IN PURSUIT of TENNIS EXCELLENCE
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Volume XVIX / Number 2 SUMMER 2010 IN PURSUIT of TENNIS EXCELLENCE INSIDE 2010 SUMMER TENNIS CAMPS The Pacifi c Northwest’s Premier Tennis Camp for 2010! Registration Daily Schedule Sample Schedule Adult Event with Greg Patton Vancouver Tennis Center 5300 E. 18th Street, Vancouver, WA 98661 360-696-8123 vancouvertenniscenter.com 2 TENNIS TIMES SUMMER 2010 í www.pnw.usta.com CONTENTS USTA Flex Leagues are 16 coming to Portland this summer USTA Flex Leagues off er great tennis on your terms and combine the beauty of USTA League tennis with the fl exibility of playing when you want, where you want. You play singles in a fl ight with players of similar ability and schedule your own matches. You can play outside at the local park, at your club, or wherever there is a convenient tennis court. The only requirement is that you fi nish all your matches. Turn to page 16 to learn how you can get started. 14 Section recognizes Pacifi c Northwest juniors in pursuit 12 outstanding student- of tennis excellence athletes Volume XIX Volume Don’t let the nine months of rain fool you. Junior competition is alive and well in the Pacifi c Northwest. In fact, alive and This spring, the USTA Pacific Northwest awarded $1500 college scholarships to eight very deserving high school thriving would be more accurate as over 20 of our section’s juniors were listed in the top 100 of the 2009 USTA National Year- seniors. These student-athletes have proven to be exceptional end Rankings. On page 14, fi ve juniors at diff erent stages in their development, all pushing for the pinnacle of their game in academics and community service while participating in b give you a look inside the world of junior competition; what it takes to reach the top, what it takes to stay there and what it various tennis activities throughout the section. The college Number 2 takes to go beyond. scholarship winners are announced on page 12. b 2010 SUMMER TENNIS CAMP ISSUE Summer 2010 4 From the Prez by Gwen Ramras 10 Community Tennis Development 20 Health+Fitness Files by Carl Petersen 4 From the Editor-In-Chief 12 Junior Development by Valerie Weaks 22 Board of Directors Nomination Form departments by Blair Thompson 13 Hot Shots by Lilly Higgins 23 Pro Update - PNW Players on Tour 4 Net Notes 16 Let’s Talk Leagues by Sheila Banks 23 College Courts 6 Area Reports 18 From the Chair by Ira Moss 24 Tournament Schedule FROM THE BASELINE By Bill Leong Rule changes scheduled for junior tennis in 2011 ood news from our national office in New York as USTA membership Changes Related to USTA Regional Tournaments & Boys’ and Girls’ 18 reached another all-time high of 748,855 as of April 30. The USTA Interscholastic Championships (East/West) G Pacific Northwest Section also continues to experience membership Th e change requires players in the USTA Regional Tournaments to meet the growth consistently above the national average. The main factors contribut- same eligibility requirements in place for the USTA Junior National Champion- ing to this growth are the increase in team competitive play opportunities ships. Because the Committee’s proposals reduce overall draw spots in national in USTA Junior Team Tennis along with USTA League adult and senior tournaments, it is especially important to make those draw spots available only Bill Leong divisions. to those players who are eligible for the USTA Junior National Championships Speaking of junior tennis, many of us are aware of the high costs involved as well as for national ranking. USTA Pacifi c FROM THE EDITOR Northwest in developing an elite level junior player. The USTA Junior Competition Changes Related to National Junior Ranking Committee has worked for many months to propose rule changes with the Executive Director Th e reduction in the maximum number of singles and doubles tournaments that end goal of reducing the high cost of travel to national tournaments and may count toward national ranking corresponds to the elimination of the USTA improving the strength of field at those events. Boys’ and Girls’ 18 Interscholastic Championships and the reduction in the number The committee received lots of feedback from USTA section staff, of USTA Regional Tournaments on the national schedule. Th e Junior Competition coaches, parents and players throughout the U.S. that resulted in many Committee believes that this reduction along with the elimination of some national revisions to the proposed changes. At the USTA Annual Meeting this tournaments will reduce travel expenses and allow for players to create more time spring, the following rule changes were approved and scheduled to be in their schedules for training. implemented effective January 2011. Th e committee, in consultation with USTA Player Development, will annually designate additional tournaments to be considered for National Junior Ranking. Changes Related to Junior USTA National Championships Th e USTA Jr. Team Tennis Advanced Division National Championships may be The draw size will be decreased in the 14-and-under division summer added to the list of tournaments that count for national ranking to emphasize the tournaments from 192 to128. unique aspects of team competition that help to develop junior players. The number of qualifiers from each USTA National Open that are ac- cepted into USTA National Championships will be reduced. The spots are Th e USTA is also gearing up for a major shift in junior recreational play by es- being shifted to wild cards to allow the five member Wild Card Committee tablishing a rule that all 10-and-under competition will be played on a QuickStart (comprised of the tournament director, national volunteers, coaches and 60-foot court with age appropriate equipment. Th e goal is to develop young players staff) to ensure selection of all top players who were not otherwise eligible with sound technique and strategy. Th e Southern, Midwest and Caribbean sections for selection. have currently adopted this rule and the USTA is exploring the feasibility of making Changes Related to Junior USTA National Opens it a national rule for all 10-and-under tournaments in 2012. A draw size reduced from 64 to 32 per draw. Reduction in the draw size We will have additional updates in upcoming months regarding these rule will improve the strength of fi eld at each tournament. changes but perhaps a quote from Jack Welch, the former CEO of General Electric, Th e proposal also gives the USTA Junior Competition Committee and sums up the various new rules described above: “Change is inevitable and progress Player Development division the authority to not play the singles Feed-in is impossible without change. Willingness to change is strength even if it means Championship to completion which will reduce the tournament to three days. plunging into confusion for a while.” b www.pnw.usta.com SUMMER 2010 TENNIS TIMES 3 FROM THE PREZ By Gwen Ramras Have your racquet handy when you travel ummer is busting out all over! My favorite season has finally and were en route to the Miami tournament to test their mettle and at- arrived. (This may be due to the fact that Fairbanks’ summers tempt to win the title. S are delightfully warmed by the midnight sun although just a bit One of the young players saw my racquet and then saw the Spring shorter than we would like.) Our courts are now busy with new players edition of our USTA Pacific Northwest Tennis Times magazine that I was taking their first swing on QuickStart courts along with experienced reading. She asked to read it when I finished. Of course, I was happy to hitters battling for points in their matches. share it and we struck up a conversation. It was delightful to hear about What’s on tap for your summer? Is it a vacation with the family, some of her adventures in traveling the globe to play tennis. “So wherever traveling to see an old friend, or a visit to the coast? Don’t forget your She did not share with me her regimen of training, the agony of defeat your path leads tennis racquet! I can’t tell you how many times having my racquet or any of the difficulties encountered on her journey before she settled you this summer, with me was a bonus, even when I thought I wouldn’t have any op- back with her iPod and book for the duration of the flight. My mind portunity to use it. I know air travel can be challenging with any kind then wandered to all of the players, young and old, who travel for the consider carrying of bag nowadays but you never know the benefits that may come from love of the game. your racquet traveling with your favorite racquet. So wherever your path leads you this summer, consider carrying with you (a can On a flight this spring, I saw no less than seven young people of your racquet with you (a can of balls wouldn’t hurt either). You may be various nationalities board a plane with large racquet bags. All of these pleasantly surprised with the opportunities that unfold and the enjoy- of balls wouldn’t players had just finished playing in the BNP Paribas pro tournament ment it brings. b hurt either).” in Southern California. They had lost prior to the finals of the event NET NOTES Write to win a scholarship to Nike Junior Tennis Camp he USTA Pacifi c Northwest (USTA/PNW) is pleased to off er along with housing and meals. Transportation to and from T its junior members age 13 and under the opportunity to attend Oregon State University in Corvallis is the responsibility of a Nike Tennis Camp this summer.