USTA National Junior Competition: 2013 and Beyond A Unified Progressive Model for A Tournament Structure, Rankings, Ratings,

Education, and Marketing

An Executive Summary& Proposal(s) For Discussion at the 2011 USTA Semi-Annual Meeting Prepared by the Junior Competition Committee Timothy Russell, Ph.D. Chair 8/16/2011 Draft #3 Introduction A New Reality The World has changed . . . our county has changed! American Tennis and the USTA find themselves in a new reality, a very different time and place Fewer top ranked Americans in the Pro Ranks American juniors are fighting for collegiate varsity spots with very talented International players Costs of competing at high levels have sky rocketed Other Issues, including, but not limited to . . . Travel Missed School Days Year Round School Schedules Competing against other sports (soccer, etc.) The Player Development Puzzle/Equation is almost complete. To date the USTA has addressed: A new Player Development Philosophy, which is working to change the culture of coaching, training, and competition in America Initiating the U10 Manhattan Project Putting College Tennis back in the Pathway for 99% of our juniors Implementation of the Regional Training Center Program What is left is to revise/revitalize/update the national Junior Competition Tournament and Training Schedule. If Abraham Lincoln were the tennis commissioner today, he might repeat what he said once before: The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty and we must rise with the occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew and act anew!

The USTA has been listening, been studying, and is now preparing to act . . . on behalf of our competitive junior players, and for the good of American tennis moving forward to make tennis the Sport of Opportunity.

New (2011/2012) Charge to national Junior Competition Committee USTA President Jon Vegosengave a new Charge to the 2011/2012 national Junior Competition Committee. It is as follows: (1) To develop, promote and monitor competitive tennis and training opportunities which will serve to motivate and encourage junior players of various abilities to develop to the highest competitive level possible. (2) With the expectation that the new QuickStart (U10) initiative will be successful and create a significantly larger pool of junior players from diverse backgrounds, to prepare an appropriate national tournament structure and rating/ranking system for the future which: a. is affordable and will ensure that competitive tennis opportunities are available for all American juniors regardless of their economic circumstances and where they reside; b. supports the importance of a traditional American education and does not require students to short-change their academic careers; and, c.creates an environment to generate a base of more and better American junior players to fill the ranks of collegiate programs and for the most outstanding of these become potential future American professional champions.

Ultimate Goal(s) established for the Junior Competition Committee Taking the new charge as its marching orders, the JCC began their work with the following goals: To develop MORE (and) BETTER players at lower costs while accounting for American education . . . . in order to fill the ranks of collegiate programs and fuel a markedly larger pool of potential future American professional champions! To develop the perfect (best possible) tournament structure and related/supporting ranking system and rating systems, as well as supplementary and complementary educational and marketing initiatives to facilitate the aforementioned goal all with the hope of being more efficient and effective! To build Association-wide consensus. Unity = one plan shaped by many minds! To be practical architects of the future . . . creating a comprehensive vision and determining the best systems to serve the new culture going forward, which will ultimately pass through the USTA governance structure.

The Contextwithin which the plan was conceived (1) The belief that structures cannot develop great players; structures can create the culture that can develop great players. (2) An attempt to build on the past structures and systems, in particular the recently completed work of PDAG and JCAT (including changes to 2011 NTS), while moving forward to plan for the future. (3) The new Player Development Philosophy U10 thru juniors thru pros with college on pathway; player development is not just about the top (while it does aspire to develop world champions) but making everyone better. (4) The new U10 initiative should/will generate more junior competitive players. (5) New Early Development Centers and RTC initiatives. (6) The need for a structure that truly works best for all players new competitors thru the very top of the pyramid. (7) The current system is too costly and is forcing tennis to become a sport for the privileged. (8) The current system encourages young players to miss too much school and time away from families. (9) The current system is not perceived by many to be congruent with traditional American education (10) Our work will need to fully integrate tournament structure with rankings and ratings, as well as the competitive play components of the work of Community Tennis. (11) School schedules now vary widely across the country. (12) To create a competitive structure that has more players playing more highly competitive quality matches (i.e., against players of equal level) more regularly. Note: Dr. Robert Pangrazi says, Competition: is defined as two or more individuals seeking a mutually exclusive goal where each of the competitors has an opportunity to win or reach the goal. (a) To create a structure that will be more cost effective and efficient (i.e., reducing costs, especially travel,and # of missed school days as compared to the present system) (b) To provide an increased emphasis on team competition and training (c) To provide an increased emphasis on doubles play at the local level (from a development perspective, as well as because of its importance in college tennis, recreational tennis, and the future of the Davis Cup) (d) To insure that our rankings philosophy and specific points tables work harmoniously with our tournament structure (and are understandable) (e) To study how a ratings system can serve junior player development and competition in the future

Some Procedural Premises (1) KISS Develop an efficient Keep it Simple System that makes the concepts of the tournament structure, ranking and ratings systems, formats, etc. easy to understand. (2) Create systems that are about developmental equity (competitive quality matches) and logical earned advancement (i.e., getting players of equal ability butting heads on a regular basis while accounting for opportunities to move up). (3) Utilize a progressive hybrid model building on the recent past while moving to future making national play more logical while keeping some choices for players and families. (4) Create a structure whereby players must beat their own peers and exceed at a level before moving up (earned advancement). (5) To be ultimately successful tennis players need to be able to play the game and win at each and every level; there is no need to get in a car or airplane unless you have to i.e., win at each level before you travel farther. (6) Focus attention on smaller geographical areas, so that junior players do not have to travel as much and incur the expense of chasing points. Going forward, consider ways for the structure not to always be all about age (or, even, gender) i.e., try and find ways to group players by ability level and not always age groupings.

THE THEORY of the PROPOSAL

Ultimate Mission = Create/build/develop TEAM AMERICA and return America to world tennis dominance juniors, collegiate players, top 100 players, and grand slam champions! Guiding Concept: Develop a new/renewed culture of training and competitionfor American junior tennis players! Marketing Tag(s): ADVANCE YOUR GAME (developed by Sue Hunt) Be a part of Team America: Well outwork the world. Train/Compete/Train some more! Great athletes love to compete and work hard!! Messaging: Structures cannot develop champions, but structures can create the cultures that create champions. This new structure will create the culture that can develop more great players. The USTA is changing the paradigm of the culturefor junior competition to become completely aligned with the new Player Development philosophy and practices, with the hope of transforming the landscape of American tennis. Be part of Team America! Train and Compete (and then, train some more)! Well outwork the world! Champions love to compete! Champions cherish the joy of competing! Our mission is to return America to worlds tennis dominance from juniors, through college players, to grand slam champions The proposal is based upon the following principles: o A Competitive Philosophy that facilitates COMPETITIVE QUALITY MATCHES andtries to insure that players must excel at each level before progressing; they cannot really skip steps. o Reduces expenses and the number of school days missed! o Couples training with top competition(as the national PD program is doing e.g., Aussie and French open wild card playoffs) especially with the new 16 draw Tour and Training Championships (some possibly on clay) and cross-age division team events enabling our national coaches to work regularly with our best players (a minimum of 3 times per year which will be c. 18 times over the career of players entering the new system at age 13) o Focuses more attention on player development o Introduces competition and training across ages divisions o Minimizes national travel through the 12s 5

o Leaves spaces in various parts of the national schedule free for players to build/develop their games! o Provides a well-defined competitive pathway with a logical merit-based progression, aspiring to the spirit of earned advancement not entitlement o I earned my way to the Regionals. I earned my way to the nationals. o Promotes more high competitive play at local and Sectional level o Offers a junior structure that, in part, mirrors the Pros, for competitive as well as marketing and motivational purposes (Futures, Challengers, Tour, Grand Slams, Grand Masters) ; and, o A junior structure that, in part, mirrors College (e.g., ITA Regionals moving to nationals and team play) o Provides winners with real incentives (wildcards and possibly training grants); these will be formalized o Re-introduces Indoor play on the national competition calendar o Revitalizes the importance of even moreteam play (since when 99% of our juniors go to college to play tennis they will play on teams) Introduces cross-age play on selected team events o Introduces two new educational programs which support the new culture USTA National Junior Scholar-Athlete Award program Race to the Top motivational match play program

The national structure will now vary somewhat by age and concept Younger players = more local play and more focus on development Minimizes national travel through the 12s More advanced older players not only compete against each other but also will train with each other Premises to save money less travel; travel shorter distances; shorter tournaments and closer to home; fewer nights in hotels

Tournament Structure
Specific Rationale: The tournament structure is a very intricate calculus! The proposed structure attempts to place the player development of all players at the forefront of its conception creating improvements to the current structure that are rooted in a research-based periodization approach. These improvements will benefit all players, those players at the top of the pyramid (some having been contemplated for over a decade), while at the same time continuing to build (and accommodate) a much needed larger and improved base of the pyramid. Aligning the tournament structure with the stated Player Development philosophy and programs (including the RTCs), the intent is to increase true developmental competitive opportunities. This progressive hybrid model,which attempts to re-organize and simply the national tournament schedule, is built upon a consistent philosophy of competition and training. The new structure creates a system that is about developmental equity and advancement (i.e., getting players of equal ability butting heads, playing high quality competitive matches, on a regular basis while accounting for opportunities to move up). The new structure attempts to guide that players to play in the proper events progressing logically from local and district play, to Sectional play, then appropriate Regional play, and finally National competition; in doing so, reducing costs (and improving competitive play, and, thus, development). Creates a structure whereby players learn to beat their own peers and excel at a level before moving up (earned advancement). The proposed model of advancementtruly will save costs and allow for fewer school days missed. While the number of national tournaments is reduced the quality of developmental and training opportunities has been increased dramatically. Recognizes that America is a very large country o Recognizes that there are now many different yearly school schedules throughout the country (e.g., not everyone has all summer off) o focuses attention on smaller geographical areas, so that junior players do not have to travel as much or as far (i.e., Americas best basketball, baseball, soccer, and football players are able to develop to the highest levels without having to travel nationally; nor do young musicians); NOTE: one of the original rationales for the PPR system was to get our American juniors playing more matches; while this goal may have been achieved the reality is that it has come at a very expensive cost, including players travelling great distances at great cost to often play matches that are not truly competitive.

Offers threeNational Championships (the Spring Clay Courts,Summer Hardcourts, and Winter Championships), and six otherchampionship events on the national calendar Presidents Day (Indoors, Clay, Hard) and Fall (Indoors, Clay, Hard); in addition, a new end-of-year Top 25 Grand Masters event for our truly best players will be introduced (scheduled in October); 20(two sets of 10) Regionally based Sweet Sixteen events will also take place on parallel weekends Attempts to improve the validity of the national PPR ranking system, by making them more progressive Winning a Sectional Championship will insure a spot in the National Summer Hard Court Championship (again, elevating the importance of Sectional play and the Sectional Championship) Heightens the importance of team play and training Introduces an innovative progressive tournament structure in one new event (i.e., the Grand Masters) Introduces a preliminary Ratings study which, over time, should enable training and local tournaments to be level-based and not always be all about age (or, even, gender) Introduces a Strength of Section component to the program Encourages Sections within regions to align ranking/endorsement policies and procedures

SEE PROPOSED TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE(Draft #3) and DESCRIPTORS

Rankings
One of the original rationales for the PPR ranking system was to get our American juniors playing more matches; while this goal may have been achieved in part the reality is that it has come at an expensive cost, including players travelling great distances at great cost to often play matches that are not truly competitive. While the current JCC did study other possible ranking systems (including algorithms used by such youth sports organizations as the American Junior Golf Association), the Committee decided for a number of reasons (including, but not limited to, the ease of understanding of the PPR for our tennis community and our Committees desire not to implement too many changes to the present system). The JCC also voted to maintain the current combined ranking (singles + doubles). The one proposed change, which does not need Association action, is to make the current PPR Points Tables appropriately more progressive.

Ratings
Pursuant to the committees new charge, the JCC has begun an invigorating discussion about the possible transformative use of a rating system to positively impact junior player development . . . . . . especially through the introduction of more systematic local level-based play. To date, the JCC has concluded that the existence of a rating system may enable the USTA to: (1) Create an inventory of the current players in America, in order to help further create more cost effective training going forward in the future (2) Enable local level-based tournaments (with multiple entry points) (3) Assist junior tennis players know if and when they should turn Pro (4) Help build the current Campus Showdowns (possibly making this program "explode" - from c. 100 to c. 500 to c. 1000) (5) Assist juniors know where they may play in college (TOC to Varsity) - i.e., compare their rating to given college levels at particular schools (6) Help juniors in small sections avoid playing the same juniors over and over; instead, they can now play an assortment of similarly rated adults (7) Count all matches played in America, USTA and non-USTA; junior team tennis; high school; TOC; College Varsity; USTA/ITA summer circuit, etc. could all be used in some unified rating system (8) Provide a tool for assisting juniors and collegiate players to bridge into other flagship USTA programs (e.g., leagues) (9) Assist with U10 to JTT progression of level-based play (where our current experts do not want RANKINGS) i.e., assist with U10 transitions from red to orange to green to yellow balls and proper flighting of JTT

(10) Intersect non-USTA matches (e.g., high school) with present USTA players - help feed some of the concepts of the current Ratings Task Force (11) Help with the process of aging up (12) Assist in finding ways to pit juniors against college players in meaningful ways (highlighting the American player development pathway/continuum) (13) Assist with Seeding (14) Make ITA Summer Circuit more effective (15) Etc., etc. A POSSIBLE Five-Year Plan for Ratings (an evolutionary, not revolutionary process) Beginning July 2011 Pilot Test NTRP internally (behind the scenes, per Section PD Managers) January 2012 begin running a behind the scenes rating for all USTA juniors using NTRP Develop templates (models) for level-based tournaments Possibly pilot test Ratings with EDCs and Target Markets January 2013 begin pilot testing local and Sectional level-based tournaments Get each Section and large city (district) to commit to X # of level-based tournaments for 2013; test ratings with TEST MARKETS Possibly provide incentive grants (e.g., have a contest) and reward success; collect best practices January 2014 national JCC committee discuss how ratings system has been working and how level-based events may possibly be used nationally January 2015 begin . . . ???

Doubles
Continue basic structure nationally; work to drive more play locally and Sectionally Maintain Combined Ranking (including doubles) Emphasis on Doubles at New December Team Championships Elevate stature of National Doubles Only Championship (move to New Haven or Cincinnati) Make it a Gold Ball Event

Education/Marketing
The Education Sub-Committee has developed a new Strategic Plan for the Education of Junior Competitive players, their parents, and coaches. The primary current initiatives are as follow: (1) Make the best possible use of the new Website Advance Your Game a. Promote the USTAs Player Development Philosophy b. Promote the The Pathway U10 to College to Pros/Leagues c. Promote Tennis and Education (2) NEW USTA National JuniorScholar-Athlete Award program (3) NEW Match Play Race to the Top (Gold/Silver/Bronze Bag Tags) 10

(4) Develop eLearning Modules

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