Will USTA refund league fees?

Injured Again

Hall of Fame
Guessing the cost to register on a local team is around $20.
If the U$TA is not willing to step up to help local league,
I would have no problem eating some/all of that $20 to support the local league and teams, IF they are hurting. Or give credit to future registration.
Who the hell could have foreseen this mess?

Our team made it to sectionals and I paid $257 in February to compete the weekend of June 26-28. Since ITF is closing down all tournaments until mid-July, the probability that sectionals will happen at that time is pretty slim. I paid this total amount and have not collected from the entire team. So are they going to credit me $257? I already have a lifetime membership so this is something like ten league seasons, and I'll be 60 next year. Or does the USTA expect me to collect from each member of our sectional team so they can each receive a credit? Like you said, it's kind of a mess.
 

Raul_SJ

G.O.A.T.
Our team made it to sectionals and I paid $257 in February to compete the weekend of June 26-28. Since ITF is closing down all tournaments until mid-July, the probability that sectionals will happen at that time is pretty slim. I paid this total amount and have not collected from the entire team. So are they going to credit me $257? I already have a lifetime membership so this is something like ten league seasons, and I'll be 60 next year. Or does the USTA expect me to collect from each member of our sectional team so they can each receive a credit? Like you said, it's kind of a mess.

If it is a case where your team has played all regular season matches but is missing the sectionals, it may or may not make sense to issue a refund/credit given that the team has played a full regular season.

The other scenario is the current situation: Adult 40 Men's 3.5 played half of its regular season; 5 of 10 regular season matches, before being locked down in March.
In that case, full refunds/credit are definitely warranted.
 

OnTheLine

Hall of Fame
If it is a case where your team has played all regular season matches but is missing the sectionals, it may or may not make sense to issue a refund/credit given that the team has played a full regular season.

The other scenario is the current situation: Adult 40 Men's 3.5 played half of its regular season; 5 of 10 regular season matches, before being locked down in March.
In that case, full refunds/credit are definitely warranted.

I agree on no refund for the regular season ....

BUT, if he has paid $257 for sectionals and now sectionals is cancelled ... that should be refunded.

We are fighting with the local school district ... as parents of a HS senior, paid for lots of things that have been cancelled: Prom ($100 ticket), Senior Trip ($425), AP tests ($255 paid to school ... now have to pay separately to College Board as shifted to all online), Graduation for cap and gown RENTAL ($75 yes that much to rent!)
So all told would like to see our $855 back.
Sounds straight forward, but so far it has not been.
 

leech

Semi-Pro
Our team made it to sectionals and I paid $257 in February to compete the weekend of June 26-28.

Wow, I'm surprised teams are required to pay a fee to compete at Sectionals. Which Section is this?

I've seen entry fees only at Nationals (and it's per player there, not the team). No fee for Regionals or Sectionals in the MidAtlantic. Captains do need to put down a refundable deposit to ensure their team shows up.
 

schmke

Legend
Wow, I'm surprised teams are required to pay a fee to compete at Sectionals. Which Section is this?

I've seen entry fees only at Nationals (and it's per player there, not the team). No fee for Regionals or Sectionals in the MidAtlantic. Captains do need to put down a refundable deposit to ensure their team shows up.
In PNW, we have a local playoff fee (elimination draw) and for Sectionals there is also a fee. Typically this is paid by the captain and they distribute it to the team however they see fit (equal or based on played matches).
 

Raul_SJ

G.O.A.T.
Wow, I'm surprised teams are required to pay a fee to compete at Sectionals. Which Section is this?

I've seen entry fees only at Nationals (and it's per player there, not the team). No fee for Regionals or Sectionals in the MidAtlantic. Captains do need to put down a refundable deposit to ensure their team shows up.

We never had to pay a fee to compete at Sectionals (Northern California section).
But there is a $257 team fee to compete at Sectionals for Pacific North West:

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Injured Again

Hall of Fame
Yup, I'm in the Pacific Northwest and our league season concluded last November. There were only two teams in our flight (it gets tough at 55+ 9.0 with snowbirds and injuries) and because we had a wildcard, both teams knew when the season started that we both would go. With sectionals in our home town, it was an easy decision to play.

It has been a challenging league season. Last year, there were three teams, and the year before there were four. With only two teams, the USTA only scheduled four matches for our entire season. I asked if the minimum qualifying match requirement of two matches prior to post-season play would be waived due to our circumstances and was told no. So I asked with only four team matches of three doubles each, that means a total of only 24 playing opportunities. We have 14 players registered so how can I possibly get every member qualified when I need a minimum of 28 playing opportunities to do so? We were told prior to the season that there would be eight or nine matches, and that is why I recruited 14 players.

After some back and forth, they gave us six matches. A few of us, me included, were only available for two of the six matches. I got injured before my first match so I gave up my spot for the second match, and three others also had something come up and could not get their two matches in. So I paid my league fees to not play at all, and the three others played a max of one match. With two more matches like we were told was going to happen, I'm pretty sure we would have gotten everyone qualified.

The only good thing that came out of four of us not getting qualifying matches is that I was able to have a few teams play together consistently. Otherwise, we might as well have gone into sectional competition just picking names out of a hat for pairings. We are still going to be at a disadvantage against the other teams.

It wasn't planned this way but the other captain also had the same issues and we both wanted to win our home matches so the slightly weaker lineups played away. As a result, we both ended up 3-3, with all the wins at home.
 

McLovin

Legend
Don't know if this will help soften the blow of no refunds, but a little birdie just told me that the CEO of the USTA is taking a 25% pay cut, immediate executives below him are taking a 20% pay cut, next level down a 15% pay cut, and anyone making over $100K will take a 10% pay cut, down to $100K (meaning if you may $105K, you'll only drop to $100K).

As I said before, I'm biased, but I am willing to forfeit my fees if it helps keep the lower level employees employed...namely, my daughter...
 

SteveI

Legend
Don't know if this will help soften the blow of no refunds, but a little birdie just told me that the CEO of the USTA is taking a 25% pay cut, immediate executives below him are taking a 20% pay cut, next level down a 15% pay cut, and anyone making over $100K will take a 10% pay cut, down to $100K (meaning if you may $105K, you'll only drop to $100K).

As I said before, I'm biased, but I am willing to forfeit my fees if it helps keep the lower level employees employed...namely, my daughter...

I think that is good optics for the USTA. In general the USTA is super top heavy in management. Their lower employees and non- paid staff.. run most the real things the USTA does. They are going to be hurting for sure. NO US Open and no fees from leagues. NYC is a disaster area... the numbers of deaths reported are not even close to the real numbers. I coach HS tennis both seasons.... the Spring season is gone and I would be shocked if the Fall season happen in NY State.
 

Mongolmike

Hall of Fame
My area, NE Ohio, is refunding spring league fees. If you had only played once (or not at all yet), you get full refund. If you played 2 or more sprng matches, you get $10 back. You have to apply for it, but l did not expect that gesture.
 

2ndServe

Hall of Fame
any word if the USTA memberships will be extended because of the pandemic?

This is usta man. they sent out info that you have to register for team now with a deadline of a day or 2, for a season that hasn't started and with no realistic start date in sight. no Nationals, sectionals a maybe? All this and they want your money ASAP. I find it really poor form to charge people and rush them to sign up with a deadline and you don't know if the league will even run. Are they going to overrule the state gov? There aren't even tennis courts open to play.
 

SteveI

Legend
This is usta man. they sent out info that you have to register for team now with a deadline of a day or 2, for a season that hasn't started and with no realistic start date in sight. no Nationals, sectionals a maybe? All this and they want your money ASAP. I find it really poor form to charge people and rush them to sign up with a deadline and you don't know if the league will even run. Are they going to overrule the state gov? There aren't even tennis courts open to play.

I have been hearing lots of complaints from various season ticket holders of various sports.. trying to figure out if they will get a refund. Pretty hard to know what to do for these teams and the USTA. On the other hand.. the USTA is a big money grab organization in general. Top heavy with lots of the work being done by volunteers and under paid folks that work for them. The USTA does not know about the concept of "good optics". Heck they let Serena Williams get away with just about anything she wants to do.. The USTA provides folks a structure to play tennis on teams .... late into life.... other than that.. they give back... very little to the tennis world IMHO in relation to the amount of money they collect.
 

silentkman

Professional
I have been hearing lots of complaints from various season ticket holders of various sports.. trying to figure out if they will get a refund. Pretty hard to know what to do for these teams and the USTA. On the other hand.. the USTA is a big money grab organization in general. Top heavy with lots of the work being done by volunteers and under paid folks that work for them. The USTA does not know about the concept of "good optics". Heck they let Serena Williams get away with just about anything she wants to do.. The USTA provides folks a structure to play tennis on teams .... late into life.... other than that.. they give back... very little to the tennis world IMHO in relation to the amount of money they collect.

Its fine if you hate Serena, but she has nothing to do with this. I'll be the first to admit that USTA is flawed. I do think they are stealing money with fees etc. I'm actually cool with the outreach programs. tennis is a tough sell, because its not a team sport. I thought they could follow the lead of Cedar Point(The best amusement park ever) and extend the membership for six months or so.
 

zaskar1

Professional
IMO, this is the time for the USTA to step up and refund league fees to participants. What is your opinion?

according to the USTA, our opinions dont count. they will just keep your money, the best you can hope for
is that they credit what you paided for future USTA activities.
personally, i am phasing out of USTA because here in NORCAL
they basically doubled the league fees without consulting the membership. i think there is an organized effort to boycott the upcoming season, and with
an alternative that jjust sets up matches between the individual clubs with limited playoff options. this is ok for most of our members at our club
as going to the nationals is not a realistic goal, although it did happen to one team a few years back.
i think most of our members play for fun, in tennis.
z
 

SteveI

Legend
Its fine if you hate Serena, but she has nothing to do with this. I'll be the first to admit that USTA is flawed. I do think they are stealing money with fees etc. I'm actually cool with the outreach programs. tennis is a tough sell, because its not a team sport. I thought they could follow the lead of Cedar Point(The best amusement park ever) and extend the membership for six months or so.

The Issue is Integrity. Serena.. the fees.. the entire organization. Guess who runs the outreach programs... volunteers and the amount of money they use for these programs is joke compared with how much they take in. Time (instructors) and gear is donated most of time. Very little comes from the USTA pockets. I know... have been involved for many years. Integrity..................
 

silentkman

Professional
The Issue is Integrity. Serena.. the fees.. the entire organization. Guess who runs the outreach programs... volunteers and the amount of money they use for these programs is joke compared with how much they take in. Time (instructors) and gear is donated most of time. Very little comes from the USTA pockets. I know... have been involved for many years. Integrity..................

obviously if you are working for the USTA you have more insight than me. I do need the head of the USTA is making a boatload of money. what would you do differently?
 
Our local USTA league is offering refunds even if the summer league is played. They will keep the $3 tennislink fee plus an additional $3. If you transfer to a later league, the local org is going to have to eat the new $3 tennislink fee unless USTA does the right thing and waives it.
 
Active is finally trying to create a build in TennisLink to return fees to credit cards or store as credit to future seasons. Target date: June 1
 
I believe our league has been pushed a few months with the adult 18+ to start mid-late fall now. not sure about anything else. There was just an increase in fees, so I doubt there will be any refund here.
 
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