tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10016685.post450966100049872830..comments2024-03-26T09:23:26.937-04:00Comments on ZooTennis: Update on USTA Junior Competition Calendar for 2014Colette Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14905215531491180014noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10016685.post-84410841934664322972013-04-20T19:07:07.907-04:002013-04-20T19:07:07.907-04:00Why should we be surprised that the USTA is trying...Why should we be surprised that the USTA is trying to squeeze in more spots for their players? This is just a new creative way to get rid of the regular players and put in their players. <br />If my player gets injured, it seems tough luck.<br />But, if their player gets injured.... special rules now will apply.<br />Richard - CTnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10016685.post-32158383536392546052013-04-20T18:47:01.915-04:002013-04-20T18:47:01.915-04:00Hi Mr. Gealer,
Call me a pessimist but I get the ...Hi Mr. Gealer,<br /><br />Call me a pessimist but I get the feeling that Mr Brewer and company already have plans for any unused spots, and that is why they have come out with this new announcement.<br /><br />In my opinion,the announcement can work to prevent people from believing there is a hope their child can get in a supernat, and leave tennis, people can begin to spend even more money in tennis trying to attain points for supernat spots that are just not going to be there, or perhaps they <br />join an RTC. <br /><br />If Mr Grants speculation is correct, which it makes sense to me. There could be 1.spots gone that the sections have reserved 2.spots gone that the USTA has reserved,(for the sick and special) and 3.wildcards--more spots gone. It does not seem far fetched to me that the supernat will consist mostly of hand-picked kids...sort of a private tournament (like the team event). The kids will be picked from PD, PlayerID and the various RTC's.<br /><br />So where will there be room for the section players who followed the "rules" and fought their way up the ranks? Will they be forced to play qualifiers? And the NSL list, well you tell me.jr tennisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10016685.post-20933017465124332242013-04-20T17:13:04.097-04:002013-04-20T17:13:04.097-04:00Collete and others,
The 5pg 2014 doc DOES include
...Collete and others,<br />The 5pg 2014 doc DOES include<br />a NSL entry pathway to championships AFTER wild cards and unused quotas IF there are any<br />Yet this information is not in 2pg doc<br /><br />Im sending this repeated info seperately so as not to be lost in larger comment Mike Gealernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10016685.post-22365821183515597982013-04-20T17:05:04.822-04:002013-04-20T17:05:04.822-04:00Collette,
Our SoCal rep at USTA board meetings sta...Collette,<br />Our SoCal rep at USTA board meetings stated that the Jr committee wasnt<br />concerned that SoCal or Norcal would lose spots in winter nats hardcourts(Socal from 22 down to 13)<br />in 2014<br />because after the wild cards and quotas there would be unused quota spots that would then be filled by NSL list.<br />I looked carefully at 5pg doc which stated so but was omitted in 2pg doc<br />I also noticed some southern sections<br /> were given many more quotas in 2014 than they had entered in 2012<br />The Jr committee quota numbers were based on whole year not by tournament which varies. Less southern/florida kids play winters but play Eddie Herr,Evert and Orange Bowl, while less west coast kids play Clays.Most do hardcourts.<br />I got the feeling that theUSTA felt they had to do something.Too bad that something wasnt apause for further tweaking.<br />I hope they can remedy the quota inequities<br />Mike GealerMike Gealernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10016685.post-64182931863622592382013-04-20T15:30:24.878-04:002013-04-20T15:30:24.878-04:00I expect that most sections other than those with ...I expect that most sections other than those with very small quotas will reserve one or two spots to be used at their discretion ( in other words a sectional WC). In effect we could have up to 24 de-facto WC's for the national championships. Would be the ultimate kick in the teeth at the end of this process. Colette - perhaps you could ask Lew and/or Sol whether this is something they are concerned about and if they have any plans to control thisGeoff Grantnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10016685.post-10123465770168402312013-04-20T12:38:44.423-04:002013-04-20T12:38:44.423-04:00Why isn't it stated what the number of wild ca...Why isn't it stated what the number of wild cards will be for the Team Event for a Gold Ball? 32 juniors for a Gold Ball? How can that be right?<br /><br />And sorta of surprised that everyone I spoke to was so against a Team event for a Gold Ball and they went ahead and did it anyway.<br />What was the point of the Listening Meetings?<br /><br />Christiannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10016685.post-86520201349840470002013-04-20T12:32:04.431-04:002013-04-20T12:32:04.431-04:00Question for the USTA -
How does getting rid of t...Question for the USTA - <br />How does getting rid of the Boy's 18 's Nationals in March help my 17 year old son become a better player?<br /><br />Why take away competitive opportunities for our American players to be seen by college coaches?<br /><br />Martinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10016685.post-59461765779679058812013-04-20T12:27:50.188-04:002013-04-20T12:27:50.188-04:00The Courier story was told as an example of how ev...The Courier story was told as an example of how everyone would be playing sectionals. Period. No exceptions.<br /><br />Victor - SCnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10016685.post-6935478620298169582013-04-20T12:19:51.380-04:002013-04-20T12:19:51.380-04:00To: USA Tennis,
t is a shame that they can get a...To: USA Tennis, <br /><br />t is a shame that they can get away with this.<br /><br />Thanks for articulating it best - <br />"To say one thing and try to have people buy into it and then come and say something different, it is disheartening. I don't believe there will be room for sectional kids when all the exempt/chosen/excused/sick/ special/ and otherwise ranked are given berths."<br /><br />I will always follow college tennis ( played myself until I had a back injury ), and will always read this site, it's great.<br /><br />But, for my son, age 9, I am going to put him in another sport. He is tall enough that he can basketball probably ( probably will be 6'4)<br /><br />I doubt that the USTA cares about my son leaving.. But, my local tennis store and his academy where he trained in their clinics will. Fed UP WITH THE USTAnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10016685.post-47775631181025934542013-04-20T12:13:37.357-04:002013-04-20T12:13:37.357-04:00Disingenuous would be the kindest word to describe...Disingenuous would be the kindest word to describe what just took place in the last comments that the USTA made about the changes.<br /><br />Colette, the piece you are missing is that over and over again, the USTA said you had to play your section ( no exceptions), and the JIm Courier story I have heard over 3x now....<br /><br />So, can you imagine the surprise when now there is a NEW pathway for that player who they believe is too special to play in their section, but now they don't have enough wildcards to get him/her in.<br /><br />So, this new pathway was mentioned after it was PASSED.........., <br />although everyone at the meeting I attended was 100% against the new changes.Imagine the uproar if this had been mentioned at a meeting. Disingenuous is being kind.<br /><br />There was a lot of anger in my section recently when a player ( no names) didn't have to play the required number of sectionals for endorsement purposes, got a wild card into an event, and did poorly.<br />Imagine in the future, when that person takes the 10th spot on the sectional endorsement standing list.<br /><br />If you review in depth, you will see a lot of ordinary players beating the PD players over the past few months. CROSS PLAY is what the USTA is afraid of because it shows up their player ( and the millions of dollars behind a program and its leaders).<br /><br />Colette, tennis is an individual sport. <br />The parents spend big $ themselves, make many financial sacrifices, make many family sacrifices with tournaments over Thanksgiving and Xmas, <br />and don't like being dictated new rules and regulations <br />( green ball now in the 12's - are you kidding me????).<br /><br />The bottom line is without competition from other tennis organizations<br />(USTA is the only organization in this business), <br />folks are pulling the little ones out of tennis and putting them into soccer and volleyball.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Tennis5noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10016685.post-52841645838259298502013-04-20T01:23:53.910-04:002013-04-20T01:23:53.910-04:00"Fool me once....shame on you...Fool me twice..."Fool me once....shame on you...Fool me twice...shame on me.."Gomernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10016685.post-82461009451253436762013-04-19T21:03:45.580-04:002013-04-19T21:03:45.580-04:00Just to clarify, the only way a college player get...Just to clarify, the only way a college player gets in now is via a wild card, unless they have somehow had enough points from the previous year to be at the top of the National Standings List, which very few do.Colette Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14905215531491180014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10016685.post-36051181761553869992013-04-19T20:57:35.356-04:002013-04-19T20:57:35.356-04:00Colette,
Thanks for your reply, but with the new...Colette,<br /><br />Thanks for your reply, but with the new "wrinkle" in play for selection purposes it does not seem far fetched to me that other criteria will somehow find its way in the selection process. I know there are girls under 19 in college and they may want to play the hardcourts. How will they? They haven't played in their section, they have been in school. Besides WTA rankings are already in use to seed. The hardcourts in San Diego last year,remember Krista was seeded higher than Taylor (who eventually did not play)<br /><br />As this process unfolds we see there is deception. And more to come I am sure. As for the kids that get pushed out,oh well, I guess they can meditate on Billy Jean Kings experience on being pushed out of the picture. Welcome to discrimination. <br /><br />Perhaps the USTA could have just chosen the kids they want and let them play each other over and over again in Boca, Carson or New York. Two systems, one for the kids the USTA believes in and one for the other kids. <br /><br />To say one thing and try to have people buy into it and then come and say something different, it is disheartening. I don't believe there will be room for sectional kids when all the exempt/chosen/excused/sick/ special/ and otherwise ranked are given berths. usa tennisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10016685.post-37543464046480309692013-04-19T20:45:44.564-04:002013-04-19T20:45:44.564-04:00I assume jr tennis is being facetious but the real...I assume jr tennis is being facetious but the reality is we don't know how the sections are going to populate their quotas/endorsement lists. I think it will become clear in year 1 that the national championships will not comprise the best players in the country because a lot of top players will just go ITF route instead of the sectional route - panic will set in and then the fun will begin. National tennis as we know it i.e. the best competing against each other is over in the US as a result of this. Hopefully the people responsible for this mess will be willing to take responsibility for its failure although history would suggest that's a long shot.tennisforlifenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10016685.post-57075849430536979312013-04-19T20:01:20.550-04:002013-04-19T20:01:20.550-04:00No. I don't understand where you are getting t...No. I don't understand where you are getting that impression. Entry for 16s and 18s nationals is by: 1) sectional quota/endorsement 2) wild card 3) qualifying.<br />There is no other way.Colette Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14905215531491180014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10016685.post-74194156541466893302013-04-19T19:59:41.680-04:002013-04-19T19:59:41.680-04:00Two things need to happen:
1) EVERYTHING should c...Two things need to happen:<br /><br />1) EVERYTHING should come out of the sections.<br /><br />2) ZERO wildcards should be given.<br /><br />Moral of Story - Every player will have to earn their way into National tournaments through their section. <br /><br />No excuses...Problem solved<br /><br />Wishful Thinking......noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10016685.post-30996418330454532752013-04-19T19:58:21.110-04:002013-04-19T19:58:21.110-04:00Colette,
Is it now possible to believe that entry...Colette,<br /><br />Is it now possible to believe that entry to supernationals will be based on 1. WTA/ATP rankings 2.College Rankings(for those in college under 19) 3. Top 200 National Adult Rankings 4.ITF junior rankings 5.WildCards 6.Other exempt/selected players. Seems there will be no room for the sectionally endorsed player. What a ruse!jr tennisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10016685.post-33090073241594804642013-04-19T19:17:07.957-04:002013-04-19T19:17:07.957-04:00I understand I come at this from a different persp...I understand I come at this from a different perspective than those who have a child in the mix for a spot in the nationals. (I have never heard that Courier story). I would like the best junior players to compete at the Nationals. Period. Which is why I have always been against this new system, which I think provides roadblocks to that end.Colette Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14905215531491180014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10016685.post-46354931358094956812013-04-19T19:09:13.426-04:002013-04-19T19:09:13.426-04:00Colette - i don't know how many times i heard ...Colette - i don't know how many times i heard through this process about Jim Courier flying back from the French Open to play in his sectional qualifier for KZoo and what a great thing that was for US tennis. Not sure why any less should be expected of Tracy Austin or today's equivalent. They have cut off all other pathways to the nationals so on what basis do you make the exception - it is a slippery slope - how do you justify that to the kid that did qualify but loses his place to Tracy?tennisforlifenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10016685.post-38637903522849542772013-04-19T17:33:54.426-04:002013-04-19T17:33:54.426-04:00@tennis5:
I think it highly unlikely that a sectio...@tennis5:<br />I think it highly unlikely that a section would endorse what you call "some" player. Schultz's example was Tracy Austin and Wimbledon. I assume SoCal (and everyone else) would consider her one of the section's top players. Are you advocating denial of a spot in Nationals for someone facing that type of situation?<br />I agree the USTA needs to work to get the sections on the same page regarding aging up and other endorsement policies.Colette Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14905215531491180014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10016685.post-72617054613564147422013-04-19T17:26:48.949-04:002013-04-19T17:26:48.949-04:00Colette,
Your comment is below. This is a 3rd p...Colette, <br /><br />Your comment is below. This is a 3rd pathway then. Never discussed that I know of. I haven't seen this done yet, where a section has endorsed "selectively".<br /><br />It has either been you are <br />-one of the top players in your section, <br />-you get off the NSL ( option gone in 2014)<br />-or you are wildcarded in. <br /><br />If you are telling me that some junior who <br />in 2014 isn't the top few players of his section or isn't wild carded in, but just is put in through a selective endorsement, <br />man, you will see some angry parents.<br />He effectively took someone's spot.<br /><br />Also, the second biggest problem that was NEVER RESOLVED is how some sections will let you play up and that counts for the endorsement list points, and others will not.<br /><br />So, some excellent 14 year old won't be able to play up in their section's 16's because they will be too busy CHASING POINTS in their section 14 and under <br />to get one of the coveted spots.<br /><br />Everyone had been commenting at the tournaments that there were not enough wild cards for all the kids who don't live in their section, and now we know how the USTA plans to get around their own rules.<br /><br /><br />Your comment - <br />I'm not sure the new system's quotas are in any way different from the old ones. I was under the impression that the sections have always had the discretion to endorse selectively. Am I wrong?<br />Tennis5noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10016685.post-55434828178500327072013-04-18T19:54:21.666-04:002013-04-18T19:54:21.666-04:00Sections have complete latitude to create their en...Sections have complete latitude to create their endorsement lists any way they want to. Introducing this tournament structure without getting commitments from the sections in terms of a consistent endorsement policy is well and truly putting the cart before the horse. I predict there will be very substantial confusion and chaos surrounding the introduction of the changes. Geoff Grantnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10016685.post-54048669439866965422013-04-18T18:19:23.405-04:002013-04-18T18:19:23.405-04:00Collette
You are not wrong, sections have a wide ...Collette<br /><br />You are not wrong, sections have a wide degree of latitude about how they put together there endorsement list, but the majority do follow the sectional ranking list.<br /><br />But before, if you didn't get the endorsement, for whatever reason, there was always the opportunity to get in on off the NSL. Now that is gone becuase we were told that was unfair, it was a back door, you have to play you section.<br /><br />But now they come out with this and say, well maybe you dont have to lay your section, maybe there there should be some back door onto the endorsement list ?<br /><br />SMH.ajtnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10016685.post-61989153760460124342013-04-18T18:12:27.553-04:002013-04-18T18:12:27.553-04:00A suggestion for Scott Schulz :
I think many sect...A suggestion for Scott Schulz :<br /><br />I think many sections are completely unaware of how other sections handle endorsements. Endorsement rules vary quite a bit, from just using the most recent sectional standing list to having a separate series of tournaments required to get the endorsement. In some sections, points count down, in others they don't. Etc.<br /><br />Why dont you put together a survey that shows how each segment handles the endorsement process and circulate that around to the section jcc heads ?<br /><br />I know you want to give sections some guidance, maybe some bets practices, but what works for a 17 quota section makes no sense for a 4 quota section. There's no one size fits all.<br /><br />Also, I am sorry but the notion of encouraging sections to basically give "wild card" endorsements to players who don't play in sectional qualifying events really just makes my head spin. This is really the complete opposite of what you guys have been saying all along. What happened to you must play in your section ?? This may be plausible in a section like the midwest or southern where they are dealing with a dozen or more endorsements, but what about a small section that has two or three endorsements ? Do you tell the third place kid they can't go becuase we are giving a wild card to the 5th place kid, becuase he has better connections than you do ? <br /><br />Also, the changes were very clear that it was up to sections to manage the age up process via the endorsements, but again, that may work in midwest or southern, they can give some endorsements in the higher age back to the top players in the younger age bracket, but how does it work in a small section where you are managing two or three or four endorsements ? Ajtnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10016685.post-26294457807038798262013-04-18T18:11:08.739-04:002013-04-18T18:11:08.739-04:00I'm not sure the new system's quotas are i...I'm not sure the new system's quotas are in any way different from the old ones. I was under the impression that the sections have always had the discretion to endorse selectively. Am I wrong?Colette Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14905215531491180014noreply@blogger.com