USTA National suspends sanctioned activities through 4/20

[schmke]

See below.

It is interesting the are keeping facilities/campuses open, just limiting group activity sizes. Basically, if you want to play on your own, you can, but players are now not compelled or pressured to if they were part of a team or tournament.

Presumably this forces all sections to follow suit, but I have not see anything from my section yet.

 

[JLyon]

I am pretty sure this is System wide and Section fall under the National Umbrella.

 

[J011yroger]

Wow.

J

 

[OnTheLine]

Here is statement from Nevada:
Dear USTA Nevada Coaches, Captains and Players,


Due to the Coronavirus outbreak, USTA National office has made the difficult decision to cancel ALL USTA Adult Leagues, Junior & Adult tournaments, and Junior Team Tennis events scheduled from today (March 13, 2020) through April 20, 2020.



This will include the 40 & Over District Championships originally planned for April 13-17.

This is not a decision from USTA Nevada or something we have a say in or can change. It is a national legal decision which we are just starting to wrap our heads around. We know this is very challenging for everyone involved.

The USTA National official statement is below.

 

[brettatk]

Well technically USTA National didn't cancel anything. They suspended events in hopes that they might be rescheduled. At least that's what I hope if things start looking better by April 20th. We'll be able to finish our season and hopefully qualify for State in June. Of course if things don't get better I'm sure all District/Sectional tournaments will be suspended or cancelled anyway.

 

[winchestervatennis]

Will be interesting to see if they shut down tennislink. Because im sure folks will go ahead and play as scheduled.

 

[brettatk]

The problem is if people play anyway, they aren't going to be official results. I don't see how results can stick if things do resume on April 20th. A losing team could protest/appeal saying the matches need to be replayed. Now people could continue to play for fun. We are doing that in our ALTA season here in Atlanta since it was canceled yesterday.

 

[OnTheLine]

The big problem for us is weather. Our 18+ leagues (gender and mixed) are scheduled to begin 3/21 and run through early June. If we do not begin until April we are looking at running through late June early July .... now there is a problem with temps in the 110F range .... districts would then be mid July and absolutely miserable.

Too early in the announcement to know what will be happening. I am on 3 teams that begin the weekend of the 21st .... and one team that is in the middle of the season with 7 matches yet to play.

 

[Cloister]

Will be interesting to see if they shut down tennislink. Because im sure folks will go ahead and play as scheduled.

Won't be possible at public facilities which may have been shut down. I know of two in my area that host a fair number of USTA teams which are closed at least through the end of March, and I expect that will be extended.

 

[schmke]

Won't be possible at public facilities which may have been shut down. I know of two in my area that host a fair number of USTA teams which are closed at least through the end of March, and I expect that will be extended.

This, and what I mentioned about players that might have not wanted to play feeling compelled to, are I think the reasons they felt they had to do this. If facilities, public or private, are closed, matches can't be played. And if a captain can't field a team because players are unwilling to play, matches can't be played.

While I have continued to play and will keep doing so over the next few weeks, not everyone falls in the same camp.

 

[OnTheLine]

This, and what I mentioned about players that might have not wanted to play feeling compelled to, are I think the reasons they felt they had to do this. If facilities, public or private, are closed, matches can't be played. And if a captain can't field a team because players are unwilling to play, matches can't be played.

While I have continued to play and will keep doing so over the next few weeks, not everyone falls in the same camp.

When I called to confirm my court reservations for tomorrow was asked if it was for league ... my response was no .... just playing, no one being compelled

But I play out of a city facility ... don't know if they will be remaining open .... a lot of wait and see for now.

 

[kevrol]

Wondering what the leagues policies on refunds is going to be given that the LLCs are going to be reluctant to give back their commissions.

 

[schmke]

Wondering what the leagues policies on refunds is going to be given that the LLCs are going to be reluctant to give back their commissions.

If it is mid-season, hard to see any type of refund or credit, unless a player has not played any matches and the remainder of the season is canceled.

And in my area at least, I think the preference is to give credit for a subsequent season vs issuing refunds.

 

[kevrol]

Around here most folks have had 0 matches so far while a minority have had 1.

 

[Doan]

Wondering what the leagues policies on refunds is going to be given that the LLCs are going to be reluctant to give back their commissions.

Here its explicity stated no registration refund if you've played a match. However for the leagues where you also prepay for court times - they will have to give out some refund/credit.

 

[OnTheLine]

I am not so worried about my USTA league fee .... if the season is ultimately cancelled it will go into a "holding league" to be used at a later date.
I am certain my club will refund my club league fees for the seasons not yet begun if the season is fully cancelled. ... the one half-way through I am guessing they will do at least a partial.

 

[schmke]

FWIW, NorCal, who had already suspended play through 3/31, may try to resume play at the start of April if the situation allows. Not sure how they aren't subject to the National 4/20 date. Do sections have some leeway? I guess we'll find out.