Adult, Senior, &/or Super Senior Sanctioned Tournament Directors & Referees -
I'm sure most of you have heard about the new USTA National singles Recovery Rule that is effective immediately.
This rule does NOT change the USTA Texas Heat &/or Rain rules currently in effect, about shortening matches in those weather related times, in Ad/Sr/SS sanctioned tournaments. The rule below is about scheduling matches, although Ad/Sr/SS sanctioned tournaments that have heat or rain issues will still be able to shorten matches, per current rules.
The Texas rule below, talks about the unlikely instance that the draw is so large that 3 singles matches may have to be scheduled in one day to finish the tournament in the sanctioned time period.
This “3 singles matches in one day” would result only when there is:
a 32 or more draw for a 2-day tournament; or
a 128 or more draw for a 3-day tournament; or
a draw larger than 256 for a 4-day tournament.
The following will be added to all Ad/Sr/SS tournament homepage (for sanctioned tournaments):
Singles Recovery Rule - Effective Immediately
USTA has mandated that: "In all singles matches for Juniors, Adults, Seniors, NTRP and Wheelchair divisions in which the match format is two out of three standard sets or more, a rest period of two hours shall be offered by the Referee before the player’s next singles match. This Rule does not apply to short set and matches that play a tiebreak in lieu of a final third set nor to any match played indoors where the duration of the match is less than 120 minutes."
In the USTA TX Adult, Senior or Super Senior divisions, the regular format of full two of three sets will be used unless there are any singles draws large enough to require 3 singles matches on one day. Those 3 singles matches should be scheduled on the first day of play with the Round 1 in singles scheduled as a 10 point match tie-breaker in lieu of a final third set (which does not require a two hour rest period to be offered before the next singles match). All other Ad/Sr/SS matches will be the full two out of three sets, with a two hour rest period offered for any consecutive singles matches. If both players agree, the 2 hour rest period can be shortened. Doubles matches are not under this 2 hour recovery requirement, and if a doubles match is played between any 2 singles matches, the 2 hour rest period is not required to be offered.
10 comments:
Has the usta lost a lawsuit where someone died and the family sued saying they should have had a longer rest period?
Since most usta decisions are reactive and made by their attorneys, there must be something like this going on.
I am also an adult player and a lot of people, including myself will rebel against this ruling. The option to go to a shorter format should be left up to the Referee at each event. Consider rain delay's especially. Many tournaments will never finish. People will have to drive home later on Sunday's. Leave it up to the Referee and Directors at each event.
I can't wait to be starting my singles match at 1:30 a.m. Great planning by those committees.
Actually TD's and Ref's might actually like having a little rain shower. That way they can legally shorten formats, and no longer have to offer the 2 hour rest period for the remainder of the event...
I will seriously consider no longer offering any adult events. Tournaments don't make much money anyway and now they'll make even less once you factor in additional court fees, site director fees, officials, and food requirements.
Personally I think the Singles entry fee should go up about $10 per player to cover the new imbedded costs. That might cover a portion of it, assuming you can find sites to stay open late enough to play the events.
I might also mention that Adults and Seniors are quite particular about the venue where they play. Clubs do not like to stay open past their normal business hours, much less MORE hours now with this recovery period in effect. It will delay doubles and mixed doubles and hurt those who offer consolation in all events. It just won't be able to be offered anymore.
Obviously the tennis council is ignorant of the potential consequences of such a poor decision. They are not the ones hosting the tourneys, but the ones playing them. Of course they want to play as much tennis as they can. And they will but for much more money in the future, if the tournament is offered at all in the future. Serves them right...
If you check out the list of the committee members you will see that many of them are tournament players. Its obvious they know nothing about being a tournament director or running a tournament.
Question for the Texas Section leadership: Do you think its possible to have the Goodwill Ambassadors stay until 1:30 a.m. to run the desk and put matches on court? Someone is going to be have to do it since they'll be playing through half of the night.
As a tournament player, I think the new ruling sucks. The last thing I want to do is play a match and then have to wait until my opponent has been off court for two hours to play our next round. That means we will be stuck at the tournament site essentially all day.
Talking about lawsuits, this is morbid, but maybe someone will get killed driving back from a late match and their heirs will sue the USTA. This appears to be the only way this rule will get turned around.
Big 12 officials have to drive back late at night all the time. Look at the 30 officials who worked the 5 conference matches on March 30 in Austin, College Station, and Waco. Then figure out how many hotel rooms the conference paid for. Quite a few of those folks did not get home until close to midnight. Bad plan!
Anon 10:37 -
My heart goes out to you - BUT - WRONG TOPIC!
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