More information on the USTA's new Coed/Adult 18-39 league

I wrote about the Pacific Northwest's 2019 USTA League schedule recently and noted that there was a new league being added, Coed 18-39.  You can see a little blurb about the league in general on the USTA site here, but I've learned more about this new league and here are the details.

The league is new for 2018 and is being adopted in quite a few sections this year and more plan to implement it in 2019.  From what I can tell, Eastern, Intermountain, Midwest, Missouri Valley, Northern and Southern California, and Texas have it this year, and I know at least PNW is adding it next year.  Note that not every area in the above sections is implementing it, being in its first year it appears there are specific areas it is being introduced in, and appears they are targeting college towns or other areas with larger number of young players.

As the name above indicates, it is co-ed, and is for players 18-39 (I had to work to deduce that!).  However, if you look on TennisLink it is shown in the Adult 18-39 league type.

The format is going to follow a modified Tennis on Campus format which itself is a modified World Team Tennis (WTT) format.  Specifically, there will be singles courts for men and women, doubles courts for each, and a mixed doubles court.  Each court will be a no-ad set and a player may play on two of the courts, e.g. a female player could play on both the women's doubles and mixed doubles courts.  Substitutions during a match that you may have seen used in the regular WTT format will not be allowed though.

While the above is the stated format, a section can elect to modify it somewhat as it sees fit.  For example, the singles courts may be omitted making it just three courts of doubles.  And the NTRP levels eligible for a team also varies.

Some examples of how it is rolling out are:

• Southern Cal has it in the Beach Cities area and it is a Tri-Level league with two flights, one 3.5-4.5 and the other 4.0-5.0.  They are playing three courts of doubles (men's, women's, mixed).
• Northern Cal has it in a number of areas and it is a combo league on the half point (6.5, 7.5, 8.5) also with three courts of doubles.
• Missouri Valley and Texas appear to have separate men's and women's flights at normal NTRP levels, each with one court of singles and two of doubles so theirs isn't co-ed, at least at the local level.
• Midwest appears to be Tri-Level and three courts of doubles.
• Colorado is men's and women's on standard NTRP levels and two courts of singles and one of doubles.
• Eastern has three sets of doubles at an Open level and just in Rochester it appears.

Some of this variation is likely due to this being brand new and some areas converting other local leagues they may have had in the past to this new format so we may see more similarity in format next year.

What about playoffs and Nationals?  I don't believe anything is set in stone yet, but my league mentions a possible invitational in the future and I've heard 2020 my be the goal for that.

What about ratings?  It appears, at this point at least, there is no set rule on whether matches will count for ratings or not and it will be up to sections to decide, similar to how they have the option for other secondary leagues to count for ratings or not.

The driver for this league appears to provide an additional option for younger players and in a format that is unique, fun, and similar to a format they may have played in college as part of a Tennis on Campus program.  I have to say that I wouldn't mind trying it out and I bet others over 40 would too, but for now we'll have to wait.  And we have our own 40 & Over Adult and Mixed leagues already anyway, do we really need another?

What do you think?  Is the league available in your area and are you playing in it?  Are you over 40 and would like to play in it?  Let your voice be heard!

Seattle area teams headed to 2018 Pacific Northwest USTA League 18 & Over Sectionals

The 18 & Over local playoffs were held in the Seattle area and teams are headed to PNW Sectionals to be held August 10-12 in Portland.

I believe that at each level, the winner of local playoffs advances plus the finalist as a wildcard.  This can influence the finals as teams don't have to win to advance and sometimes will use the match to get more players a playoff match.

The 2.5 women saw #3 RBW-Harnish and #1 HBSQ-The All Nets-Flock play in the final, RBW taking a 2-1 win, all the matches in straight sets.

The 3.0 men's final had two ETC teams, #1 Blasko vs #4 Lash, and Blasko got the 5-0 win.

The women's 3.0 final had #1 RBW-Sakoda playing #3 AYTC-Serve Us A Double-Thomas with RBW winning 3-2, all three wins in fairly easy straight sets.

The men's 3.5 final had #1 seed RBW-Chan playing #3 MC-Fight Club-Vashist and it was a 5-0 win for RBW.

The 3.5 women saw #4 TCSP-Alexis Olympia FC-Miller facing #5 RBW-Moskos and pulling out a 3-2 win, one of the courts in a match tie-break.

At 4.0, the men's final had #3 MI-Sedlacek taking out #1 PSC-Smashers-Volli-Tortop in a close 3-2 win, one court in a match tie-break.

And the 4.0 women had #4 AYTC-Hood playing #1 PSC-Tzeng in the final and AYTC taking a 4-1 win.

For the 4.5 men, two AYTC teams played, #1 AYTC-4.5 o'clock somewhere-Reni taking the 5-0 win over #2 Frosted Tips-Grayson.

The 4.5 women had #4 AYTC-Godfrey playing #1 NTC-Sutter and NTC taking the 5-0 win.

Last, at the 5.0+ level, the men had #3 BETC-Brown facing #4 FC-Basha Tennis and FC taking the 2-1 win.

Congratulations to all.  Good luck at Sectionals!

Breaking News for Seattle! New league for 2019 and wildcard weekend for 2019 Northwest Washington local playoffs

I just wrote about the upcoming 18 & Over local playoffs taking place in Seattle this weekend, and I happened upon the 2019 league schedule that has been posted.

For the most part, the schedule is the same as we are accustom to.

Adult 55 & Over and Mixed 18 & Over are both early start leagues that will be play September thru November/December with playoffs at the start of December.

Adult 40 & Over as well as 18 & Over will be played as this year, January thru March and March thru June respectively.  Similarly, Mixed 40 & Over will be June thru August like this year, One Doubles will be a Summer league, 65 & Over will be in the Spring, and Mixed 55 & Over will be in the summer.

But there are two big new things that have shown up on the schedule.

First is a new 18-39 coed league.  As noted above, those over the age of 40 have their Adult league the first three months of the year, but those under 40 are left out.  This new league will be run during the same period and use the World Team Tennis format of doubles for men and women, singles for men and women, and a mixed doubles match, so 5 matches total.

Alas, I'm over 40 so won't be able to take part, but I'll be interested to see how the league goes and what participation is.  I think this league is being rolled out in other areas and sections too so I'll write more about it as I learn more, but please contact me or leave a comment with what you think or if your area is adopting this league.

Update: I wrote more on this 18-39 league here.

Second, our local playoffs for Adult 18 & Over and 40 & Over were a bit smaller this year with fewer sub-flight second place teams advancing, but this appears to be going back to normal with all second place teams advancing.  In order to accomplish this there will be a new "Wildcard Weekend" a week before the local playoffs actually take place and complete.  Expanding the time the matches can be played over makes more courts available which I think is a great way to address the issue.  Thanks Jill for listening to feedback and coming up with a solution!

My understanding is that the wildcard weekend will be played more like local league matches at the home team's respective facility and not part of a block of matches at a designated playoff site as the actual playoffs will continue to be.  I don't see a problem with this and hope, and think it will, works well.

What do you think?  Do you like these changes?  I have to say I do as they are great ways to provide more playing opportunities for players in our area, and other areas that adopt similar approaches.

Seattle area 18 & Over local playoffs this weekend - A quick preview

Local, state, and even sectional playoffs are taking place in several places around the country in June.  In my neck of the woods in Seattle, our 18 & Over local playoffs start this Wednesday and are played through the weekend.

Note that these playoffs are a bit smaller than past years as not every 2nd place team in each flight advanced, in some cases just one, so some good teams may not have even made these playoffs.

Here are some quick previews using my ratings' and the top averages for each team to seed them.

The 2.5 women have 5 teams so there is a "play in" game on Wednesday to get to the semis, and interestingly my #2 seed is playing in that match.  It could make the semi on Saturday very competitive.

The 3.0 men have 4 teams in the semis to both be played Saturday, and my #1 and #2 seeds play in one match, one being the wildcard, while #3 and #4 play in the other.

The women's 3.0 draw is the largest with 8 teams, so every team will have to win two matches to make the final and get a bid to Sectionals.  For the most part, my seeds match the draw so the top-teams have a good chance to win their quarter-final matches on Friday and make the semis and decide things there if things go by the numbers.

The men's 3.5 draw has 5 teams so another "play in" game also on Wednesday, my seeds also nearly a perfect match to the draw.  The top teams have a good chance to make the final, but the #2 seed has a lot tougher road than the #1 seed.

The 3.5 women is another 8 team draw and this one looks to have a lot of opportunity for upsets.  In two of the matches, my ratings have a pretty clear upset predicted, and the top-2 seeds could face each other in a semi-final.

The men's 4.0 draw has a "play in" game too, and does have my #2 seed playing on Friday.  And other than the top seed, the teams are grouped very close so there could be some competitive matches.

The 4.0 women has 6 teams so two quarter-finals on Saturday, and my top seed is playing in one, and my #4 seed has a bye into the semis.

The 4.5 men is a simple 4 teams in the semis, and the draw matches my seeds, although one semi has near equals playing what should be a close match.

The 4.5 women is also 4 teams, but here my clear top-2 seeds are playing in one semi, so a weaker on paper team is going to make the final and get a bid to Sectionals.

Last, the 5.0 men have 4 teams and my top-2 teams are on opposite sides of the draw so can make the final against each other.

For those teams wanting more details on their opponents, I can do flight reports or team reports on any and all teams.  Contact me if interested.

2018 USTA League playoffs continue - Just played and upcoming events

It is June, and more areas have played or will soon by playing local or district/state playoffs.  A few even have Sectionals just played or to be played soon.

In Southern, Kentucky just held their 40 & Over States and has 18 & Over to be played in three weeks.  Arkansas just finished part two of both their 18 & Over and 40 & Over States.  Georgia is finishing their 40 & Over States today and has 55 & Over next weekend.  Mississippi has their 40 & Over States coming up next weekend and Louisiana has their 18 & Over played over the next two weekends.  North Carolina has their 18 & Over States in two weeks followed by the 40 & Over the following week.  So it is a busy month in Southern.

Florida held 40 & Over Mixed Sectionals part 1 this past weekend and has part 2 in three weeks, and finishes the delayed 55 & Over Sectionals in two weeks.

This coming weekend has Southern California holding their 40 & Over Sectionals.

And in what I've written on the past few weeks, I missed that Southwest held their 40 & Over Sectionals last month so along with NorCal 40 & Over, some teams are already headed to Nationals!

In my area, Seattle in the Pacific Northwest, the 18 & Over regular season just finished and local playoffs are in two weeks.  Elsewhere in the PNW, Eastern Washington has their 40 & Over playoffs in three weeks, and 55 & Over Sectionals are at the end of the month.

What have I missed?  Do you have any playoffs scheduled for June?