Four doubles lines, with different point values
Texas Jackrabbit League is a Friday-morning women's doubles league in North and Northwest Houston, with separate fall and spring seasons. A team match has four doubles lines. At least two lines start at 9 am, and all four may start together if courts permit and both captains agree in advance.
A team must keep 10 to 16 players on its roster. Only legal roster members can play, and substitutes from another team are not permitted. Players must be at least 18; current school or college team participation and certain teaching qualifications or rating levels bring additional eligibility restrictions or Board review.
Official source: Rules 1.1-1.3, 4.1-4.3, 5.1, 6.2-6.3, pp. 2-3
Why a 2-2 court split can have a clear points winner
Line 1 awards 12 points to the winner, line 2 awards 10, line 3 awards 8 and line 4 awards 6. If the losing pair wins a set, it earns 4, 3, 2 or 1 points respectively. A straight-set loser earns none. The winning line value combines its two set wins with a four-point match-win bonus.
Official standings therefore depend on weighted points, not just the count of courts won. At season end, tied teams are separated by total head-to-head points, then fewer season sets lost, then fewer season games lost. If the tie still remains, both teams receive first-place prizes.
Official source: Rules 8.1 and 3.2, pp. 2, 5-6
Two full sets, then a match tiebreak
Individual matches use regular scoring in the first two sets. At 6-6, play a seven-point Coman tiebreak, winning by two. If sets are split, replace the third set with a 10-point Coman match tiebreak, again winning by two. The deciding set is recorded as 1-0.
Coman end changes occur after the first point and then every four points: 1, 5, 9, 13 and so on, plus the last point. The rulebook permits a ten-minute break between the second and third sets, and coaching is allowed only during that interval.
Official source: Rules 7.5, 7.7-7.8 and Coman illustration, pp. 4-5, 10
Roster deadlines and the lineup lock
In-season roster additions or deletions need the website roster-change form or notice to the roster coordinator by midnight Tuesday to make a player legal for Friday, while keeping the 10-to-16 roster limits. A makeup player must already have been legal for the originally scheduled match. Adding her later does not make her eligible retroactively.
Captains exchange complete score sheets before 9 am. After exchange, lineups cannot change except for a warm-up injury replacement who can be ready within the default period. That exception does not allow lines to be changed. If a player has already appeared in a match that season, do not assume she can simply transfer teams; the transfer provision specifically concerns a player not yet recorded in a match.
Official source: Rules 4.4-4.6, 5.2 and 7.1-7.2, pp. 3-4
When does the default clock start?
The usual first-round warm-up runs from 9 to 9:15 am, with absent players defaulted at 9:15. Second-round players need to be ready at 10:15. When a court is available then, warm-up ends and the default deadline arrives at 10:30.
If the first available court opens after 10:15, the 15-minute period starts when that court becomes available. A 10:25 opening therefore makes 10:40 the deadline. Agreed simultaneous starts follow their designated start times. A late line that cannot start match play by noon may be rescheduled using rain-makeup rules.
Official source: Rules 6.3, 7.3-7.4 and 7.14, pp. 3-5
Rain before play and rain during play are different
The home captain checks the surface before 8 am and notifies the visiting captain if courts will not be playable by 9. A visiting team with a long trip may request earlier information and photos. If rain starts during warm-up after score-sheet exchange, wait 30 minutes. If play cannot begin on all lines, the sheets become void and legal new lineups can be used for the makeup.
Once play begins, record the match and game score, server, positions and court end. If play cannot resume after the 30-minute wait, the same four players continue from that point on the makeup date. All four must agree the courts are playable before resuming.
Makeups generally must finish within three weeks, with a scheduled division-wide bye exception. The final scheduled match has only two weeks, and the league's final makeup deadline is binding. Both captains have three calendar days, by 5 pm, to notify the division head of each line's makeup arrangements. Once recorded, those arrangements require League President approval to change for a reason other than rain.
Official source: Rules 10.2 and 11.1-11.5, pp. 7-8
Heat, cold and hazardous conditions
Before 8 am, a host-site forecast of 40 degrees or colder at the scheduled start allows either captain to request a call-off or delay. Both captains must communicate and confirm status, and the division head must be notified. Hazardous road or court conditions and relevant school closures have separate provisions. A match remains scheduled until a change is confirmed.
During play, a temperature of at least 96 degrees AccuWeather RealFeel permits suspension with agreement of all four players or both captains. Rain-makeup rules then apply. The official site's September 2025 heat reminder also explains that unstarted lines can reschedule when first-round lines suspend for heat, while forfeits stand. Because that reminder predates the July 2026 book, confirm any disputed application with the Board; do not treat its date as a new amendment.
The linked Spring 2026 weather reminder repeats the 40-degree forecast and 96-degree RealFeel thresholds. Neither reminder replaces current Board emails or website notices concerning a particular match.
Common Texas Jackrabbit questions
Do forfeits have to start at line 4?
No. Jackrabbit explicitly does not require forfeiting from the bottom up. Do not apply another league's bottom-up rule.
Can we forfeit all four lines?
No. All-four-line forfeits or defaults are prohibited and can lead to next-season suspension. Notify the president and division head about special circumstances.
Can we borrow a player from another team?
No. Only legal members of your own roster may play, with no substitutes from another team.
Can a new roster addition play an old rain makeup?
Only if she was already legal for the originally scheduled match.
Is there a full third set?
No. The deciding set is a 10-point Coman match tiebreak, win by two, recorded as 1-0.
Who chooses which lines play first?
The home captain determines the order and must contact the visiting captain by Monday afternoon before Friday. Changes require mutual agreement.
Can we move indoors or change surface?
The general rule requires all four players to agree. The rulebook separately identifies a WCC indoor-assignment exception; confirm that local provision when applicable.
How soon must results be checked?
The home captain posts points and game scores on the completion day. The visiting captain checks within 48 hours. Game scores stand after that period; total points remain correctable.
Does a declared forfeit disappear if it rains?
It depends on timing. A total rainout before play can allow it to be rescheduled, while a declared forfeit stands once play begins on all remaining lines.
Can I protest only after the match ends?
No. Announce that play is under protest during the match when the dispute occurs. Captains notify the division head afterward; a further written grievance has a one-week deadline after the division head's decision.
Official source: References appear with each answer.
Captain’s match-day checklist
- Confirm 10-to-16-player roster limits and player eligibility before using a name.
- Submit Friday roster changes by midnight Tuesday; check original-date eligibility for makeups.
- Confirm court order by Monday afternoon and communicate weather status directly.
- Bring complete score sheets, arrive before the relevant warm-up and know the default time.
- Use the weighted line points and the required Coman deciding tiebreak.
- Keep original score sheets, post completion-day results and verify within 48 hours.
Use the linked rule references above when checking each item.
Official sources and scope
Official Texas Jackrabbit League Rules, revised July 2026. Checked November 2, 2026.
Heat Rule Reminder, September 2025
Extreme Weather Reminder, Spring 2026
Independent explanation of the July 2026 rulebook, verified November 2, 2026. The official site also links a September 2025 heat reminder and a Spring 2026 extreme-weather reminder. Their dates are kept distinct; check current Board notices for match-day instructions. Printed rulebook page references are used.
Examples illustrate the published rules. They are not league rulings or statements about a particular player. Confirm amendments and disputed interpretations with your league before acting.