5.5 rating - disatrous

[wings56]

I played division 1 men's tennis for 5 years. It's been about 7 months since my last college match. Now I was on a division 1 team, but I was never a main lineup player. I probably played maybe 10 or 15 matches at most throughout my entire 5 years with moderate success. I would truly self rate myself at 5.0, but USTA just simply won't even begin to hear any kind of appeal to anyone who has been on a division 1 team. This 5.5 rating completely prohibits me from playing any league tennis in my area. If I was 5.0, I could at least play 9.0 mixed. This 5.5 completely prohibits me from playing competitive league... which isn't the USTA supposed to SUPPORT the development of tennis? I really am at odds at what to do. Please help.

 

[CDestroyer]

Isn't there Ultimate Tennis or other leagues in your area? Where do you live?

 

[J_R_B]

Just take it as a compliment that you are too good for league tennis and stick to open tournaments. Also, isn't there 10.0 mixed. I know there are 10.0 mixed leagues here (not that I could play in that, though...).

 

[tennis_pr0]

When I first self rated myself, they wouldn't let me rate lower than a 5.0 because of my open ranking. All I had to do was email the region coordinator and she let me go to a 5.0. The self rate system they use for rating is very flawed in my opinion.

 

[JLyon]

I played division 1 men's tennis for 5 years. It's been about 7 months since my last college match. Now I was on a division 1 team, but I was never a main lineup player. I probably played maybe 10 or 15 matches at most throughout my entire 5 years with moderate success. I would truly self rate myself at 5.0, but USTA just simply won't even begin to hear any kind of appeal to anyone who has been on a division 1 team. This 5.5 rating completely prohibits me from playing any league tennis in my area. If I was 5.0, I could at least play 9.0 mixed. This 5.5 completely prohibits me from playing competitive league... which isn't the USTA supposed to SUPPORT the development of tennis? I really am at odds at what to do. Please help.

Have you sent an appeal to your District Coordinator? I mean if a former Vol 1 year removed from college and former Top 100 in the nation can play 5.0, there should be no reason they should not allow you. More details though, were you ever Top 150 in the nation or Top 20 in Section?
What was your winning percentage? Was the team ranked at all during your tiime?

 

[LeeD]

Wait a minute.
About 5 years ago, one of the locals at our RoseGarden, who was a Div1 player, said he played 4.0 doubles. He specifically asked to play left handed ONLY, because of shoulder and wrist problems from a car accident. He was allowed, but since he only played lefty for a year, he could hit like a 4.5, but consistency was lowest 4.0, and his serve was hilarious considering his righties serve before the accident was special.
He has since recovered his rightie side, but stays with 4.0 lefty in competition. He does rally with rightie, and he's still solid as a rock off that side.

 

[goober]

I played division 1 men's tennis for 5 years. It's been about 7 months since my last college match. Now I was on a division 1 team, but I was never a main lineup player. I probably played maybe 10 or 15 matches at most throughout my entire 5 years with moderate success. I would truly self rate myself at 5.0, but USTA just simply won't even begin to hear any kind of appeal to anyone who has been on a division 1 team. This 5.5 rating completely prohibits me from playing any league tennis in my area. If I was 5.0, I could at least play 9.0 mixed. This 5.5 completely prohibits me from playing competitive league... which isn't the USTA supposed to SUPPORT the development of tennis? I really am at odds at what to do. Please help.

options:

-10.0 mixed

-Open tourneys

-Non USTA leagues.

-Join a club and play interclub leagues.

-We have premeir league tennis around here which have completely replaced 4.5 USTA tennis leagues. These are 4.5+ leagues with no upper limit.

 

[wings56]

CDestroyer - no there isn't. i live in southeast texas (beaumont area). i can drive an hour and a half to houston to play 5.0 but thats it.

JLyon - was not ranked, team wasn't ranked. my winning percentage was probly around 50%, and i did send an appeal and was denied since i played on a d1 team.

goober - the closest thing to that for me would be Dallas which is 5+ hour drive...

 

[wings56]

had i known i would have this problem, i would have self rated at 4.0 or 4.5 when i turned 18 (which would have been spot on) like my buddies who played on the team with me and are computer rated 5.0s now...

 

[JLyon]

had i known i would have this problem, i would have self rated at 4.0 or 4.5 when i turned 18 (which would have been spot on) like my buddies who played on the team with me and are computer rated 5.0s now...

Houston typically has a 5.5 open team, but would it be worth fighting traffic on a week night to play a few matches.
Unfortunately you told the truth on the self-rate and are caught in limbo.

 

[Bazinky]

Trust me, I feel your pain. I played DI tennis in college but haven't played in 10 years. I'm just now getting back into playing in a new city. I've been asked by several people to play on their USTA teams, but I can't get rated below a 5.0 (and apparently there is no 5.0 team this year). To add to the frustration, I hear all sorts of stories about former college players playing below the 5.0 level prior to this year.

I'm sure once I'm back into it I would get bumped up, but it seems like playing at 4.5 would have been a nice way for me to get back into the sport and make some good new tennis contacts. Frustrations like this and the difficulty of finding playing partners who can play when I can are starting to remind of one of my reasons for quitting in the first place ...

 

[SuperJimmy]

Yeah I can feel your pain. I know a few players that are 5.5 and basically can't play anything. In fact I would even say playing at 5.0 isn't all that great when matches are only 1 singles and 2 doubles as opposed to 2 singles and 3 doubles.

I kind of wish they made a '4.5+' league and allow anyone 4.5 or above to play in it and just do away with 5.0 and 5.5 etc. Truly legit 4.5 SINGLES players (not the senior, spin doctor, touch-master doubles specialist that TT posters would most likely rate 1.5) can hang with 5.0 players and 5.5 players for a reasonable number of balls. The score might look like a blowout but I am sure even the 5.5 could appreciate the decent workout the 4.5 player gave them.

I think there are plenty of 4.5 players that would be willing to sign up for a 4.5+ league (in addition to the 4.5-only league) for the challenge and because they truly want to play better players to get better themselves. I would definitely sign up for both. The ones that hate the sandbaggers can stick to the 4.5-only league.

In my view, most of the 'sandbaggers' seen at 4.5 are there because that's where they can actually get decent number of hitting sessions in. They want to play tennis like the rest of us, but have no real organized path to do so. Sure, there are some that probably want to go for that trophy at lower levels, but for the far majority, you don't get to be THAT good unless you have a competitive fire inside of you. Those sandbaggers could now move to the 4.5+ division, and not really have to sandbag knowing that there are probably more teams (than 5.0 ever had), and more matches to be played.

 

[goran_ace]

If you're only 7 months removed from college I don't think you'll have much luck with any kind of appeal (except a medical). It doesn't hurt to ask though. The worst your league coordinator can do is say no.

You either need to wait for time (years) to pass until your minimum self-rate drops to 5.0, or if you want to get it done in a hurry sign up for that 5.5 team in houston and lose matches on purpose to get a lower computer rating for next season.

 

[OrangePower]

Yeah I can feel your pain. I know a few players that are 5.5 and basically can't play anything. In fact I would even say playing at 5.0 isn't all that great when matches are only 1 singles and 2 doubles as opposed to 2 singles and 3 doubles.

I kind of wish they made a '4.5+' league and allow anyone 4.5 or above to play in it and just do away with 5.0 and 5.5 etc. Truly legit 4.5 SINGLES players (not the senior, spin doctor, touch-master doubles specialist that TT posters would most likely rate 1.5) can hang with 5.0 players and 5.5 players for a reasonable number of balls. The score might look like a blowout but I am sure even the 5.5 could appreciate the decent workout the 4.5 player gave them.

I think there are plenty of 4.5 players that would be willing to sign up for a 4.5+ league (in addition to the 4.5-only league) for the challenge and because they truly want to play better players to get better themselves. I would definitely sign up for both. The ones that hate the sandbaggers can stick to the 4.5-only league.

In my view, most of the 'sandbaggers' seen at 4.5 are there because that's where they can actually get decent number of hitting sessions in. They want to play tennis like the rest of us, but have no real organized path to do so. Sure, there are some that probably want to go for that trophy at lower levels, but for the far majority, you don't get to be THAT good unless you have a competitive fire inside of you. Those sandbaggers could now move to the 4.5+ division, and not really have to sandbag knowing that there are probably more teams (than 5.0 ever had), and more matches to be played.

How would your proposed 4.5+ division be any different from 5.0? Assuming that there is still a 'regular' 4.5 (which is I think what you're saying).

I mean as it is, 4.5s can go ahead and play 5.0 if they want.

 

[Vik]

Get on or form a 5.5 team. There is usually a 5.5 sectional in Dallas each summer. Normally teams from Houston, Dallas and one other city.

Play 2 matches. Win or lose you'll probably get knocked down to 5.0.

 

[kylebarendrick]

There has been some talk of allowing a limited number of 5.5 players to join and play on 5.0 teams.

Otherwise I have little sympathy. As someone said - you are too good for USTA league tennis. D1 players appealing down simply pushes 5.5 players into 5.0, 5.0 players into 4.5, etc. It isn't fair to the legitimate players at those ratings.

Your friends that self rated at 18 found the hole in the self rating process. I'd argue that USTA needs to close this gap to prevent abuses by high school players that intend to play at college.

 

[Limpinhitter]

I played division 1 men's tennis for 5 years. It's been about 7 months since my last college match. Now I was on a division 1 team, but I was never a main lineup player. I probably played maybe 10 or 15 matches at most throughout my entire 5 years with moderate success. I would truly self rate myself at 5.0, but USTA just simply won't even begin to hear any kind of appeal to anyone who has been on a division 1 team. This 5.5 rating completely prohibits me from playing any league tennis in my area. If I was 5.0, I could at least play 9.0 mixed. This 5.5 completely prohibits me from playing competitive league... which isn't the USTA supposed to SUPPORT the development of tennis? I really am at odds at what to do. Please help.

What about playing tournaments? I prefer tournament play to league play myself.

 

[LeeD]

Does a 5.5 former Div 1 player of multiple years still need his tennis supported by the USTA?
I'd love some competitive 3.5 matches, but what about the real 3.5's who'd get crushed?
Once you reach a certain level, only injury or old age can ever bring you back down to earth.

 

[SuperJimmy]

How would your proposed 4.5+ division be any different from 5.0? Assuming that there is still a 'regular' 4.5 (which is I think what you're saying).

I mean as it is, 4.5s can go ahead and play 5.0 if they want.

I can think of a few reasons:
1. It would allow 5.5s to play.

2. 5.0 is already very thin, and why I think the main reason the sandbaggers play 4.5 and why some 5.0 players just don't play league at all is because:
-- There isn't a 5.0 division in that section
-- They don't know any of the 5.0 team players
-- They dislike the 5.0 players on those small number of teams
-- Because there are so few teams, they don't want to play the same team/opponent week in, week out. I have seen one case where there are just 2 teams in the division and they play each other like 5-8 times or something...that is no league and can't be too much fun for everyone involved.
-- The 5.0 teams that do exist are exclusive to paying club members.
-- The 5.0 clubs that do exist are too far away.

3. Why don't 4.5s just play up? Well you have to have the right mentality and maybe some players just don't have that when they see on paper "5.0 division". In their mind they automatically assume they are going to lose every match because everyone is rated higher than them. They don't want to be the worst player in the league. Well now that is says 4.5+, hey maybe there are a few guys this 4.5 believes he/she can beat, maybe now, he/she is okay with it. That insecurity is gone. Maybe the next 4.5 player now jumps on the band wagon...

4. Just by simple fact that there are far more 4.5s, the ability to build up the division to much larger numbers I think is better due to a larger network. 4.5s probably know 5.0s that weren't playing due to #2, maybe some are best friends with 5.5s waiting to play. Now maybe a team with a 5.5, 2x 5.0, and 6x 4.5s looks pretty good. Everyone enjoys each other's company, they have a decent shot to win any match, etc. Having better players back up a weaker player I think gives that player a lot more confidence.


If I bring up World Team Tennis as an example. I played a couple years ago in the '4.0+' division (there was a 4.0 division too), and here you had players ranging from 4.0 to 5.5. Current/former college players played, there were more teams than there were 5.0 USTA teams. Talent was spread out and not stacked on a single team simply because there were enough bodies to make more teams and players wanted to play on teams with their friends. Everyone knew what they were getting into. The 4.0s knew they could get train wrecked by a 5.5, but they also knew there were other 4.0s in the league in the same situation and they didn't feel alone anymore. They also knew they could run into that other 4.0 in singles or doubles (most likely doubles) and have a good competitive match. It was no longer a lose-lose situation.

 

[Z-Man]

They should just make 4.5 (or maybe 5.0) include everything above. I think most 4.5s are over chasing titles and would love to take a crack at a recent D1 player.

 

[JLyon]

There has been some talk of allowing a limited number of 5.5 players to join and play on 5.0 teams.

Otherwise I have little sympathy. As someone said - you are too good for USTA league tennis. D1 players appealing down simply pushes 5.5 players into 5.0, 5.0 players into 4.5, etc. It isn't fair to the legitimate players at those ratings.

Your friends that self rated at 18 found the hole in the self rating process. I'd argue that USTA needs to close this gap to prevent abuses by high school players that intend to play at college.

I think the OP is different in that he was a scrub player used when the team played some weak D1 teams or D2 and lower teams, rather than being a full time varsity player, big difference.

 

[Rob_C]

I played division 1 men's tennis for 5 years. It's been about 7 months since my last college match. Now I was on a division 1 team, but I was never a main lineup player. I probably played maybe 10 or 15 matches at most throughout my entire 5 years with moderate success. I would truly self rate myself at 5.0, but USTA just simply won't even begin to hear any kind of appeal to anyone who has been on a division 1 team. This 5.5 rating completely prohibits me from playing any league tennis in my area. If I was 5.0, I could at least play 9.0 mixed. This 5.5 completely prohibits me from playing competitive league... which isn't the USTA supposed to SUPPORT the development of tennis? I really am at odds at what to do. Please help.

I think the rules state that if the player was ranked in the top 125 in D I, or played for a ranked D I school, not sure about the school ranking cutoff, then the player has to rate at 5.5.

If the player wasn't ranked, or didn't play for a ranked school, then the player can rate at 5.0.

 

[goran_ace]

I think the rules state that if the player was ranked in the top 125 in D I, or played for a ranked D I school, not sure about the school ranking cutoff, ten the player has to rate at 5.5.

If the player wasn't ranked, or didn't play for a ranked school, then the player can rate at 5.0.

Age is also a factor. Minimum self rate for Unranked DI player and 30 years of age or younger is 5.5. Once he is 31 years old that minimum self rate drops to 5.0.

 

[floydcouncil]

I played division 1 men's tennis for 5 years. It's been about 7 months since my last college match. Now I was on a division 1 team, but I was never a main lineup player. I probably played maybe 10 or 15 matches at most throughout my entire 5 years with moderate success. I would truly self rate myself at 5.0, but USTA just simply won't even begin to hear any kind of appeal to anyone who has been on a division 1 team. This 5.5 rating completely prohibits me from playing any league tennis in my area. If I was 5.0, I could at least play 9.0 mixed. This 5.5 completely prohibits me from playing competitive league... which isn't the USTA supposed to SUPPORT the development of tennis? I really am at odds at what to do. Please help.

If I were you, I'd call the USTA section who handled your appeal and demand that that your USTA membership be cancelled and fees be refunded. It has worked in the past with few 5.5 players I know in my area.

 

[DavaiMarat]

I played division 1 men's tennis for 5 years. It's been about 7 months since my last college match. Now I was on a division 1 team, but I was never a main lineup player. I probably played maybe 10 or 15 matches at most throughout my entire 5 years with moderate success. I would truly self rate myself at 5.0, but USTA just simply won't even begin to hear any kind of appeal to anyone who has been on a division 1 team. This 5.5 rating completely prohibits me from playing any league tennis in my area. If I was 5.0, I could at least play 9.0 mixed. This 5.5 completely prohibits me from playing competitive league... which isn't the USTA supposed to SUPPORT the development of tennis? I really am at odds at what to do. Please help.

To be honest Wings. I played on a 4.5 mens doubles league when I 1st joined my club. It wasn't fun. Yeah it was nice getting all the compliments but I knew it was eventually going to hurt my game. Plus, 3-4 service winners a game isn't fun for anyone. Compounded with the fact 50% of the guys in the league weren't real 4.5's but guys then needed to fill in.

Up here in Canada, we don't have the USTA to run everything so we pretty much have to do it ourselves. We have some leagues but nothing that sophisticated. I would go and organize my own doubles with some higher level folk, former satellite or some elite junior players.

I'm not being elitist when I say playing below your level will eventually hurt you. If you straight out of D1, aspire to play to that level as long as you can.

 

[wings56]

If I were you, I'd call the USTA section who handled your appeal and demand that that your USTA membership be cancelled and fees be refunded. It has worked in the past with few 5.5 players I know in my area.

thats a very good idea. ill have to seriously consider that. ill keep everyone updated on the status.

 

[BHSC]

Wings56,

You have a couple of options if you want to get to 5.0. Form a mixed 10.0 team and play in the Texas sectionals. Generally, 10.0 teams don't have to play a local season. Your team doesn't even have to be from your area. Playing this tournament will get you a new computer ranking.

Your other option is to form a 5.5 team and go straight to nationals (or sectionals if you have them). Your team doesn't have to be all 5.5s. It could be made up of some 5.0 guys. Again, you just need 5 individuals and they don't have to live nearby. One plus, the 5.5 Nationals are usually in Vegas.

Here's a link to this year's 5.5 event at the end of October.


Select: National Championships and NTRP: 5.5
http://tennislink.usta.com/Leagues/Main/StatsAndStandings.aspx?SearchType=0

 

[OrangePower]

SuperJimmy, everything you say makes sense. I was just thinking that nothing prevents 4.5s and 5.0s from playing in a 5.5 league, if the intent is to group them all together. So really it's just about the name. And you make a good point below that calling it 4.5+ rather than 5.5 would encourage more 4.5s to play even though it's effectively the same thing.

3. Why don't 4.5s just play up? Well you have to have the right mentality and maybe some players just don't have that when they see on paper "5.0 division". In their mind they automatically assume they are going to lose every match because everyone is rated higher than them. They don't want to be the worst player in the league. Well now that is says 4.5+, hey maybe there are a few guys this 4.5 believes he/she can beat, maybe now, he/she is okay with it. That insecurity is gone. Maybe the next 4.5 player now jumps on the band wagon...

 

[JLyon]

believe new rule out last year only allows a player to play up one level, so 4.5 can play 5.0 league, but a 4.0 can not play in a 5.0, so assume it would be the same in that a 4.5 could not play in a 5.5 league, but I assume anyone could play Open League.

 

[Lendl]

We go through the same things here in Michigan. 4.5 is the highest offered and playing 9.0 mixed isn't exciting to some of the top guys. Not to discourage you but unless you are better with appeals than we are it will be a while before they change your rating. USTA is definitely a tough one to convince on playing level. I play with a 5.5 that was at Saint Louis and he is 29 and can't get a break yet to play even at 5.0.

I played division 1 men's tennis for 5 years. It's been about 7 months since my last college match. Now I was on a division 1 team, but I was never a main lineup player. I probably played maybe 10 or 15 matches at most throughout my entire 5 years with moderate success. I would truly self rate myself at 5.0, but USTA just simply won't even begin to hear any kind of appeal to anyone who has been on a division 1 team. This 5.5 rating completely prohibits me from playing any league tennis in my area. If I was 5.0, I could at least play 9.0 mixed. This 5.5 completely prohibits me from playing competitive league... which isn't the USTA supposed to SUPPORT the development of tennis? I really am at odds at what to do. Please help.

 

[HookEmJeff]

There has been some talk of allowing a limited number of 5.5 players to join and play on 5.0 teams.

Otherwise I have little sympathy. As someone said - you are too good for USTA league tennis. D1 players appealing down simply pushes 5.5 players into 5.0, 5.0 players into 4.5, etc. It isn't fair to the legitimate players at those ratings.

Your friends that self rated at 18 found the hole in the self rating process. I'd argue that USTA needs to close this gap to prevent abuses by high school players that intend to play at college.

Totally agree with this.

Jeff

 

[rainman007]

i think the usta should adopt the rule for adult.. If its a 5.0 league a 5.5 could play doubles with a 4.5 but the 5.5 could not play singles.. @ do that for every league a 4.0 league could have a 4.5 and 3.5 doubles but not higher than 4.0 for singles.. maybe thats to complicated but it would give 5.0 and higher more playing opportunities

 

[wings56]

Wings56,

You have a couple of options if you want to get to 5.0. Form a mixed 10.0 team and play in the Texas sectionals. Generally, 10.0 teams don't have to play a local season. Your team doesn't even have to be from your area. Playing this tournament will get you a new computer ranking.

Your other option is to form a 5.5 team and go straight to nationals (or sectionals if you have them). Your team doesn't have to be all 5.5s. It could be made up of some 5.0 guys. Again, you just need 5 individuals and they don't have to live nearby. One plus, the 5.5 Nationals are usually in Vegas.

Here's a link to this year's 5.5 event at the end of October.


Select: National Championships and NTRP: 5.5
http://tennislink.usta.com/Leagues/Main/StatsAndStandings.aspx?SearchType=0

now this is a great idea. im gonna get on it. thank you so much for the input.

 

[Vik]

Get on or form a 5.5 team. There is usually a 5.5 sectional in Dallas each summer. Normally teams from Houston, Dallas and one other city.

Play 2 matches. Win or lose you'll probably get knocked down to 5.0.

Scratch this. It doesn't look like there was 5.5 league (even at nationals) in 2011.


***Here's the way to do it. Check out Sydney Jim on tennislink.
He was a 5.5 (self-rate it looks) in 2011. Played on some BS Houston 4.5+ local league that somehow counts towards your rating. He got a 4.5 computer rating at year end. :shock: :shock: :shock: I think he used to post on here. Had a go at playing some futures events a few years ago.

 

[andfor]

Are the "anti-foriegn NCAA Division 1 players" reading this?

First the complaint about too many foreigners playing D1. Now former D1 players complaining about being too good for USTA league tennis.

Not good enough to play college tennis, too good to play when they get done.

Sheesh.........when will the complaining end?

 

[ian2]

Are the "anti-foriegn NCAA Division 1 players" reading this?

First the complaint about too many foreigners playing D1. Now former D1 players complaining about being too good for USTA league tennis.

Not good enough to play college tennis, too good to play when they get done.

Sheesh.........when will the complaining end?

But there really is a problem, isn't there? Given that very few people are affected, but... they honestly self-rate after being done with D1/D2 level tennis, and are effectively prohibited from playing anything but Open tournaments. It's unfair to them, and does not help growing the game. I'd be in favor of "Top Dog" leagues open to everyone with 4.5 or above rating (in addition to the "regular" 4.5 and 5.0 leagues). Not that I'd ever qualify...

 

[Rob_C]

I think the rules state that if the player was ranked in the top 125 in D I, or played for a ranked D I school, not sure about the school ranking cutoff, then the player has to rate at 5.5.

If the player wasn't ranked, or didn't play for a ranked school, then the player can rate at 5.0.

I was wrong, I was off by a level.

If you played DI you do have to rate at 5.5, if you were ranked or played for a ranked school, you have to rate at 6.0.

 

[Cindysphinx]

Wow. If I ever play WTT 4.0 and there is some guy who just finished tearing it up at Stanford about to return my serve, that would be my last day playing WTT.

 

[LeeD]

True, if you, a girl, ever had to play a serious match against a guy who just got thru playing singles for Stanford, it would not be fair.
It might not be so bad if you were a GUY, say 4.0 level, rising in skills, have every shot the Stanford guy has (of course, more erratic, goes withoiut saying) intending to play at A/Open levels soon, and wants to experience more than a handful of players of that level.
See, some 4.0's might dread playing a 5.5-6.0. Another 4.0 might NEED and relish the idea of playing up 1.5 levels, possibly because he might not have established his true level yet!
Different players have different goals, aspiirations, and different ideas on how to get there. Not all of us relish the idea of playing thru the ranks, nor think they have the time to do so.

 

[wings56]

Scratch this. It doesn't look like there was 5.5 league (even at nationals) in 2011.


***Here's the way to do it. Check out Sydney Jim on tennislink.
He was a 5.5 (self-rate it looks) in 2011. Played on some BS Houston 4.5+ local league that somehow counts towards your rating. He got a 4.5 computer rating at year end. :shock: :shock: :shock: I think he used to post on here. Had a go at playing some futures events a few years ago.

unbelievable. i was going to join this league but i couldnt because of night class. that definitely is the way to do it. i trained with sydney one day over the summer when i was still in college. he certainly had a big game.

 

[wings56]

Are the "anti-foriegn NCAA Division 1 players" reading this?

First the complaint about too many foreigners playing D1. Now former D1 players complaining about being too good for USTA league tennis.

Not good enough to play college tennis, too good to play when they get done.

Sheesh.........when will the complaining end?

seems like a complaint about complaining? obviously the complaints about the foreign players are ignorant. obviously if american players were better than the foreign players then they would be playing above them. simple as that. please dont make harsh accusations until you have been forced to rate at a level above your ability that prohibits you from actually being able to compete with those that ARE at your level and forces you to jump through hoops to finally get down to your actual level. this was not a complaint thread, but simply one to ask for suggestions as to how i should go about getting to the level i should be competing at. thanks.

 

[Nostradamus]

Get on or form a 5.5 team. There is usually a 5.5 sectional in Dallas each summer. Normally teams from Houston, Dallas and one other city.

Play 2 matches. Win or lose you'll probably get knocked down to 5.0.

This is very tough to do. Most of the regions don't even have that level of 5.5. What you can do is play some Open level tournaments in the are ? USTA if possible. and lose some matches to 4.5 and 5.0 level guys. Just make sure the score is like 6-2 6-3. Legit score but you are saying you lost easily. you will get bumped down to 5.0

 

[Lendl]

I don't think tournaments affect the travel team rating do they? In our area we have multiple guys that do either really well or really poorly in sanctioned tournaments and neither get their ratings changed.

This is very tough to do. Most of the regions don't even have that level of 5.5. What you can do is play some Open level tournaments in the are ? USTA if possible. and lose some matches to 4.5 and 5.0 level guys. Just make sure the score is like 6-2 6-3. Legit score but you are saying you lost easily. you will get bumped down to 5.0

 

[Nostradamus]

Wings....I had a situation like yours and this is exactly what I was told to do after talking with Todd Reed and finally Tosha Smith. My issue was being 50 and having to play 25 and 30 yr olds at the 5.0 and open level. Told to go and lose at some tourneys. I would ctc Todd Reed first and see what they tell you now. Crazy system.

I don't get it. so you lost and ratings didnt' change ?

 

[wings56]

We had just moved back to the states and when I went to renew my membership I had to self rate to get into a league. Based on past history and college exp I was allowed to drop down from 5.5 to 5.0 I was just turning 49 and 20+ lbs heavier and I knew I had no shot of keeping up at the 5.0 and open level in the Houston area. I asked to be allowed to play at 4.5 and supplied at the time my current official French FFT level (it corresponded with 4.5 in the USTA system). I was told no that I had to play at 5.0 (the drop from 5.5 to 5.0 was all that would be allowed). in the end after dozens of emails and phone calls I was told by the States Asst SLC Todd Reed that I should just play some events and hope that I lose as his feeling was that I might just win. My issue was I know my limitations and I found it was BS I would have to enter events just to lose so the computer could drop me. So because I told the truth about what I did 30+ when filling out the questionaire I can't enjoy playing at a level where I should be.

yeah, Todd Reed was very less than helpful. I asked him to direct me to the nearest 5.5 team, he just said: "sorry, there is no 5.5 league in your area" great... thanks so much.

 

[goober]

had i known i would have this problem, i would have self rated at 4.0 or 4.5 when i turned 18 (which would have been spot on) like my buddies who played on the team with me and are computer rated 5.0s now...

This must be the loophole some are exploiting. There is a former D1 player in our league his late 20s playing 4.0. with a C rating. :shock: It sounds like he was at low level D1 school and I am not sure how much playing time he got. He almost never loses except in mixed doubles. I actually asked him why he is playing 4.0. He gave the usual "I just play where the computer puts me"

 

[JLyon]

This must be the loophole some are exploiting. There is a former D1 player in our league his late 20s playing 4.0. with a C rating. :shock: It sounds like he was at low level D1 school and I am not sure how much playing time he got. He almost never loses except in mixed doubles. I actually asked him why he is playing 4.0. He gave the usual "I just play where the computer puts me"

If he is under 30 and played any college == He lied on on his self-rate and nobody NARC'ed him out. Does not matter if he walked-on or played full time, if he stepped on a court he should have been 4.5 minimum and D1 = 5.5 minimum

 

[maggmaster]

Yes but you do not get auto disqualified if you already have a lower rating before you play in college.

 

[andfor]

Yes but you do not get auto disqualified if you already have a lower rating before you play in college.

That's the Loop Hole. Players self-rating when they turn 18, maybe have a lower sectional or national junior ranking and possibly have not signed with a major D1 program or are going as a walk-on. Also have seen kids who had high sectional rankings as a 17 year old then tail off senior year and self-rate as an 18 year old as a 4.5. Some of these end up playing D1 tennis somewhere.

Personally I don't care if a kid played 2 matches each year for a ranked D1 team. If they lettered that means they are training full time. That being the case playing 4.0/4.5 tennis is a joke.

 

[goober]

If he is under 30 and played any college == He lied on on his self-rate and nobody NARC'ed him out. Does not matter if he walked-on or played full time, if he stepped on a court he should have been 4.5 minimum and D1 = 5.5 minimum

Well I bothered to go look him up. He played at low level D1 college and played #6 singles and also played doubles. It looks like he only played one year. He is in his mid 20s. Apparently the league coordinator is aware of his background and says he is "fine to play" according to people I talked to- lol.