tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10016685.post219549517506353538..comments2024-03-26T09:23:26.937-04:00Comments on ZooTennis: Update on USTA Junior Sectionals, with Southern, SoCal Now in Late July; ITA Commits to Summer Circuit; Division III ITA Regional Winners AnnouncedColette Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14905215531491180014noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10016685.post-45153551970947282452020-05-20T23:39:35.900-04:002020-05-20T23:39:35.900-04:00I think the USTA has got to get back to basics fir...I think the USTA has got to get back to basics first. Local tournaments. It used to be that juniors played locals for a longer time, then started traveling to sectionals, etc. These days as soon as a kid gets some ranking points they stop playing local and start to travel. The USTA should start with baby steps, local tournaments so players do not have to travel. We are in Florida, it would be a lot easier to have 3-4 local tournaments each weekend in SE. Florida, 1-2 in SW Florida, 1 in Central, 1 each in NE, NW. Other areas around the US should do the same.<br /><br />Start small and encourage kids to compete locally again. Work out the safety protocols. Sectionals and nationals should be cancelled for 2020, the standings have been frozen for so long, might as well play locals and readjust to more recent standings. Use locals to work out the system, then bring back travel tournaments next year.<br /><br />ITF juniors is a more difficult situation with all the travel required. I would think ITF juniors would cancel 2020 and let juniors play in their own country for a while.<br /><br />We also need to see if the predicted large 2nd wave actually happens this fall and winter. Makes no sense to schedule travel tournaments for October-December when we have no idea if we will be in the midst of a 2nd wave.Jon Kingnoreply@blogger.com