should senior matches count same as adult matches

[tennisjudge]

dont get me wrong, they are many great senior players. At the senior level, should the matches they play count the same as a normal adult ntrp league. Some senior leagues allow players to go to state regardless of win or lose. But the computer does not know this. In time people will soon play less, so their game will go down dued to age. Last time i check, i played better a few years ago. Since you qualify anyways just by playing matches. Win or lose you will be able to go to state or sectionals. The scores will go into the comp as a normal player. Many seniors get bumped just by winning a few matches. Hopefully, when i turn 50 i can play at a high level, but time will tell. I dont think senior matches should count the same as a 19 yr old usta ntrp match. I believe that most 19 yr olds are better than a senior. Please dont take this message to be against seniors. I am here to see what we can do to make it fair. Not many high level senior teams out there. In ga one has to wait three long years to move down. Seniors in my book are more experience than others. If the body would equal knowledge this will be case close. SENIORS RULE

 

[New Kid On the Block]

dont get me wrong, they are many great senior players. At the senior level, should the matches they play count the same as a normal adult ntrp league. Some senior leagues allow players to go to state regardless of win or lose. But the computer does not know this. In time people will soon play less, so their game will go down dued to age. Last time i check, i played better a few years ago. Since you qualify anyways just by playing matches. Win or lose you will be able to go to state or sectionals. The scores will go into the comp as a normal player. Many seniors get bumped just by winning a few matches. Hopefully, when i turn 50 i can play at a high level, but time will tell. I dont think senior matches should count the same as a 19 yr old usta ntrp match. I believe that most 19 yr olds are better than a senior. Please dont take this message to be against seniors. I am here to see what we can do to make it fair. Not many high level senior teams out there. In ga one has to wait three long years to move down. Seniors in my book are more experience than others. If the body would equal knowledge this will be case close. SENIORS RULE

your right, that is an interesting dilema for the computer. I guess it is the same, i am sure that the computer nerd that invented the rating program can tweek it to make a difference. Good Question though.

 

[Cindysphinx]

What's the lowest age you can be to play senior?

Does anyone here play senior and, erm, regular USTA?

Cindy -- closer to senior eligibility than she cares to admit

 

[sciwriter]

senior play

You start senior at age 50. Super senior is 60. Then there's super super senior at 70.

 

[New Kid On the Block]

And there is carry my oxygen on the court for me senior at 80.

 

[New Kid On the Block]

Followed by "i hope i make it through this match" senior 90.

 

[bmichaelia]

I play on both adult and senior 4.0 teams in the spring. In our league, there's no comparison. There were only three senior teams this spring, which we won. With our players, we would come in last in the adult league (well, maybe only second to last).

 

[bleach]

Here you can start playing singles in the year you turn 50. So if you B'day is late in the year, you can start at 49.

 

[simi]

Here you can start playing singles in the year you turn 50. So if you B'day is late in the year, you can start at 49.

I believe you meant to write, "Here, you can start playing seniors in the year you turn 50." Don't know your section, but this holds true of the Southern California section.

I play in both the regular adult league and the seniors league. It seems like most of the players are the same, especially at the doubles courts.

 

[tennis-n-sc]

I believe you meant to write, "Here, you can start playing seniors in the year you turn 50." Don't know your section, but this holds true of the Southern California section.

I play in both the regular adult league and the seniors league. It seems like most of the players are the same, especially at the doubles courts.

The age limits are USTA guided.

I play both adult and senior at 3.5 and I can tell you that, for the most part, the seniors are a tougher lot. Most of the senior men on our team also played adult league. We have a 60 y/o that routinely beats 3.5 and 4.0 players 25-30 y/o in singles. As I understand the computer rating system, a large portion of the rating comes from the results of how you do against your opponent. So as you age and lose a step or 20, your results against the kids at the same NTRP should reflect this in the scores and, subsequently, the rating. If you always play other guys ( or gals) that have lost a step, your scores should reflect this as well. Go to some of the tournaments that have age levels and you'll be amazed at what can be done at 70 or even 80 on a tennis court. It's a game for life.

 

[Eviscerator]

The simple answer is no, they should not be the same.
For instance, if you have a senior 5.0 singles player, he would be lucky to compete at 4.5 in the adult league because many of the top players are in their early 20's. I don't care how well conditioned a 50 yr old guy is, he cannot stay out there with a kid half his age over the course of a 3 day event like the sectionals. He might be as skilled, and even able to win a set, but he typically will not win the match. So, in my view, anyone playing seniors (50+) should be able to play lower in the adult leagues (at least 1/2 point), or have separate ratings.

 

[Ronaldo]

This is nuts. 4 yrs ago our #1 singles player at 3.5 was undefeated until our team played at the state and sectional level. He was 63. He won a match this yr at state playoffs as a 4.0 at 67. Age ain't nothing but a number.

 

[bleach]

I believe you meant to write, "Here, you can start playing seniors in the year you turn 50." Don't know your section, but this holds true of the Southern California section.

I play in both the regular adult league and the seniors league. It seems like most of the players are the same, especially at the doubles courts.

Oops, yes seniors not singles...

 

[Eviscerator]

This is nuts. 4 yrs ago our #1 singles player at 3.5 was undefeated until our team played at the state and sectional level. He was 63. He won a match this yr at state playoffs as a 4.0 at 67. Age ain't nothing but a number.

No offense is intended with my comment, but you cannot compare a 3.5 player to the higher levels regarding age. I can see where a 3.5 senior could be crafty enough to beat younger players at that level. However there is rarely going to be a senior player who can compete with a 20 yr old in the A level divisions. Even if he were in decent shape and had once been a very good player, he will not be able to hang with the young guns.

 

[Ronaldo]

No offense is intended with my comment, but you cannot compare a 3.5 player to the higher levels regarding age. I can see where a 3.5 senior could be crafty enough to beat younger players at that level. However there is rarely going to be a senior player who can compete with a 20 yr old in the A level divisions. Even if he were in decent shape and had once been a very good player, he will not be able to hang with the young guns.

4.5 and above, totally agree. However, rarely see those players locally.