US Juniors needs MORE Nat'l and advanced experiences not less

[Misterbill]

Originally Posted by TCF

I hear you. But for some long time tennis families the traveling was the 'pay off' for tennis. They may indeed just play other local sports instead. We shall see.

Some will agree with you they do not have worry about chasing points anymore, others will simply not be into tennis that much any more. The American sports parents is the consumer and they have plenty of choices on where to focus their time and energy, they will decide if the lack of traveling is a plus or a minus to them.

Doesn't the proposed TRN National Showcase series satisfy the desire for family trips?

[Alohajrtennis]

Originally Posted by Misterbill

Doesn't the proposed TRN National Showcase series satisfy the desire for family trips?

No way to know, they don't exist yet. No guarantee they ever will, or if they do come to be, will be successful, Dallas's best intentions notwithstanding. At this point, he, and other entrepreneurs, see that USTA is walking away from a market it has served and creating potential vacuum, they are looking to fill it, but no guarantees on how it pans out.

[Pro_Tour_630]

Originally Posted by Misterbill

Doesn't the proposed TRN National Showcase series satisfy the desire for family trips?

Jr ITF should fill the desire for family trips

[HIGH-TECH TENNIS]

As usual, completely agree with you on this, Aloha:

At this point, he, and other entrepreneurs, see that USTA is walking away from a market it has served and creating potential vacuum, they are looking to fill it, but no guarantees on how it pans out.

[Alohajrtennis]

Originally Posted by Pro_Tour_630

Jr ITF should fill the desire for family trips

Thats fine for 16's and 18's. In fact, I think ITF could be one of the organizations that steps up an try to fill the void created by the changes , but these events are very different from the 12' and 14's events.

But please see my post earlier in the thread about 12' and 14's :


Another thing to consider, which I don't think has been discussed, is that the main 12 and 14 national events are very different from the 16 and 18 events, and not just the size of the contestants. They are compass draws, kids will play a minimum of four matches, most play six. For kids this age, its a huge adventure, a leaning experience, and that vast majority of them will go home with a positive tennis experience : some wins, some losses, a feeling that they did great, or a realization that they have to work harder, but motivated nonetheless. Its a reward for all the hard work. Its much better for the kids to spend a week at these tournaments then spending thousands of dollars to go to <fill in name of tennis academy here> for week, and they will get as much out of it if not more.

[TCF]

================================================

[10ismom]

^^^^This is a Lose-Lose situation for USTA.

"Middle class players" who fuel the economy of tennis will have their fire put out by 2014.
These are players that feed high-performance training, coaches, clubs, court time fee, racquets, strings, tournament fees, referees, etc all around the US.

Many of these players might go different pathway (ITF, private national showcases) to achieve their long term goals.

Many will succumb to the lure of the other sports.
What I observed for the past 5 years at the academy where my kids train, they routinely lose several good players to other sports by middle school years.......football, baseball, cheerleading, cross-country, dance, gymnastics, etc.
Many of the dancers, cheerleaders, gymnasts we know had already gone to countless numbers of national competitions by 6th, 7th grades.
No....they're not that super talented but there are so many national venues in other sports.
After a 2-3 years of gymnastics or cheerleading.... Yep....You go Nationals, Girls!
Not true for tennis even with the current schedule.

[treeman10]

-------------------

[Misterbill]

Originally Posted by 10ismom

After a 2-3 years of gymnastics or cheerleading.... Yep....You go Nationals, Girls!
Not true for tennis even with the current schedule.

I am glad the current tennis regime is not organized this way, and I hope USTA or TRN-National Showcase, or whatever, does not copy it.

I know that 2 or 3 years you go to Nationals is not the case for wrestling, baseball, football, track, swimming, basketball, soccer and many others.

USTA, please do not follow the gymnastics or cheerleading example that has been posted here

[TCF]

================================================

[TCF]

================================================

[treeman10]

Originally Posted by TCF

It is early, but that is the vibe I am getting. I have no idea where US junior tennis is heading.

At the one end, TAUT marginalizes tennis like it is ping pong. At the other end you are disenfranchise hundreds of families who have taken jr tennis very seriously for multiple generations.

ya, take away analyzing all the details for a minute and it's just sad really.

[Alohajrtennis]

Originally Posted by Misterbill

I am glad the current tennis regime is not organized this way, and I hope USTA or TRN-National Showcase, or whatever, does not copy it.

I know that 2 or 3 years you go to Nationals is not the case for wrestling, baseball, football, track, swimming, basketball, soccer and many others.

USTA, please do not follow the gymnastics or cheerleading example that has been posted here

I really get that you are generally opposed to kids traveling for sports, unless they are very, very, exceptional.

But, look, even the kids in the band get to go on trips. Whether it be sports, drama, music, dance, or the math club, or the spelling bee, one of the returns they get for their investment, dedication to their passion, is an opportunity to take it to the next level.

I think USTA thinks that removing the 'opportunity' to travel makes Tennis more attractive to new comers;I think they are wrong, most particularly as it relates to attracting elite athletes, which is their true objective.

I put opportunity in quotes becuase there seems to be a difference of opinion between people on both sides of this discussion as to whether travel is an opportunity, or an obligation. To date, I have not received the name and address of the person with the gun who is forcing people to go to tournaments they don't want to go to. You yourself said your player only went to a small number of national events. Were you forced to go ? I know it didn't turn out for you the way you hoped it might, but you found that out for yourself. Many people are just hoping for the same opportunity you had.

[Pro_Tour_630]

So the future of American jr tennis and this whole debat is about several hundred 12-13 year old "middle class player" and their quest to have a positive and fun tennis experience.

[TCF]

================================================

[Misterbill]

Originally Posted by Alohajrtennis

I really get that you are generally opposed to kids traveling for sports, unless they are very, very, exceptional.

You are so wrong. Never said that. Never suggested that. Never hinted that.

Its contrary to personal history I have posted here about tennis, baseball and other sports

That would be kind of a goofy thing for anyone to think or say, so I am concluding I am being baited or trolled.

Will resist further response and hope the thread can get back to the substance that others are posting..........rather than personal, strange attempts at mind-reading.

[TCF]

================================================

[Misterbill]

Originally Posted by TCF

Maybe not. But do not discount the effect. I do not know how many countless younger siblings, cousins, friends I saw tagging along to what the families consider events.

Law of unintended consequences....removing an annoying bug from nature sometimes has ripple effects no one foresaw. Removing the motivation for hundreds of tennis families to take tennis seriously, combined over 5 years, combined with the younger tag along kids never getting into tennis at all....who knows.

At the very least supporters need to admit even they are not sure the long term effects.

I deferred to your original point that there are families who have, for generations, had it as a major objective to train their progeny for national tournaments, and to travel to national tournaments.........and if these opportunities are reduced, that a bulwark tennis constituency might be disappointed or even alienated.

I've been to a few nationals and haven't seen the big family entourages as something that is prevalent. In many cases, to reduce cost, there was one parent, or a coach taking care of multiple students. So, I am not sure this is a mass phenomenon involving countless kids and other onlookers at national tournaments.

Travel in sports is fine. Certain family members and I have traveled in-state, regionally and nationally with high school teams, travel teams (referring to Zonals in the tennis context here) and individually. So we certainly don't think that is a problem or is something to be "against"

We didn't consider it an entitlement for one kid to get invited to a National tennis tournament any more that we considered it an entitlement for the other kid to be on a team that went to the Cal Ripken World Series or the USA Baseball championship tournament, or the Arizona Fall Classic (this one is coming up next month).

I think there can be debates about how big national tennis draws should be or how many teams can go to Ripken, or the USA Baseball Championship tournament, or the Arizona Fall Classic. But to say that the answer is crucial for the future of the respective sport is something I will need more time to grasp.

[TCF]

================================================

[10s4US]

Originally Posted by HIGH-TECH TENNIS

10S4US---I didn't create the petition, I don't know who did, the customer who asked us to forward it did so because they want to notify other parents (a huge majority of whom are presently unaware) and they know we have a large distribution of customers. I forwarded it as requested and I agree 100000% that the changes will hurt junior tennis but I can't remember signing it because IN MY OPINION there is no point. I don't know a single thing about whether meetings are or have been held and I am beyond tired of fighting this unwinnable war since we have been trying our best to keep people informed and to get people to speak out and speak up for junior tennis since last MARCH!!!
I understand you may be new to this forum but please understand that we have been and continue to be strongly opposed to the changes. However, there appears to be NOTHING that anyone can do to prevent them from taking effect. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

NO.....
THANK YOU
The petition serves as a documented mandate, as a voice to amend 2014changes that the USTA can not deny. It is a mandate from the USTA membership and affiliates served and serving to give access and input to the decision making process and structure to the USTA membership and affiliates served and serving where the USTA system does not.
While Im new loggin /commenting to this forum i am not new to these issues which I have addressed with suggestions and inquiries to USTA since early 2010 catching wind of changes.
This forum provides an illuminating communication source to inform and network
As far as a DONE Deal 2011 is DONE, 2012 is on its way yet serves to
provide evidence/case studies of the changes negative effects of reduced natl opportunities and participation despite the desire for more by players,parents,coaches,directors
There IS still hope and time to amend changes to 2014 and open up access to participate in input and decision making process by membership served
by MEDIA blitz, high profile celebrity support the current
by Understanding and changing the USTA system
(2 meetings a year, special meetings can be called)
to be continued...