When to appeal up

[apor]

I started USTA play this winter in Mixed doubles. I self rated as a 3.0.
I've gotten offers to join two teams for the summer men's season one at the 3.5 and one at 4.0 (yeah, I've improved a lot- clinics, lessons, my own ball machine).

When should I appeal up to the 3.5 level so that I can play both those levels but not disrupt me playing at 3.0 in Mixed this winter? Can I do this now, or do I need to wait for the mixed season to end?

 

[CrispyFritters]

No need to appeal up. Just play up. If you win, you'll be bumped up really fast.

 

[athiker]

Yep, you can always play up. USTA will tell you when/if they raise your rating above 3.0. Until then you are free to play in your 3.0 mixed doubles or any other 3.0 for that matter.

If you are head and shoulders above the 3.0 level now you could have an opponent make a complaint and possibly get bumped up early, don't know how likely that would be, just depends on who you run into.

 

[JavierLW]

No need to appeal up. Just play up. If you win, you'll be bumped up really fast.

They might have a rule that you cant play up more then one level.

So she'd need to appeal to 3.5 in order to play 4.0.

You'd probably need to ask your coordinator as far as what your options are.

 

[86golf]

They might have a rule that you cant play up more then one level.

So she'd need to appeal to 3.5 in order to play 4.0.

You'd probably need to ask your coordinator as far as what your options are.

We just got that rule this year in our league. You can only play up one level or .5 NTRP.

 

[apor]

We just got that rule this year in our league. You can only play up one level or .5 NTRP.

yeah, that seems to be the rule here as well.

 

[athiker]

Didn't know that, thanks. I like that rule...it keeps a sandbagger from playing 3.0 for a season to boost a team and also being able to play to their "real" level at 4.0 for example.

It does kind of penalize someone who has rapidly improved. Seems like they could accomplish the same by making the rule you can't play on mulitple teams if the level spread is more than .5 NTRP. That way you couldn't play on both a 3.5 and a 4.5 team for example. But an improved 3.0 could play on a 3.5 and 4.0 team with no harm being done to 3.0 league play since they are not playing at that level at all. I guess that's where the appeal up process comes into play.

 

[apor]

The thing is, I can only play on the weekends, so getting on two teams would be a good thing for me. I get regular matches with my usual crew, but USTA matches put a different kind of pressure on you. Gotta work on the match toughness.
So I want two teams, thus two levels, and while I guess I can play at 3.0 and 3.5, it would be boring and in my opinion, wrong (the 3.0 anyway).

 

[athiker]

Right as an improved player, I think you should be able to play up more than .5 as long a you don't play at your rated level. Even on 2 teams both higher. The next cycle would then most likely move you up to where your new skill puts you based on results agains higher level competition.

edit: I didn't mean to sound like this is what someone could acutally do now under current rules...only that I think making a rule like this might make sense.

 

[apor]

so the question rmains- when to appeal up

Can I appeal up now, and not DQ myself from the level I'm at now, or do I have to wait till the season's over?

 

[samalo0]

Don't appeal up.

Can I appeal up now, and not DQ myself from the level I'm at now, or do I have to wait till the season's over?

Wait until the season is over. You will be disqualified and any matches you win will be taken away (on your 3.0 team) once they figure it out.

Just appeal up to 3.5 and play 3.5 and 4.0 if you can handle it. Where I am located, I would be really surprised to see someone who was a 3.0 and didn't dominate the 3.0 league be able to compete at 4.0. I am a high level 3.0 myself, and I can do well against a lot of 3.5 rated people, but 4.0 rated people I don't have a chance against and get bageled or bread-sticked.

But each to his own.

 

[apor]

I was playing pre-ratings bump 4.0 before the MXD season started, and was able to hold my own. I never won obviously, but I made them work for it. I figure I'm a solid 3.5 now, and if somebody wants me on their 4.0 team, I'd be happy to oblige.
-a

 

[beernutz]

Can I appeal up now, and not DQ myself from the level I'm at now, or do I have to wait till the season's over?

If I were you I think I'd let my 3.0 captain know I was playing up because I would think there's a higher likelihood of getting your 3.0 matches DQ'ed if you are also successful at 3.5. Can anyone confirm this?

 

[sphinx780]

Here's what I'd do. Just wait until this mixed season has ended, then appeal up so you can play both 3.5 and 4.0. That way you don't have to worry about any potential issues with the current team you're playing on. Of course, talking to a league coordinator is never a bad way to go either.