TD WorkshopUSTA SC Annual Meeting

December 10, 2010

Agenda• Tournament & Officials

– Liability/Injury Insurance Consideration

– Officials for Jr Tournaments• Tournament Promotions &

Marketing• Inclement Weather Policy

• One Day Tournaments• Sanction Levels• National Tournament Bids• Quickstart Initiative• Junior Tournaments

– Seeding, Rising Stars, Challenger Circuit

• Open Discussion

Tournament: Officials• Referee’s Duties

• Liability/Insurance Consideration

• Officials Items

What Makes A Good Tournament

Great?

Tournament Planning• Planning and marketing• Keeping Website updated – BIG ONE!• Smart scheduling. • Posting draws and times on-line.• Time between matches• Scheduling out of town players.• Organized referee to avoid delays• Number of participants, deep draws, • Appropriate seeding. • Easy access to club and sites. Good directions

to alternate sites

Tournament Execution • Posting draws clearly and keeping updated• Post results on line at end of day• 3 full sets (if possible)• Place for players to rest + families to watch.• Meal. Coffee, snacks and goodies. Gatorades.• Available beer truck, Social / Player Party.• Directions to local restaurants and attractions.• Consolation (if court availability) • 2 match guarantee (if no consolation)• Reasonable entry fees

Facilities• Facilities available with ice, water,

clean bathrooms, • Courts in good shape • Clean throughout• Shaded area to rest in/watch

matches• Beverages available for purchase

One Day Tournaments

• Can be sanctioned any time

• Smaller draws

• Short set scoring

• Good intro to tournaments

• Easy event-themed tournaments

• $25 max entry fee for one event $5 for second event

Level Requirements

• What is a Level I, Level II, Level III…?

• Won’t apply till 2012

• Created after comparison with other states

• Comments on requirements

National Tournament Bids

• This is your chance to host a National Tournament

• Don’t require large facilities

• Deadline to apply Feb 1. DON’T WAIT!

• It’s a point of emphasis for the board, – You’ll have powerful friends lobbying for you

Emphasized Sanction Elements• Site Audits• Checking web pages• Player survey• Referees in uniform

• Looking for good items to share• Bad tournaments hurt everyone• Help combat perceived value gap

Tournament Marketing

• Email Communication Sheet– Great way to reach players from last year’s tournament,

invite them to play again• Label Distribution Policy

– Contact USTA SC– Great tool for sending upcoming tournament flyers

based on the area that you live in, divisions played • Tournament Promotions Package

Inclement Weather Policy

• Referees have the following options—Player safety is the top priority!1.) Use no-ad scoring2.) Tie break in lieu of 3rd set3.) Cancel consolation of singles and/or doubles4.) Cancel doubles main draw (only after cons. canceled)5.) Reschedule the tournament (committee approval req.)6.) Cancel the tournament (coordinate with USTA SC or STA)

• Use of short sets must be approved by USTA SC Competition Dept.

SC L4 Tournaments• Level 4 SC Tournament

– UPDATE: Top 10 of 12-16s age divisions are eligible but must play up

– 3 matches minimum suggested (1 dbls, 2 singles)– Awards must be given for winners and finalists for

Singles and Doubles– Entry fee capped at $40

Junior Tournament Seeding• State Level 3 & 4 Tournaments Seeding Criteria:

– Computerized seeding shall be done using only the most recently published USTA SC Combined Standings Lists list prior to the entry deadline with the following caveats:

– Players who have a standing in the next younger age division may be seeded in any group of seeds if they are in the top 15 of the most recently published USTA SC Combined Standings Lists or up to 50 of the most recently published USTA Southern Combined Standing Lists of any younger age division.

– Players with a Southern/Sectional Standing in the top 300 – may be given consideration for seeding.

– Players with a National Standing in the top 400 – may be given consideration for seeding.

• Doubles Seeding Criteria-State Championships, SC L3, and SC L4 Tournaments– Teams shall be seeded in the order of their combined standings (e.g., Player A holds the #1

standing and Player B holds the #10 standing. The Team of A & B would have a combined standing of 11.) Teams that have the same combined standing shall be seeded in the order of the total number of Ranking points held by each team.

– Player with current top 50 USTA Southern standing may be considered for seeding.

2011 Changes• Junior Tournaments

– 10 & U Quickstart Court Requirement• All tournaments offering 10 & under age division must be

played on 60’ court with orange low compression balls and a racquet no larger than 25”

• Level 4 Tournaments– Players in top 10 of 12-18s must play up in the

tournament

What is quickstart tennis?A format of play for kids 10 & under to learn and play the game with 6 key variables

• Age• Court Size• Racquet Size• Ball• Net Height• Scoring System

The Play Component - Integrate into existing programs

• Team based play• Tournaments• Lesson based programs• Casual play

quickstart tennis video-Navratilova & Fernandez

36’ quickstart courts

•36’ Courts are for ages 8 & under

•Short set scoring format-best of three games, first to seven wins the game, 2 games wins the match (20 minutes)

•Foam (red) balls are used for this age group

60’ quickstart courts

•60’ courts will be used by 10 & Under players

•Short sets are still used, but best of three sets are used—first to win 4 games wins the set; 7 point tiebreaker (sudden death at 6-6)is used for the 3rd set

•Low compression balls are used (orange)

Running a Successful 10 and Under Event

Scheduling Considerations•Level of Event•Number of 60’ Courts - permanently lined and temporary•Availability of Courts - consideration of 12-18s draws•Draw Size - Open or limited draw•Format - Draw and Scoring (SC L5)•1/2 Day, 1 Full Day, more than 1 Day•Girls and Boys Separate or Together•Scheduled Time or Blocks of Time

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USTA SC Level 3 or 4 eventOption 1 - Traditional Format: Play Boys and Girls

at Same Time with Advance Match Times

Scenario #1: 1 Court for every 4 players. Average of 2 players play, 2 sit out.Match times every 45 minutes, guarantee 3 matches.

20 kids (10 boys and 10 girls), 5 courts are needed.32 kids (16 boys and 16 girls), 8 courts are needed.

•Player plays either 9:00/9:45, 10:30/11:15, and 12:00/12:45, win or lose. •For 4 matches, there would be 1:30 and 2:15 matches, finish approx. 3:30 p.m.•Total Elapsed Time: 6.5 Hours

Scenario #2: 1 Court for every 6 players - Average of 2 players play, 4 sit out.Match times every 45 minutes, guarantee 3 matches•Player plays either 9:00/9:45/10:30, 11:15/12:00/12:45, and 1:30/2:15/3:00. •For 4 matches, there would be 3:45/4:30/5:15 matches, finish approx. 6:30 •Total Elapsed Time: 9.5 Hours

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Option 2 - Play Girls and Boys at Separate Times with less rest time.

Scenario #1: 1 Court for ever 4 Players. 20 kids (10 boys and 10 girls), 5 courts available, only 3 courts are needed.32 kids (16 boys and 16 girls), 8 courts available, only 4 needed.

•Average match is 35 minutes. Play one round, rest one round.•Some courts will remain open after 1st round.•4 rounds played, 1 Hour 10 minutes per round. •Total Elapsed Time: 4 hours 40 minutes

Girls: 9:00 a.m. -1:30 p.m.Boys: 1:30-6:00 p.m.Note: overlap boys and girls since some courts will open early

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Option 2 - Play Girls and Boys at Separate Times with less rest time. (continued)

Scenario #2: 1 Court for every 6 players18 players (9 boys and 9 girls), 3 courts available, only 2 needed30 courts (15 boys and 15 girls), 5 courts available, only 4 needed.

•9 players - 8 kids playing, one is out. •Play a round, rest a round.•Draw finished with 3 rounds. •Average match is 35 minutes. 1 hour 10 min per round. Total of 3.5 hours to finish (except finals)•Girls 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. and Boys 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

•15 players - 14 play, one is out. 4 rounds to play•1 hour 10 min per round. Total of 4 hours 40 min. to finish.•Girls 9:00 a.m. -1:30 p.m. and Boys 1:30-6:00 p.m.

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What Does This Mean?• For draws of 8, you only need 2 courts.• For draws of 16, you only need 4 courts.• If your draw is 16 or less you can finish in one day.• For draws of 32, you need two days. • For 16 draws with 4 courts, you can split Girls and Boys

into 1/2 days.• Sunday can be used for rain.• Product is Good, Parents are Happy!!

QUESTIONS??