From the Trenches at Junior Tennis Tournaments

[Pro_Tour_630]

Originally Posted by tennis5

If anyone else has heard anything, can they post here, as we have no specific thread for this.

You asked for more information and I gave it to you. It seems you can not accept the truth

Originally Posted by tennis5

Verify the truth and spread the word..

the truth is the proposal has not been voted on and may not pass and hold no credibility

Originally Posted by justinmadison

Most people would want to get involved in the process before it is passed and set in stone.

Who are you to be asked to be part of the process? Do you work for the industry? Do you own clubs and run 300 Jr programs? You are a consumer just like me, if you/I do not like the product we don't buy it. No one is forcing us to participate. I voice my concerns and opinions ( for or against) to the club owners who will be attending the March conference and they will hopeful get my message across. That is all you can do. Better yet go to the conference, setup a tent city outside and get tennis5 to join you. You will make a nice couple.

Wanting to be involved in the process and actually being in the process are two different things.

[BMC9670]

Originally Posted by Pro_Tour_630

The new changes for 10 and under are in full swing here in NE participation levels are very high, over 30 kids in one weekend signed up, green ball in U12 are record high over 15 in one weekend in one tournament. The new changes means less tournaments using green for U12 which is why the participation level is so high.

Overall the participation level for the month of january for 10 and under and green ball in U12 in year 2012 has been excellent.

Still nothing green or regulation in Middle States, only orange until 12U. The pros at our indoor club recently went to a UTSA Quickstart training and have come back all brainwashed. They talk about it being so great, but with little enthusiasm, as if they have been told they have to use it. They put out a statement in the club newsletter that ALL developmental tennis will use the format. Must have been promised funding. Doesn't matter, really, as their program has always been poor, as in not a "development" program, but more of a place where parents can drop off the kids for an hour while they work out. Sad, really. It's a great facility and lots of tennis interest, but the parents who want their kids to really learn to play do it on their own or with private coaches.

[Pro_Tour_630]

Originally Posted by BMC9670

Still nothing green or regulation in Middle States, only orange until 12U. The pros at our indoor club recently went to a UTSA Quickstart training and have come back all brainwashed. They talk about it being so great, but with little enthusiasm, as if they have been told they have to use it. They put out a statement in the club newsletter that ALL developmental tennis will use the format. Must have been promised funding. Doesn't matter, really, as their program has always been poor, as in not a "development" program, but more of a place where parents can drop off the kids for an hour while they work out. Sad, really. It's a great facility and lots of tennis interest, but the parents who want their kids to really learn to play do it on their own or with private coaches.

Sorry to hear that, see all sections should be the same instead they are seperate entities . Anyway when we go down to Philly we should let the kids have a go at it.

[BMC9670]

So, I'm in Phoenix for a few months for work and decided to drop in on a local tourney today. I caught the 12U final and these kids could flat out play! Good strokes, good technique, good movement, and tons of confidence. And to my surprise, they were using Wilson Green Dot balls.

After watching nearly two sets, I have mixed feelings about the use of green dot for 12U in this case. These kids certainly did not need it, and I'd go as far as to say it wasn't doing them any good. The thing that was missing was variety. Sure, they were bashing their brains out and the ball would just not go long, and rallies were long (the first set took nearly an hour), but shots that would be clear winners with regulation were gotten back, and while there were plenty of short balls, not once did I see an approach and volley in nearly two hours of tennis. They simply wanted to bash from the baseline and were not doing the things that a slower ball supposed to help achieve - namely point construction and touch. I saw none of that.

I did see some back draw matches going on were it made more sense as those kids were not at the same level and the green just helped them keep it in play, but these kids were clearly above it. Does anyone know if green is mandated for 12U in Arizona?

[Pro_Tour_630]

Originally Posted by BMC9670

So, I'm in Phoenix for a few months for work and decided to drop in on a local tourney today. I caught the 12U final and these kids could flat out play! Good strokes, good technique, good movement, and tons of confidence. And to my surprise, they were using Wilson Green Dot balls.

After watching nearly two sets, I have mixed feelings about the use of green dot for 12U in this case. These kids certainly did not need it, and I'd go as far as to say it wasn't doing them any good. The thing that was missing was variety. Sure, they were bashing their brains out and the ball would just not go long, and rallies were long (the first set took nearly an hour), but shots that would be clear winners with regulation were gotten back, and while there were plenty of short balls, not once did I see an approach and volley in nearly two hours of tennis. They simply wanted to bash from the baseline and were not doing the things that a slower ball supposed to help achieve - namely point construction and touch. I saw none of that.

I did see some back draw matches going on were it made more sense as those kids were not at the same level and the green just helped them keep it in play, but these kids were clearly above it. Does anyone know if green is mandated for 12U in Arizona?

I agree but we need some ( %25) green at U12 for the little kids (8-9) that want to play up. or the average 11-12 year old can benefit from green. not sure about Arizona but here in NE some of our 12 are with green, enjoy the sun I was going to scottsdale for business but now I am leaving for tampa .Let us know whey you are back.

[TennisMaverick]

Originally Posted by BMC9670

The thing that was missing was variety. Sure, they were bashing their brains out and the ball would just not go long, and rallies were long (the first set took nearly an hour), but shots that would be clear winners with regulation were gotten back, and while there were plenty of short balls, not once did I see an approach and volley in nearly two hours of tennis. They simply wanted to bash from the baseline and were not doing the things that the green ball is supposed to help achieve - namely point construction and touch. I saw none of that.

That's a shame. A lot of that has to do with the fear of losing and poor coaching. If you coach your player to develop their game, then you are developing it for its end product, which is years down the road. In doing so, the player will lose more than they win, but when they are 16-18, they will turn it around, and will have a real chance at a good college career if not better.

[tennisforlife77]

Annecdote from So Cal on the green balls. The 10U division at the Fullerton tournament( one of the big 2A events) this year has 23 players down from 53 last year. 12U was down around 10% from last year so the 10U players did not migrate to the 12's.

[MomTennis]

The Junior Competition Committee doesn't seem to want to help the masses just the elite - the same 32 or 16 or 8 players will get into the tournaments nationally and be the ones recruited for college (realistically maybe one will go pro and make it, if that) so what about all the other kids who love to play - they will play sectionals against the same kids tournament after tournament - some will get bored and drop out - those who might have wanted to get college scholarships won't get recruited and will probably lose interest in tennis - that is if they can even get into the sectionals - it takes points to get in but you have to get in to get points so not everyone can play in sectionals - On top of that we are encouraging (?) through QuickStart more participation but what about when those QS players get to be 14 will they still play??
Who is USTA helping in this whole endeavor

[tennis5]

There appears to be two threads on the same subject, but as the original document is in this one, I am posting here.

I will not be responding to any derogatory comments.
It is a waste of my time, and detracts from the message.

I spoke to the head of my sectional office again today, and got a bit more info.

I didn't want to pepper him with a bunch of questions, and mostly listened..
(My thoughts are in the parenthesis, thoughts and questions I did not ask )

He said people are now actively complaining as the document is being emailed.

There is a vote in March, and each section gets to vote on the proposal.

Overall comments, the big sections are the most upset
( not sure why, but I didn't ask).

and the big sections have more votes than the small sections.
( that seems odd, I would think each section gets one vote)

The largest complaint was about the Hardcourt's draw size.
( I found this strange that people were more concerned about Kalamazoo than Winter Nationals,
when Winter Nationals (16) will have a smaller draw size than Hardcourts (64)).

He was not sure if it would be approved.
He said most of the sections are fighting it.

That's it.

[tennisforlife77]

I understand each section votes in proportion to their USTA membership which is the proportion places are allocated in the supernationals. So Cal for example gets 6% of the vote - southern gets a much larger proportion.

[itenispro]

Originally Posted by tennisforlife77

Annecdote from So Cal on the green balls. The 10U division at the Fullerton tournament( one of the big 2A events) this year has 23 players down from 53 last year. 12U was down around 10% from last year so the 10U players did not migrate to the 12's.

I was at the SoCal Fullerton 2A event over the weekend. Happend to watch a greenball match with one of the sections top young player, I think he just turned 9 years old recently. It was interesting to see how much power he was generating with this low pressure ball, and his ability to create solid winners. My question is why are so many against this ball? It seemed to me that the points were more constructed with the new ball at this level, this can only help with long term development.

[andfor]

Originally Posted by itenispro

I was at the SoCal Fullerton 2A event over the weekend. Happend to watch a greenball match with one of the sections top young player, I think he just turned 9 years old recently. It was interesting to see how much power he was generating with this low pressure ball, and his ability to create solid winners. My question is why are so many against this ball? It seemed to me that the points were more constructed with the new ball at this level, this can only help with long term development.

His arm will fall off.

[itenispro]

andfor..Post the medical study? Or are you just spitting out garbage with no basis. You are the problem with USTA tennis!

[andfor]

Originally Posted by itenispro

andfor..Post the medical study? Or are you just spitting out garbage with no basis. You are the problem with USTA tennis!

That was a joke based on an earlier post/story.

[Misterbill]

Originally Posted by itenispro

andfor..Post the medical study? Or are you just spitting out garbage with no basis. You are the problem with USTA tennis!

Welcome, new poster! You sound like an old pro.

Andfor has explained that he was joking. Would be interested to hear more about what you think is the problem with USTA tennis

[Tennishacker]

Originally Posted by itenispro

I was at the SoCal Fullerton 2A event over the weekend. Happend to watch a greenball match with one of the sections top young player, I think he just turned 9 years old recently. It was interesting to see how much power he was generating with this low pressure ball, and his ability to create solid winners. My question is why are so many against this ball? It seemed to me that the points were more constructed with the new ball at this level, this can only help with long term development.

I think most aren't against it, it's that the USTA mandates it.