When I look at American College Tennis why are the rosters filled with foreign players. I'm just going to take a simple guess and say their just better players. Ok then that begs the question why?
Why are foreign kids in particular European and South American kids better in general than American players in Jr tennis? It's evident that a lot of these foreign players are playing in US colleges ? How many thousands of kids play competitive USTA tournaments consistently? What is it about their Jr development efforts that make their jr' s better than ours? Is it because only the upper middle class can afford to send the kids to high performance tennis academies? Is it because most of our top athletes play in other sports like football, basketball, and baseball? I've heard people say American kids are to spoiled they don't want it bad enough? blah blah blah. I'm just trying to understand why a country like ours with all of the resources, facilities, and coaches aren't producing better players. Is the USTA Jr Development program all to blame? I keep seeing efforts where (USTA) spends resources on programs that target a lower socio economic demographic to gain interest from kids that might not otherwise have the opportunity to play the sport. Don't get me wrong this is great but is it the answer? Seems like wasted effort if your trying to create the next Pete Sampras or Andre Agassi. Tennis takes a huge financial commitment over the span of many years to produce an elite tennis player. Wouldn't it make sense to create programs that cater to those families that have already made large commitments and where their is true unrealized potential? But unfortunately those kids cant afford the luxury to compete at the highest levels? Is it the way Tennis is taught here? Is it because Jr's in Europe use compression balls when there 8 and our kids use normal balls and moonball for the first 4 years of competitive tennis? (sorry that was more of a rant on 10s and 12's) so happy those years are behind us. Do European countries have some sort of dev program where they take all their young jr athletes and put them in IMG type facilities from a very young age? We do that too I suppose with homeschooling and performance academies? Those of us that can afford it do it here right? But this also limits most of the population from having access to these types of facilities because there so expensive.
Funny thing is even the rich foreign kids come to America to train at places like IMG or many of the other high performance academies. But the USTA with all of it's vast wealth and plethora of jr players competing tournaments on a weekly bases cant make it work?
Just wanted to open this up to discussion.
Thoughts on what could be done to make our jr's more competitive on a global scale?
Wow this topic is all over the place. My actual intent was to point out that US Colleges are still picking in general a large percentage of their players from a foreign roster. Meaning that our very own USTA which is responsible as the governing body for competitive Jr tennis in the US is not working as well as it potentially could be. The USTA should be developing ways in which to enhance competitive Jr tennis in the US so that our Jr's can compete or do better than other countries. They should be looking out and helping kids that have shown the commitment and promise to take it to the next level. The USTA should be able to create a talent pool good enough so that US colleges don't have to look very far to recruit. Given the vast wealth of our country and the VAST WEALTH OF THE USTA. It would be nice if they spread that wealth around in enhancing development of Jr tennis in our country. I'm not saying I know the answer. I'm just reporting the problem. Wouldn't it be great if US colleges picked US players to play on their roster because they were good enough. If you cant tell by now yes I'm a disgruntled father of a junior player and spending a fortune going all over the place to play in USTA Jr tennis events but to what end? My son IF he stays on track and that's a very big if as it's possible I will burn out long before he will, will get to play at a very good D1 school and split a partial scholarship with a bunch of other kids, yippie. Yes he's very good player. Top 20 in his class according to TRN Bluechip blah blah blah. Here is why I'm pissed, were having to do this on our own with absolutely ZERO, NADA, ZIPPO help from the USTA! He has aspirations of going pro and right around now is where he really needs to put in the hard work as the next year or so is when colleges are looking. He's up against the proverbial wall, should be getting better training, coaching (USTA training centers)etc... To even consider going pro most folks would need a mini fortune to start. Even winning a small 10K futures event is barely enough to cover the cost of all the expenses. So it's really hard meaning if you have talent, strong work ethic, devotion,commitment but lack of $$. You would think that kids like this and there are many, should be identified by the governing body designed to take these young studs and turn them into race horses, right? The USTA is a JOKE! He's been a top 20 player for the last three years and the only thing we have heard from the USTA is a letter congratulating him on him wining a National Selection tournament. That alone should warrant further evaluation of some sort. It's funny he has a full sponsorship with a major racket manufacture (they believe in him), 80% sponsorship from clothing manufacture, 50% sponsorship from a string manufacture. He's been asked by a private academy to come out and spend a full year at their academy at their expense worth 35K. Last week A total stranger walked up to his coach and was so impressed with how good he was that he started talking to his coach and offered to help. WTF? Even his current academy helps out as well as it's crazy expensive and were very appreciative of that. I'm not saying he's the next Andre or Pete but dam ***** take a look at the kid. There are a bunch of kids with a lot of talent that go completely unnoticed by the USTA, my son included. With all of this attention do you think we ever hear from the USTA? He just played the biggest event in our section and I didn't see one person from "USTA". I'm not counting the referee's. This is a huge event 128 draw L1 tournament do you think anyone was there. Maybe they were there but they certainly didn't make themselves known. This is a message for the USTA JR DEVELOPMENT GET YOUR HEAD OUT OF YOUR ASS AND START PAYING ATTENTION TO WHATS GOING ON! PUT THE HELP WHERE IT"S NEEDED! Yeah I'm pissed. My son will play college tennis and will more than likely get a partial scholarship. But he might be able to go all the way, but oh well there goes another one. If it happens it happens. Besides who needs coaching, mentorship, training facilities? Who needs to live up to ones full potential? USTA YOUR KIDS NEED YOUR SUPPORT! I don't expect many of you to know where I'm coming from but if you have kids playing the USTA CRAP you know exactly what I'm talking about. Maybe you don't feel that the USTA is obligated to help. From what I hear they do help some, and that's great. As the governing body of US JR tennis they should be doing more.
Ah that felt good even if no one reads this lol. Now ask me how I really feel!
It's not about me. As I've pointed out were pretty much set. Our situation is not typical though. This is more about the lack of transparency and leadership from the USTA with regards to a GOOD Jr. Development program. I see so many really good kids that have unrealized potential that will never materialize because there is very little help from the USTA at the sectional and local levels. One idea would be to hold several "tournaments" at the local and sectional level, bring out the powers at be and help identify the really good kids. Then HELP them, get to know the clubs they train at, get to know the coaches etc.... The endorsement list thing there doing IMO doesn't really work. It's not managed properly. Endorsement listings come out twice a year and they come out BEFORE a major sectional event. I'm tired of feeding into a program that sucks! Unfortunately we don't have options. ITF's are not an option. There are so many good USTA players that could be GREAT. In our section we have 1500+ competitive kids we have 3 blue chip players at our club alone and not one of the kids has ever heard from someone at the USTA. Wow one would think gees these coaches must be on to something. I'm just one person but I assume I'm not alone as I hear similar stuff from other parents all the time. A lot of us would like things to change and have the USTA take a more progressive approach than the current system. Just think of all that money that's going into the new facility in Orlando who do you think is paying for that?You got full funding to an elite academy. What more do you want?
He just played the biggest event in our section and I didn't see one person from "USTA". I'm not counting the referee's. This is a huge event 128 draw L1 tournament do you think anyone was there. Maybe they were there but they certainly didn't make themselves known. This is a message for the USTA JR DEVELOPMENT GET YOUR HEAD OUT OF YOUR ASS AND START PAYING ATTENTION TO WHATS GOING ON! PUT THE HELP WHERE IT"S NEEDED! Yeah I'm pissed.
I too wish there were more options. Why does there need to be 128 draw sectional tournaments? Shouldn't players have to earn their way into sectional level 1s? Only national tournaments should be 128-192 draws. The longer the tournament, the more time a parent is away from work or home, the more wear and tear on a junior's body, the higher the expenses. For those students who go to regular school, 128 draws mean more missed school.Unfortunately we don't have options.
USTA made a smart choice in its new PD head-Martin Blackman who seems to be open to new ideas. He's from Boca so he's had exposure to international players, academies, and ITFs. While US teenagers have done well recently on the pro circuit, I hope he has some ideas on how US junior can compete better at the college level with internationals.Sounds like a well thought out plan I nominate jcgatennismom for the position of USTA Jr development coach! If it were only that easy.
I've got family in Lake Mary area so will be heading down there frequently.
Lake Nona will also be used by recreational players. There is going to be a lodge where rec players can stay and play, like the resorts. I believe condos will be available for purchase. Imagine retiring in that area! Pure tennis bliss.
"Imagine" is what most people will have to do - this is a playground for the rich.
BMC, I just took a look. There are many single-family properties available in every typical suburban range (250K, 4-500K, 6-800K), as well as condos in the 150-250K range. Compared to the coasts, Naples or Ft. Lauderdale, prices are reasonable. At today's mortgage rates, the condos and 250-300K houses are affordable.
I'd rather live on the coast and drive to tournaments at Lake Nona, but that's a separate issue. I wouldn't want to be age 85 in the middle of a tennis center. Rather stare at the ocean, gather shells, write memoirs, drink rum. laugh.
100 courts? I think four centers of 25 courts each spread around the country would do the national tennis posture more good, perhaps one in CA, one in TX, one in FL, and one in SC. -but nobody asked me. laugh.
There is no way to deny that you are trolling102 courts to be precise.
Advantage of Orlando over coasts is that hurricanes die by the time they come there. On the coast, you will be evacuating every year at age 85.
BTW, are these properties close or inside the complex? How did you search for them? Can you post the links?
102 courts to be precise.
Advantage of Orlando over coasts is that hurricanes die by the time they come there. On the coast, you will be evacuating every year at age 85.
......................How did you search for them? Can you post the links?
There is no way to deny that you are trolling
Why are you so rude? Just mean to people.I agree it is not relevant to you because Lake Nona will hire only high-performance coaches
BMC, I just took a look. There are many single-family properties available in every typical suburban range (250K, 4-500K, 6-800K), as well as condos in the 150-250K range. Compared to the coasts, Naples or Ft. Lauderdale, prices are reasonable. At today's mortgage rates, the condos and 250-300K houses are affordable.
I'd rather live on the coast and drive to tournaments at Lake Nona, but that's a separate issue. I wouldn't want to be age 85 in the middle of a tennis center. Rather stare at the ocean, gather shells, write memoirs, drink rum. laugh.
100 courts? I think four centers of 25 courts each spread around the country would do the national tennis posture more good, perhaps one in CA, one in TX, one in FL, and one in SC. -but nobody asked me. laugh.
I do expect some serious parents to move there for their kids. It is no different than anyone moving to be closer to the action.
Sure, a few. But it doesn't do anything to support talented players with good coaches at home, or develop tennis culture in schools and communities around the country, or anything for "grass roots" growth of the game. A very small percentage of juniors will ever set foot in this place. Tennis needs to be more accessible, not less.
Sure, a few. But it doesn't do anything to support talented players with good coaches at home, or develop tennis culture in schools and communities around the country, or anything for "grass roots" growth of the game. A very small percentage of juniors will ever set foot in this place. Tennis needs to be more accessible, not less.
There are numerous USTA programs for that, including matching grants for courts and 4 regional tennis centers. This does not change any of that.
The Lake Nona USTA site will also serve as home courts for the University of Central Florida men's and women's tennis team.
Of which more than half of both the men's and women's rosters are made up of foreign players, and yet the USTA helps justify this huge spend by touting how it will help American junior development.
My kid is deep into usta right now. I see all kinds of issues. But he will never be a pro or anything so I'm just rolling with it. And trying to not rage at usta. Lol.
Yeah, mine too. For the most part, it's a good experience, but like you, my kids are not trying to be pros. It does, however, make one "rage" a bit when the tennis "establishment" laments the state of US tennis and you see how the USTA and NCAA spend millions, partially raised from us who have kids in it, in ways that won't help it get better. Oh well.