1. Individual Entries & Secret Balanced Teams (Now Ages 30+)
New from this year: Festival entries are now officially open to all players aged 30+ (expanded from the former 35+ age restriction)!
Unlike typical tournaments where fixed club teams compete against each other, SIVTTF players enter individually and provide a self-assessed grade from 1 to 4 (where 1 is premier competitive and 4 is casual social).
Our tournament committee carefully seeds and balances all players into 8-person teams. The lineups are kept a secret until the 27 December Meet & Greet!
Individual Entry
Submit your entry form online and nominate your self-grade (1 to 4).
Committee Balancing
Players are split across balanced 8-person squads. Spouses & recent partners are split to maximise mixing!
The 27 Dec Reveal
Team names, nametags, and rosters are unveiled at the casual Meet & Greet drinks.
5 Fun Rounds & Evening Events
5 rounds across 3 days. Dinner and Quiz on the 29th evening, followed by AGM, Gold/Silver/Bronze Medals & the Wooden Spoon on 30 Dec.
2. Captains' Role & $60 Theme Allowance
Every team is led by a volunteer Captain. To add to the fun and festive spirit, each Captain is given a $60 allowance to purchase creative matching theme paraphernalia, colours, or props for their 8 team members.
- 28 Dec Morning Photos: Captains gather their squad in full team theme costumes before Round 1 for official festival group photos.
- Match Administration: Captains collect new balls and scoresheets from the desk before each round.
- Court Flow: Captains help matches transition smoothly and sign off identical scoresheets with the opposing captain.
- Golden Rule: Have fun and keep everything relaxed and enjoyable!
3. Guidelines for Host Clubs & Expression of Interest
Future Host Clubs WelcomeEvery year, a South Island tennis club hosts the festival. Hosting brings vibrant community energy, 100+ visiting players, and economic activity to your town. The SIVTTF committee provides complete support, tournament management, and a guaranteed $2,000 facility contribution towards court hire and catering:
Would Your Club Like to Host a Future Festival?
Under the SIVTTF Constitution, future host allocations are approved at the AGM. If your club has 8+ courts (Grass, Hard, or Astro) and great hospitality, explore our host club guidelines and submit an Expression of Interest.