American Jr Tennis why are we falling behind?

Moveforwardalways

Hall of Fame
Nobody owns their own likeness anymore anyway. For instance, anyone can snap an iPhone pic of you doing anything stupid looking, add a caption, and boom you're now an international Internet meme on Reddit. Reddit profits from website hits, but do they owe you anything for profiting from your embarrassing image? Not a dime.
 
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!
 
P

PittsburghDad

Guest
Do the math here. You say he's top 20. For his age group. There's a new 20 every single year. And it's not like every year is a fresh start on the ATP tour. 20 new guys don't fall out. Guys have to go take those spots away.

And that's JUST American. 40 other countries are all doing the same math.

How can the USTA spend what you acknowledge is a "mini-fortune.". on every top 20 kid? On the long shot they might make it? And even if you're winning Jr Slams its still not a sure bet. Not even close. I understand the frustration. I consigned myself to the reality long ago that I will go broke if that's what had to happen for her to be funded. Sad but true. But these are just the brutal economics of a sport the whole world plays and 150 people maybe a year make a living.

PS. You got offered a FULL RIDE at an Academy. Take it then if you are thinking pros. What more could the USTA do for you?
 
I think there are plenty of ways that the USTA could support player development. For starters support should be funded at local club level. More regional and team events. Champions are made at the local club level not at some large facility in FL or NY. Support could also be managed similar to getting an academic scholarship you go below a certain GPA you loose your scholarship. There is no radar. There is no criteria. There are no guidelines. If there are please point them out. I'm not saying I have the answers I'm saying there is a problem and I don't see anything being done about it. The problem to me is that we have this very large independently run organization that is the governing body for US jr tennis and there supposed to be developing top juniors. Well what's the roadmap on how to get there? You cant expect a kid to go to Kalamazoo and win it to get noticed without have a major support structure behind him just to get him there in the first place. I've seen many many kids that have huge unrealized potential but don't have the funds. There is very little support at the local and sectional levels.

One thing I've noticed lately is the increase in points for higher Jr events. It looks like what is intended is to have a the kids that are winning these bigger events quickly rise to the top and essentially leave everyone else behind. There could be 2-4K points difference between the 1 and 20 player. In order to break into the top 20 you almost need to get to the Semi's or better to accumulate enough points. Also the bonus points have gone up dramatically as well. It would be good to know what the intention is for all this. To me it seems it's more about politics (who you know) and stereotyping that's get noticed.
 
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PittsburghDad

Guest
I could not agree more about the local club funding. Thanks for the thread too, I learned a bunch from it!
 

Ash_Smith

Legend
American Jr Tennis why are we falling behind?

Stefan Leustian just won Les Petits As in ridiculously convincing
fashion - the kid has got it all from what I could see.
 

Moveforwardalways

Hall of Fame
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!

You got full funding to an elite academy. What more do you want?
 
You got full funding to an elite academy. What more do you want?
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?
 

onehandbh

G.O.A.T.
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.

How did your son do in that 128 draw L1 tournament? semis? finals? winner?
 

jcgatennismom

Hall of Fame
Unfortunately we don't have options.
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.

What I'd like to see for future players (irrevelant for my 11th grader)
1) All sectional tourneys except summer championship 64 draw or less. All take 1/8 from lower age (current level 1s dont). Consider a play in tournament Friday night. Maybe have a 96 draw tournament but the main guys only play 64 draw starting on Saturday and those who lose prior to 64 draw dont play in consolation. With 128 draws, there is a lag in consolation, and those who lose in R16 have to sit a day to play a backdraw match. There were weather delays at last level 1, and some players had 4 short set matches in one day.
2) Eventual use of UTR as selection for national junior tournaments. I see 2 star players from weak sections continue to get in national tournaments based on quotas. These guys might be top 5 in their section, but they may have a 2-25 record outside their section. Meanwhile top 100 TRN players with 50% or better win rates at national level 1-3s may miss out on some national 1s and 2s due to outdated endorsement rules.
3) More open play. Suppose a Florida player wants to go to college in the Northeast or a southern player in the *******. It would be great if a couple wild cards could be set aside so high level players could play players from other sectionals outside the few national tournaments. Maybe to qualify the player would have to be a certain level in their own section or a UTR 12+. Maybe the top 3 out of section players who met the criteria could be chosen. Players get tired of playing the same players several times a year.
4) Similar to 3, make all closed regionals open again. Let players decide where they want to play. Regionals were closed so player would not chase points. However, chasing is not really that big a problem. If a player is not talented, even if he gets in a tourney far from home, he won't go deep. Have to go deep to get decent points so traveling far to win a single match or two won't affect rankings much.
5) More local tournaments that are open to juniors, pros, internationals, and college players. In metro areas in tennis strong areas, there are plenty of players. If these type of tournaments could be sanctionned by USTA as opens or if at least USTA would allow tennislink for registration, and tourneys were included in UTR database, it could be possible for a junior to develop a high UTR ranking without playing many tournaments far from home. Also college coaches could view results and see how US juniors played vs current college players and low level pros. Also it would be good practice for college players who were not getting much play in the line up.

Bottom line: US players are sharing a constantly shrinking pool of scholarship $. The ratio of international freshmen to US freshmen increases each year. If you look at the college today blog, the top 10 freshmen per UTR ranking were not even US players. US parents need a reality check. They may pay $15-30K+ a year for 6-10 years for a shot at a $10k a year or less scholarship unless they are blue chip (25 a year) or extremely smart. Since scholarships will be lower, parents need to spend less $ on tennis tournament travel and put some $ back in college fund. Expenses can be cut significantly if players can find high level tournament play locally or regionally. Have some tournaments without backdraws; players who play ITFs are used to that. In Florida, Texas, California, the South especially but, *******, Northeast, and Midatlantic too, there are cities that are tennis meccas. Some entrepreneurs need to put together more tournaments and market to the juniors, pros, internationals, and college players. USTA needs to let them use tennislink; UTR would be used for selection and seeding and results would be included in UTR. If tournaments could be hosted at college campuses on nonfootball, non invitational weekends, even better. That would be a way to grow the sport and develop US players cheaply. The US for its size has a very small share of ITF tournaments. These Open type of tournaments could fill one void-enable college coaches to see how US juniors compete vs international juniors as well as current college players and pros. There are plenty of international juniors already in the US . They are not allowed to play high level USTA tournaments so they would probably jump at the chance to play these opens. The selection process for these Open would be fairer than ITFs too; a players with a single ITF point would be selected to play in main draw (even if earned in places like Haiti) over high nationally ranked players without ITF points. Unlike ITFs, maybe these Opens could be held on weekends-top 25 UTR that registered so players who go to regular school could play. The Opens could be leveled so some might be geared to UTR 11.5-12,5 for 4 star and 5 star players and equivalent internationals and mid major players, while other could be geared to 12.5/13+ for blue chips, low level pros, and college players from better D1 teams.
 

tennis_balla

Hall of Fame
Rarely do universities give out full ride scholarships for the men. For women its a different story. There's a history behind that, you can look it up. For a freshman to get 100% is ultra rare, usually its not until senior year where full rides are given out. Tennis programs at universities are being cancelled, the money and now interest just isn't there besides the big schools.
 

jcgatennismom

Hall of Fame
Sounds like a well thought out plan I nominate jcgatennismom for the position of USTA Jr development coach! If it were only that easy.
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.
Here's a link to an interview
An Interview with Martin Blackman, General Manager USTA Player Development by Colette Lewis, 26 June 2015 http://www.tennisrecruiting.net/article.asp?id=2246
Here's some interesting quotes from it "I've been studying a little bit what other federations are doing, studying our systems, the systems we have in place right now. I'm always going to be doing that, I'm always going to be listening and learning..."

"I think we have an opportunity to make some very important changes in the junior comp structure... We at Player Development, we understand that for the health of the entire game, we need to make sure that the 95 percent of the kids who are playing are having a great experience; that they love playing tournaments, that the tournaments are family friendly. We understand that that's really the primary goal, and the primary goal of the junior comp structure shouldn't be to cater to the needs of the top 5 percent of the players in the structure. We in Player Development are going to make sure that those top, high performance players get the type of tournament schedule they need. We're going to make sure that we use tournaments as a tool to develop those players. In lots of cases, it's a combination of USTA tournaments, of ITF tournaments and eventually Pro Circuit tournaments. But the No. 1 priority has to be just growing the pyramid, growing the base for those 95 percent of the kids that we have to keep in the game."

What are your thoughts on the Universal Tennis Rating system? Could it be part of the changes you mentioned?
MB: ... I think it's going to be a very valuable tool. It's going to give tournament directors and folks who deal with rankings great information to create more competitive matches and better seedings. It's going to give us all very good information when we create match play situations, and it's really going to facilitate boys playing against girls and juniors playing against adults. Those are all really good outcomes that you can see. France is probably the best example of a system where you have so many competitive, quality matches played because of their rating system."

I like that Martin is open to new ideas, is looking at UTR as a possible seeding tool, and is looking at what other countries and the ITFs are doing. It great that it sounds like he is interested in all junior tennis players not just the top 100, but some there needs to be some action. Either he needs to work with the ITF to get more ITFs on US soil or create alternates Opens as I listed in prior post. If USTA PD cares about all junior players, then they need to put plans in motion to make US juniors competive with internationals. While the top 5% may end up spending time at Lake Nona, the next tier down from the top 5% just need more opportunities to hit with internationals and college players locally or regionally.

However USTA is 17 sections and some of the staff both nationally and sectionally will be resistant to change. I hope Martin can unite the sectional heads and come up with a vision and plan before US junior tennis hits a tipping point. More male players will quit or never start playing if there are few college or pro opportunities for US players.
 
It's great to see a new person in place. I don't think Patrick M was doing very much. To me it seemed like he was riding the coat tails of the Williams sisters and they weren't even a product of the USTA. They just happened to be American. So MB has now been in his position for at least six months. It would seem that he's been given adequate time to study the situation, make an assessment and commit to change. It doesn't appear that's he's done much so far. I haven't seen any changes in the way the USTA does things for the 2016 calendar year. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that his voice will be heard once Lake Nona facility is closer to completion. With all that money there dumping into this there going to want to make a big splash. Unfortunately recruiting the best of the best and changing coaches, relocation so on and so fourth is probably the worst thing they can do. Champions are grown from small clubs. Lets hope Mr. MB follows his convictions and isn't forced to make decisions based on corporate politicking. That's going to be a real challenge in it's self.

When he mentions top 5% do you think he's referencing the top 5% of all national players under the B&G18's OR across the board 12-18's? If it's the latter then that would be a lot of players? If we look at the B16's NATIONAL list there are currently 1500+ plus players 5% would be about 75 players just for the boys. WOW. If it's B&G18's then I would think most kids at the top 5% are in their second year and if that's the case there probably already committing to a college. Not to mention that getting to the top 5% requires a lot of traveling and playing a lot of National events. I hope it's not based off the National Ranking! Your right It makes a lot more sense if they utilize a ranking system like the UTR. If they do go this route they would also have to open up ranking support to other venues. Right now I can think of a few International / National events like the Easter bowl, Eddie Herr and Orange bowl. Why not open up this up to some colligate events as well. I've seen many Jr home schoolers B16's take down D1 and D2 kids during the summer months.

TennisInformation.com sees to be a very accurate ranking system and it's based off of age group. This would better align with the current USTA model. Not sure if it would be a fix. I don't know much about this system but looking at some of the standings they had several kids in our section that play a lot of ITF's. These guys haven't played a sectional event in at least 12 months there just too good. If it's based off UTR then chances are this will be reserved for typically the older players. There are a very few 12-14's that have a UTR of 12+. They might consider players with a UTR ranking of 13+ Wow it's so hard to make everyone happy.

Will all just have to wait and see what the future holds for Mr MB.

Key point is that the USTA has realized that changes are needed and have put someone new in place. Lets hope he turns things around in a positive way.
 
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sureshs

Bionic Poster
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.
 

sureshs

Bionic Poster
I've got family in Lake Mary area so will be heading down there frequently.

I used to live in Orlando from 1994 to 1996. If I had been able to look into the future and see Lake Nona, I would never have left. Now homes have become expensive back then they were cheap.
 

BMC9670

Hall of Fame
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.
 

Curiosity

Professional
"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.
 

sureshs

Bionic Poster
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.

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.

BTW, are these properties close or inside the complex? How did you search for them? Can you post the links?
 

julian

Hall of Fame
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.

BTW, are these properties close or inside the complex? How did you search for them? Can you post the links?
There is no way to deny that you are trolling
 

Curiosity

Professional
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?

Suresh, I simply googled Lake Nona, FL. Very many listings came up. I then scanned for listings that were in the Village or in one of the desirable neighborhoodss, judging from the map I opened.

As for Hurricanes at 85. Drinking rum and hurricane are BOTH entertaining activities, provided a good viewing room has been built, which doesn't cost much. The coasts have a better climate on every non-hurricane day. But anyway, I'm not giving up the other places for Florida..... Florida would just be January-May indulgence.
 

sureshs

Bionic Poster
I just read in the latest TI magazine that the USPTA is moving its headquarters from Houston to Lake Nona into a new 10000 sq ft facility. The same builder will help in finding homes for the relocated employees. I expect that as USTA and USPTA employees relocate, the home market will heat up there.
 

BMC9670

Hall of Fame
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.

Sorry, those "lower priced" properties will be second or third vacation spots for a very small percentage of people who can afford such. If a family is relocating here for tennis training, well, that's another problem with the USTa development system altogether. This won't do anything to make US tennis more competitive with the world in tennis. In fact, it's another tool for the rest of the world (including stacked foreign college tennis rosters) to come to the US and get ahead.
 

sureshs

Bionic Poster
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.
 

BMC9670

Hall of Fame
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.
 

Curiosity

Professional
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.

I agree with most of your points. When I think of Lake Nona I imagine that ten years from now 70% of the courts will be empty most of the year. Supporting four or five regional centers would, in my opinion, be more productive. Who wants to play tennis in FL in the summer? Not me. I'd rather play in the Phoenix heat than the FL humidity. And as for the expense of the whole thing, I'd just as well send the kid to Spain. Good tennis ethos, dry, less humidity.
 

sureshs

Bionic Poster
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.
 

BMC9670

Hall of Fame
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.
 

BMC9670

Hall of Fame
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.
 
Being really competitive myself and hating inept actions I really have to hold my tongue and check my inner crazy at the usta. But it is teaching my son how to better compete in life so I just keep telling myself this.

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.
 
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