Junior Competition Changes for 2011
Justin, the changes are definitely coming,
I have a copy of the proposed amendments by Liz Blum Chairwoman of the USTA Junior Competition Committee.
Here is some info:
Rationale:
Rationale for Changes Related to USTA National Championships: The Committee believes that reducing the number of USTA National Championships from four to three will create a cost savings for junior players and less school time missed as it is the intent of the Committee to eliminate the USTA National Championships held in the spring. It also creates an opening in the calendar to sanction a National Excellence Tournament (classified as a USTA Regional Tournament with National Level 1 Ranking Points) at which the top players in each division can compete each year, a long-held goal of the Committee and the USTA Player Development Division. Selection data from the USTA National Championships indicates that although the draw sizes of these tournaments are 192 or 128, many players with rankings well below 300 gain acceptance into the existing tournaments. The Committee believes that the reduction in the number of tournaments, as well as the draw size decrease in the 14s divisions summer tournaments from 192 to 128, will improve the strength of field at each tournament.
The Committee is also proposing a reduction in the number of qualifiers from each USTA National Open that are accepted into USTA National Championships. The data indicates that not all of these selection spots are needed by the players to gain acceptance into the USTA National Championships; they have earned acceptance by other methods of entry, most typically because they are already on a Sectional Association’s quota list. The spots are being shifted to wild cards to allow the five-member Wild Card Committee (comprised of the tournament director, national volunteers, national coaches, and national staff) to ensure selection of all top players who were not otherwise eligible for selection. If all of the wild cards are not used, which is especially typical in the 14 and 12 divisions, the spots will go to endorsed players on the National Standings Lists. The Committee believes this is a preferred option that will improve the strength of field of the tournaments.
Although not part of the call item, as the USTA Regulations do not specify the surface on which the USTA National Championships are held, it is the intent of the Committee to sanction the USTA National Championships that will be held in the winter on indoor courts.
Rationale for Changes Related to USTA National Opens: The Committee is proposing a reduction in the number of USTA National Opens from four sets of four concurrent tournaments to three sets of four concurrent tournaments and is also proposing a draw size reduction from 64 to 32 per draw (a reduction from 256 to 128 per set of tournaments). Corresponding adjustments have been made to the method of selection and ordering of alternates to accommodate the draw size reduction. The Committee believes that reducing the number of USTA National Opens will create a cost savings for junior players. It also creates a valuable opening in the calendar for the Sections to schedule a tournament as it is the intent of the Committee to eliminate the USTA National Opens that are held over President’s Day Weekend in February. Selection data from the USTA National Opens indicates that although the cumulative draw size for each set of USTA National Opens in a division is 256, many players with rankings well below 600 gain acceptance into the existing tournaments. The Committee believes that the reduction in the number of tournaments as well as the draw size will improve the strength of field at each tournament.
The proposal also gives the Committee and the USTA Player Development division the authority to not play the singles Feed-in Championship to completion. It is the intent of the Committee to eliminate the final round match in the Feed-in Championship, shortening the tournament to three days and thereby reducing player costs and school time missed.
Finally, the proposal eliminates the redundant statement that ATP, WTA and ITF players can enter USTA National Opens if they appear on the National Standings List. Any player can enter a tournament, regardless of their eligibility. Selection is based on a process specified in the USTA Regulations and any player who is otherwise eligible, regardless of whether they have an ATP, WTA or ITF ranking, can be selected if they are on the appropriate National Standings List used for selection.
Rationale for Changes Related to USTA Regional Tournaments & USTA Boys’ and Girls’ 18 Interscholastic Championships (East/West): The proposal requires players in the USTA Regional Tournaments to meet the same eligibility requirements in place for the USTA Junior National Championships. The Committee believes that national junior tournaments should only allow entry of players who are eligible for national junior ranking. Entry of players who are not eligible for a national junior ranking reduces national competitive opportunities for our eligible players. Because the Committee’s proposals reduce overall draw spots in national tournaments, it believes it is especially important to make those draw spots available only to those players who are eligible to play in the USTA Junior National Championships and who are eligible for national ranking.
Although classified in the USTA Regulations as a USTA Junior National Championship, the USTA Boys’ and Girls’ 18 Interscholastic Championships (East/West) (“Interscholastics”) is otherwise the same as a USTA Regional Tournament in that its strength of field is similar and it is a National Level 3 Ranking Tournament. The proposal eliminates the Interscholastics as part of a larger goal to reduce the total number of National Level 3 Ranking Tournaments and to segment these tournaments so as to reduce cost, encourage playing tournaments closer to home, create time for training, and better organize national play to allow Sections to more effectively plan their schedules.
The reduction in the maximum number of singles and doubles tournaments that may count toward national ranking corresponds to the elimination of one USTA National Championship and one USTA National Open segment, the elimination of the USTA Boys’ and Girls’ 18 Interscholastic Championships, and the reduction in the number of USTA Regional Tournaments on the national schedule. The Committee believes that this reduction along with the elimination of some national tournaments will reduce the pressure to spend money to travel and allow for players to create more time in their schedules for training.
The Committee is requesting that it, in consultation with USTA Player Development, be given the flexibility to annually designate additional tournaments to be considered for National Junior Ranking. If this amendment passes, it is the intent of the Committee to add the USTA Jr. Team Tennis Advanced Division National Championships to the list of tournaments that count for national ranking in support of a request by the Sectional Player Development Staff and to emphasize the unique aspects of team competition that help to develop junior players.
Effective Date: January 1, 2011
Notes: • Conforming changes need to be made to FAC Comment IX.A-1 to delete the reference to the USTA
Spring National Championships. • It may be beneficial to add a new FAC Comment immediately after IX.A.9.j. and existing FAC
Comment IX.A-7 to state that the USTA Player Development Division and the Junior Competition Committee have authorized the following draw formats at USTA National Championships: - In the 18 and 16 divisions, a Feed-in Championship format whereby players are fed in through the
quarterfinals; - In the 14 and 12 divisions, a compass draw format whereby players are guaranteed a minimum of
four matches at USTA National Championships in the 14 and 12 divisions. • It may be beneficial to add a new FAC Comment immediately after IX.A.10.g. and existing FAC Comment IX.A-9 to state that USTA Player Development Division and the Junior Competition Committee have authorized the singles Feed-in Championship at USTA National Opens to be played
through the semifinals; no final round match is played.
I hope this helps. If you have concerns and/or comments I would contact one of the following people:
2009-2010 USTA Junior Competition Committee
Committee Members:
Liz Blum (Southern California): Committee Chair
Andrea Norman (Northern California): Vice Chair
Mitchel Alpert (Middle States): Coordinator of Junior Rankings; Subcommittee Chair
Mark Bey (*******)
Lew Brewer (Staff Committee Member): Director of Junior Competition
Maria Cercone (Florida)
Violet Clark (*******)
Ellen Ehlers (Southern California): Subcommittee Chair - Tournament Directors’ Workshop
Brent Frueh (Northern): Subcommittee Chair - Team Competitions
Bob Ingersole (Eastern)
Frank Inn (Pacific Northwest)
Peter Lebedevs (Southern)
Richard Meyers (Texas): Subcommittee Chair - Doubles
Holger Nickel (Intermountain): Sanctions and Schedule Coordinator; Subcommittee Chair
Cindi Pearce (Intermountain)
Committee Liaisons:
Board Liaison - Tommy Ho
Council Chair - Barbara Fackel (Missouri Valley)
Executive Director Liaison - Mary Buschmann (Missouri Valley)
Sectional Player Development Liaison - Darren Potkey (Southern California)
Liz is the chairwoman:
liz@blums.com
I hope I have Helped,
Alec
