2014 USTA Middle States Jr. Team Tennis Overview 2 Table of Contents Pages 4 Introduction ALC Contacts Program Overview Getting Started Divisions of Play Seasons/Fees Local League Requirements Intermediate Benchmark/Rankings FAQ on Jr. Team Tennis Program 5-18 Marketing Materials 19-22 Samples Coaches Agenda Local Rules Modifications for 10&U Thank you sample 23-28 Policies and Procedures Coach, parent, and player policies Coaches code of conduct Championships 29-35 34-36 Dates Rules Background Checks 37 Notes 39 USTA Middle States Section JTT Section Coordinator Meghan Goodwin [email protected] 1288 Valley Forge Rd. Suite 74 Valley Forge, PA 19482 484.302.0756 PLEASE CHECK WWW.MIDDLESTATES.USTA.COM FOR THE MOST RECENT INFORMATION (Manual updated Jan-2014) 3 INTRODUCTION TO USTA JR. TEAM TENNIS USTA Jr. Team Tennis is a grassroots USTA program that is marketed to boys and girls ages 6 to 18 of all skill levels. The philosophy of the program is fun, fitness and friends in an environment that stresses sportsmanship and socialization in a team tennis atmosphere. This manual is designed to give you a description of the USTA Middle States Section Rules and Regulations for USTA Jr. Team Tennis for the 2014 Championship Year (seasons that run in the fall of 2013 and winter, spring and summer of 2014). Should this manual not cover an area you are inquiring about, please refer to the 2014 National USTA Jr. Team Tennis Regulations Manual. PLAYER AGREEMENT-USTA NATIONAL JR. TEAM TENNIS REGULATION 1.04 As a condition of their participation, all players participating in the USTA Jr. Team Tennis League agree to abide and be bound by the USTA Constitution and Bylaws; the USTA Regulations; the Rules of Tennis; the USTA Jr. Team Tennis Regulations; and the standards of good conduct, fair play, and good sportsmanship. AREA LEAGUE COORDINATORS (ALCs) District NJD Area League Coordinators Email Deb Magarrell (Cherry Hill) Lori Walsh (Hopewell) Lisa Ullmann ( Mercer County) Eric Wall (Princeton Tennis Program) Karen Kelner (South Jersey) Pat Edelschein (Moorestown Tennis) [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] PATD Georgia Gaul (Bucks County) [email protected] Justin DePietropaolo (Mont/Chester/DE County) [email protected] [email protected] Laura Canfield (Bucks County) CPD April Gift - Central PA Denise Dunn (York/ Hanover) Carol Oliver (Centre County) Jody Wilson (Lancaster—LTPA) [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] EPD Cindy Ashworth (Lehigh Valley) Ryan Knarr (Berks County) [email protected] [email protected] DD Monty Collum (Wilmington) Lisa Murray (Middletown) David Taylor (Wilmington - 10 and Under) Elyse Baney-Barton (Dover) [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] AMD Megan Foster (Beginner & Intermediate) Deb Hazlett (Advanced) [email protected] [email protected] 4 GETTING STARTED 1. Define Characteristics of Your League Who - Target market (age and ability) What - Example Team Match: 2 singles 2 doubles 1-2 mixed doubles When and Where - After-school or weekends - Length of season (recommend 6-10 wks.) - Season (Spring, Summer, Fall, or Winter) How – Who is going to coach/manage teams and run practices? - Volunteer parents - Pros/coaches - Division coordinator (Need at least one captain per team) How Much? 2. Hold Town Hall Meeting Invite local community leaders, coaches and parents 3. TennisLink Training Go through TennisLink Tutorial Become Program Coordinator and set up league on line 4. Use flyers and promote to target audience Schools Park & rec. Web sites/newsletters Sign-ups around area 5. Register players and Set up Teams Set up teams and register players Create and publish schedule using “Scheduler” Ensure scores by division managers or designated score enterer 6. Hold Captains Meeting 7. Run League Matches begin! 8. Coordinate End of Season Event or Party 9. Distribute End of Season Survey To coaches and parents to evaluate for next season 10. Send in Stipend Application 5 6 Who is your Target Player? 10 & Under 8 & Under 60 ft. courts- play is faster than red stage Slower play on smaller courts - 36 ft. Shorter racquets enable earlier rally/play Implementation of advanced techniques and tactics Individual team games and Activities Longer matches for individual/team events are played Gender blind Development of technique and Can be travel or single site simple tactics 4-8 players on a team Gender blind Can be just skills based team 4-8 players on a team organization Can be travel or single site Can be skills based 12 &Under Play is faster vs. orange stage Continued development of technique and movement Individual/team events played Currently offer beginner and intermediate levels Only intermediate advance to championships Travel league encouraged 3 girls and 3 boys per team 14 & Under Great for developing players Team events played 3 girls and 3 boys per team Beginner, intermediate, & advanced Int. & advanced move on to championships 18 & Under Great for JV and High School players Team events played 3 girls and 3 boys per team Possible single gender non-advancing leagues Beginner, intermediate, & advanced Int. & advanced move on to championships 7 DIVISIONS OF PLAY AND LEVEL DESCRIPTIONS Age 8 and Under 10 and Under Skill Level Beginner (red/foam ball) Beginner/ Intermediate (orange/LC ball) 12 and Under Beginner/ Intermediate 14 and Under Intermediate Advanced 18 and Under Intermediate Advanced The 8 & Under and 10 & Under Beginner (NTRP 2.0 & Below) division players are your novice players that are new to the game and have had no formal tennis instruction. They are just learning to play and judge where the ball is going. They enjoy tennis as a recreational sport and have very little or no match play experience. Recommended play for the 8 & Under division will be held on the 36’ modified tennis court and play for the 10 & Under division will be held on a 60’ court. Both divisions are to use age appropriate tennis racquets, balls, and scoring. *Currently these divisions will only be held at the local level. *At this level, membership can be requested to be waived by Section Coordinator. 12 & Under Beginner/Intermediate (NTRP 3.0 & Below) division players are beginner to intermediate players that are new to match play and not quite ready for the 14 and U but have the ability to play on a full sized court with regular tennis balls. *The winner of each local league will be eligible to advance to Championships. 14 & Under and 18 & Under Intermediate (NTRP 3.0 & Below) division players are your low-intermediate to intermediate players that have learned how to serve and keep regular scoring on their own, are fairly consistent when hitting medium paced shots, but are not comfortable with all strokes and lacks execution when trying for directional control, depth, or power. These players are beginning to compete at tennis in local Jr. Team Tennis programs, Mid-School tennis program or Junior Varsity High School tennis as well as district/ section tennis tournaments, some even winning smaller local tournaments. *The winner of each division in the local league will be eligible to advance to Championships. 14 & Under and 18 & Under Advanced (NTRP 3.5 and Above) division players are your high-intermediate to advanced players that have achieved improved stroke dependability with directional control on moderate shots, but need to develop depth and variety. They exhibit more aggressive net play, have improved court coverage, and are developing teamwork in doubles. These players may be entering and playing USTA Sanctioned events and tournaments or compete on Varsity High School teams. *The winner of each division in the local league will be eligible to advance to Championships. . 8 SEASONS USTA Middle States offers USTA Jr. Team Tennis in four seasons throughout the year. Below are tentative season guidelines. An ALC can decide what season dates work in their community and the dates may fall outside the sample range below SEASON . START REGISTRATION DEADLINE END Fall August 1st November 30th October 31th Winter November 1st April 1st March 1st Spring March 1st July 1st June 1st Summer June 1st August 31st July 31st *These are overall parameters, you league should run a total of 4-10 weeks Championships are always in the Summer See Championships section for exact dates. ** All leagues planning on advancing to their District or Section Championships must have their 3 match history prior to district championships. Please check your District Championship Schedule. ***Summer and Fall Seasons would be for the following championship year. Tips and suggestions: Spring is our largest season- with most leagues starting after the high school season is over. All leagues advancing to championships must complete all match play and have scores in TennisLink by July 1st Single gender leagues are good to have during the opposite of the high school season. i.e.. Have an all boys league in the fall when the girls are in season. Winter is great for off-season play, but harder to get court time, and can use shorter scoring formats. 9 PROGRAM FEES How to Determine your League Fee Local league program fees are at the discretion of the Area League Coordinator running the league and are subject to an additional TennisLink fee. 1. Are you securing courts or is it the discretion of each team? 2. Will you be providing balls or awards at the end of the season? 3. Admininistrative Fee TennisLink Pricing Tips: Program Providers: Program Fee in TL : This is the fee that the ALC will receive. (All ALC’s need to add $2 to this to be sent back to the section to cover background checks) When parents/players checkout: The TennisLink fee will be added at checkout - $4+ *** if the program fee is over $32.51, the TennisLink processing will be more than $4 it will be 7.5% +.50 +1.0. Example: Kasey's Winter JTT: 1. Kasey needs $55 per player to cover court rental, balls and a pizza party. 2. She puts $57 in TL 3. The cost at checkout would be: $62.78 (This is more than $4 because it is over $32.51) 10 JR. TEAM TENNIS PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS Below are a list of Minimum League Requirements for local leagues advancing to District, Section and National Championships. 1. Program Name: Please pick a name that helps identify where you are geographically as well as the season and year the program is offered. 2. USTA Membership: All participants must have a valid USTA Membership for the duration of the local season. 3. TennisLink: TennisLink Jr. Team Tennis must be used to manage the league. The ALC must have the local league schedule set in TennisLink prior to the play of any team matches. 4. Age Eligibility: Jr. Team Tennis age eligibility requirements are by the calendar year. A player must remain “age eligible” through August 31st of the championship year to be eligible for advancement opportunities to Section and National Championships. 5. Number of Teams: Program must have a minimum of 2 teams, ideally with at least 4 teams. 6. Team Minimum: Teams must consist of a minimum of three boys and three girls. Only exception is for 10&Under and non-advancing leagues. 7. Team Matches: Program must offer at least 3 matches during a season. 8. Score Entry: All team match scores must be entered into TennisLink within one week of the completion of the match by the home team captain. Visiting team captains must log in to “Confirm” all scores. 9. More Than One Team: Players may play on more than one local team during the same season. Prior to any advancement to a championship (district, section, national), the player must declare which team he or she will participate on in such championship. \ 10. Progression: Players must participate in a minimum of three team matches at the local level to qualify for District, Section or National Championships. The method of determining the winning team of the local league competition to advance to the next level of competition is determined by the ALC. 11 MODIFIED RANKING LISTS FOR 2014 CHAMPIONSHIP YEAR JR. TEAM TENNIS LEAGUES 14&U and 18&U INTERMEDIATE / ADVANCED LEVELS The NTRP (National Tennis Rating Program) which defines the characteristics of a player’s levels, is the official system for determining the levels of competition for the USTA’s Jr. Team Tennis Leagues. In addition, USTA Middle States has determined that players ranked in the top third of the Section in any age division need to participate at the advanced level. Please note that a child ranked below these ranking guidelines may in fact be at a higher NTRP level, therefore coaches/captains and Area League Coordinators must use good faith in the placement of participants into the appropriate levels. The Area League Coordinator may choose to move a player to the appropriate level if necessary. Middle States Intermediate Benchmarks are based on 2013 Final Rankings. Players ranked at or above the rankings below in the combined rankings in any age category must play at the advanced level. Please note that if a player is playing up in age, they must comply with the benchmarks for each age division. Also any player that places in the top 4 positions in their respective state singles championship tournament also must play at the advanced level. 12s: Top 40 14s: Top 70 16s: Top 70 18s: Top 70 ***2013 Final Rankings will not be finalized until January 15, 2014 Prior to January 2014, players can check the 2013 standings list*** How to Check a Players Ranking: 1. Go to https://tennislink.usta.com/Tournaments/Rankings/RankingHome.aspx 2. Under Ranking Search, select the following: National/Section/District: Middle States, Year: 2013 Division: Junior Singles List Type: Final Ranking (for current standing list, select Standing List) 3. Click on each age division your player has competed in. Check to see if they are within that age ranges cut-off. 12 ADDITIONAL MIDDLES STATES RULES All coordinators, coaches and players must abide by the USTA Jr. Team Tennis National Regulations as well as the following Middle States addendums to the rules: The National Regulations can be found at : http://assets.usta.com/assets/1/15/2014_JTT_Regulations_FINAL_8-27-13.pdf Addendum 1.0 National Championship Teams Teams that win the Section Championship at the Intermediate level or 14 Advanced must either move up to the Advanced level as a team or disperse to form new teams at the same level for the next Championship year. The new team(s) may have no more than three (3) players (one boy and two girls or two boys and one girl) who were on the Section Championship roster. The 14&U Intermediate and 14&U Advanced Section Championship team may also remain intact, if they move up to the 18&U corresponding level. 18&U Advanced does not need to split up as there is no where to move up to. Addendum 2.0 Program Approval All Jr. Team Tennis Leagues in Middle States will be approved by the Section Coordinator once submitted in TennisLink based on but not limited too; geographic location, divisions offered, season, length of season and/ or existing leagues in vicinity. USTA Middle States reserves the right to deny the application of leagues based on these or other characteristics. Addendum 3.0 Out of Section Benchmarks All players from other USTA sections participating in Middle States Jr. Team Tennis will be required to use benchmarks from their home section when determining their level of play. All Middle States players playing in Jr. Team Tennis in another section will be required to use a Middle States benchmark when determining their level of play. Addendum 4.0 Division Set-Up All Jr. Team Tennis leagues in Middle States must receive approval from the Jr. Competition Committee in order to combine age categories or levels of play (beginner, Intermediate, etc.). All divisions must have a minimum of 2 teams. Addendum 5.0 Advancing League Registration Dates All advancing Jr. Team Tennis leagues must be completely set-up in TennisLink (approved shell, divisions & flights created, players registered – a minimum of 3 boys and 3 girls, and schedules for each flight posted) 30 days prior to the end of the season. SEASON Fall Winter Spring Summer START August 1st November 1st March 1st June 1st END November 30th April 1st July 1st August 31st REGISTRATION DEADLINE October 31th March 1st June 1st July 31st Addendum 6.0 Leagues Advancing to Districts Only the eligible winning team from each flight are guaranteed to advance to the district championships in their respective districts. 13 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Q: How many players do you recommend per team? A: 8-10. This allows some flexibility if players need to miss a match, yet the team is still small enough that the players get to play and feel like a valued member. The team minimum for championship advancing teams is 6, 3 boys and 3 girls. Q: Do the players need to be USTA Members? A: YES! All participants in USTA Jr. Team Tennis must be current members of the USTA for the duration of the local league season. Membership must also be valid should the team advance to the championship level. (The only exception is for the 10U & 8U) Q: Can a player play on more than one team? A: Yes, but only during the local league. The player must declare which team they will participate on should both advance to the championship level. Q: Who is in charge of recording match scores? A: The home team coach/captain, but the visiting team coach/captain should go on TennisLink to confirm that the correct scores were entered. Q: What if I have one player who is advanced and the rest of the team is intermediate, what level should the team play at? A: If that player is going to play on your team, the entire team must play up to the Advanced level. Q: If I have two teams, can I switch players back and forth between the teams during the local season? A: No. Unless you register those players on both teams, paying for two registration fees. 14 FINDING COURTS Step 1. Determine your Court Needs Before you can go looking for courts, you need to understand your needs. You’ll need to know this information before you can speak to facility managers about using their courts. 1. How long will your practices and matches be? Recommended 2 hours per match 2. How many days a week will you need courts? 3. How many courts will you need each day? 4. How long is the season? **Remember: the minimum number of courts per match is two. Step 2. Brainstorm Courts in Your Community City Parks City offices typically have a Parks and Recreation department which controls all of the public park facilities. If residents of their city have the opportunity to participate in the Jr. Team Tennis league, you will have higher priority of renting their courts or even using them for free. Community Centers and Public Tennis Facilities When considering using a community center or public tennis facility, it is very important to find out who owns and operates the facilities. It is a good idea to research what the mission of the facility is. Facilities want to support programs that are in line with their mission statement and showcase this mission to the community and donors. Schools Some schools will post their facility rental policies and the contact information on their official school websites. If not, contact the high school tennis coach or school district to find out who controls the tennis court rentals. It is important to recognize that most schools have a predetermined list of who has priority when it comes to renting the courts. Peak hours for high school courts are after school on weekdays while school is in session. The person who controls court rentals will know more about other programming that may be taking place on those courts and when they are available. Colleges College campuses have more flexibility during the school year and players on college teams are an excellent source of volunteers or coaches, especially if their college has a community service requirement for graduation. Private Tennis Clubs Private facilities are membership driven, so they will be most interested in a program that will attract new members while pleasing their current membership base. The management will want to know if Jr. Team Tennis is a program that will appeal to their membership and bring more revenue in to their facility. As with all facilities, the goal is to maximize court usage. If you can coordinate your league to accommodate when their courts are slowest, you may be able to secure a lower court rate. Also, be sure to ask what their non-member policy is. Apartment Complexes/Gated Communities These private facilities are similar to private tennis clubs, but they may have more availability and lower prices because they do not depend solely on membership dues. It’s especially helpful if you, a 15 FINDING COURTS CONTINUED Step 3. Contact Facilities to Learn Availability and Fees (if any) Some facilities may charge you for the rental of their tennis courts. Tennis courts at commercial clubs and indoor facilities are often more expensive than school or public park courts. Step 4. Meet with Facility Managers It is very important to establish and maintain a positive relationship with the tennis facility managers. Prior to securing court time, set up a face to face meeting with the facility contact person. During this meeting, introduce yourself and your role within the tennis community, explain the nature of your league and who participates, and articulate your court needs and what you are looking for in a host facility. It is also a good idea to see if there is a bulletin board or display board at the facility that your league information/schedule could be posted on. Be sure to clearly communicate the facility rules to your players and coaches, so they can respect and abide by them. You should always leave the facility as clean or cleaner than when you arrived. 16 FINDING TEAM MANAGERS In Jr. Team Tennis, the person responsible for player supervision and instruction is the Team Manager. The job of the Team Manager is to organize the players to play tennis, have fun, and learn the values of the game. That’s it. You don’t need to be a tennis “expert” to be a Team Manager. A good team manger is anyone who can: • Excite players and make sure they enjoy the game and league play • Organize activities, practices, and games • Teach simple tasks and aspects of the game in a positive learning environment • Motivate players to play their best so they keep playing and learning. Once potential Team Managers understand this, getting them to join your league becomes a lot easier. In your search, you should consider: Parents of players: Some of the best team mangers/coaches are interested mothers, fathers or grandparents of current players. Since parents are making participation decisions for their children, why not involve them. School Teachers or Administrators: If the team or league is starting at a school setting, identify individuals who would be willing to participate and to be trained. Having school teachers or faculty involved in the activity will only strengthen the future growth of the league. If a teacher does not have the time needed to be a team manager, maybe ask them to donate a limited amount of their personal time to the team which fits into their schedule. Adult League Players Over 330,000 adults presently participate in USTA League tennis. These groups of individuals are a wonderful source for team mangers/coaches. They already have a good understanding of the game and many have leisure time they are willing to give back to the community in which they reside. Recent graduates or former players There are many young adults who have graduated from high school or college who would like to give back to the sport or to their community. Many also have requirements for “community service hours” and coaching is a great way to fulfill the requirement. These individuals would also be wonderful in assisting the team, as it is a great opportunity for training. Coaches from other sports Coaches from other sports have experience in the aspects of coaching and could learn the basics of tennis if proper training is provided. They are one of your best resources if your tennis season does not conflict with other youth sport offerings in your community. 17 FINDING PARENTS & PLAYERS Start Small People who know you, who know your passion for the game and your desire to improve your community are the best place to start. Use Word of Mouth This remains the best recruiting source. Talking up your new league among existing tennis players and parents is the fastest and easiest way to get started. Be sure to clearly define your league’s mission and goals: to help develop kids into successful adults. Partnerships Partnering with existing organizations will give you access to their audience of interested parents and players. Their newsletters and notice boards are important ways to reach people who are already participating in other activities. Some potential partners for your league include: • Adult Leagues: Offer to expand an existing adult league. Tennis is a lifetime sport that eventually parents and kids can play together. Why not suggest it now? Contact members of the leagues and see if their kids want to play. • Churches • Community Organizations (YMCA) • After-School Programs (Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs) • Schools • Parks and Recreation Agencies: Many organizations have e-mail newsletters, bulletin boards, and flyers where you can promote your league. Use Email It is quick, easy and inexpensive. Gaining access to the email lists of your partners is the easiest way to expand your reach beyond word of mouth. Start a Website Starting a website is critical to establish credibility for your league and provide a way for parents to find out more information. The good news is that these days there are a number of free and easy ways to do so. Free online services like wordpress.com and blogger.com, eteamz.com and simple to use and will give you professional presence on the web in less than an hour. Other things to remember: Benefits for the player and team are critical in holding onto players season to season. Try to keep introductory program costs at a minimum. Parents don’t want to have large cash outlays until they are convinced their child truly enjoys the sport. As an organizer, arranging multiple play levels could be a nightmare but it is vital to keep children of the same age in appropriate groupings. Children will have a better experience if they are in the right group. Developmental windows of opportunity exist at specific ages so make sure you are aware of these windows and what activity is appropriate for your levels. 18 USTA MARKETING MATERIALS AND RESOURCES There are many materials, such as this manual, that are available to Jr. Team Tennis coaches that will aid in coordinating a Jr. Team Tennis league, whether big or small. Some of those materials and resources include: Helpful websites: USTA Middle States Section web site: www.middlestates.usta.com and click on Jr. Team Tennis National Jr. Team Tennis web site: www.jrteamtennis.usta.com 10 & Under Tennis web sites: USTA Tennis Products and promotions: www.tennisawards.com Marketing Materials : USTA Ad customization website: www.usta.com/ctmarketing 1. First time users need to register for a user account before you can start building any flyers or posters. (Returning users can enter in their username and password). 2. Hit the “register” button, once approved you will receive an email from [email protected] stating you have been approved. 3. Once your account is created, you can log in. 4. Select “Creative Request” from the menu bar and then choose “Materials for Download”. 5. Now select USTA Jr. Team Tennis or Youth Team Tennis form the menu drop down. 6. Hit the blue select button underneath the piece you would like to use. 7. Enter in your product description in the text box (i.e. JTT Spring League) and hit “submit”. 8. Choose “Download Word Doc.” 9. Enter in your league information in the “customize here” portion on the flyer/poster. 10. Save and distribute to local papers, schools, etc. **See the following page for an example. For help or ideas on how to better market your program, please contact Meghan Goodwin at [email protected] 19 MARKETING IDEAS There are so many ways to promote your new league. Here’s a list of proven programs compiled from years of running successful leagues that will get your imagination going. Get a Free Website: If your league elects to become a Community Tennis Association, they will have the opportunity to participate on the USTA.com network. The website hosting and design is free. Users are provided with free training, and the design and functionality are current technologies. E-mail: Effective e-mailing can be a successful tool in reminding previous participants or participants in other events that the upcoming season is open for registration. Work with your partners to get access to their e-mail lists to broaden your reach. School assemblies: Conducting a school assembly is a great way to create excitement for your league. Make sure to include some sort of take-home information that kids can bring to their parents. Town Hall Meetings: Like school assemblies, town hall meetings can create excitement among the general community. These meetings are also a great way to attract volunteers. Open house registration days: These are often important for creating interest and buzz about the league as well as providing a personal touch to answer questions that parents may have. When scheduling registration open houses, it is always best to use a combination of weekends, weekdays, days, and nights. Promotional giveaways: If your budget allows, promotional giveaways such as bag tags, shirts, hats, tennis balls, or stickers with league sign-up information can be a useful tool in building interest in your league. Community Bulletin Boards: Both physical and virtual, there are many bulletin boards where fliers can be posted to the public. Look for these bulletin boards in community centers, churches, restaurants, and outside of tennis courts. Online, many local TV and Radio stations offer areas for posting community events and programs. Social Networking Websites: Websites like Facebook are popular among kids and can provide a great venue for posting pictures, sending messages, and attracting general interest to your program. YouTube Videos: Posting videos of players or matches can help boost excitement. Try offering a contest for the player who posts the most creative Jr. Team Tennis video (make sure, of course, that the necessary legal permission is granted). 20 MARKETING IDEAS Distribute fliers at high-traffic locations: Consider health clubs, sporting goods stores, grocery stores, schools, and community centers to reach a good cross-section of the general public. Slides at movie theaters: Local movie theaters often display promotional slides before a feature movie. Some even offer free space for community programming as a public service. Fliers on car windshield fliers at other youth sporting events: Depending on the season of your league, one youth sport or another should be finishing up just as you are kicking off. By leaving fliers on the windshields of all the cars in the parking lot of a Little League field, for example, you can reach a captive audience of young athletes looking for their next activity. Tennis Club newsletters: Printing a message in a Club newsletter reaches the decision-makers (parents) directly. Offer to write the piece on their behalf to improve your chances of publication. Free promotional articles in local publications: Many local newspapers and magazines contain a calendar section for community events. Listings are free and effective. In addition, these publications often publish Editorials or feature stories about community programs and events. For a better chance of getting published, write the story that you can submit to the editor. Cross-promotional partnerships with local businesses: Local businesses of all types (banks, restaurants, sporting goods stores, movie theaters, etc.) are often willing to trade space in their stores for exposure. For example, negotiate with a local supermarket that they will place a flier for your league in everyone’s grocery bag. In exchange offer to post their banner at your event and on you website. Newspaper advertisements: While sometimes costly, newspaper advertisements should be run 7-10 days in advance in multiple papers. Advertisers can often ask for value-added items in return such as public service announcements, prizes, promotions, editorials, or other coverage. Cross-marketing with other sports: Any activities that target juniors (tennis and non-tennis) are great cross-marketing opportunities. For example, try sponsoring a team in a youth soccer or T-Ball league. Sponsorships: Try sponsoring a tennis tournament or a high school league in order to inform players that your league provides a place to play on a team in the off season. Bumper Stickers: A great fundraising opportunity, selling bumper stickers, license plate holders, and decals can earn you hundreds of free billboards across your area. 21 MARKETING IDEAS Other Useful Tips: • Define your objectives. Figure out how many people you want to attract and let your goal drive your efforts. • Get help. Solicit volunteers with experience or expertise in advertising to see if they will assist you. • All advertisements should include a phone number and a website. • If possible, translate your promotional material into different languages to reach a broader audience. • Make use of community contacts with local publications, printing companies, and facilities to provide more exposure for your league. • Identify the most influential information for parents: dates, locations, age are important, formats and rules are not. 22 USTA JR. TEAM TENNIS SAMPLE COACHES MEETING AGENDA 1. Welcome and Introductions 2. General Information about USTA Jr. Team Tennis A. USTA Jr. Team Tennis is a fun youth sports program that promotes sportsmanship through playing on teams. B. JTT is co-ed and teams consist of a minimum of 3 girls and 3 boys. C. Winners of the league are based on total games won not by matches or sets. 3. Start and End Dates and Divisions of League 4. Costs A. USTA Membership- All players MUST be USTA members. This can be done by phone or through www.usta.com. A player must be a member in order to register for their team. Junior membership is $20 per year. B. Court Costs, balls, awards C. Additional manager stipend 6. Levels of Play A. Advanced. B. Intermediate. C. Beginner-Intermediate. 7. League Rules and Regulations and Format of Play Go over league rules and your format of play. Also, every team should get a copy of the 2014 USTA Jr. Team Tennis Regulations Book. If you haven’t received one at a meeting, you can download them here: http://www.ustajtt.com/index.php?page=championships---regulations 8. Advancement League winners in the Intermediate and Advanced Divisions win the right to advance to District Championships. To play in these, each team must pay $100 to participate, and all players must have played in at least 3 team matches. 9. Team Registration Make sure all coaches know how to register. A team registration form is attached and can be found at www.middlestates.usta.com and by clicking on Jr. Team Tennis. 10. Player Registration Player registration is attached and can be found at www.middlestates.usta.com and by clicking on Jr. Team Tennis. Remember to make sure players have correct team #s before registering. 11. Score Entry/League Maintenance Make sure coaches know they will be in charge of score entry and they can print scorecards online. 12. Have Fun and Promote Good Sportsmanship! 23 USTA MIDDLE STATES JR. TEAM TENNIS RULES TO CONSIDER FOR LOCAL PLAY Please use the following as guideline for creating rules for your local league and pay special attention to the parts that are bold. 1. When: Make sure coaches and players have the Schedule 2. Where: Are Coach/Captain’s responsible for securing own 2 courts for their match for 2 hours or do you have locations set? 3. Who is responsible for the tennis balls: Home teams are responsible for providing balls for the match. Each match should require 2 cans of balls. 4. Match Format: Each match is one set each of male singles, female singles, male doubles, female doubles, and two sets of mixed doubles. It is suggested that you put the two doubles matches on two courts first, and then singles, and then mixed doubles. 5. The team that wins the most games wins the match. If the score is tied at the end, then the result is a tie. Standings are based on games won. If there is a tie at the end of the season, the team with the best win-loss record, wins the league. 6. League winners in the Intermediate and Advanced Divisions win the right to advance to the District Championships Insert your District Championships HERE. To play in these, each team must pay $75 to participate. 7. Home teams are responsible for reporting scores through TennisLink, although away teams also have this ability to do so if they choose. 8. What to do in regards to weather? In the event of inclement weather, the home team coach/captain is responsible for making the decision on a match. He or she can: A. Book indoor courts to play the match at a nearby club. Note: Both teams must agree to play the match indoors, and if so, cover the cost of the courts. B. You need to set a deadline to make up matches. C. Coach/Captains should communicate with their opposing coach/captain at least 24 hours before the match to coordinate details such as directions, number of players, etc. 9. What to do if at team doesn’t have enough players for a match A. Defaulting? (Ex. If Team A only shows up with 1 girl they should default girls doubles) 10. Each coach/captain should bring a scorecard for the match. A. Every player must be registered on TennisLink in order to play. We recommend that each coach/captain prints out a lineup card and makes sure everybody playing that day is registered. If they are not, they will not be able to play. B. Coaching can be done at every changeover. 24 USTA MIDDLE STATES JR. TEAM TENNIS SAMPLE SCORING FOR LOCAL PLAY Singles and doubles play within a team match. (1girls singles & doubles, 1 boys singles & doubles, 1 mixed doubles.) Team matches will be played in the following order (based on 2 courts per team match): Boys & Girls Doubles Boys & Girls Singles Mixed Doubles Matches will consist of FIRST to FOUR game sets (ex. 4-3) A TIE-BREAKER will be played at 3-3. Winner of breaker will be first to acquire 7 points (not winning by two.) The player whose turn it is to serve will serve the first point of the tie-break game. After this, each player will serve alternately for two consecutive points until the end of the tie-break game. Scoring will be NO-AD. On a 40-40 game point, receiver may choose which side to receive from. In mixed doubles, the serve must be gender to gender. Players will switch sides on the ODD numbered games. Team matches are won by the HIGHEST NUMBER OF GAMES SCORED. If at the end of the mixed doubles match teams have TIED, the MIXED TEAM will play a MATCH TIE-BREAKER to decide the match. Winner of breaker will be first to acquire 7 points. (not winning by two) 25 MODIFIED SCORING FOR 10 & UNDER 8 & Under Meeting once a week for 1 hour, 30 minutes practice, 20 to 30 minutes play Match play scoring -One 7 point game -Match play scoring modified to a 5 point set, 2 sets are played, and each player serves an entire set and then switches. The winner of the set receives 100 points for the team; the losing player receives 50 points for the team. -Player scores a point when the ball goes over the net. Starting a point -Eliminate service boxes -Move closer -Coach toss to player -Drop hit -Underhand serve -Toss the ball over the net Other modifications -Multiple bounces -Volunteer/coach is on the court with the player hitting the balls that the player misses to keep the rally going. -Four players assigned to a court, two are playing the other two are keeping score. The players switch roles for the second match and then all come on the court for doubles. -Using caution tape as a net, even balls that go under are still in play as long as it is bouncing, rolling balls are out of play. -Use team activities to score point for your team instead of matches to promote skill development. 10 & Under Less skilled player start on the 36 ft. court, next they move to the service boxes of the 78 ft. court and then to the 60 ft. court Shortened scoring Serving from the service line Most of the modification done is at the 8 & Under level. The modifications are done so that the children can be successful and improve. When the modifications are used the children improve over the course of a season—6 to 8 weeks. 26 SAMPLE SEASON ACTIVITES FOR 10 & UNDER WEEK 1 Team Name Ice Cream cone catch Koosh Ball Pass Team Tunnel Ball Doubles Match Total Points Won Singles Match Total Points Won Singles Match Total Points Won Tennis Hockey Tennis Sandwich Relay Lobster Traps Doubles Match Total Points Won Singles Match Total Points Won Singles Match Total Points Won Koosh Ball Passes – Backhands Hula Hoop Tennis Toss, Hit, Catch – Forehands Doubles Match Total Points Won Singles Match Total Points Won Singles Match Total Points Won Toss, Hit, Catch – Backhands Team Rallies with a coach Stuffed Shirt Doubles Match Total Points Won Singles Match Total Points Won Singles Match Total Points Won Toss, Volley Catch Team Volleys with coach Serve and Trap Doubles Match Total Points Won Singles Match Total Points Won Singles Match Total Points Won Racquet Quickness Team Rallies Beat the Coach Doubles Match Total Points Won Singles Match Total Points Won Singles Match Total Points Won WEEK 2 Team Name WEEK 3 Team Name WEEK 4 Team Name WEEK 5 Team Name WEEK 6 Team Name 27 SAMPLE COACHES THANK YOU Dear Mercer Jr. Team Tennis participant, First of all, let me express my sincerest thanks for your continued cooperation, support, and dedication towards Jr. Team Tennis. To the players: Thank you for bringing your youthful enthusiasm, endless energy, athletic talent, and gracious gamesmanship to the courts each week. It's been an honor and a privilege to be your local league coordinator. I wish everyone continued success in tennis and future endeavors. And, I'm hoping to see everyone again in future tennis seasons. To the parents/family: Thank you for believing in Jr. Team Tennis. Without your willingness to enroll your child in a new tennis program, this season would not have been. I applaud and commend your dedication to your children's extracurricular activities. Thank you for spending Saturday afternoons with me and the league. To the Team Managers: You've been amazing and helpful throughout the season. You've kept me organized and made sure all the players were in the line-ups each week. Thanks again for all the time and energy you put into the league. You made my job so much easier. I thank you, and I know the players and parents are just as appreciative. Thank you for the sporting goods gift card. It was a very generous gift and it will be put to good use in the very near future! After 6 hard-fought regular season matches, the Mercer Aces will be the team representing our league at Districts on July 16. To view final team standings, go to http://teamtennis.usta.com and search for your team name. You can also find individual player information there as well. I encourage everyone to utilize your USTA memberships this summer. Sign up for a local tournament or two to gain more practice and match experience. Thanks again for all you've done this tennis season. I'll be in touch later in the summer with details about Mercer's 2nd Jr. Team Tennis season. As always, spread the word to other players and parents. Our goal for next season is to have an 18 and under division and a few more teams! Kind regards, Coach A 28 POLICIES AND PROCEDURES Before your league is off and running, it’s worth spending some time planning for the unexpected. Laying out policies and procedures in few key areas will help make sure that everyone involved in your league is on the same page. You should think about: • • • • • Safety Inclement weather Facilities Refund policy Code of Conduct Medical Release Form You and every Team Manager should be aware of all medical conditions, allergies, or potential areas of concern for each one of your participants. Prior to their first practice, all players should submit a medical release form that has been completed and signed by their parent or guardian. First Aid Kit If your partners don’t have them on site, every Team Manager should provide a first aid kit to every practice and match. This is the first line of action should an injury occur. Medical Emergency Plan Your league should have a documented Medical Emergency Plan on hand for all practices and matches. This document is a detailed summary of the steps to be taken in the event of a medical emergency to a player or spectator. Inclement Weather Your league should have a documented plan in case of inclement weather such as rain, thunder, or lightning. This plan will help parents and participants respond the right way, with no confusion or miscommunication. As part of this plan, you should also establish a way to communicate with the parents of participants. Facilities Your league’s facilities will have their own policies and procedures. You should ensure that all Team Managers know what is expected of them and their teams at all times. After all, you want to make sure that you’ll always be welcome. Refund Policy Not every player who starts with your league at the beginning of the season will be able to stay involved to the end. Just as you expect a clear refund policy from places where you shop, you should provide the same for the parents of your participants. Code of Conduct The goal of your league is to have a positive impact on the lives of kids and help them develop into successful adults. A Code of Conduct will help everyone involved in your league understand what’s expected of them to achieve that goal. 29 POLICIES AND PROCEDURES 2 For Players Play for fun! You deserve to have fun playing tennis. Alert your parents or coaches if it stops being fun. Work hard and improve your skills. Remember working hard and trying your best is more important than winning and will help you become a better player. Be a team player – get along with and be supportive of your teammates. Treat all players as you would like to be treated. Learn the rules and play by them. Do your best to listen and learn from your coaches. Demonstrate good sportsmanship regardless of the score by acting in a positive manner towards your coach, teammates, your parents, opponent and officials Don’t use drugs, tobacco or alcohol at any practice or match and remind others on the team not to do so. For Parents Be a cheerleader – for both teams: Offer applause and cheer for both teams following a good play or a great effort. Respect volunteers: Remember all JTT coaches and administrators are volunteers. Respect the fact they are willing to give so much of their time to your child. Be supportive of their efforts to create a positive and enjoyable experience for all. Be a good sport: Set the example by showing respect, dignity, and total sportsmanship at all times. Do not criticize the opponents, their parents or coaches. Remain positive at all times. If your child spots you kicking and screaming on the sidelines, he/she will learn that it’s acceptable for them to do so too. Provide a safe environment: Demand a sports environment for your child that is free of drugs and alcohol, and will refrain from their use at all tennis events. You and your child must treat other players, coaches, fans, and officials with respect regardless of race, sex, sexual orientation, creed or ability. Let kids be kids: Tennis is a game and playing should be fun. Let your child enjoy it with his/ her friends. Encourage your child to do their best and don’t worry about winning. Be informed: Learning the rules of the game and policies of the league will help ensure your child has a positive experience. Ask coaches for their point of view before making assumptions or creating a negative situation in front of the children. 30 POLICIES AND PROCEDURES 3 For Coaches Always be positive: Offering support and encouragement builds a player’s confidence and self esteem. Young players are going to make mistakes and miss shots, that is how children learn. As a coach it is important to congratulate the effort instead of the result. Treat each player as an individual, remembering the large range of emotional and physical development from the same age group. Lead by example: Demonstrate fair play and sportsmanship to all players, coaches and league officials. As a youth sports coach, the game is for the children. Remember that this is an educational and recreational league designed to help all kids learn and love to play tennis. Safety first: Provide a sports environment for my team that is free of drugs, tobacco, and alcohol, and refrain from their use at all tennis events. Also you should always place the emotional and physical well being of the children ahead of a personal desire to win. Learn the game: Be knowledgeable of the rules of tennis and teach these rules to the players and their parents. Organize practices that are fun and challenging for the players. The Rule of Seven You are expected to give children greater care than adults. Depending on the age of the child, children are held to various degrees of responsibility for their own actions. The Rule of Seven identifies how children handle responsibility based on their age: • Children under the age of 7 are not responsible for their own actions. They can not recognize dangerous situations or read warning signs. Your greatest responsibility for supervision lies with this age group. • Children between the ages of 7 and 14 are considered partially responsible for their actions and welfare. They understand most warning signs and comprehend some dangerous situations. • Youth 14 through 18 years of age are mostly responsible for their own actions. They have the experience to make many good decisions related to their personal danger. • Adults are considered responsible for their behavior. 31 COACHES CODE OF CONDUCT USTA Jr. Team Tennis Coaches Code of Conduct System USTA Jr. Team Tennis (JTT) should be a fun and rewarding experience for our children. Character building lessons such as hard work, discipline, sportsmanship, and handling adversity are regularly on display. Parents of JTT players should also enjoy the time spent with their children and watching them develop not just into better tennis players, but into good citizens. Coaches and organizers of Jr. Team Tennis are under a duty to encourage and maintain high standards of proper conduct, fair play, and good sportsmanship. They are under an obligation to avoid acts which may be considered detrimental to the game of tennis. Coaches shall not engage in unsportsmanlike conduct. The JTT Coaches Code of Conduct System shall apply to all local JTT matches, and championships. • during the entire team match and practices • at match facilities During the course of a match or practice a coach shall not engage in: a. Verbal abuse. Swear at a spectator or an opponent in a voice that can be heard by any person; b. Visible or audible profanity. Use profanity or insulting, abusive or obscene language in any way that may be heard by any person or use obscene, insulting or abusive gestures; c. Racket or Ball abuse. Deliberately throw or hit a ball/racquet in any direction; d. Threaten players, parents, or spectators in any way; e. Physical abuse. Threaten or inflict bodily injury to anyone; or Threaten or inflict bodily injury to anyone; or f. Other unsportsmanlike or inappropriate conduct on or off court at locations such as the match site, or parking lot g. Physical act of violence against another person on or off the court by a player, parent, relative, coach, or other person associated with a player h. Illegal use of drugs or possession of illegal drugs or Possession or consumption of alcohol beverages i. Destruction of property 32 COACHES CODE OF CONDUCT pg. 2 How do coaches get reported? 1. A coach, parent, player, or program administrator directly involved must complete a short reporting form to be found on the middle states website and submit to USTA Middle States. 2. USTA Middle States will maintain records of reports against coaches. 3. All reports will be reviewed by a USTA Middle States Jr. Team Tennis Task Force in accordance with the USTA Jr. Team Tennis grievance procedures on pages 19-27 in the regulations booklet. Also found at www.usta.com/jtt 4. The USTA Middle States Jr. Team Tennis Task Force will determine and enforce appropriate penalties. Penalties: 1. First Report - Receive a warning and sign sportsmanship contract 2. 2nd Report - Take a Positive Coaches Alliance online double goal coaches workshop and pass with at least 80%. 3. 3rd Report - Suspended for the rest of the season and from championships that year. The task force has the power to suspend coaches immediately if it believes that the coaches conduct is so severe as to warrant immediate suspension, whether or not that conduct is specifically listed in this document. If the task force determination is for suspension of a coach, the coach may appeal to the Junior Competition Committee provided that the appeal is received by the USTA Middle States Section coordinator within 5 business days of the notice of determination. In the case of immediate suspension, by the task force, that suspension will remain in effect until the appeal process has been completed. 33 DISTRICT JR. TEAM TENNIS EVENTS District Site Dates Allegheny Mountain 00 TBD TBD Central PA District Hempfield Area Rec. Commission Lancaster, PA. July 16th-18th Eastern PA District WestEnd Racquet Club Allentown, PA July 19th Philadelphia District Frosty Hollow and Core Creek Park July 9th and 10th New Jersey District Mercer County Park Hamilton, NJ July 15th Middletown High School Middletown, DE July 10th. (Rain Date July 11th) Delaware District Entry Fees: $100 per team and will be paid online in order to participate. Team Deposit: $100. The deposit is a hold on a credit card to ensure the team participates throughout the event. If team withdraws after registration or is a no show at the event, both the deposit and entry fees will be forfeited. 34 SECTION AND NATIONAL JR. TEAM TENNIS EVENTS USTA Middle States Section Championships: July 30—August 1 Mercer County Park Tennis Courts 640 S. Broad St. P.O. Box 8068 Trenton, NJ 08650 Phone: (609) 448-2088 Entry Fees: $140 per team and will be paid online in order to participate. Team Deposit: $140. The deposit is a hold on a credit card to ensure the team participates throughout the event. If team withdraws after registration or is a no show at the event, both the deposit and entry fees will be forfeited. The winners from all divisions except 12 & U will advance to National Championships. USTA National Championships: The USTA 2014 National Championships will be held in Cayce, SC 14 & Under Advanced and Intermediate - October 17-19, 2014 18 & Under Advanced and Intermediate - October 24-26, 2014 35 USTA MIDDLE STATES JR. TEAM TENNIS SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP REGULATIONS Below are regulations created by the USTA Middle States Section Community Tennis Department from the National 2014 USTA Jr. Team Tennis Regulation book for teams advancing to and participating in the Section Championships. Please refer to the National Regulation Book for a complete list of the championship regulations. 1. ELIGIBILITY: A player is eligible to progress to championship level competition, including National Championships, if that player has played on the same team in at least three team matches during its local USTA Jr. Team Tennis season on three separate dates and has the results of said three matches recorded in TennisLink Team Tennis. Only one match result may be the product of a defaulted or forfeited match by the opposing team to count towards advancing for all players involved. A retired match shall count toward advancing for all players involved. 2. PROGRESSION: Winning teams of the local league or competition (such as an Area Playoff) set by the ALC will be entitled to advance to the District Championships. Winners from District Championships will advance to Section Championships. 3. TEAM SUBSTITUTIONS: If a player on a qualifying team advancing to a championship competition is, for whatever reason, unable to participate, and this brings the team below the 3 girl and 3 boy minimum, a substitute player may be added to the qualifying team’s roster from the same local league in order to meet the minimum team size requirement. In no event can more than two substitutes be added to a team’s roster for competition. Any substitutions must be submitted to and approved by Meghan Goodwin at [email protected] prior to the championship. 4. AGE ELIGIBILITY: Players must remain age eligible through August 31st of the championship year to be eligible for advancement opportunities. 5. USTA MEMBERSHIP: Any individual who progresses to the Section Championship must be a current USTA member for the duration of the championship. 36 Background Check Procedures The 3 steps outlined below must be fulfilled to be eligible to serve as a Jr. Team Tennis coach/manager, co-manager, or local/area coordinator. Please allow 10 business days for completion. Step 1: View training video: http://training.safesport.org. You will be prompted to create an account. The video is 90 minutes long. If you are unable to complete the course at one time, you can return and continue using the account you created. Step 2: Read the Youth Protection Policies and Procedures for USTA Jr. Team Tennis. Click here to download: http:assets.usta.comassets/1/15Youth_Protection_Policies_and_Procedures_for_USTA_Jr_-_2-2213_Clean.pdf Step 3: Complete Your Background Screen Application. In the application, you will be required to certify and affirm that you have successfully completed (1) and (2) above. The USTA has retained the services of an independent third party, the National Center for Safety Initiatives (NCSI), to conduct background screenings of all applicants. Please begin your background screen through NCSI: https://www.ncsisafe.com/members/SelfRegLandingUSTAJTT.aspx Once you submit your application, you will receive your NCSI Applicant ID number on the screen. You will this number to check the status of your background screen (see (a) below) as well as when you login to TennisLink for the first time. My NCSI Applicant ID Number is: a) Once you have submitted your background screen information, results will be generated in approximately 10 business days. Please be sure to add ncsisafe.com to your accepted email domain list. Watch for an email from [email protected] in the days following your application; this will also contain your NCSI Applicant ID number which can be used to check the status of your application on NCSI’s website. b) NCSI may contact you within the 10 business day waiting period to request more information. You can confirm the legitimacy of the request by checking your status on NCSI’s website using the NCSI Applicant ID number; your status will note the same request for information. Please watch for communications from NCSI as these emails may end up in your “spam” folder. c) When you screen is complete you will receive either a green or red light, based on the results of your application and the USTA’s criteria. If you receive a green light, you will receive an email from the USTA notifying you that you’ve been cleared through Safe Play with instructions on what to do next. You also will be listed on the results page of USTA.com: http://www.usta.com/About-USTA/background_screening_program_results/. If you received a red light, you will be notified by NCSI of your status and you will not be eligible to participate in Jr. Team Tennis. d) For more info and FAQ’s: http://www.usta.com/About-USTA/background_screening_policy_faqs_for_jtt/ For all questions related to the background screen system, please contact: The National Center for Safety Initiatives Phone: (866) 833-7100 or E-Mail: [email protected] For all policy-related questions, please contact: United States Tennis Association E-Mail: [email protected] 37 USTA Middle States would like to thank you for your participation in USTA Jr. Team Tennis! Your dedication and hard work is why this program continues to grow. Without priceless volunteers like you, our juniors would not be able to compete with their friends, experience teamwork and unity, have fun, and learn life lessons on and off the court. We hope that your experiences USTA Jr. Team Tennis will keep you supporting our program and juniors in Middle States! Thanks again! Sincerely, Meghan Goodwin [email protected] 610-935-5000 ex. 229 38 Notes: 39
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