Surge of beginner adult players!

[OnTheLine]

Kind of touched on this in a few threads here and there and wondering if other areas are seeing the same....

My club, and frankly across the city we are seeing an impressive surge of new adult players. Flocking to clubs and public parks and now that fall leagues have begun it shows in league participation! Our beginner's classes are HUGE with 30+ participants per day (5 days a week).

Normally the district fields maybe 4-5 women's 2.5 teams ... this Fall we are have 11 teams .... all at 10+ players per roster (2.5 is 1 line of singles, 2 lines of dubs)

At men's 3.0, we have normally 6-7 teams, this Fall 11 teams ... most have 12+ players (1 singles, 3 lines dubs)

Women's 3.0 grew from 10 teams last year to 13 teams this year less impressive but these are big rosters

The 3.5 and 4.0 levels are also up in terms of teams and participants this fall but no where near as noteworthy as the lower levels.

Any other areas seeing something similar? I think it's pretty cool!

 

[Cashman]

Maybe the recently completed US Open has something to do with it. I have noticed that the Australian Open gives our beginner ranks a boost.

It dies off over the winter and then the whole process starts again the next summer.

 

[Jack the Hack]

I know what @Cashman is saying. Usually when Wimbledon or the US Open is on television, you'll see a surge in the public parks with people trying out tennis. It usually lasts a few weeks and dies down when beginners realize that tennis is hard.

That said, early on in the pandemic, before they shut the courts down around where I live, all of the courts at the parks and high schools were packed - mostly with families and various beginners. I attributed this to people yearning to have an outdoor activity that was fun and relatively safe. Unfortunately, after the courts were locked up for several months, I have not seen the return of all those players in my area. In fact, they partially reopened my club at the end of June and it's been a ghost town. I can get a court and a ball machine without a reservation anytime I want, and there is rarely more than a handful of other players there. But that's just here... I'm glad to hear that tennis is booming in Las Vegas! Isn't now just about the most perfect time of year down there from a weather standpoint?

 

[Nostradamus]

good good,,,, bring them in ,,,,, i will turn them into smiddeingnns

 

[SeeItHitIt]

Don’t worry, before long the USTA will scare them away too.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

Maybe the recently completed US Open has something to do with it. I have noticed that the Australian Open gives our beginner ranks a boost.

It dies off over the winter and then the whole process starts again the next summer.

I think it goes beyond that: I've seen crowded courts and new players over the past several months, not just in the afterglow of a slam.

And instructors tell me they have a surge of students.

We'll see how long this lasts.

 

[Papa Mango]

No leagues here in norcal, but I know what you mean.
The tennis courts are packed morning 8am (oldies) to 8pm here and this since courts opened up here after the lockdown.
PC (pre-covid) there was no problem finding a court 10-15 minutes around me even at 6pm (maybe 5-10 minute wait) but nowadays there is usually a waiting line 2-3 groups deep sometimes 3pm in the afternoon too.
Kudos to the city(s) that they brought reservations for public courts online pretty quickly after things opened up but they have also jacked up reservation fees by 100%

 

[Papa Mango]

I think it goes beyond that: I've seen crowded courts and new players over the past several months, not just in the afterglow of a slam.

And instructors tell me they have a surge of students.

We'll see how long this lasts.

Hopefully not long.. as the days get shorter the lighted courts are going to be in even higher demand.

I have never seen so many Wilson hyper hammers together ... and the Artengo or whatever rackets/balls

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

Hopefully not long.. as the days get shorter the lighted courts are going to be in even higher demand.

I have never seen so many Wilson hyper hammers together ... and the Artengo or whatever rackets/balls

It's great for the sport, which IMO has seen ever-declining #s.

 

[Papa Mango]

It's great for the sport, which IMO has seen ever-declining #s.

Yeah yeah... but what about me .. not fair I have to stand in line and wait an hour to hit a few balls...
All these fair weather tennis players....
/sarc

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

Yeah yeah... but what about me .. not fair I have to stand in line and wait an hour to hit a few balls...
All these fair weather tennis players....
/sarc

"Do you know who I am? I'm ranked 90,000th in the world! I'm practically a professional! This court should have my name on it!"

 

[time_fly]

It seems like our public courts are more full with beginners and hackers than I remember, but organized tennis at my club — both internal court rotations and USTA play — seems to be way down. Once the weather turns too cold for outdoors, the club may pick back up again.

 

[OnTheLine]

@Jack the Hack we are just coming into our perfect weather ... still about 100F for daily high temp. In 2 weeks through December will be lovely.

I don't think this is just USO afterglow. Our beginner classes at my club have been packed and turning people away since early June when they re-opened.

If you swing into a store to grab a can of balls .... they are picked over, whereas before they were all nice and neat and you were more concerned with how long they were sitting there. I had to buy Dunlops the other day .... I never ever buy those little rocks, but had no other choice.

Getting a court is still relatively easy .. in part because after lockdown I think I found every tucked away decent court in the city .... and I am not sharing the coordinates!

I do hope that those that have joined the 2.5/3.0 leagues enjoy it and keep playing improving ... it is great for the sport!

 

[stapletonj]

Even WV has seen an uptick!

 

[shadow01]

Yeah the uptick is crazy. I noticed the same last year around the uso which died off after outdoor became too dark and cold. But this year the uptick started shortly after courts opened back up and then just steam rolled around the USO. I still suspect some die down when people have to play indoors and thus court fees - but generally feel more staying power this time around. A lot of families self teaching each other with parent and kid vs parent and kid doubles. One family was holding the racquet so close to the throat that I kept having urges to start up a conversation to give some basic tips. But didn’t want to take time away from the person I was playing with. Maybe they were practicing control? :shrug:

 

[chatt_town]

Kind of touched on this in a few threads here and there and wondering if other areas are seeing the same....

My club, and frankly across the city we are seeing an impressive surge of new adult players. Flocking to clubs and public parks and now that fall leagues have begun it shows in league participation! Our beginner's classes are HUGE with 30+ participants per day (5 days a week).

Normally the district fields maybe 4-5 women's 2.5 teams ... this Fall we are have 11 teams .... all at 10+ players per roster (2.5 is 1 line of singles, 2 lines of dubs)

At men's 3.0, we have normally 6-7 teams, this Fall 11 teams ... most have 12+ players (1 singles, 3 lines dubs)

Women's 3.0 grew from 10 teams last year to 13 teams this year less impressive but these are big rosters

The 3.5 and 4.0 levels are also up in terms of teams and participants this fall but no where near as noteworthy as the lower levels.

Any other areas seeing something similar? I think it's pretty cool!

I haven't seen this persay in league play yet because they haven't had much of a league. I have seen more people coming out and batting balls around which is good to see. I remember trying to get people to understand a long time ago that you grow Tennis from the bottom up not from the top down. When tourneys are held, so much emphasis was always put on kissing the @$$es of 4.5 or open players and hardly any of them would even play to begin with. The 2.5 or 3.0 would show up, pay their money and you could put them on a court with craters and grass and they wouldn't say anything...meanwhile you got open players b*otching and moaning about the court and time they play and in some cases...who they are playing in the first round...just a pain...but these new players will hopefully have great experiences and keep playing.

 

[SinneGOAT]

It's great for the sport, which IMO has seen ever-declining #s.

Sad, but true.

 

[Traffic]

Well, in club flights started up this fall. I've noticed a few new faces. So agree that there are some new beginners. But surge?? I'm not sure.
More ppl playing on public courts? I saw that this summer.
New players in USTA? I see participation of regular players have dropped off. Our club did not submit for a 7.0 MXD team.

 

[schmke]

Kind of touched on this in a few threads here and there and wondering if other areas are seeing the same....

My club, and frankly across the city we are seeing an impressive surge of new adult players. Flocking to clubs and public parks and now that fall leagues have begun it shows in league participation! Our beginner's classes are HUGE with 30+ participants per day (5 days a week).

Normally the district fields maybe 4-5 women's 2.5 teams ... this Fall we are have 11 teams .... all at 10+ players per roster (2.5 is 1 line of singles, 2 lines of dubs)

At men's 3.0, we have normally 6-7 teams, this Fall 11 teams ... most have 12+ players (1 singles, 3 lines dubs)

Women's 3.0 grew from 10 teams last year to 13 teams this year less impressive but these are big rosters

The 3.5 and 4.0 levels are also up in terms of teams and participants this fall but no where near as noteworthy as the lower levels.

Any other areas seeing something similar? I think it's pretty cool!

Comparing your two 2020 Fall leagues with the same two 2019 Fall leagues, yes, counts are up.

2019 - 141 teams, 1923 players
2020 - 159 teams, 1976 players (typically grows as more sign up as season starts/continues)

And for comparison:

2018 - 144 teams, 1890 players

So this is not the continuation of a 2018 to 2019 trend, but appears to be a new bump! Nice to see.

Any other areas have leagues back that are worthy comparing with previous years?

 

[tennis tom]

The obvious reason for the increase of people on the courts is the current planetary climate change--tennis was listed as the safest sport for safe distancing--people heard about it and dug their dusty rackets out of the closet. They're mostly the once a year players but a few might stick around especially if this thing is dragged out much longer and people don't have any money for other activities like golf and advanced recreational drinking--tennis is CHEAP and thrives in the hard times like depressions--balls and rackets are cheap and plenty of empty courts.

 

[OnTheLine]

Comparing your two 2020 Fall leagues with the same two 2019 Fall leagues, yes, counts are up.

2019 - 141 teams, 1923 players
2020 - 159 teams, 1976 players (typically grows as more sign up as season starts/continues)

And for comparison:

2018 - 144 teams, 1890 players

So this is not the continuation of a 2018 to 2019 trend, but appears to be a new bump! Nice to see.

Any other areas have leagues back that are worthy comparing with previous years?

Those numbers ... is that just Vegas? The figures seem to be including the higher levels as well ... I am seeing this shift really at the 2.5 and 3.0 much less so at 4.0 and higher (although team sizes seem to be quite large, total number of teams seem flat)

And yes, teams are still adding people ... don't expect it to be at final numbers for a few weeks.

One note: Mixed seems to be much lower in count for the weird X.5 season. I am not playing it either this year.

 

[travlerajm]

The obvious reason for the increase of people on the courts is the current planetary climate change--tennis was listed as the safest sport for safe distancing--people heard about it and dug their dusty rackets out of the closet. They're mostly the once a year players but a few might stick around especially if this thing is dragged out much longer and people don't have any money for other activities like golf and advanced recreational drinking--tennis is CHEAP and thrives in the hard times like depressions--balls and rackets are cheap and plenty of empty courts.

This.

 

[sureshs]

Well, it is hardly surprising that Vegas has a lot of Adult Players, if you know what I mean

 

[sureshs]

Reasons:

1. People are bored after the pandemic restrictions and celebrating their freedom.
2. Lots of people WFH or unemployed and hence sneaking out of home for activities

When they get back to real work and commutes, they will be tired and settle for a drink instead of playing tennis.

 

[OnTheLine]

Reasons:

1. People are bored after the pandemic restrictions and celebrating their freedom.
2. Lots of people WFH or unemployed and hence sneaking out of home for activities

When they get back to real work and commutes, they will be tired and settle for a drink instead of playing tennis.

I don't know about that entirely.

Agree that people are perhaps playing because it is a safe alternative to other Vegas activities which are either closed or only for idiots: casinos, clubs, bars, shows, gyms.

We are also not CA. Very few people are still WFH ... most are back at normal life in most respects.

But I think that especially at the lower levels tennis and leagues in particular fill another human need that is missing in so much of our current life: real social connection.

As people bond with their teammates while also seeing their skills improve, many will get hooked for all that it offers.

Among those that over the past few years I have watched begin league as a 2.5 or 3.0, close to 75% have continued playing. Many of those that dropped out did so for injury reasons or big family changes (new baby, divorce, etc.) others of course just faded away.

 

[schmke]

Those numbers ... is that just Vegas? The figures seem to be including the higher levels as well ... I am seeing this shift really at the 2.5 and 3.0 much less so at 4.0 and higher (although team sizes seem to be quite large, total number of teams seem flat)

And yes, teams are still adding people ... don't expect it to be at final numbers for a few weeks.

One note: Mixed seems to be much lower in count for the weird X.5 season. I am not playing it either this year.

Yes, sorry, it was in response to your post and so yes, was just Vegas and your two Fall leagues. And yes, that was all levels in the leagues.

 

[sureshs]

I think OP secretly meant scourge instead of surge

 

[sureshs]

I don't know about that entirely.

Agree that people are perhaps playing because it is a safe alternative to other Vegas activities which are either closed or only for idiots: casinos, clubs, bars, shows, gyms.

We are also not CA. Very few people are still WFH ... most are back at normal life in most respects.

CA has many tech jobs which can be done from home. But apart from that, life is becoming normal. Dining in to limited capacity is allowed, and traffic is packed. The places that you mentioned which are semi-closed are the same as in Vegas. CA has many many casinos, just spread out, and even they are open, including the pool areas, with precautions. Many school districts are open in person.

 

[Doan]

Well, in club flights started up this fall. I've noticed a few new faces. So agree that there are some new beginners. But surge?? I'm not sure.
More ppl playing on public courts? I saw that this summer.
New players in USTA? I see participation of regular players have dropped off. Our club did not submit for a 7.0 MXD team.

Depends on whether the matches are played outdoors or not. Once the weather changes and all matches move indoors here in DMV I see participation dropping.

 

[Turbo-87]

I have only played at a public court once since March. I drive by them occasionally and they don't seem to ever be busy at all. I do know that club participation is lower than it ever has been and they absolutely struggled to get TWO courts of men's winter league going on our regular Sunday night. This used to have 4-5 courts. It should have started Labor Day weekend but it has been delayed to October 4th now. I don't think it will pick up much but our club does a terrible job of marketing and drawing people in. It would be nice if more people got into the game. Local sporting goods stores are phasing out tennis so it is pretty much online only for all of my purchases, which is fine.

 

[brettatk]

In our early start leagues here in Atlanta both 18+ and 40+ had fewer teams than normal across the board it looked like. I guess people decided not to play with everything going on.

 

[Traffic]

Depends on whether the matches are played outdoors or not. Once the weather changes and all matches move indoors here in DMV I see participation dropping.

I'm PNW. Lots of folks crowding limited outdoor courts while the weather held. Indoor clubs running with modified rules. No viewing and no gathering sucks. Takes the social out of social tennis...

 

[TypeRx]

In SoCal, USTA hasn't really returned in full swing. So, its hard to say if organized play has changed all that much. I can say, though, it is very difficult to get and keep a tennis court relative to pre-COVID. Its actually quite annoying although I am happy to see more people getting and playing tennis.

On weekends, we need to be on court by 6:45 am nowadays in order to get a court. Pre-COVID getting one at 8 am was no big deal. Similar on weeknights...more and more folks playing so it is harder to get and keep a court. I guess I can't complain since we have an amazing amount of well maintained public courts.

 

[sureshs]

In SoCal, USTA hasn't really returned in full swing. So, its hard to say if organized play has changed all that much. I can say, though, it is very difficult to get and keep a tennis court relative to pre-COVID. Its actually quite annoying although I am happy to see more people getting and playing tennis..

On weekends, we need to be on court by 6:45 am nowadays in order to get a court. Pre-COVID getting one at 8 am was no big deal. Similar on weeknights...more and more folks playing so it is harder to get and keep a court. I guess I can't complain since we have an amazing amount of well maintained public courts.

We have the club-only intramural league going here.

The court demand is so high that the club has instituted new rules about court bookings and reduced the number of simultaneous teaching pro courts to 3.

The reasons given were that people now have more flexible hours to play.

 

[sureshs]

One great thing that has happened is that a whole bunch of jobs are cropping up which don't require moving or commuting. You stay where you are, maintain your usual lifestyle with family, and work for any company anywhere in the world. The job ads actually highlight this as a feature.

It is going to have a lot of negative impact on the commercial real estate and moving industry, but will open up entire new opportunities for workers and stimulate the economy in new ways.

I remember when my father was working, it was always about who was in "headquarters" and who was in the "branch" offices LOL. Seems so antiquated now.

 

[sureshs]

Instead of putting in "face time" at the office after I am done with my work and waiting for someone else, I can now sneak out and play tennis or run some errands. Doctor visits don't require commuting to work, then commuting from there, and back, and then back home just to show that you left work only when needed. No need to play head games anymore to show loyalty at work. Just finish your work and then be free.

 

[technocrow]

I just started playing a couple of months ago. It's nice to see others (especially other adults) try to pick up them game for the first time too! That way I'm not always playing people that are years or even decades ahead of me

 

[sureshs]

I just started playing a couple of months ago. It's nice to see others (especially other adults) try to pick up them game for the first time too! That way I'm not always playing people that are years or even decades ahead of me

You should also consider hitting on a tennis wall if it is available. Great non-frustrating way to hone your strokes.

 

[schmke]

Those numbers ... is that just Vegas? The figures seem to be including the higher levels as well ... I am seeing this shift really at the 2.5 and 3.0 much less so at 4.0 and higher (although team sizes seem to be quite large, total number of teams seem flat)

And yes, teams are still adding people ... don't expect it to be at final numbers for a few weeks.

One note: Mixed seems to be much lower in count for the weird X.5 season. I am not playing it either this year.

2.5W went from 15 to 18 teams.
3.0M went from 7 to 11 teams.
3.0W went from 20 to 22 teams.
3.5M went from 13 to 14 teams.
3.5W went from 36 to 40 teams.

4.0M shrunk from 13 to 11 teams and 4.0W only went up one team from 25 to 26.

So yes, the growth is at the lower levels, at least for the two Fall leagues in Vegas.

 

[OnTheLine]

2.5W went from 15 to 18 teams.
3.0M went from 7 to 11 teams.
3.0W went from 20 to 22 teams.
3.5M went from 13 to 14 teams.
3.5W went from 36 to 40 teams.

4.0M shrunk from 13 to 11 teams and 4.0W only went up one team from 25 to 26.

So yes, the growth is at the lower levels, at least for the two Fall leagues in Vegas.

Ah you are looking at both the weekday and the Saturday teams .... I was really only looking at the Saturday teams and ignoring the ladies' weekday ... which seems to be shrinking a little which hides the growth on the saturday teams. Still happy to see the growth at the lower levels ... they will feed into the higher levels in time!

 

[Traffic]

So yes, the growth is at the lower levels, at least for the two Fall leagues in Vegas.

Alrighty then. It's time for me to make my run for 3.0 Nationals!!

 

[nyta2]

courts by me... packed!
and these are courts that haven't been surfaced since 1980.
i haven't seen lines for a court, ever, until this year.

definitley folks not wanting to go to gyms or play close sports (basketball, soccer, etc...)

i teach alot of beginners, and have had to decline people this summer (and i'm already teaching like 6-10h part time) on the week/weekend. prior i only had 2-3 students max to work with...

 

[ttbrowne]

Yes...we've had about 10 new tennis memberships in the past couple months. We've had a 2.5 ladies drill go from Zero to 12 in the past month!

 

[sureshs]

Another person complained to me that they are not finding courts at the club. Add to this that some college freshmen who were juniors at my club have been attending college virtually this semester, and so still come out and play.

 

[ChaelAZ]

I am not sure about leagues, but definitely a new crop of players in tennis now. Our beginner tennis programs are packed and lots of court activity in the evenings.

 

[Turbo-87]

Our local STC affiliate club can't keep people on the courts and is really struggling. It was a real chore to even get TWO courts going for men's fall/winter club league when we used to have 5. It is interesting to see the differing experiences.

 

[tsamo]

Our courts as well.
May also be a covid thing, as tennis is a sport that can be played in open spaces while many gyms, courts and what not are considered Hotspots for the virus.
To find a court to play, no matter the day and hour, I need to reserve it at least a week, if not more, in advance.

 

[Wiztardo]

I signed up for my first ever 3.0-3.5 drill session that takes place once a week. I was expecting 5-6 people in the class, but to my surprise there were about 12 others aside from myself. It is great. I just wish I could play more than once a week.

 

[g4driver]

Even WV has seen an uptick!

I miss seeing the sofas burning after WV games. That was a great college football tradition. Just sayin'

You know you've burned too many couches when ...

Great job, Mountaineers!

www.sbnation.com

 

[Dartagnan64]

I signed up for my first ever 3.0-3.5 drill session that takes place once a week. I was expecting 5-6 people in the class, but to my surprise there were about 12 others aside from myself. It is great. I just wish I could play more than once a week.

Was everyone wearing a mask?

But seriously, that seems like a lot of people crowded on a court in a pandemic. Our club just went to singles only due to the spiking number of cases (and our spike is 500 cases daily in a Province of 5 million)