My team is finally good but we may have a problem...

[stever]

I captain a 4.0 40+ men's team in Phoenix. We play out of a smaller club without many competitive 4.0 players. So for the last 3 or so years we were mostly cellar dwellers and lucky to get 1 or 2 teams wins in a session. We did not play in the fall 2016 (early start 2017) as I could not get enough players.

As of now in the Spring 2017 session we are 3-1(1 3rd set tiebreak loss from 4-0) and just beat the team that went 12-0 in the fall and is 4-1 now! This session I have two really good players: #1 started playing again last spring after a 20 year layoff. He played just OK last year and became 4.0 computed rated at year end 2016. He is fitness fanatic and his game improved quite a bit and he is killing guys now: 0-3, 0-0, 0-1(doubles), 1-0. As I understand it, he can not get bumped up during the season as he is computer rated, correct? #2 is noted on tennislink 4.0 self rated as of 1/11/17. Before this league, he has played mixed 8.0 USTA with his wife for all of 2016 with mostly poor results. In his 1st 4.0 match, he played doubles with my other good guy and won 6-0, 6-1 against guys that went to 4.0 nationals in 2016. Probably a strike? In his 2nd match, he beat a guy 6-3, 6-3 who was undefeated in 4.0 40+ for the past year and only lost once in 4.0 18+. Maybe a strike? #2 good guy travels a lot and may not be available again until the last match of the season. And the last match is against the previously undefeated team. Do I have to worry that he might get DQ'ed? Thanks for any insight you experts may have.

 

[schmke]

Good questions, can't really answer them without more specifics as "it all depends".

Your #1 player that got a 2016 year-end "C" is "safe" from being DQ'd, unless someone files a grievance regarding his self-rating last year, but that is rare in the first place, and I'd think even rarer in 40+.

Regarding #2, this is where it all depends. An easy win isn't necessarily a strike, and a close win isn't necessarily not a strike. Strange things can happen as the algorithm factors in the ratings of all the players in the match along with the score. But if he is playing strong opponents and winning easily, he very well could be at risk. Contact me at ratings@teravation.net if you'd be interested in a report showing more details, and I can do team reports or other reports helping you scout opponents and plan your line-ups if you like too.

 

[NTRPolice]

Player #1 is immune from Dynamic DQ. They can still be DQ'ed for other reasons like making a bogus account or submitting a bogus self-rate.
Player #2 it's impossible to tell. It's clear that he had a "mixed exclusive" rating in 2016, which requires him to self-rate in order to play adult league.

Players generally do not get strikes for good wins of an even level even if they are self-rated. They do generally get strikes for beating people above their NTRP level (.5+ their rating), or if they are getting wins immediately after successfully appealing down (former 4.0, appeals to 3.5, plays 4.0 and is winning).

Also, make sure both players play enough matches to qualify for the playoff. This is generally 3 matches of regular season play.

 

[kevrol]

Will add one more thing about player #2. He's played twice and his 3rd match (earliest possible 3rd strike) isn't until the last match of the season. While this would definitely hurt you going forward if your team advances it depends on which section your in that determines if it hurts you retrospectively (DQ'd from previous matches.) For instance in the Southern section all matches played stand. Some other sections handle differently and overturn match results.

 

[schmke]

It appears Southwest reverses only the match the 3rd strike was collected in. Prior matches stand.

 

[tennis tom]

OP, better get lawyered up, if the.s.h.t.hits.t.fan, appeal to Fed Judge Robart in Seattle--it should buy you some time until the 9th Circuit is broken up.

 

[Doc Hollidae]

I captain a 4.0 40+ men's team in Phoenix. We play out of a smaller club without many competitive 4.0 players. So for the last 3 or so years we were mostly cellar dwellers and lucky to get 1 or 2 teams wins in a session. We did not play in the fall 2016 (early start 2017) as I could not get enough players.

As of now in the Spring 2017 session we are 3-1(1 3rd set tiebreak loss from 4-0) and just beat the team that went 12-0 in the fall and is 4-1 now! This session I have two really good players: #1 started playing again last spring after a 20 year layoff. He played just OK last year and became 4.0 computed rated at year end 2016. He is fitness fanatic and his game improved quite a bit and he is killing guys now: 0-3, 0-0, 0-1(doubles), 1-0. As I understand it, he can not get bumped up during the season as he is computer rated, correct? #2 is noted on tennislink 4.0 self rated as of 1/11/17. Before this league, he has played mixed 8.0 USTA with his wife for all of 2016 with mostly poor results. In his 1st 4.0 match, he played doubles with my other good guy and won 6-0, 6-1 against guys that went to 4.0 nationals in 2016. Probably a strike? In his 2nd match, he beat a guy 6-3, 6-3 who was undefeated in 4.0 40+ for the past year and only lost once in 4.0 18+. Maybe a strike? #2 good guy travels a lot and may not be available again until the last match of the season. And the last match is against the previously undefeated team. Do I have to worry that he might get DQ'ed? Thanks for any insight you experts may have.

Player #2 sounds like he's more than a 4.0. The first two wins probably were strikes. As his captain, why didn't you tell him to manage his scores? Isn't that the duty of a good USTA Captain?

 

[stever]

It appears Southwest reverses only the match the 3rd strike was collected in. Prior matches stand.

I had a 3.5 team a few years ago with a guy that got DQ'D and all matches were reversed. Has there been a recent change?

 

[stever]

Player #2 sounds like he's more than a 4.0. The first two wins probably were strikes. As his captain, why didn't you tell him to manage his scores? Isn't that the duty of a good USTA Captain?

Good point. Did I mention he has bad shoulder and serves underhand sometimes?

 

[schmke]

I had a 3.5 team a few years ago with a guy that got DQ'D and all matches were reversed. Has there been a recent change?

Yep, appears to be a change for 2017. See http://s3.amazonaws.com/ustaassets/..._usta_southwest_league_regulations_6-1-16.pdf

And it seems to be a trend, several other sections used to reverse all matches but now reverse none or just the last one, and just make the player ineligible to play at that level going forward. I frankly don't like it as it allows captains to recruit/encourage players to self-rate too low with no real downside over just not having the player on the team. Sure, they don't get the player any more going forward, but that is no worse than not having them in the first place.