Orange Bowl Remains in Plantation for 2020; NCAA Approves Division I Eligibility Extension for All Spring Athletes; UTR Introduces Free Live All Access Sessions with Top Pros, Coaches

I've learned today that the ITF Grade A Orange Bowl, arguably the most important junior event in the world outside the slams, will once again be held at the Frank Veltri Tennis Center in Plantation Florida in 2020, but there has been no determination regarding the venue beyond this year. This answers one of my Eight Intriguing Questions for 2020, but it looks as if I'll be asking the same question again in my 2021 column.

The NCAA Division I committee will allow an extra year of eligibility for all spring sport athletes according to Nicole Auerbach of The Athletic. This is breaking news, so it will be Tuesday before most of the implications of this decision will be explored, but it appears that extra scholarships will be allowed, although paying for them is up to individual schools.

Source tells @TheAthleticCFB that the NCAA Division I Council has approved blanket waiver for all spring-sport athletes to get an extra year of eligibility. Schools will be able to offer less (or zero) aid or match what they provided this year. Up to each school for each athlete.

— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) March 30, 2020

I was unable to join the first USTA Player Development Learning Series webinar today due to it being oversubscribed, but I assume that the USTA will expand the capacity for next Monday's webinar to accommodate all that would like to participate. The question and answer segment is the component that requires live participation, but access to the webinar is available now through this link, which also contains other resources mentioned in the webinar.

UTR is enhancing and expanding its webinar feature, with two new products: an All Access Series, twice a week, featuring top coaches and pros and a Host Your Own Webinar program that provides a way for coaches and players to connect. Sam Querrey leads off the All Access Series Thursday April 2 at 2 p.m. PDT. To register for this, and the forthcoming editions of the All Access series*, set for Tuesdays and Thursdays, go to this UTR page. Webinars on using UTR are also available; some can be watched now, with others requiring registration for upcoming webinars, beginning Thursday.

March 30, 2020 (Palo Alto, CA) - Universal Tennis (MyUTR.com ) today announced the launch of two new initiatives, UTR All Access Series and Host Your Own Webinar For Coaches program, to provide free, virtual opportunities for players, coaches and organizers to stay safely connected to tennis and to each other throughout the global crisis.

The new programming expands UTR Off the Court’s robust slate of free digital content:

• ●  UTR All Access Series: UTR All Access Series is a live, hosted webinar interview series where participants can submit questions in advance to celebrity guests. The line up includes Sam Querrey, Alison Riske, Ivan Lendl, Nick Bollettieri, Dr. Jim Loehr, Bethanie Mattek-Sands, Corey Gauff, Gordon Uehling, Jez Green, Vasek Pospisil, Rajeev Ram and Shelby Rogers. Prakash Amritraj, co-host of Tennis Channel Live, Kirk Spahn and Mark Leschly will serve as hosts.
  
• ●  Host Your Own Webinar For Coaches: Coming in April, UTR will enable for free any tennis coach to host their own free or paid webinars on the UTR Platform and share their expertise with UTR’s global tennis community, with all proceeds from paid events going directly to the coaches. Tennis coaches who are interested can pre-register for the free program on MyUTR.com.
  
• ●  UTR Webinar Series: Coaches, organizers, players and parents can access engaging live and on-demand video content offering support to organizers and coaches to develop and enhance their tennis programs, advice on how to implement UTR into their tennis communities, and guidance on how to prepare for when the tennis season picks back up.
  

* This is the schedule for the upcoming All Access webinars:

• ●  Thursday, April 2 - Sam Querrey: Host Prakash Amritraj joins ATP pro and world-record service ace holder Sam Querrey (ATP #45) for a discussion on life on the tour and his journey to the top.
  
• ●  Tuesday, April 7 - Alison Riske: Host Prakash Amritraj and 2019 Wimbledon semi-finalist Alison Riske (WTA #19) discuss the WTA pro’s tennis journey and what it really takes to compete on the world’s biggest stage.
  
• ●  Thursday, April 9 - Nick Bollettieri: Get tips and insights from one of the most experienced coaches of all time. IMG Academy founder and the former coach of Monica Seles, Andre Agassi, Maria Sharapova, and Jim Courier answers your questions about improving your game and what it takes to make it to the top. Hosted by Universal Tennis CEO Mark Leschly.
  
• ●  Thursday, April 16 - Dr. Jim Loehr & Gordon Uehling “Inside the Mind: Making of A Champion”: Join Dr. Jim Loehr, the world renowned sports psychologist and Gordon Uehling, tennis coach, technologist and philanthropist for a discussion on developing mental fitness. Hosted by Universal Tennis CEO Mark Leschly.
  
• ●  Tuesday, April 21 - Corey Gauff: Join Prakash Amritraj and Corey Gauff, father and coach of phenom Coco Gauff and 2019 PTR Touring Coach of the Year, as they answer your questions on player development, what it’s like being a tennis parent, mental fitness, and balancing tennis and teenagehood.
  
• ●  Wednesday, April 22 - Vasek Pospisil : Join host Kirk Spahn and submit your questions to one of UTR’s most improved players in 2020, Vasek Pospisil (ATP #93). Get insights about Vasek's journey, breaking through, and battling to get back to the top.
  
• ●  Thursday, April 23 - Ivan Lendl & Jez Green, “Maximizing Potential”: Ivan Lendl, 8x Grand Slam Champion and former ATP #1, and Jez Green, renowned movement and conditioning specialist, discuss how a player can maximize their potential to become the best. The former coaches of players like Andy Murray and Alexander Zverev join host Mark Leschly, UTR CEO.
  
• ●  Tuesday, April 28 - Steve Johnson : Host Prakash Amritraj and Steve Johnson (ATP #63) discuss his journey from USC college tennis to the pros.
  
• ●  Thursday, April 30 - Bethanie Mattek-Sands: The 9x Grand Slam Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist joins host Prakash Amritraj to dive into what makes a champion and how this top-20 doubles pro stays focused and fit.
  
• ●  Tuesday, May 5- Rajeev Ram: The 2020 Australian Open doubles champion and Olympic Silver Medalist joins host Prakash Amritraj to dive into what makes a champion and how this top-20 doubles pro stays focused and fit.
• ● Thursday, May 7 - Shelby Rogers: Host Prakash Amritraj and Shelby Rogers (WTA #113) discuss her tennis journey and what it takes to perform at the highest level.