Adult League Update 04-07-2020

Over the past two weeks, it’s become apparent that we will continue to experience change for some time and it’s very difficult to know when things will improve. 

Still, we have a very vibrant community of league players who are optimistic that things will eventually improve and allow league play to begin. 

We share their optimism, but want to assure everyone that our first priority is the health and well-being for all involved in our league programs. 

To allow players and facilities to make future plans in regard to leagues, we have come up with an entirely new plan for the 2020 league season. 

OUR PRIORITY FOR LEAGUE PLAYERS

In every league, all players are able to participate in the local league, while a much smaller percentage are able to advance to Districts, and even fewer beyond that.  We are already limited on time this year, and that lack of time will likely impact all of the leagues we’re hoping to offer in 2020. 

As a result, providing 6-7 matches of local league play is our priority.  As there are so many variables (many of which are completely out of our control), it is highly likely we will not have any Districts/playoffs in 2020. 

Several playoffs were slated for June (Mixed 18 & Over and Adult 18 & Over) – those are not going to happen and others are likely to be adversely affected as well (for a host of reasons).

NEW LEAGUE PLAN FOR 2020 / LEAGUE OFFERINGS

It’s easiest to explain our new plan by starting at the end of the league season. Each year, we end local league play in early September due to permanent court time, earlier sun sets and potential weather issues. Our original plan was to end on September 10, 2020, so that will continue to be the end of local league play with this revised plan. Since there are court limitations with how many leagues can be offered at one time, we have always had certain leagues overlap each other. Consider these overlapping leagues as a ‘season’. If we are able to start on or before July 26, we will have enough time to run one ‘season’ of leagues. If we are able to start on or before June 7, we will have enough time to run two ‘seasons’ of leagues. 

If we cannot start play before the beginning of August, league play for 2020 would be cancelled since we would not be able to provide at least one season with 6-7 matches.

FIRST SEASON OF LEAGUES

When it is appropriate to return to play, we will start with the first season (or group) of leagues as follows. 

These leagues will not be cancelled unless we run out of time to run leagues during 2020:

• USTA Mixed 18 & Over
• USTA Adult 18 & Over
• USTA Adult 55 & Over
• CTA Women’s Daytime Doubles
• Junior Team Tennis (JTT)

These five leagues all utilize courts at different times, so they can all run concurrently.  All of these leagues will be set up to provide 6-7 matches of local league play regardless of when they are able to begin. We are not completely discounting the possibility of a District Championship; however, it is highly likely we will not have any playoffs in this 2020 league season given all the issues and uncertainties of this COVID-19 situation. 

Thus, players when registering (or deciding whether to ‘opt-in’ or ‘opt-out’) should do so with the assumption there will be no District Championship (and potentially no advancement). 

However, we do have provisions (see below) to ‘advance’ teams from our local leagues, if there is a Sectional Championship (even without having a District Championship). All of our 2020 leagues will have 6-7 matches for the local league season. 

SECOND SEASON OF LEAGUES

If the first season of leagues (listed above) are completed and there is still enough time to complete another league with 6-7 matches, we will start the following leagues immediately upon the conclusion of the first group of leagues:

• ITA Mixed
• CTA Twilight
  Format will be changed for this season to 1 singles, 3 doubles to allow opportunities for more players to participate
• CTA Adult 65 & Over
• CTA Women’s Summer Daytime
• JTT Fall League

CANCELED LEAGUES

Unfortunately, there is already insufficient time to run all leagues, so we’ve had to make the decision to cancel some of our offerings for this year:

• Trio
• USTA Mixed 40 & Over  
  We opted to keep ITA Mixed in the schedule since everyone 18 & Over is able to participate.
• USTA Adult 40 & Over / CTA Adult 18-39 / CTA Women’s 2.5  
  These leagues typically fit between Adult 18 & Over and CTA Twilight.  Instead of running these three leagues (which have age/skill level limitations), we have decided to run Twilight since it provides all ages and ability levels the opportunity to participate. 

ADVANCEMENT TO SECTIONALS

Since start dates for several leagues are already delayed significantly and the number of weeks for play in general may be limited further, the new plan eliminates ‘flight playoffs’ and District Championships for the USTA Mixed 18 & Over and the USTA Adult 18 & Over leagues. That is the only way we will be able to run local leagues with 6-7 matches. For 2020, we have established a new method for advancement to Sectionals. This new method will have three possible scenarios depending on when we can begin local league play. 

While the third scenario includes Districts, the probability is very high that we will not have any Districts in 2020.

First scenario: local league is completed at least 2 weeks prior to Sectionals

We will advance one first place team to Sectionals using the following method:

• Team with the highest “Games Won %” (GWP) as displayed in TennisLink standings at the end of the local league.
• If two or more teams are tied with the highest GWP for the local league, a random drawing of those teams will determine which team will advance.
• If this process is used for advancement, it is not allowed to run Districts.

Second scenario: local league is not able to be completed at least 2 weeks prior to Sectionals

We will publish (prior to the start of local play) a “Final Standings for Advancement Date”.  On that date, we will follow the steps outlined under the “First scenario” above even though it will occur prior to the end of the local league.  Once advancing teams have been determined, the local league will continue to completion.

• If this process is used for advancement, it is not allowed to run Districts.

Third scenario: if it is possible to have Districts

• While it is highly unlikely, if we are able to run Districts and have them completed in time, the winner of each level at Districts would be the advancing team.

First Season Leagues / Advancement Opportunity

• USTA Mixed 18 & Over: No Districts. See scenario 1 or 2 above for explanation about how advancement to Sectionals will be determined.
• USTA Adult 18 & Over: No Districts. See scenario 1 or 2 above for explanation about how advancement to Sectionals will be determined.
• USTA Adult 55 & Over: Districts are unlikely, but currently TBD. See scenario 1 or 2 above for explanation about how advancement to Sectionals will be determined if no Districts.
• CTA Women’s Daytime Doubles: Districts are unlikely, but currently TBD
• Junior Team Tennis (JTT): Districts are unlikely, but currently TBD

Second Season Leagues / Advancement Opportunity

• ITA Mixed: Districts are unlikely, but currently TBD. See scenario 1 or 2 above for explanation about how advancement to Sectionals will be determined if no Districts.
• CTA Twilight: Districts are unlikely, but currently TBD
• CTA Adult 65 & Over: Districts are unlikely, but currently TBD. See scenario 1 or 2 above for explanation about how advancement to Sectional Invitational will be determined if no Districts.
• CTA Women’s Summer Daytime: Districts are unlikely, but currently TBD
• JTT Fall League: N/A

Fees

All league fees will remain as published.

Upcoming Deadlines 

Since our goal is to start leagues when it has been deemed appropriate to return, we need adequate time to put together league schedules. Minimum roster deadlines are available here.

Registration / Confirmation / Moves

Registration is currently open only for the “First Season” leagues. If you need a team number, please contact your facility coordinator. If your facility coordinator is not able to be reached right now, please contact us for assistance. If you have already registered for a league and would like to move your individual registration to a different league, please submit a “Player Move Form”. If an entire team would like to move from one league to another, please contact us. 

We appreciate your patience and understanding. Know that our goal is to be ready to provide league opportunities to all of you when it is appropriate to do so. Your continued patience throughout this process will be helpful as we are all dealing with so many unknowns. Our No. 1 priority is the health, safety and well-being of all our players. If you have any questions, please see our FAQ page.