and the turnout of participants, sometimes, it necessitates grouping the players into several TRACKS and moving people around prior to the start of the league. Whether this process is executed through an automated algorithm or manually done by the league organizers, we try our best to factor in the players’, geographic location, reviews, match history, ranking history, GSM ratings (and other external ratings) and player’s preferences. We encourage the players (although optional) to fill out as much information as they are comfortable with in their profile to help us in this process. While our goal is to maximize the most positive experience as possible for everyone, THERE IS NO GUARANTEE OF 100% PERFECT FIT on the group they will be placed in. Please note that we will not be able to predict which group an entrant will be grouped in up until the registration deadline and until we have a full list of players signing up for the league start.

We reserve the right to move a player up or down a level upon our discretion. While we provide an appeal process to place people in their proper groupings, all decisions made by the League Organizer or Administrator are final. Rest assured that Players will not be moved from one group to another once a league has started except in very exceptional circumstances. We do not regard any league entry as conditional on being in a certain group. Once the league has started, only a withdrawal will be accommodated (see refund rules that apply).

NAME & PICTURE: current and past league cycles will be made available for viewing. As this is a publicly available league, your name may appear on generally accessible (in- app, sports news magazines and newspapers, social-media, online and offline etc.) table of results and in the end of league and playoff published reports.

CONTACT INFORMATION (email or phone): by playing in the League hosted by GSM, you are authorizing us to share your contact details WITH OTHER PLAYERS OF THE SAME LEAGUE who are placed in the same groupings as you (see privacy policy and terms of user for more details).

Please see our Privacy Policy Statement and Terms of Use for full details.

Once you have joined a league and paid the entry fee, you will be grouped with other players of similar proficiency level.

Home vs. Visiting Players

For Flex-Timeboxed type of leagues, the match schedule published will identify who the “Home” player us and who the “Visiting” player will be. For Flex-Open leagues, whoever reaches out first gets designated as the “home” player. If you are responding to a player’s group text or email, you are considered as the “visiting” player.

Scheduling a Match

A notification will be sent by the system to all players signed up before the league officially starts. All players are encouraged to set up their schedule ahead of time against the other players in the league. To view who are playing in the league, you can go to the website under My Leagues and view “Players” or view the Final Match Schedules or Proposed Match Schedule. The name, contact email address and/or phone number will be available for viewing when the League is Active.

(note: contact information are only available to the players participating in the league and only when the league is ongoing).

Organizing matches can be a tough activity. Juggling schedules is never easy, but keep in mind that everyone who has joined is investing their time and money to have a positive tennis experience. (note: as a technology platform, we will continue to look for solutions to make scheduling as easy as possible).

To make this activity as easy as possible, we suggest the following:

• You email everyone in your group as soon as you can. Let them know the times you are free to play. Emailing one person at a time is often the best approach.

• For the one’s that have a predictable schedule throughout entire league cycle, try scheduling your games early and ahead of time.

• For leagues with playoffs, be mindful of the minimum number of games you have to play and win to qualify for the playoffs.

• Save your opponents’ phone numbers on your mobile phone; you would need it to confirm your match or if you are late to a match or have to reschedule at last minute.

• Try to respond to requests for matches whether you are available or not. Ghosting is deemed as discourteous.

• Make sure to confirm with your opponent your match time and venue one day before the match.

• Life happens. If you have to reschedule a match try to give as much time as possible. Please review the policy regarding No-Shows.

REMEMBER: The more proactive you are, the more likely you are to get your matches in! Reach out, Respond and Stick to your schedule.

Choosing Court Location

Although Home Players usually have first choice to picking the venue, we encourage every Flex League player to be as flexible as possible as far as picking a court location.

The home player should do his/her best to make sure that the court is suitable to play on, accessible and in a safe location. Upon arrival, either player can object to the location and work out an ideal court location either immediately or another time with no penalty.

If required, as guidance, the courts should be reserved for at least 2 hours, or if the courts are only available on a “first-come-first-served” basis, the home player should arrive a few minutes early before match time.

We expect the matches to be played on the home player’s home courts, but if both players agree, matches can be played at any appropriate venue and on any surface. If players cannot agree on an alternative set of courts, the default courts suggested by the league must be used.

Court Fees

The court host (“home” player) should disclose to the other party when scheduling a match if there is a cost to using the tennis court. Both parties should be responsible in paying for their portion of the court fee. For example, if the home player is a member of a private club and the use of the court is $0.00 to him/her but the guest fee is $5, the visiting player should be responsible in paying the $5.

Private Club Rules and Liability

If you are playing in a private club whether as the hosting party or the visiting party, it is expected you follow all club rules of engagement when it comes to fees, liability, etiquette, safety protocols, reservations and playing privileges. It is highly suggested that a visiting player review their policy or ask the hosting party to brief them of these rules and liability. If you do not agree with these club rules, you have the right of refusal to continue and reschedule without penalty.

Common sense and simple courtesy can go a long way in reaping a positive experience. For example:

• Relax and do not lose your cool – we are just trying to have fun

• Only call the balls on your court

• We all make bad calls occasionally; if you don’t agree on a call, always try to agree on just replaying the point instead of overturning a call

• If you are uncertain, your opponent gets the benefit of the doubt and the ball is in

• Do not intimidate your opponents with over gestures or use of offensive language

For more details on this topic, click here.

Confirmation 

On the day of the match, send your opponent a text or an email to confirm that you are leaving to get to the tennis court. It is always good to state an approximate time when you will be arriving. Always be mindful of the weather patterns in the area and factor this in when scheduling a match.

Balls and Equipment

Both parties should bring a new can of tennis balls to the match. Prior to the match, either party has the right to inspect the balls. If deemed “under par” or unsuitable (to the court type) by either of the players, and cannot be rectified, the match can be re-scheduled without penalty. It is suggested that only one of the cans is used for the match, and whoever wins the match gets the un-opened can.

No Shows and Late Cancellation

Our goal is to provide all league participants an enjoyable and positive experience. No-Shows are deemed not just annoying but also counter to this positive experience we are striving for. This is reflected in a player’s review record and also factored in the GSM rating negatively. Of course, sometimes we just avoid disruptions from life from happening. If you are running late for a match due to traffic, as a courtesy, call your opponent and let them know. If the weather looks bleak due to rain or snow, call each other to confirm or reschedule.

The player left waiting at the courts needs to wait at least 15 minutes before considering it as a NO-SHOW (it is not the responsibility of this player to call the no-show player). The player should still submit the score like he would normally do and he/she will get a Win for this match.

If the waiting player incurred a fee (i.e. club court fees, parking fees, etc.), the offending player needs to reimburse the waiting player. Otherwise, the waiting player can indicate this in his review notes and will be reflected negatively on the no-show player (note: GSM Platform owners and League Directors are not responsible for this incurred cost NOR be responsible for collecting it from the offending player). Repeated No-Shows are ground for suspension and there will be no refunds.

Injuries and Withdrawals

If a player suffers a minor injured during a match play, he is entitled to a 10-minute injury timeout. Please remember that safety and wellness always come first. If the player feels he cannot continue after the timeout, this will constitute a retirement – where he/she loses the match and cannot be re-played.

If the injured player deems that he/she is unable to complete the league cycle, please notify the league director or platform administrator. The player’s profile will indicate the withdrawal from the track and his contact information will be masked accordingly.

The opposing player is required to report whatever the score was at the moment of retirement and mark off the checkbox as “Opponent Retired” in order to score a Win for the match. The withdrawing player will NOT be entitled for a refund.

Forfeit – Walking Out of a Match

Please note that good sportsmanship is strongly encouraged for all players. Unless a player is threatened bodily harm by the other, it is encourage that players resolve their disputes as professional and amicable as possible during the match (i.e. bad line calls, timeouts too long/short, repeated verbal abuse, etc.) with the other player. While walking away from a match is considered a forfeit against the player, please report the matter to the League Organizer or through the system, so we can keep track of any repeated unsportsmanlike behavior. The system will send a reminder of our code of conduct and highlight the importance of Sportsmanship. Repeated reports from different sources against a player will be reflected in the player’s record and might be considered as grounds for suspension.

Incomplete Match – Disruption of a Match (due to lights, weather, club time out etc.)

There are many instances, such as poor lighting, weather inclement, unsafe playing conditions, court time expiration etc., that might necessitate not completing the match. We suggest that, if both parties agree, the match be rescheduled that works best for both parties. Please be mindful of the league end date and, if the match cannot be continued before the league cycle ends, we recommend a coin-toss on who will be considered the winner of the match.

Rematch Rule

Depending on the format of the league as stated in the League description, rematches are typically allowed for Flex Type leagues. For example, a league may allow a player to play against the same player twice, AND if they both win one match each, they may be able to play and report a 3rd match. Please check the league description if rematches are allowed or not.

No Substitutes or Replacements

Unless specifically stated in the league description, substitutes or replacements are not allowed.

Set Structure

Since Flex leagues are self-umpired, it is incumbent that players are familiar with how the scoring system is. For Flex League matches, it will be either be a 1) Best of Three with a full deciding set, or 2) Best of Three – with the 3rd set using a 10-Game Tie-Break or 3) a 10 Game Pro-Sets. Both players should agree prior to the match whether to choose #1, #2 or #3.

Most of the matches played in our leagues are best 2 out of 3 with a deciding tie-break set (#2). This means that Player both players won one set each and the 3rd set is a tie-breaker set where whoever wins 10 games first with a margin of 2 wins the match. When both players pick #1, the 3rd set is played like any normal set. A 10-Game Pro-Set is one set and the 1st player to win 10 games with a margin of 2 games win.

For example:

• #1 John Smith won over Robert Sanchez – 6-4, 2-6, 6-2

• #2 Haley Anderson won over Corey Blanche – 7-5, 1-6, (10-5)TB

• #3 Peter Ball won over George William – 10-8

Set Completion

A regular set is completed when one player wins 6 games by a margin of 2 games. If the set score reaches 6-6, a 7-point tiebreaker (and players switch sides every 6 points). is played to determine the winner of that set. Tiebreakers are recorded as 7-6.

Tie break in lieu of a 3rd set

IF ALL PLAYERS AGREE, you may play a 10-point tiebreaker in lieu of a 3rd set. In this case, record the 3rd set score similarly as 7-6.

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Set Structure

Since Flex leagues are self-umpired, it is incumbent that players are familiar with how the scoring system is. For Flex League matches, it will be either be a 1) Best of Three with a full deciding set, or 2) Best of Three – with the 3rd set using a 10-Game Tie-Break or 3) a 10 Game Pro-Sets. Both players should agree prior to the match whether to choose #1, #2 or #3.

Most of the matches played in our leagues are best 2 out of 3 with a deciding tie-break set (#2). This means that Player both players won one set each and the 3rd set is a tie-breaker set where whoever wins 10 games first with a margin of 2 wins the match. When both players pick #1, the 3rd set is played like any normal set. A 10-Game Pro-Set is one set and the 1st player to win 10 games with a margin of 2 games win.

For example:

• #1 John Smith won over Robert Sanchez – 6-4, 2-6, 6-2

• #2 Haley Anderson won over Corey Blanche – 7-5, 1-6, (10-5)TB

• #3 Peter Ball won over George William – 10-8

Set Completion

A regular set is completed when one player wins 6 games by a margin of 2 games. If the set score reaches 6-6, a 7-point tiebreaker (and players switch sides every 6 points). is played to determine the winner of that set. Tiebreakers are recorded as 7-6.

Tie break in lieu of a 3rd set

IF ALL PLAYERS AGREE, you may play a 10-point tiebreaker in lieu of a 3rd set. In this case, record the 3rd set score similarly as 7-6.

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In addition, reward points (“GSM Match Points”) are awarded to each activity a player completes whether one wins or loses. Each are weighted different and is up to the discretion of the Reward Program on how many MatchPoints™ are awarded. (*See Reward Program for details.)

For Flex Match types with playoffs, how one performs during the league cycle dictates how one is seeded during the playoffs. The brackets are created after the last day of the league (league end-date). Seeding is based on a player’s number of win/loss ratio of matches and ratio of games won/loss. Matches are played like any regular matches until FINALS are completed. Playoff schedule may overlap with regular league schedules and will be open for at least 3-4 weeks until Final matches are complete.

Type of Prizes

We rely on the honesty of our players to enter scores and match details as accurate and timely as possible. While mistakes do happen (which are rectifiable), purposely falsifying a result in any way, including submitting a result for a match that was not played at all or falsifying a date just to improve on one’s standings or gaming the system to earn GSM Reward Points, may result in the disqualification of any of the players concerned from the league and/or suspension of their account on the platform (see terms of use for details on suspension).