Tomorrow is the big day for the announcement from the NCAA. Its been great fun hearing all of your speculations but I doubt seriously if any of them are going to come true. Be sure to check in tomorrow...
Following tomorrow's post, we will begin a new look at ethics in Texas and the USTA. For those who don't know what ethics are, here's a hypothetical situation we will be addressing:
When you hold a super champ tournament in the winter and it gets snowed out, do you keep the entry fees or return them or offer free entry fees into another tournament?
What is the ETHICAL response to something that happens all-too-frequently in Texas?
Stay tuned for more examples and more questions...
5 comments:
First....These are not all-too-often as you state. In our area, it happened once to me in 7 years of running tourneys. I have 10 a year so 1 out of 70 ain't bad. USTA does not require entry fees to be refunded for inclement weather. However, I've offered any tennis patron of a CATA tourney a rain check for a designated amount (minus the fees incurred for the rained-out event as there are many) ie, give-a-ways, officials fees are still billed and paid for on call status here in Austin (at least a half days pay to all scheduled), awards, court fees (a portion) or, staff fees for those who remain at the club site awaiting start of play in the event weather clears and of course $10k to the Tournament Director (just kidding :-). The last and only tourney I hosted that was rained out was a Champ tourney. Entry fee was $25 but by the time I paid everything, and then divided up the entry fee money, the rain check was for only $10 of the $25 entry. Many parents of junior players are aware of the refund rule and very few called to request a "rain check". Even fewer will actually use the "rain check" provided, but it shows good will and that you are concerned about providing good customer service.
First....These are not all-too-often as you state. In our area, it happened once to me in 7 years of running tourneys. I have 10 a year so 1 out of 70 ain't bad. USTA does not require entry fees to be refunded for inclement weather. However, I've offered any tennis patron of a CATA tourney a rain check for a designated amount (minus the fees incurred for the rained-out event as there are many) ie, give-a-ways, officials fees are still billed and paid for on call status here in Austin (at least a half days pay to all scheduled), awards, court fees (a portion) or, staff fees for those who remain at the club site awaiting start of play in the event weather clears and of course $10k to the Tournament Director (just kidding :-). The last and only tourney I hosted that was rained out was a Champ tourney. Entry fee was $25 but by the time I paid everything, and then divided up the entry fee money, the rain check was for only $10 of the $25 entry. Many parents of junior players are aware of the refund rule and very few called to request a "rain check". Even fewer will actually use the "rain check" provided, but it shows good will and that you are concerned about providing good customer service.
This doesn't happen all that often. It's happened to me 1 x out of 70 events I've run. I do provide a "rain check" after all tourney fees have been paid. These fees are: All Tournament Officials paid for half days for "on call status", tourney give-a-way, site directors who are at each site taking calls, awaiting play to start, food and awards, . While this does not equal the total windfall, the "rain check" amount is about 2/5 of the original entry fee. For a $25 entry fee, I offered a $10 rain check to be used at the next event. The rain check must be submitted back to the TD for reimbursement at the next event. Many do not request a rain check and even those that do, most of them do not even use them for entry at the next event. It is just best to offer this for good will with your tennis patrons and provides better customer service. If they wish to redeem the rain check, then we do so cheerfully, happy that they have returned once again to play our event.
Chances of having an outdoor tournament in Dallas in January is about 15% so it makes for a profitable deal for the TD and the Texas Section.
Zoo Girl,
In an average champs tournament of 600 entries about how much would be spent on trophies? In our area, the TD doesn't pay officials if they don't come to work and he doesn't pay for meals. Seems that their only expense would be the trophies so that makes for a huge profit.
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