Local League Rules

[Chelsie1]

Anyone have any kind thoughts on a rule that would hinder/prevent whole teams from other districts from coming to our local league?

We live in a large metro area. Within in a 50 mile radius there are 4 districts and almost 100 local leagues-all within the same USTA section. The smaller local leagues are besieged by teams looking for a shot to make Sectionals/Nationals. Recently, a team lost in their district, came to play and won in ours, and then defaulted when they got to Sectionals. This does not happen when the players and live in our local area.

I was thinking of a maybe a residency % rule, or captain residency rule, or something like that. Just picture it: every year you never get to experience Sectionals or Nationals because teams from other localities bring their best players to your tiny league and knock you out. Your district is always represented by people who live elsewhere and sometimes really don't care. Again, your considerate thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[michael_1265]

That is a problem I have never heard of before. You have to be careful, because there may be a number of legitimate players living in other areas who just happen to like your league. I think a really loose residency rule might be a good start, perhaps that 30% of a team's players must be from your area.

 

[Coach Carter]

why would those teams that qualified for sectionals (playoffs) not play in them after qualifying? that part of this makes no sense at all...

 

[Explorer3903]

I'm guessing you are talking about the Eastern Region which has the following sections - Long Island, Metro (NYC), Southern (counties north of NYC) and NJ (Northern part of NJ). I have seen where players from those regions play USTA league matches in any or all of those sections. This Region needs to limit each individual to play in one section and once section only. Am sure they allow it as it is more $$$'s for the USTA as you pay $20 each time you register for each USTA team. Is it fair to the other Sections, nope! Will it continue - more than likely as the Regional HQ is downstate near these four regions. Our section has seen at least one/two teams from one of the other sections come up and play in our local leagues as they apparently couldn't cut it in their own league. They apparently can't cut it in our section as well

 

[dizzlmcwizzl]

Here in MS the rule is that you cannot have more than 4 members from any one team play on another team from another district within the section.

 

[goober]

I have seen it happen. One team formed another team in a much smaller, easier district about 2 hours away. There was another super team in districts that they were not sure of beating. In their case it worked as they lost in the district finals to the other team. They won easily in their district 2 hours away and represented them in sectionals. In sectionals they had all their best players and won a trip to nationals.

 

[ohplease]

Not going to happen. The USTA has no real interest in preventing people from paying them team fees to join teams from different districts. It's not unusual at all to see super teams with members who live hours away from one another.

 

[dizzlmcwizzl]

The contrast is that for years players from Philly would play their heart out for the philly title and also form a team down here where they would consistenly loose to far inferior players.

These folks viewed delaware as a place to massage their ratings to the "right" level.

I dont think it happens as much anymore, but I am not sure why there has been a shift away from this approach.

 

[Chelsie1]

C.Carter:
IMO it is because they do not care as much as the local residents. We locals are vested. They are not. It's a 4 hour drive to Sectionals and blowing it off isn't all that hard if you really don't care. One team actually entered using their district's county as the team name. It was ugly the whole season long. And then....the whole team didn't go, resulting in
a default. Locals are eager to represent.

 

[Chelsie1]

Ohplease:

In our section, local leagues are going to be allowed to create rules to protect themselves from "invasion". Hence, my appeal to this forum for ideas. The USTA did listen to our complaints about 4.5 adults and 4.5 seniors not being the same/equal and will be restructuring the leagues in 2013. We 55+ers will be able to play with our peers, then play down with the 34-54ers, and then play down some more. I am soooo looking forward. Kind of shows that the USTA is listening will still raking in the dough.