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!