The Racquet Club of Columbus
1100 Bethel Road Columbus, OH
43220 Phone: 614/457-5671
tennis @ racquetclub1 . com
www . racquetclub1 . com
|
The Racquet Club of Columbus
1100 Bethel Road Columbus, OH
43220 Phone: 614/457-5671
|
|
|
This Guidebook was prepared by Jim Hendrix, The Racquet Club of
Dear Junior Parents,
It's not supposed to be complicated or confusing, but parents and juniors, as
they are learning the ropes, can find that following the rules, and meeting the
deadlines, etc., can be a frustrating experience. Every effort has been made to be accurate and up-to-date with the information in this guide. But, please remember, this is just a guide it is not the rule book. It will not answer your every question, nor will it alert you to all the issues that you might have concerning your child's development as a tennis player. As you progress through junior tennis, you will likely want to collect copies of GCTA, OVTA, Midwest Section and National publications. And with any luck, in a few years, you will be the one answering the questions the new parents have! Welcome to Junior Tennis! A.
Tips for New Junior Players and their Parents A.
TIPS FOR NEW JUNIOR PLAYERS AND THEIR PARENTS 1.
Do you have any advice concerning sportsmanship? Yes.
Sylvia A. Gothard, current President of the Chicago District Tennis
Association and a USPTA Master Professional, has written a wonderful piece
entitled "Sportsmanship at the Tennisfest."
Following are highlights of her suggestions as to how one can be a
"good sport" on the court: Introduce yourself to your
opponent. Compete at your highest
level all of the time and let the chips fall where they may. Your self-esteem is
not linked to the outcome of the match. Be proud of yourself for
competing. A ball that is 99% out
is 100% in. When in doubt, always
give the point to your opponent. If you make an error on
a call, correct it right away. During the warm-up, hit
with control and warm-up all of your strokes. This
is not the time to hit the ball away from your opponent. (Save your winners for
when it counts!) It is the server's
responsibility to clearly call the set score before the start of the game and
the game score before the start of each point. If the server does not call the
score, the receiver should confirm the score so there is no misunderstanding. After each point, return
the balls to the server; not at or away from him or her. If the serve is a let,
the receiver should return the ball back to the server and not wait for the
server to retrieve another ball. Any out or let calls
must be made right away. If you wait until the end of the point, the point
stands as played. Conduct yourself in a
manner that makes the match enjoyable for your opponent. Avoid conflict with your
opponent by concentrating on what you are doing.
How are you going to play the next point? Are
you breathing regularly and deeply? These
things eliminate negative energy. If you respond to
negative energy from your opponent, you create conflict. Swearing, racket
throwing, abuse of the facility and court equipment, and gamesmanship will not
be tolerated. Be aware of the USTA's
Point Penalty System. This system
will be in effect for all of your matches. There are no reasons to
lose other than what you create within yourself.
Play the best you can today and you are a winner. Remember, there are
always more losers than winners in match play. Always shake hands with
your opponent. If you have anything
to say, make it positive. Do not put
down your opponent or your own playing. 2.
If my child is just beginning to play tournaments, what tips should I give my
child before playing a match? Each child is different, and
much depends on your child's level of play. However, below are some of the kinds
of things you might want to share with your child.
We call them the "Ten Commandments of Match Play:
THE
TEN COMMANDMENTS OF MATCH PLAY 1.
Keep Your Cool:
Dont abuse your tennis racket or tennis balls.
Dont use abusive language. By
being on your best behavior, you will always be in control of yourself and not
risk subjecting yourself to warnings, code violations, point penalties, or even
defaults. By not showing any
emotion, you can also avoid giving your opponent extra confidence.
Remember, you will almost always play better when you are in control of
yourself. 2. Take
Your Time: Dont rush
yourself. Take your time between
points so that you can focus. Be
sure to drink water every time you change sides. 3.
Take Charge: Always
pick up balls on the court so that you dont trip and so that you can stay
focused on your play. Do not serve unless you have two tennis balls.
When you are serving, always call the score loudly and clearly before you
serve each point. 4.
Keep The Ball In Play:
Most matches are won or lost due to too many unforced errors.
Keep the ball in play! 5.
Hit The Ball With Depth:
By hitting the ball deep into your opponents court, you will keep him
or her on the defensive and make him or her hit the ball short back to you.
To help you hit with depth, hit the ball at least three feet over the net
and beyond the service line. 6.
Find And Exploit Your Opponents
Weakness(Es): Find an hit to
your opponents weaknesses rather than to his or her strengths. 7.
Get Your First Serve In As Often
As Possible: By doing so, you
will keep your opponent more off balance and perhaps win some easy points.
Take your time; bounce the ball. If
your first serve is not working, then consider using your second serve as your
first serve until you regain your confidence. 8.
Play Your Game By Focusing On
Hitting Your Shots, Not On Winning: By
focusing on hitting your shots, you will have a better chance to win points.
If you focus on winning, you wont focus on how to hit your shots.
Remember, play your game. 9.
Never Let Up.
Never Give Up: Try
getting an early lead in the match. If
you get an early lead, dont let up. If
you get behind in the match, never give up.
Remember, the match isnt over until the very last point is played. 10.
Have Fun!:
Always remember that tennis is a great game and a lot of fun.
Youre out there to have fun. Enjoy
yourself! 3.
What things can I do to be a good tennis parent? Keep the following points in
mind: Remember, tennis is just
a game. While you may want your
child's skills to improve, you also want your child to enjoy the game. It's a
game for lifetime. Don't put pressure on
your child to win. Instead, create a
supportive environment in which your child wants to improve his or her game. When your child has a
private lesson with a pro, consider watching it from a distance in order to give
your child and the pro some space. Make sure that your
child knows the "rules of the game," and what he or she may and may
not do during a match. For example,
does your child know that he or she may not leave the court to go to the
bathroom during a match without the permission of a referee? Does
your child know that he or she cannot leave the court to obtain a new racket if
a string breaks on his or her racket? Make sure that your
child eats two hours before his or her first match and brings a jug of water to
the match. Your child may also want
to bring a sports drink. When your child is
playing a tournament outdoors, be sure to bring sun block, a hat, and a towel
for your child and a folding chair and an umbrella for yourself. Also,
consider bringing a folding chair for your child to use during the changeovers. For all tournaments,
make sure that your child brings his or her USTA card. Be sure your child has
extra tennis shirts, especially when the weather is hot or humid. Be on time for matches. If
your child is late for a match, he or she can lose the toss and games and, if
your child is more than 15 minutes late, be defaulted. Note
that many tournament directors request players to check in at least 15 minutes
before a match is scheduled to begin. Whenever possible, have
your child stretch and warm-up before his or her first match each day. After your child
completes a match, be sure your child finds out the day and time of his or her
next match. Don't call the lines or
the score for your child during a match. Let
your child call the lines and the score. It
is his or her responsibility to do so. Don't coach your child
during a match, except before it starts or during the ten-minute break before
the third set if your child splits sets. Remember
there is no break between sets in the boys' and girls' 18s. If your child splits
sets and there is a ten-minute break between sets, make sure that your child
knows that he or she could lose points and games if he or she does not return to
the court on time. You should be supportive
of and encourage your child, but allow your child to make his or her own on
court decisions for the development of the "person." Don't applaud or cheer
when your child's opponent makes a mistake. Treat your child the
same way whether he or she wins or loses. Try to have fun and
enjoy the tournaments. Your
unhappiness can breed a child's guilt. Look relaxed, calm,
positive and energized on the sidelines. Your
attitude will help the child play better. Make friends with other
parents at the event. Socializing
can make the event more fun. Let the coach do the
coaching. Too much input can confuse
the child. Understand that a child
needs a break from tennis occasionally. It
doesn't mean the child is quitting or burned out. Be there when your child
loses or gets discouraged. Be an
understanding listener, not a fixer. At the same time, give
the child some space when he or she loses. Your
child will want to be alone for a while, and then he or she will be okay. Chances
are he or she will not want to talk about the match in the car on the way home. Keep your sense of
humor. When you laugh and have fun,
your child's stress level takes a big drop. Realize that your child
may feel guilty about all of the time and money you are spending on his or her
tennis if you are not careful. It is
important that he or she knows you don't look at tennis as an investment for
which you expect a return. Encourage your child to
pursue realistic dreams and make sure you are not living out your dreams through
his or her tennis. Treat your child as an
individual instead of comparing his or her progress with that of other children. Use positive motivation
instead of sarcasm and threats. It is your
responsibility to know the rules, regulations, endorsement procedures and
deadline dates so that your child is given every possible chance to compete at
all levels of tennis. 4.
What should my child know about playing in the heat? Get fit: high aerobic
fitness can give you a big advantage when it comes to tolerating the heat. Taper your training:
Reduce the volume of training during the days preceding a hot weather event. Acclimatize to the heat:
Training in the heat will promote heat acclimation. Be sure to have the
proper clothing on hand: White or other light clothing reflects solar radiation.
Use a single layer of loose fitting, lightweight cotton/polyester blend
rather than 100% cotton or tightly woven nylon. Sweat-saturated
clothing should be replaced with dry clothing whenever possible, so pack plenty
of extras. Lose the dark cap
wear a light-colored one. Drink plenty of fluids
throughout the day. Avoid excess
caffeine. Drink regularly during all
practice and warm-up sessions. Drink at each changeover.
Continue to drink after play to restore any fluid deficit that still
remains. Add some salt to your
diet before you play, especially if you are prone to cramping.
If you take the above
precautions, your child should be able to tolerate the heat with minimum
discomfort. Here are some additional
suggestions: Eat plenty of
carbohydrates. Get plenty of sleep. Stay in a cool
environment as much as possible, especially just before play. Practice early in the
morning or in the early evening when the weather is not as extreme. Medication: ask your
doctor about any medications that you are taking with respect to its potential
effect on hydration or tolerance to heat. Recent illness can make
you more susceptible to problems in the heat. Sunburn: make certain
that you are using sunscreen on all exposed areas of the skin when you practice
and play. Early signs of heat
illness: These include headache, nausea, dizziness, clumsiness, weakness, muscle
twinges or cramps, irritability, apathy and confusion. B. DO'S AND DON'T'S FOR TENNIS PARENTS By Jim Taylor, Ph.D. FOR
YOURSELF
DO
WITH OTHER PARENTS
DO
WITH
COACHES
DO
FOR
YOUR CHILDREN
DO
FOR YOURSELF
DONT
WITH
OTHER PARENTS
DONT
WITH
COACHES
DONT
FOR
YOUR CHILDREN
DONT
For more
information about Tennis Parent workshops: Jim Taylor, Ph.D.,
C.
SUCCESSFUL TENNIS PARENTING
Steve
Wild, USPTA; RULE
#l: Wait a good half-hour to discuss
a losing effort. If I had a nickel for every time I saw a
parent launch into a tirade immediately after a match, I wouldn't be working for
a living! This scenario is most popular in the younger age divisions. Little
Johnny or Jeannie comes off the court decked out in Fila diapers and morn and
dad are doing their best to imitate a couple of "Looney Tunes." The
kid feels bad enough for losing. The parents only intensify the negative
emotions. Is this sane behavior? To make matters worse, the poor little kid
can't even defend himself. He has to take the abuse. A much more sane approach
is to affirm the child after the match, win or lose, unless behavior was a
significant problem. In which case, the situation should be dealt with without
delay. After the passage of time, the player should be open to positive
criticism. RULE
#2: No one misses on purpose. Most
parents act as if the player takes delight in missing easy shots on big points
just to upset them. If more parents would "serve them up" now and
then, they might realize that the game is a little more difficult than it looks
from the sidelines. Jim Loehr had a good solution for this. He actually told one
parent to enter five tournaments and win every one. Then report back.
Eventually, the parent got the message. RULE
#3: Emphasize the process, not the result.
Too many parents and coaches use the "Winning isn't the most important
thing. It's the only thing" philosophy. In reality, most kids won't come
close to being professionals, so why get crazy? Emphasize the methodology of
becoming a player and reinforce the fun of playing the game. Yes, work can be
fun! If the pain of losing overcomes the joy of playing, the junior will give up
the game sooner or later. I have seen this time and again. Players that were
phenomenal juniors just walk away from the game as soon as they get older. The
pain is too great. RULE
#4: Never yank your kid from a drill
court unless they are misbehaving. If a
parent has a problem with the drill court assignments during a group lesson,
handle it with the pro in private. Removing the child only reinforces the
"I'm too good to hit with you" attitude. Adolescents suffer from too
much bipolar thinking to begin with, this only makes matters worse. The optimal
and fair way to handle drill court assignments should reflect what happens in
"the real world. Sometimes the opponent is better than, equal to, or
less than a player. Drill courts should reflect this. For a player to play above
or below his or her level continually is not good. The pro running the drill
should have enough expertise to make this judgment. If not, consider a different
program. It makes no sense to make parents and players miserable. RULE
#5: Be reasonably involved with your child's
tennis. In the seventies and early eighties, most tennis parents erred on
the side of over-involvement with junior's tennis. Now the opposite is true.
Oftentimes, I hear "we are letting Johnny handle his own tennis now."
Imagine what would happen if Johnny handled all his own academic decisions! The
optimal position is somewhere in the middle. Too much is no good and too little
is equally as bad. The parent pays the bill and has a right to expect excellence
in how the situation is managed. The parent's role is to make sure both the
coach and the player are living up to their agreements, not to tell the coach
and player how to play or teach. RULE
#6: Never get into hassles with other
parents, coaches, or players. Most junior
tournaments should have a staff psychologist on hand. Not being a
"shrink" myself, I wouldn't hazard a professional opinion, however,
the psychological climate does not seem very healthy at most junior events. The
aforementioned notwithstanding, be sure and stay cool even though emotions could
be running hot I must confess that plenty of times I have felt like either
screaming or punching someone. But then again, "Discretion is the better
part of valor." If I have seemed overly harsh on parents it is because it
is by far and away the toughest role. I have the gray hair to prove it! D. WHY PLAY TENNIS? by
Jack L. Groppel, Ph.D. Its
historic moniker has been the "sport for a lifetime".
But, is this really true? According
world-renowned scientists from a variety of disciplines, there is no doubt that
tennis is one of the best sports for you to play. Here
are the facts: 1.
People who
participate in tennis 3 hours per week (at moderately vigorous intensity) cut
their risk of death in half from any cause, according to physician Ralph
Paffenbarger, who studied over 10,000 people for 20 years. 2.
Tennis
players scored higher in vigor, optimism and self-esteem while scoring
lower in depression, anger, confusion, anxiety and tension than other athletes
and non-athletes according to Dr. Joan Finn and colleagues at Southern
Connecticut State University. 3.
Since tennis
requires alertness and tactical thinking, it may generate new connections
between nerves in the brain and thus promote a lifetime of continuing
development of the brain, reported scientists at the 4.
Tennis
outperforms golf, inline skating and most other sports in developing positive
personality characteristics according to Dr. Jim Gavin, author of The
Exercise Habit. 5.
Competitive
tennis burns more calories than aerobics, inline skating, or cycling, according
to studies in caloric expenditures. With
these results in mind, let's list 34 specific reasons why you should consider
playing tennis regularly!
PHYSICAL REASONS TO PLAY TENNIS Tennis
helps your
1.
aerobic
fitness by burning fat and improving your cardiovascular fitness and maintaining
higher energy levels. 2.
anaerobic
fitness by offering short, intense bursts of activity during a point followed by
rest which helps muscles use oxygen efficiently. 3.
ability to
accelerate by practice in sprinting, jumping and lunging to move quickly. 4.
powerful
first step by requiring anticipation, quick reaction time and explosion into
action. 5.
speed
through a series of side-to-side and up and back sprints to chase the ball. 6.
leg strength
through hundreds of starts and stops which build stronger leg muscles. 7.
general body
coordination since you have to move into position and then adjust your upper
body to hit the ball successfully. 8.
gross motor
control through court movement and ball-striking skills which require control of
your large muscle groups. 9.
fine motor
control by the use of touch shots like angled volleys, drop shots and lobs. 10.
agility by
forcing you to change direction as many as 5 times in 1O seconds during a
typical tennis point. 11.
dynamic
balance through hundreds of starts, stops, changes of direction and hitting on
the run. 12.
cross-training
by offering a physically demanding sport that's fun to play for athletes who
also specialize in other sports. 13.
bone
strength and density by strengthening bones of young players and helping prevent
osteoporosis in older ones. 14.
immune
system through its conditioning effects which promote overall health, fitness
and resistance to disease. 15.
nutritional
habits by eating appropriately before competition to enhance energy production
and after competition to practice proper recovery methods. 16.
eye-hand
coordination because you constantly judge the timing between the oncoming ball
and the proper contact point. 17.
flexibility
due to the constant stretching and maneuvering to return the ball toward your
opponent.
PSYCHOLOGICAL REASONS TO PLAY TENNIS Tennis helps
you
18.
develop a
work ethic because improvement through lessons or practice reinforces the value
of hard work. 19.
develop
discipline since you learn to work on your skills in practice and control the
pace of play in competition. 20.
manage
mistakes by learning to play within your abilities and realizing that managing
and minimizing mistakes in tennis or life is critical. 21.
learn to
compete one-on-one because the ability to compete and fight trains you in the
ups and downs of a competitive world. 22.
accept
responsibility because only you can prepare to compete by practicing skills,
checking your equipment and during match play by making line calls. 23.
manage
adversity by learning to adjust to the elements (e.g. wind, sun) and still be
able to compete tenaciously. 24.
accommodate
stress effectively because
the physical, mental and emotional stress of tennis will force you to
increase you capacity for dealing with stress. 25.
learn how to
recover by adapting to the stress of a point and the recovery period between
points which is similar to the stress and recovery cycles in life. 26.
plan and
implement strategies since you naturally learn how to anticipate an opponent's
moves and plan your countermoves. 27.
learn to
solve problems since tennis is a sport based on angles, geometry and physics. 28.
develop
performance rituals before serving or returning to control your rhythm of play
and deal with pressure. These skills
can transfer to taking exams, conducting a meeting or making an important sales
presentation. 29.
learn
sportsmanship since tennis teaches you to compete fairly with opponents. 30.
learn to win
graciously and lose with honor. Gloating
after a win or making excuses after a loss doesn't work in tennis or in life. 31.
learn
teamwork since successful doubles play depends on you and your partner's ability
to communicate and play as a cohesive unit. 32.
develop
social skills through interaction and communication before a match, while
changing sides of the court and after play. 33.
have FUN...
because the healthy feelings of enjoyment, competitiveness and physical
challenge are inherent in the sport. SUMMARY AND REASON #34 Is
it any wonder that scientists and physicians around the world view tennis as the
most healthful activity in which you can participate? There may be other sports
that can provide excellent health benefits and some which can provide mental and
emotional growth. But no sport other than tennis has ever been acclaimed from
all disciplines as one that develops great benefits physically, mentally and
emotionally. Tennis is a
sport for kids to learn early in life. What parent wouldn't want their children
to get these benefits through their growing years? by Jack L. Groppel, Ph.D. There are a number of junior
tournaments offered throughout the year. During
the fall/winter/spring, various local indoor tennis clubs offer weekend
tournaments designed primarily for the less experienced or newly competitive
junior player. All junior players should
consider playing the GCTA Area Qualifier, a local tournament played in May which
is open to all juniors in 2.
What are the These organizations are part
of the United State Tennis Association (USTA) which oversees competitive tennis
in the
Area: The
District Level: The district level,
which includes
Sectional Level: From the OVTA district, players feed into the USTA/Midwest
Section, which includes all of Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin and
parts of Kentucky and West Virginia.
National Level: Finally, players who have success in Midwest Sectional
tournaments would feed into national tournaments. 3.
What other levels of play are available besides the Satellite (Novice) level? There are three ability
groupings for junior players, including the Satellite level. By
providing different levels of tournaments, the hope is that stronger players
will have a greater likelihood of choosing events with strong competition, while
players who are in earlier stages of development will have a better opportunity
to compete with players closer to their own level of play. The
Junior Satellite Circuit of tennis
tournaments is designed for players who have never had a District or Sectional
ranking. The
Junior Challenger Circuit of tennis
tournaments, which is designed to provide an appropriate level of play for
Juniors playing for local, district, and sectional rankings. Challenger
level tournaments make up approximately 90% of all tournaments in the USTA/Midwest
Section.
The Junior Masters Circuit of tennis
tournaments, which is designed to provide the highest caliber of play within the
USTA/Midwest Section for Juniors playing for sectional and national rankings. Advanced players move on to
the Challenger or Masters USTA tournaments in their community, district or
section, and, if they are exceptionally talented, at the national and
international levels. Tournaments at all three
levels are offered in all of the junior age divisions (12, 14, 16, and 18 and
under).
4.
How does age group eligibility work in the Juniors? Juniors may compete in any
division (12, 14, 16, 18) as long as they have not exceeded the maximum age by
the last day of the month during which the division is scheduled to start.
Thus, if a Junior turns 13 on December 10th, he or she may now
play in 12 & under tournaments up to and including November in the calendar
year in which he or she turns 13. The
Junior may not play in 12 & under tournaments from December forward, and he
or she would have to move "up" to the next age group. This
new "birthday rule" ameliorates the impact of the proverbial bad
birthday for those born late in the year. Juniors
may play "up" in any older age group. They
may not, however, play "down" below their age groups.
5.
Must my child start off in Satellite (Novice) Tournaments? What
if he or she seems to already be playing at a higher level? Your child may begin by
playing any USTA sanctioned tournament. However,
results of challenger and master level tournaments do count toward rankings, and
poor performances will result in lower rankings.
You and your child will need to determine whether that is advisable.
6.
If my child has never been ranked, can he or she play both in Junior Satellite
(Novice) Tournaments and in Challenger or even Masters tournaments? Yes. In
fact, as your child becomes more experienced, this may be a good idea, until
your child reaches a level of proficiency or achieves a ranking. In
this way, your child can develop confidence by playing in the Junior Satellite
(Novice) Tournaments while at the same time set goals for himself/herself by
playing against more experienced players in Challenger or even Masters
Tournaments. It should be noted that
Masters Tournaments are meant to provide the highest caliber of play within the
Midwest Section, and entry into the draw is generally highly competitive and
based on rankings and player records.
7.
What is a sanctioned tournament? A sanctioned tournament is
one that is approved by the United States Tennis Association (USTA). The
club, organization, or person running the tournament pays a sanction fee to the
USTA and agrees to run the tournament following USTA Tournament Rules and
Regulations. Sanctioned tournaments
are listed in the USTA/ F. ENTERING
TOURNAMENTS 1.
How do we find out where and when Junior Satellite (Novice) Tournaments are
held? The OVTA Yearbooks and USTA/ Those individuals who become
affiliated with United States Tennis Association receive the OVTA
Yearbook and USTA/ If you are not yet a USTA
member, you may request the OVTA and USTA/ OVTA:
937/399-5064. USTA/ 2.
How do we contact the USTA to apply for membership for our child if we do not
apply for membership at a tournament site? The easiest way to join the
USTA is through on-line membership sign-up at
www.usta.com.
You can also call the USTA
at (800) 990-USTA, or write to:
3.
How do I enter my child in a tournament? There are a few ways. One
way is to obtain an entry form from the club hosting the tournament and to send
it in before the entry date deadline, along with the entry fee and your child's
player record (if he or she has one). If
the tournament uses the TennisLink tournament entry system on the internet,
entry into the tournament can be completed by going to
www.ustamidwestsection.com
or
www.tennisinformation.com.
Be sure to have the tournament name (which appears in the OVTA
and USTA/ Some tournaments will accept
entry information over the phone, with entry guaranteed with a credit card.
Do not assume that a tournament will take phone entries and understand if
a tournament required does not. Contact
the tournament director for a particular tournaments policy.
4.
How much does it cost to enter my child into a tournament and what does the
entry fee cover? It depends on the
tournament. Entry fees range from
approximately $30 for local tournaments to $100 or more for national
tournaments. The entry fee covers
(1) the cost of court time for all of your child's matches, (2) new balls for
each match and for the third set of a match if the players split sets, (3)
umpires, referees, tournament administrators, and (4) sometimes T-shirts or
other clothing that are given to players. 5.
Do I need to keep and maintain an updated player record? Yes.
It is important to maintain an updated player record.
Blank forms are available in the back of the OVTA
or Midwest Yearbooks. Many
tournaments require hard copies of a players record from those who wish to be
considered for seeding. Updated
player records are also helpful at the end of the year when reviewing year-end
ranking and match result information. Players
should check their on-line player record frequently to assure accuracy and
completeness. If errors or omissions
are found, immediately contact either the OVTA or USTA/ G. 1.
If my child does not want to play tournaments, is there another, affordable way
my child can get started in competitive tennis? Yes. There is USA Tennis
NJTL ("National Junior Tennis League"), which is an affordable program
for beginning players conducted during the summer months at various park
locations within the 2.
What else does the CRPD offer? The Columbus Recreation and
Parks Department offers programs at numerous tennis sites throughout the
3.
Which tennis clubs offer instructional programs for Juniors? Most indoor and outdoor
tennis clubs in the Greater Columbus area offer well-organized programs,
including individual and group instruction. Call one of the pros below for more
information. Indoor
clubs: Athletic Adventures: 7420 SR
161, Olympic Indoor Tennis: 3480 The Players Club: 3333 Racquet Club of Columbus: Wickertree Tennis Club: H. TOURNAMENT
PLAY AND CONDUCT 1.
How many matches will my child play in a tournament? It depends on how many
players are entered in the tournament, how well your child plays, and whether
the tournament has a "double elimination" feature. Many
tournaments have either a first match consolation (FMC) or feed-in championship
(FIC) draw. In tournaments with a
consolation, players are given a second chance and assured of playing at
least two matches. In standard format
sanctioned tournaments in which players play two out of three set matches,
singles players play a maximum of two matches per day in the same division.
Or, they may play one singles match and two doubles matches, or three
doubles matches. If a tie-break in
lieu of the third set is used, singles players can play a maximum of three
matches per day.) Singles players in the 12,
14, and 16 and under levels are entitled to a 60 minute rest period between
matches. In doubles only
tournaments, the rest period shall be 30 minutes between matches. 2.
What is a FMC tournament? Players in tournaments with
a first match consolation (FMC) are placed in a consolation draw if they lose
their first match of the tournament. A
player who has a bye in the first round or wins the first round by default and
then loses in the second round of the main draw will also move into the
consolation draw. 3.
What is a FIC tournament? Many of the higher level
tournaments have a feed-in consolation (FIC).
In FIC tournaments, players who lose before the semi-final round feed
into the consolation draw. Therefore,
all players except the tournament winner, 3rd place/4th
place playoff winner, and consolation winner will play until they have lost two
matches.
4.
How do I find out the start-time of my child's first match? Contact the host club,
organization or person 2 or 3 days in advance of the tournament.
It is the players responsibility to find out their match times
do not wait for or expect the tournament to contact you. 5.
Can a tournament schedule matches around my schedule or make special scheduling
arrangements? Dont count on it.
Many things must be considered when scheduling a tournament:
court availability, length of event, the maximum number of matches a
player can play in a day, staffing, etc. While
tournament directors will try to accommodate a players special scheduling
requests, it is often very difficult if not impossible to accommodate such
requests. Before entering a
tournament, check the start and finish dates, as well as any other information
related to when matches will be played. If
your personal schedule does not fit the tournament play schedule, dont enter
the event. Also, if you do enter a
tournament, you are obligated to complete the event.
Do not enter a tournament if you can not play any and all matches.
6.
Should my child bring anything special with him or her to a tennis tournament? In addition to his or her
tennis rackets (players should bring at least two identical or similar rackets
the second in case a string breaks), your child should bring his or her USTA
card, a water bottle, sunscreen, a towel, and extra t-shirts/tops.
Your child should wear shorts with pockets or tennis pants that have a
place for a ball. If you think that
your child will be playing more than one match in a day, your child might want
to bring some fruit, a sandwich, and a sports drink. 7.
Is it true that my child will be responsible for calling the lines during
matches?
Yes. Tennis
is one of the few sports in which the amateur participants umpire themselves. Your
child will need to make in and out calls when balls are on his or her side of
the court. Unless a ball is clearly
and totally out, it should be played as "good." A
player should not call the balls on his or her opponent's side of the court. 8.
Suppose my child thinks that his or her opponent is not calling the lines
accurately?
Your child may want to warn
his or her opponent that he or she will ask for a line judge or, if the
situation truly warrants it, request a line judge. In
most cases, however, opponents are fair with one another and a line judge is
unnecessary. Should your child need
outside assistance, he or she should put down his or her racket and request an
umpire. A roving umpire, if one is
available, will probably come to the court for a short while, but will not stay
for the whole match. The umpire will
however keep an eye on the court and return as time permits. NOTE:
A parent may not become involved in line call disputes or request a line
judge for his or her child. 9.
May I coach my child during a match?
Before a match starts, a
parent or a coach may coach a player. However,
once the player walks on the court, a player may not be coached by anyone except
during the ten-minute break prior to the start of the third set when players
split the first two sets. For the 18
& under division, there is no break if players split sets (therefore,
coaching cannot occur once the match has started).
Also, no coaching is permitted between sets in matches in which there is
a tie-break in lieu of the third set. Players who receive coaching
during the match (other than between the second and third set) will be subject
to penalty under the Point Penalty System (PPS).
10.
What is the "Point Penalty System" and "Suspension Point
System?" The Point Penalty System
(PPS) is a system designed to deter unsportsmanship like conduct, ensure
compliance with the "continuous play" rule, and ensure on-time
appearance for matches. Its use is
mandatory in USTA sanctioned tournaments. A
first offense results in the loss of a point, a second in the loss of a game,
and a third in the default of the match. There
is no warning given. The Suspension Point System
(SPS) is a system designed to regulate player conduct at the USTA/Midwest
Section and National levels. If a
player receives too many penalty points within a 12-month period, he or she can
be suspended from sanctioned tournament play. For
more information on PPS and SPS, please check the USTA/ I.
OPEN AND CLOSED TOURNAMENTS AT THE LOCAL AREA AND DISTRICT LEVELS
1.
What is meant by "'open" and "closed" tournaments? An open tournament is
one that is open to any USTA member as long as they meet the age and gender
requirements for that tournament. A
"closed" tournament means that there are entry restrictions, such as
residency requirements, endorsement from lower level events, etc. 2.
What is the "closed" GCTA Area Qualifier? The Area Qualifier is one of
only a few closed junior tournaments in the Greater Columbus area.
This tournament is the one that determines which players from Entry forms for the GCTA
Area Qualifier are available at area indoor tennis clubs and other tennis
facilities beginning in late March or early April.
Entry forms are also mailed to all those who participated in the previous
years Qualifier. 3.
What is the closed OVTA District Qualifier? The District Qualifier
brings together the top players from each of the ten areas of the OVTA.
The top 16 players from each event qualify for the USTA/Midwest Closed
Junior Championships. 4.
How does one qualify for the closed OVTA District Qualifier? Players must live within
the boundaries of the OVTA. Players must Play and
Complete the Area Qualifier for their area.
Players must finish in
the top 14 of the Area Qualifier, thus qualifying for the District Qualifier a
member of the Areas quota. Players must be
endorsed" by the Area's endorser. This
means that the player has received approval from the Area (GCTA) to represent
the Area at the District Qualifier. The
GCTAs current quota is 14 players. The
quota is determined by the OVTA based upon the number of Junior USTA members
living with the Endorsers typically also
submit additional names as alternates should a quota player be unable to play. Players may seek
endorsement in only one area. The
area is usually the one in which their parents reside. 5.
Do all tournaments have seeds? While there is no
requirement that every tournament have seeds, most elimination type tournaments,
as distinguished from round robin competitions, use seeds as a means of ensuring
that the strongest players do not play against one another in the early rounds.
Seed are determined by the Tournament Committee.
The Committee may seed players to a maximum ration of one seed for every
four players or major fraction thereof. (However,
even the smallest tournament may have one or two seeds.) 6.
Why is there so much emphasis on the Area Qualifier (and the District Qualifier
covered in the next section)? These tournaments are part
of the circuit (GCTA, OVTA, J. OPEN AND
CLOSED TOURNAMENTS AT THE USTA/ 1.
What is meant by "open" and "closed" tournaments at the An open tournament is
one that is open to any USTA member as long as they meet the age and gender
requirements for that tournament. A
"closed" tournament means that there are entry restrictions, such as
residency requirements, endorsement from lower level events, etc. 2.
How can one gain entry to the USTA/ To gain entry to the USTA/Midwest
Section Closed Outdoor Junior Championships, players must meet the following
requirements: Players must live within
the boundaries of the USTA/Midwest Section. Players must have been
endorsed by the District's (OVTA) Endorser. This means that players must play in
the tournament designated by the district (OVTA) as the one used for endorsement
purposes and meet the "qualifying requirements" of that tournament.
In the OVTA, that tournament is known as the OVTA Midwest Qualifier, held
in early June. The Midwest Closed
Outdoor Junior Championship, the OVTA Midwest Qualifier and the GCTA (Columbus)
Area Qualifier are open to citizens of the Players may seek
endorsement in only one district. The
district is usually the one in which their parent or parents reside. The USTA/Midwest
Section has established residency boundaries by districts, and a player's
district will be where the player's domicile is located. (Domicile
is defined as the bona fide, true and permanent home of the player's parents,
custodial parent or the player's legal guardian.) The
player may apply for endorsement in the USTA/Midwest Section only if he or she
has not applied for endorsement in another section. Players must play in the
same age division in the USTA/Midwest Section Closed Outdoor Junior
Championships as they intend to play in the USTA Super National Championships. To be admitted into the
USTA/Midwest Outdoor Closed Championships, players must be endorsed as part of
their district's quotas of entries. This quota is determined by the USTA/Midwest
Section based on the percentage of USTA/Midwest Section Junior memberships in
the USTA who reside in the district. Currently,
the OVTA quota for each age group and gender is 16 players.
For example, 16 girls are endorsed to the USTA/Midwest Outdoor Closed
Championships for Girls 12 & Under, and 16 boys are endorsed to the USTA/Midwest
Outdoor Closed Championships for Boys 12 & Under. Endorsed players will
receive their entry applications directly to the USTA/Midwest Outdoor Closed
Championships from the District Endorser, which will include the tournament
identification (ID) number. After
receiving the tournament ID number, endorsed players must enter on-line using
the USTAs TennisLink system. After
registering by TennisLink, players must complete the official tournament
application form and return it with one copy of their current player record to
the District Endorser for their inspection signature. Player
record forms may be found in the back of the USTA/ The District Endorser
will send the entry forms to the USTA/Midwest Section office prior to the
application deadline. District
Endorsers will also submit an ordered list of alternates to the USTA/Midwest
Section office. This endorsed list
of alternates will be used to fill available spots if district players withdraw
from the quota prior to the making of the draw.
Specific details about the district's quota procedures should be directed
to the appropriate District Endorser and/or District Executive Director. All endorsed district
alternates will be considered for entry into the USTA/Midwest Outdoor Closed
Championships. The remaining
positions in the draw will be filled from the alternate lists according to
strength of players records as determined by the Tournament Committee. The records of district
alternates will be compared so that the strongest players will be accepted into
the draw regardless of their district affiliation or district order. After
the available positions are filled, the remaining alternates will be placed on a
stand-by list in order of strength. A
Sectional Endorser's decisions are final. 3.
Do we need to bring anything special if we attend the Yes. Be sure to bring a
valid credit card so that you can pay for your child's entry fees for the USTA
Super National Hard Court Championships and the USTA Super National Clay Court
Championships should he or she qualify for these events.
Also be sure to bring at least three copies of your child's current,
updated player record. Player record
forms may be found at the back of the OVTA
or USTA/ 4.
If my child is not endorsed to the USTA/ Yes.
A player is not required to be endorsed to the USTA/Midwest Section Open
Junior Championships. Each player is
responsible to enter through the TennisLink registration system (www.usta.com). Draws
may be limited based upon a players player record and ranking.
5.
How can one gain entry into the national tournaments? Because the entry procedures can vary depending on the tournament, please consult the National Junior Tournament Schedule available from the USTA/Midwest Office or the USTA website for detailed information. K. GENERAL
RANKING AND SEEDING INFORMATION 1.
What tournaments are used in determining rankings at the GCTA (Area), OVTA
(District), State, and Junior Masters Circuit and
Junior Challenger Circuit tournaments are used. Satellite
(Novice) Tournaments and NTRP Tournaments are not used for ranking purposes. 2.
Can a player achieve a ranking in more than one age group of competitive play?
Absolutely. As
long as a player is eligible to play in an age group and he or she Plays and
Completes the required number of tournaments for that age group, he or she
may achieve a ranking in more than one age group.
3.
What is meant by the phrase "Play and Complete?" To "Play and
Complete" a tournament means that all scheduled matches (including any
consolation or playoff matches) in a tournament are started, and none end in a
Default. Defaults include: Not showing up for a
match. Defaults for
unsportsmanlike conduct. Warnings which culminate
in the match being defaulted. Note: A retirement due to
injury or illness, ONCE THE MATCH HAS STARTED, is not considered a Default, and
the tournament will count toward the minimum of
five tournaments for a district or sectional ranking. If
a player does not start a match and defaults a scheduled match for any reason,
including injury, the tournament will not count toward meeting the minimum
tournament requirements for ranking consideration; however, any matches already
played up to that point will count and be entered into the computer for ranking
purposes. For example, if a player
enters an OVTA tournament with 16 players, wins the first two rounds, loses in
the semi-finals, and defaults the scheduled playoff for 3rd and 4th, the
tournament will not count as one of the five tournaments needed for a district
or sectional ranking. The matches
played, however, (2 wins, I loss) will be entered in the computer for ranking
purposes.
4.
Can a player achieve a ranking at more than one level of play, (i.e., at the
District, State, and Sectional levels) in the same age group? Absolutely. As
long as a player is eligible to play and "Plays and Completes" the
required number of tournaments for the level of play, he or she may achieve a
ranking at more than one level of play in the same age group.
5.
On what information is a player's ranking based? Rankings are based on each
individual's competitive record for the calendar year (i.e., January through
December) in a specific age group. 6.
Do matches using "alternative scoring" methods count for ranking
purposes? It depends on the tournament
being played and the scoring method being used, but generally matches below the
Sectional championship level using either or both of the following two
"alternative scoring" methods will count for ranking purposes: Matches using No-Ad
scoring in 2 out of 3 sets. Matches using a
"match" tie-break or Super Tie-Break in lieu of a third set (effective
1999). The pro set format of play
is not allowed under USTA regulations in a regularly scheduled sanctioned event.
7.
I understand that a computer program is used to determine OVTA and The "Safire
Ranking" program, which has been approved by the USTA/Midwest Section, is
currently used by Each match that a player
plays is considered in comparison with the matches played by all other players
in each age group and division. Points are awarded on 3 levels: Head to head
competition. Indirect wins and losses
(i.e., players with common opponents).* Having never met and
have no common opponents, points are assigned in a "performance
range." Each player's
performance range consists of all players ranked between them and their best
win. If the two ranges do not
overlap, then the player with the higher range receives both ranking points;
otherwise, the ranking points are awarded based on a comparison of each player's
wins and losses over the range.
8.
Do all tournaments have seeds? While there is no
requirement that every tournament have seeds, most tournaments of the
elimination type, as distinguished from round-robin competitions, do use seeds
as a means of ensuring that the strongest players do not play against one
another in the early rounds.
9.
What is a seeding list? A seeding list is a
tentative strength listing of players within a particular age group and gender. It
is based on tournaments played by those players who have played tournaments,
regardless of how many tournaments have been played by an individual. Both
the OVTA and the USTA/Midwest Section maintain frequently updated seeding lists.
10.
Are seeding lists posted anywhere? Yes. The Midwest Section
calculates and publishes both Section and District seeding lists on its internet
webpage (www.ustamidwestsection.com). The
posted seeding lists contain the previous 12 months of play, and combine results
from all matches played, regardless of age group. NOTE: Seeding lists are not
ranking lists, as ranking eligibility requirements are more stringent.
Rankings are currently calculated only at the end of the calendar year. * Definition of common
opponent: Any player who appears in player A's win list and player B's loss list
or vice versa. Opponents over whom both players have only wins or to whom both
players have only losses are excluded. 11.
Who determines who is seeded in a tournament? The tournament committee, in
conjunction with the referee, shall make the seeds for the tournament.
Seeds are based upon ranking lists, seeding lists, player records, etc. 12.
How does the selection process for seeds work in a tournament? The Tournament Committee may
seed players to a maximum ratio of one seed for every four players. Seeds
for the tournament are listed on the draw sheet.
Seeds merely represent the committee's subjective ratings of the various
players' chances of winning the tournament, using all available data, including
ranking lists, seeding lists, and player records. These
ratings may not be based on whim, caprice, or "hunches," but instead
must be justified by a reasonable amount of factual evidence. The
Committee should consider all available evidence, including, but not limited to,
rankings, current records, types of surfaces and particularly head-to-head
encounters. 13.
What is block seeding? Block seeding is a form of seeding that is authorized in sectional championships and below. With block seeding, outstanding entrants are selected to "stand out" in the quartet-finals or the round of 16 of a tournament, while the rest of the entrants play to enter the quarterfinal round or the round of 16. Some advantages of block seeding are that more players are eligible for a tournament and weaker players do not have to meet strong players in the early rounds of a tournament. L.
OVTA RANKING INFORMATION 1.
What requirements are there to achieve a Junior ranking in the OVTA? In order to qualify for
consideration for a OVTA ranking, a player must: Be a permanent resident
of the OVTA District Be a current USTA member
at the close of the year. Physically play in the
tournaments for ranking. All wins
and losses, whether by actual play or retirement (due to illness or injury)
count for ranking purposes if a player plays in any part of a tournament.
Any tournament not completed for any reason other than a retirement
(including scheduled consolations or playoffs) will not count toward the minimum
tournament requirements for ranking consideration.
Tournament wins and losses occurring in matches outside the age group
being evaluated are not counted for ranking. It
is the responsibility of all players to review his or her record on-line at
www.ustamidwestsection.com, and to fax any corrections to the USTA/Midwest
Section office (fax: 317/577-5131)
prior to
2.
Can the final computer OVTA rankings be protested? No. That is why it is
important to submit corrections to the request for verification described in the
previous answer. 4.
How do I get a doubles ranking? Doubles teams who compete in
the OVTA District Qualifying Tournament will qualify for an OVTA doubles
ranking. The winning team and
runner-up will be ranked. Other
doubles teams who wish to be ranked must submit a complete team record to the
OVTA office by M.
USTA/ 1.
What requirements are there to achieve a In order to be eligible for
consideration for an official USTA/Midwest Section Junior singles ranking, a
player must Play and Complete a minimum of five USTA sanctioned tournaments, in
the age division being ranked, including at least one of the following: USTA/ USTA/ USTA/ See the USTA Midwest Section
website for more information. 2.
What are the requirements to achieve a Sectional doubles ranking? In order to be eligible for
consideration for an official USTA/Midwest Section Junior doubles ranking, a
player must Play and Complete a minimum of three USTA-sanctioned tournaments
(played with the same partner) in the age division being ranked, which
tournaments must include either: The Three (3) USTA/Midwest
Section tournaments in at least two different districts.
See the USTA Midwest Section
web site for more information. 3.
To be considered for a Midwest ranking, should my child submit his or her
tournament record to the The answer is "No"
for singles and "Yes" for doubles. Singles results are entered
into the computer directly from draw sheets posted on the internet or sent to
the USTA/ N.
NATIONAL RANKING INFORMATION 1.
What are the requirements for National rankings? On O.
ZONALS, JUNIOR 1.
What are the USTA Zone Team Championships (Zonals)? The USTA Zone Team
Championships, known as the Zonals, are non-elimination team events providing
intersectional competition for players selected to the Zonal teams. The USTA/Midwest
Section usually endorses a total of 80 players in the 12s (eight five-member
boys' teams and eight five-member girls' teams); a total of 60 players in the
14s (six five-member boys' teams and six five-member girls teams); and a
total of 90 players in the 16s (nine five-member boys teams and nine
five-member girls' teams). Players
may be endorsed to ANY and/or ALL USTA Zone Team Championships if they meet the
endorsement requirements. The emphasis of the team
events is on a combination of competition and development; limited coaching by
designated coaches during play will be permitted. Team
matches include singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. Instructional,
informational and social activities are an important part of the USTA Zone Team
Championships. The primary goal of
the USTA Zone Team Championships is to build a strong foundation for success in
later years by introducing the players to national competition in a less
stressful format. To be considered for
endorsement, each player must apply through the TennisLink registration system
(www.usta.com) by
2.
What are Junior These are round robin team
competitions in which top juniors from our Area (GCTA) and District (USTA/ OVTA Competition: P.
LOCAL EXCELLENCE TRAINING PROGRAMS AND USTA HIGH PERFORMANCE COMPETITIVE
TRAINING CENTERS 1.
How are Junior development programs organized? What
are Local Excellence Training programs? Local Excellence Training
("LET") aims to provide a comprehensive training and development
system at the local level that is accessible to every interested player.
Youngsters seeking to pursue the competitive ranks of tennis can look to
LET as their primary source of tennis training. Most
clubs have their own junior excellence programs; contact the clubs for more
information.
2.
What are High Performance Competitive Training Centers (Area Training Centers)?
The High Performance
Competitive Training Centers are part of a USTA Program that began in 1987 as
part of a plan for nurturing young talent. This
intensive tournament training consists of 50 hours of on and off court
instruction spread over four weekends between October and June. In
the Q.
HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS 1.
Why should my child play high school tennis? High School tennis is a
great way for your child to become involved in sports at the high school level.
Most schools in the
2.
What does it take to be on a high school tennis team? Teams vary in ability. Some
teams are composed of experienced tennis players, some are composed of novice
players, and some are a mix. To play
on a team the student should have some knowledge of tennis rules and how to play
the game. In most cases experience
and skill are important, but most schools have both varsity and junior varsity
teams and a junior varsity team is a great way to be involved with a school team
and to improve skills. Placement on
a team is up to the coach.
3.
How are the players picked for a team and can everyone who wants to play make
the team? This answer varies by school
and is ultimately up to the coach. During
the first few weeks of practice, challenge matches may be played and set by the
coach to help determine where the players belong and their styles of play. The
coach may take the top
4.
Does my child have to be a top-ranked player to participate in high school
tennis? The make up of a high school
tennis team depends on who is participating on the team from the school. Many of
the top high school teams in the
5.
Are the high schools divided into different conferences/divisions? Yes. Each school is in a
conference made up of schools of like size. This
is usually the conference that the schools belong to in all sports that it
plays. The Ohio High School Athletic
Association (OHSAA) divides schools into two divisions in sectional, district
and state tournaments
Division I and Division II.
These levels are not related to the USTA groupings.
6.
When is the high school tennis season? The OHSAA determines the
high school season. In 7.
How many matches are played in high school tennis? Each team may play no more
than 20 matches during the regular season. In
8.
Who/what governs high school tennis?
The Ohio High School
Athletic Association (OHSAA) governs tennis at the high school level. This
organization dictates when practices can begin, academic and health
requirements, and the number of matches a school can play during the season.
9.
What is the composition of a high school tennis team? Each team is composed of
three singles and two doubles teams. The
singles and doubles must be played in order of strength. 10.
I keep hearing about high school state championships; how do players get to that
level? At the end of every season
are the team and individual state tournaments and for many schools their
conference tournaments. Teams field
three singles and two doubles teams. These
positions are placed in a draw by the coaches at the local (sectional) level. The
winning individuals and doubles teams progress to the next (district) level and
then to the state level within their divisions. 11.
Should my child take private tennis lessons or some other form of tennis
instruction? While it is not necessary to
take private or group lessons, it would be in the best interest of the child if
he/she wants to advance and succeed at the highest levels of high school tennis.
Most of the higher-level players do have their own coaches. There
are many coaches in the R.
PREPARING THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT-ATHLETE FOR COLLEGE TENNIS Excerpted from a piece
written by Eric Toth, Assistant Men's/Womens Coach,
1.
How will I know if I am ready for college tennis? To be ready to compete in a
solid collegiate program, tennis should have been your number one sport, played
year-round, during your junior high and high school years. Obviously,
the higher quality player you are, the more opportunities will be available to
you. Merely playing for your high
school team and working on your tennis for only two or three months out of the
year will not show a college coach that you have made the commitment necessary
to compete at the collegiate level. There
have been unique situations where an incoming college freshman has been a two or
even three sport athlete in high school, and had no problems playing college
tennis. But the great majority of
those who will compete successfully at the collegiate level will be those who
have made a special commitment to the sport during the juniors.
2.
How much weight should I give to the tennis program in deciding on a college?
Although the truly
exceptional young tennis player may be able to jump from high school right to
the professional circuit (such as Andy Roddick or Jennifer Capriati), the vast
majority of the top Junior tennis players will enhance their careers via
collegiate tennis. In making this
transition, the incoming freshman is expected to be a student first, an athlete
second. Thus, a high school senior
should base his/her college decision on the school first, the tennis program
second. Tennis should be considered
a fringe benefit, adding to one's college total experience.
Think of it this way: If during the first weeks of college, you suffer a
career-ending injury, you should still be very comfortable that you have made
the right choice from a school perspective.
During a student-athlete's early high school years, information (such as
school size, rosters and schedules) can be drawn from a particular schools
website. The USTA publishes annually
a book, The College Guide to Tennis,
which lists all school that offer tennis and information about their tennis
programs. 3.
How important are my junior rankings in determining which college will recruit
me? A high-caliber collegiate
program will look for a high nationally or sectionally (i.e., 4.
How much time will college tennis demand? In order to successfully
compete in college one must love tennis and be ready for a major time
commitment. A basic menu for a daily
tennis routine in season would be class, practice, conditioning, strength
training, possibly a night class, and studying to end the day.
A collegiate athlete must be able to balance two full-time jobs: first,
the student and second, the athlete. An
individual must take each role seriously in order to succeed. An
athlete who has no interest in studying will not survive the demanding course
work. An athlete who has little love
for tennis or doesn't care to improve on the court will find that college tennis
is not very fun. There is daily
practice and weekend travel during the season.
This takes up much of one's free time. But
this doesn't even compare to the upside college tennis promotes.
Being able to represent a college or university by playing a sport and
being a part of a team is a privilege. A
successful student-athlete upon graduation will look very attractive to any
future employer. Commitment is the one word that sums up what will determine
one's success. 5.
How do college tennis programs differ in terms of quality of play? College tennis consists of
five major divisions. The NCAA
(National Collegiate Athletic Association) sponsors collegiate tennis at the
Division I, II and III levels. These
are all at four-year institutions. The
difference in levels is usually based on the size of the schools and the
commitment a particular college has towards athletics. As
far as the level of tennis goes, Division I is viewed as the strongest.
Divisions II and III are also very competitive, but they do not have the
depth of talented players that a Division I school would have.
A low sectional or district ranked player could possibly compete at these
levels. Additionally, the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate
Athletes) sponsors collegiate tennis at the Division I and II levels. NAIA
schools are also four-year colleges or universities, but are smaller in size and
probably lesser known. Many of these
schools are located in the southern part of the country. The level of play would
be compatible to a NCAA Division II or III school.
Finally, there are junior colleges at the Division I and II level. These
colleges are two-year institutions reserved for student-athletes that are not as
equipped academically. Spending two
years at a junior college will hopefully prepare the student-athlete to graduate
from a four-year college or university. 6.
Which level is best for me? The student-athlete will
likely thrive best in a school where the experience in the classroom and the
competition on the court (in that order) are both challenging and enjoyable. The
size of the school is also a factor. As
mentioned earlier, NCAA Division I schools tend to be larger in enrollment
compared to the other divisions. A
high school student looking for a smaller school should probably look at a
low-enrollment Division I school or a Division II or III school. One's
feelings toward a particular coach and one's comfort level with future teammates
are also important, but when deciding where to go to college and play tennis,
academic quality and fit should remain the top considerations. 7.
What is the first step in applying to a Division I or Division II program?
The first step for any high
school student wishing to play tennis for a Division I or II school is to apply
to the NCAA clearinghouse. The NCAA
clearinghouse is the entity which determines freshman eligibility;
student-athletes must apply between the end of their junior year and the
beginning of their senior year. Students
can apply three ways: Visit your high school
guidance counselor's office Log onto ncaa.com Contact the admissions
office of the college or university of interest. The student-athlete's SAT or
ACT college entrance exam and core high school GPA determines eligibility. All
student-athletes must acquire minimum scores (check with your high school
guidance counselor for these minimums). The
student-athlete's own high school determines the core GPA credits to be used for
eligibility. 8.
After I apply, when can I expect to be contacted? The primary recruitment of a
high school student-athlete begins July 1 after the student's junior year in
high school. It is at this time a
coach may contact a prospect either face to face or by phone. Prior
to this time the student-athlete or parent may contact a coach as often as they
choose. Tapes of match play or
practice are helpful to show your ability to an interested coach. References
can also be helpful. Please note
that a coach cannot even return a phone call prior to July 1 between a
prospect's junior and senior year. The
student-athlete or parent would have to directly contact the coach prior to this
time. 10.
When can I visit the school? Visits should commence once
a student-athlete selects the schools which interest him/her. In
some cases, the school will pay for the visit. This
is considered an "official" visit. An
official visit occurs when the school is hosting the prospect, paying for all or
a part of the student-athlete's accommodations while visiting. One
is entitled to five of these official visits, one to each of five different
schools. However,
"unofficial" visits can occur any time. An
unofficial visit implies that none of a prospect's accommodations are paid for
by a school. Prospects may
unofficially visit a school as many times as they wish. But be careful: if
a coach or other university employee pays for even a single soft drink for a
prospect, that visit is considered official. Any other questions
concerning recruitment should be directed towards your high school athletic
director or compliance director at the college you are considering. 11.
Are scholarships available? Scholarship budgets vary
from school to school, but few student-athletes will come out of high school
earning a full athletic grant-in-aid. Therefore,
it is important to look into other alternatives. A
student-athlete who has done well academically and performed well on either of
the college entrance exams (SAT or ACT) may qualify for an academic grant. A
student who has been involved in many activities outside of athletics may
qualify for aid through a leadership grant. Parents
may also fill out financial aid forms that may bring some assistance. By
conversing with your high school guidance counselor you may learn of other forms
of financial assistance. Often, an attractive
scholarship package can be offered to the student-athlete using a variety of
grant sources. NCAA Division I and
II schools, junior colleges and NAIA schools all offer athletic support and
academic and leadership grants. NCAA Division III schools do not offer athletic
grants. If your child is looking
into a Division III school, the only scholarship money that can be awarded is
through academic or leadership grants. 12.
Do I have to sign a national letter of intent? A national letter of intent
is signed only if the student-athlete is receiving an athletic grant-in-aid.
The two main signing months are November and April. Although
there are some exceptions, a school will hold a student-athlete to a one-year
residence once the national letter of intent has been signed.
A student can transfer after this year. 13.
When does the college tennis season begin? It will depend on which
division your school plays. The
season begins early at a Division I school with a fall schedule of preseason
tournaments aimed at the development of the individual player. The
fall season generally runs from September through early November. The
winter/spring season begins in early January and runs into mid-to late-April.
This season focuses on the team aspect of college tennis via dual matches
against individual schools. A team
on average plays between 20-25 dual matches which count towards the team's final
record. The time off between fall
and winter seasons is often dedicated towards strength and conditioning. As
stressed earlier, once you mix the academics with the tennis, the great time
commitment of the student-athlete should be apparent. NCAA
Division II or III schools, NAIA Division I or II schools, and Junior College
schools usually play a scaled-down version of this schedule. All
of these levels have their own championships, similar to Division I, but the
regular season is probably not as time demanding. Any
questions concerning this matter should be forwarded to a particular school's
tennis website.
14.
How are college matches organized? A dual match against another
team consists of six singles matches and three doubles matches. The
same singles starters can play in the doubles line-up (but it can also be made
up of players not in this singles line-up). The
match begins with the three doubles matches played in order of strength. An
eight-game pro set is played on each court.
The team winning at least two of the matches (or all three matches), is
awarded one point counting towards the final score. Ten
minutes after the completion of the doubles, the six singles matches are played.
These matches are the best two out
of three tie-break sets. One point
is awarded to a team for each match won. The
total number of points awarded in a college tennis match is seven. In order to
win, a team must earn at least four points. The
focus of most school programs are these conference matches. Large-school
conferences with an abundance of athletic money often play a full conference
schedule (dual matches against every team in the conference). Smaller-school
conferences with less athletic money or conferences that are spread out over a
large area may not play a full conference schedule. Again,
check the school's tennis web-site for schedules. 15.
What about conference tournaments? Each season ends with
conference tournaments. A dual-match elimination tournament format is played
with the winner earning an automatic berth into the season ending NCAA
Championships. Similar to college
basketball, 64 teams are selected to the NCAA tennis tournament. About
half of the teams selected are conference tournament champions, with the other
half being at-large selections by the NCAA committee. April
and May are the most exciting months of the season. The NCAA team tournaments
are held the following week. The top
64 players and top 32 doubles teams are selected to compete in this championship
based on their performance during the course of the year. In
NCAA Division I (and all other levels) a team champion, an individual singles
champion and an individual doubles champion are crowned. 16.
Will playing college tennis add significant out-of-pocket costs? Most college tennis programs
pay for travel expenses (including meals), uniforms, and equipment (although
possibly not rackets). A student's
out-of-pocket costs attributable to tennis are usually minimal. Good luck in finding the
right college to thrive both academically and athletically! If you have any
questions about college programs in S.
TENNIS ORGANIZATIONS 1.
What tennis organizations govern play in the Greater The United States Tennis
Association (USTA) is the national governing body for tennis in the USTA membership supports
the game and development of new players Member perks at top Discounts on USTA
merchandise Special travel packages Subscription to Tennis
Magazine USTA/
OVTA
(www.ustamidwestohiovalley.com):
The Ohio Valley Tennis Association (OVTA) is one of the 14 districts that
are part of the USTA/Midwest Section. The
OVTA is broken down into 10 areas in the southern half of
GCTA
(www.gcta.net): GCTA is one of the areas of
the OVTA and includes the counties of 2.
Do teaching professionals have their own organizations? There are two professional
associations which provide certification for teaching professionals. If
tennis professionals are serious about their profession they will be certified. USPTA
- The United States Professional Tennis Association is the world's oldest and
largest association of tennis-teaching professionals.
With more than 12,500 members worldwide, USPTA strives to raise the
standards of the tennis profession while promoting greater awareness of the
sport. The association offers more than 30 professional benefits for its
members, including certification and extensive educational opportunities. Pros are rated at the
following levels (which require written and on court tests): Master Professional
This is the highest level of USPTA certification.
Such designation is award to those showing an exceptional knowledge and
commitment to the game of tennis and the tennis teaching profession.
Professional 1 Must
be 22 years of age or older and must have three years of full-time teaching
experience. Professional 2 Must
be 18 years of age or older and must have three years of teaching experience. Professional 3 Must
be 18 years of age or older and must have three years of teaching experience. Instructor An
"instructor" must be 18 years of age or older and once certified must
remain at this level for at least one year. Developmental Coach
Designed for people who may already be teaching tennis as high school
coaches, at recreational facilities or in other part-time situations but who
are not immediate candidates for careers as full-time teaching professionals. USPTR
The United States Professional Tennis Registry was founded by Dennis Van der
Meer in 1976. Since then, the USPTR has provided its members with numerous
benefits that assist them in "Making a World of Difference."
Their Professional: This
instructor has successfully completed all five sections (written, skills,
teaching, drills and error detection) of the USPTR certification test with a
grade of Professional on all sections. Instructor:
The Instructor has successfully completed all five sections of the USPTR
certification test with a grade of Instructor or higher on each of the sections. Associate Instructor: The
Associate Instructor has successfully completed all five sections of the USPTR
certification test with a grade of Associate Instructor or higher on each of the
sections. To find out if your
professional is certified, call the pro or club where he or she works, or you
can find listings at the USTPA (uspta.org) or USPTR websites. T.
TENNIS PUBLICATIONS AND WEBSITES 1.
If I want to learn more about tennis, where can I find additional information? There are a number of books
and videos about tennis. The United
States Tennis Association publishes a booklet that lists and describes many
publications. It is titled USTA Bookstore Catalog. Topics
covered in the publications and videos listed include Programs and Materials for Youth, Tennis for Special Populations,
Instructional Materials, Health and Conditioning, Psychology of Tennis, Sports
Science, Popular 2.
Where can I learn more about the rules of tennis? One of the best sources is Friend
at Court, also published by the USTA. This
is perhaps the most comprehensive handbook for tennis officials, tournament
directors, and players. The book is available from the USTA. Another
source is a short USTA Publication known as The Code, which also appears in Friend
at Court. For copies of Friend
at Court, you can check the web site at
www.usta.com/rules/,
or contact the USTA: USTA Publications
3.
What are some websites that contain useful information about tennis? USTA
www.usta.com
USTA/
Tournament
results, rankings, college Tennis,
and coaching tips
www.juniortennis.com
Tournament
results, draws, rankings, and
information on tournaments in progress www.tennisinformation.com
Association
of Tennis Professionals (ATP)
www.atptour.com
International
Tennis Federation (ITF)
www.itftennis.com
Womens
Tennis Association (WTA)
www.wtatour.com
US
Open
www.usopen.org U.
NO-AD SCORING, THE TIE-BREAK AND THE SUPER TIE-BREAK 1.
What is No-Ad System of scoring and when is it used? The No-Ad System of Scoring
may be adopted as an alternative to the traditional scoring system provided the
decision is announced in advance of the event. In
this case, the following Rules shall be effective: Singles If a player wins
his first point, the score is called 15 for that player; on winning his second
point, the score If
both players have won three points, the score is called deuce; one deciding
point shall then be played. The
receiver shall choose whether he wishes to receive the service from the
right-half of the court or the left-half of the court. The
player who wins the deciding point is scored the game. Doubles In doubles a
similar procedure to that for singles shall apply.
At deuce, the Receiving Team shall choose whether it wishes to receive
the Service from the right-half of the court or the left-half of the court. The
team who wins the deciding point is scored the game. 2.
What is the Set Tie-Break System of Scoring and when is it used? The set tie-break system of
scoring may be adopted as an alternative to the traditional advantage set system
provided the decision is announced in advance of the match. In
a set tie-break, the first player to reach seven points, provided she or he
leads by two points, wins the tie-breaker and the set. Singles
The following rules govern the tie-break game in a singles match: Rule i A player who
first wins seven points shall win the game and the set provided he leads by a
margin of two points. If the score reaches six points all the game shall be
extended until this margin has been achieved.
Numerical scoring shall be used throughout the tie-break game. Rule ii The player
whose turn it is to serve shall be the Server for the first point.
His opponent shall be the Server for the second and third points and
thereafter each player shall serve alternately for two consecutive points until
the winner of the game and set has been decided. Rule iii From the
first point, each service shall be delivered alternately from the right and left
courts, beginning from the right court. If service from a wrong half of the
court occurs and is undetected, all play resulting from such wrong service or
services shall stand, but the inaccuracy of station shall be corrected
immediately it is discovered. Rule iv Players
shall change ends after every six points and at the conclusion of the tie-break
game. Rule v The tie-break
game shall count as one game for the ball change, except that, if the balls are
due to be changed at the beginning of the tie-break, the change shall be delayed
until the second game of the following set. Doubles
In a doubles match, the procedure for singles shall apply.
The player whose turn it is to serve shall be the Server for the first
point . Thereafter each player shall serve in rotation for two points, in the
same order previously in that set, until the winners of the game and set have
been decided. Rotation
of Service If another set is to be
played after a tie-break game, the rotation of service proceeds as follows: The player (or pair in the
case of doubles) whose turn it was to serve first in the tie-break game shall
receive service in the first game of the following set. 3.
What is the Super Tie-Break? |
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