What to do with "stallers"

[woodrow1029]

Originally Posted by Tennishacker

How can you be so clueless.

Walking back to the fence after every point is taught to disrupt your opponent.

Its sad that kids are taught to use unsportsmanship tactics to win matches.

You don't think that the parents at junior tennis tournament most of the time are not the issue? I'm telling you. Most of the time, when the parents think there's an issue, the kids don't. The parents make a big deal out of EVERYTHING. A close call on the opposite side of the court that they are sure that their kid hit six inches inside the line that is not. The other kid is receiving coaching (according to the other kid's parents), but they are not. The list goes on and on.

[woodrow1029]

And it's worse at the 12s and 14s level. Yes there is a lot of gamesmanship, but that happens at every level.

Standing back for 8-10 seconds is not illegal. Doing the same thing in retaliation COULD be illegal if the other player has been playing at a certain pace and your daughter has been accepting it the whole time until she got frustrated.

And there still can't be a tournament without a tournament director and/or a referee.

[woodrow1029]

Originally Posted by crosbydog

It was the one and ONLY main site!

Ok. Which tournament was it? You said challenger at Missouri Athletic Club. When I looked at a tournament that was a challenger at that site, it was one of about 6 sites listed.

[woodrow1029]

Originally Posted by woodrow1029

You don't think that the parents at junior tennis tournament most of the time are not the issue? I'm telling you. Most of the time, when the parents think there's an issue, the kids don't. The parents make a big deal out of EVERYTHING. A close call on the opposite side of the court that they are sure that their kid hit six inches inside the line that is not. The other kid is receiving coaching (according to the other kid's parents), but they are not. The list goes on and on.

And yes, it's sad that the parents allow their kids to use poor sportsmanship. But the parents that allow their kids to use poor sportsmanship are the ones who have kids that end up on the suspension lists, then it's those same parents tha sue the referee and umpires for giving the code violation that put them on the suspension list because the player is a different race than the umpire.

There's also reasons why the parents are not allowed to call fr an official to the court and the players have to. And the reasons are that first of all the kids need to be able to have the responsibility to figure out when they need an official. Also, the parents are usually wrong about what happened when they are standing outside the fence.

[woodrow1029]

If you are that concerned, go to the officials section on the USTA national website, and you can find the list of sectional chairmen of officials for all sections. You can also contact te juniors department at the sectional office.

[tennis5]

Originally Posted by 10ismom

I saw that kind of drama before. Girls must have been taught to stall or they just copy Sharapova.

Boys probably will just walk slowly to get the towel. They are less likely to talk to the fence. My daughter talks to her strings to calm herself.....not the fence.

Boys sweat a lot......

[10ismom]

^^^that's a good one!

And girls talk a lot....even with the fence or strings!

[tennis5]

Originally Posted by 10ismom

^^^that's a good one!

And girls talk a lot....even with the fence or strings!

Seriously, my son has to constantly go to the towel during the summer to wipe off sweat, and in the winter ( indoors) he doesn't bring a towel.

Girl's tennis matches are always full of drama. Boys can't hold a grudge that long, they can't remember.

[woodrow1029]

I also recommend that parents of juniors go to the USTA officiating school to learn the rules so that they can help their kids. Also they would be strongly qualified to assist as court monitors at juniors tournaments. Officiating eats up a good part of the budget for a referee and othe umpires if the tournament has more than one. Having parents as court monitors, especially if they are certified as officials would be a great way to cut down on the problems when there is only one referee or an alternate Ste with no officials present. But, of course, when that is suggested to parents, they never want to listen. Instead they want the tournament to hire more officials, then they GE mad at the cost of the entry fees

[10ismom]

Originally Posted by woodrow1029

I also recommend that parents of juniors go to the USTA officiating school to learn the rules so that they can help their kids. Also they would be strongly qualified to assist as court monitors at juniors tournaments. Officiating eats up a good part of the budget for a referee and othe umpires if the tournament has more than one. Having parents as court monitors, especially if they are certified as officials would be a great way to cut down on the problems when there is only one referee or an alternate Ste with no officials present. But, of course, when that is suggested to parents, they never want to listen. Instead they want the tournament to hire more officials, then they GE mad at the cost of the entry fees

Actually, that will be my dream (volunteer) job after my retirement from my real job. I have been thinking about that for a while!

[andfor]

Originally Posted by 10ismom

Actually, that will be my dream (volunteer) job after my retirement from my real job. I have been thinking about that for a while!

I promise you your perspective will seriously change when you do.

[tennis_ocd]

Originally Posted by Tennishacker

Walking back to the fence after every point is taught to disrupt your opponent.

Its sad that kids are taught to use unsportsmanship tactics to win matches.

To be sure there exists a balance but curious as to what makes a 10 sec break between points gamesmanship and not the quick serve.

[sundaypunch]

Originally Posted by Tennishacker

How can you be so clueless.

Walking back to the fence after every point is taught to disrupt your opponent.

Its sad that kids are taught to use unsportsmanship tactics to win matches.

I think that need to be more realistic if you want your child to be successful in tennis.

It is called "momentum control" and has been written about in many tennis books. It is taught by every coach at every level of the sport. When the match starts going badly it is critical to slow things down and regroup.

My daughter learned this lesson as every USTA kid does. It only takes a couple of times of getting steamrolled while you keep rushing up to the baseline for the next point. Even though she doesn't like being stalled when she is on a roll she has learned to not let it bother her. She also now will go to the back fence to regroup if she is having problems.

[jmnk]

Originally Posted by tennis_ocd

To be sure there exists a balance but curious as to what makes a 10 sec break between points gamesmanship and not the quick serve.

that one is easy.

--my kid-- is taking a 10sec break when the opponent is about to serve -> quick serve by an opponent

--my kid-- is about to serve when an opponent is taking a 10sec break -> gamesmanship by an opponent.

[woodrow1029]

Originally Posted by jmnk

that one is easy.

--my kid-- is taking a 10sec break when the opponent is about to serve -> quick serve by an opponent

--my kid-- is about to serve when an opponent is taking a 10sec break -> gamesmanship by an opponent.

That says it all right there!

That's unfortunately the way it is at these tournaments. And again, it's usually only the parents that are complaining about it, not the kids!

[JLyon]

IMO opinion a receiver should be able to have 10 secs. Yes you play to pace of server but <10 secs is much to quick. Would not consider that gamesmanship.

[Alohajrtennis]

Originally Posted by jmnk

that one is easy.

--my kid-- is taking a 10sec break when the opponent is about to serve -> quick serve by an opponent

--my kid-- is about to serve when an opponent is taking a 10sec break -> gamesmanship by an opponent.

I think George Carlin said it better :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkxaF5Pq5D8

[andfor]

Originally Posted by JLyon

IMO opinion a receiver should be able to have 10 secs. Yes you play to pace of server but <10 secs is much to quick. Would not consider that gamesmanship.

Agreed. If the server wants to rush, no need for the receiver to have to hurry back to the line.

There was an earlier post about momentum control which is good. When winning play aggressive and at your own pace or quickly. When losing play within your base game, choose your spots for aggressive play and slow the match down. There's a lot more nuance behind the concept, but it's certainly not gamesmanship, Tennis 101.

[BMC9670]

Originally Posted by 10ismom

Actually, that will be my dream (volunteer) job after my retirement from my real job. I have been thinking about that for a while!

Good! Maybe we can get some knowledgable and normal people into the officiating ranks. It seems like every official I come in contact with has a screw loose and/or isn't very up on the rules.

Just last weekend, an official comes up to me and starts rambling about how people put everything on Youtube these days (I was holding a camera) and how there needs to be more regulation on filming at USTA events, etc. Didn't bother to even look at my sons match during his 10 minute rant. I saw him talking to more parents than watching tennis during the day.

Oh well.

[woodrow1029]

Originally Posted by BMC9670

Good! Maybe we can get some knowledgable and normal people into the officiating ranks. It seems like every official I come in contact with has a screw loose and/or isn't very up on the rules.

Just last weekend, an official comes up to me and starts rambling about how people put everything on Youtube these days (I was holding a camera) and how there needs to be more regulation on filming at USTA events, etc. Didn't bother to even look at my sons match during his 10 minute rant. I saw him talking to more parents than watching tennis during the day.

Oh well.

Yes, so that automatcially qualifies every official (present company of 2 officials in this thread excluded, I am assuming ) as having a screw loose.