News From The ITA

Much has been written and said about the ITA/USTA relationship.  Here is the latest from the ITA:

August 7, 2015 Dear Colleagues: High level officiating is an important component of the success of college tennis. The ITA is most appreciative of your commitment to the sport that we all love. I am writing to you as a follow-up to the e-mail dated August 4, 2015 that F. Skip Gilbert, USTA Managing Director of Professional Tennis Operations & US Open Tournament Manager, sent to you - to offer both some clarification as well as updates. In mid-May, about six weeks prior to my July 1st start date as the new CEO of the ITA, David Benjamin and I were asked to join a phone call with the USTA's Skip Gilbert and Kurt Kamperman, the USTA's Chief Executive for Community Tennis. On that call Mr. Gilbert informed David and me of the USTA's decision "to no longer support the ITA officials program in the same manner that they had in the past." This was the first that the ITA had been told by the USTA that the USTA would no longer continue its longstanding certification program of ITA officials.  On July 1st Erica Perkins Jasper (our new ITA Chief Operating Officer) and I committed to make the current and future direction of college tennis officiating an immediate top priority for the ITA. In this regard, a few updates: (1)   On Wednesday July 8th, while in White Plains, NY to meet with senior leadership of the USTA, I also met briefly with Skip Gilbert - at which time we mutually agreed that it is critically important for all ITA officials to re-certify with the USTA by December 31st of this year, in order to be fully certified through 2016. (2)   Erica is already working with Anthony Montero and Jane Goodman to establish an ITA Officials Task Force. This group will work on developing the officials' curriculum and the organization of the ITA certification/recertification process that will start in 2016. By later this Fall we will have a concrete and comprehensive action plan in place. (3)   The ITA team is excited about the possibility of bringing new benefits to ITA tennis officials coupled with their future ITA certification. Please let me close where I began, sharing the belief of the ITA that outstanding and highly committed college tennis officials are both part of the strong foundation of our sport as well as a key to a thriving future. Please be on the lookout for updates about the future, as our planning process evolves. We are committed to:  (1) creating and implementing a well-conceived and far-reaching plan that will lead to much success moving forward; and (2) keeping you informed throughout the process. Yours sincerely,    Timothy Russell Chief Executive Officer