We are gearing up for the start of a new USTA League tennis season in the Mid-Atlantic. Just like spring signifies renewal and awakening, starting a new tennis league season may be awakening some questions in you!

We reached out to two players – one active USTA League tennis player and one USTA League tennis player coming back to the sport after a break – to find out what questions they have  as they get ready to get back on the courts. See if these questions are similar to yours and get the answers you need.

Top Three Questions for Players Returning to Tennis

About: Jessica Manley is a former Division I athlete, mother of one, and a dedicated finance professional looking to get back into the game for the social benefits. She last played organized tennis in 2016 as a 4.5 Computer Rated player in an Adult 18 & Over League out of Norfolk, VA. We caught up with her about the questions she may have in returning to the court.

Jessica: How can I find out what leagues are offered in my area and when, so that I can see what could potentially work with my busy mom/work life?

USTA Mid-Atlantic: We are constantly updating our League calendar. Once you are on this page you can click on the region you would like to play in and see what has been officially scheduled to take place this year. You will also see the name of the Local League Ambassador(s)  in the region that you can contact to find details about playing.   If you don’t see what you are looking for, contact Lori Miller at USTA Mid-Atlantic and she will work with you to find options.

Jessica: It’s been awhile since I was in the tennis loop. How do I even find a team to join now?

USTA Mid-Atlantic: We love to help players get on teams and have a resource just for you – it’s called Tennis Connect. We have staff at USTA Mid-Atlantic whose sole job is to connect adult players with avenues to play in their local area. We will work with the Local League Ambassadors who run USTA League in your region to find opportunities for you to play. Simply fill out this form with your information, and we’ll help you find the right match for a team in your area. If you have any additional questions you can email us here.

Jessica: Since participating in a USTA League in 2016, I have dealt with an injury and would like to appeal my current NTRP rating. How would I go about this?

USTA Mid-Atlantic: Jessica, we are sorry to hear about your injury! Individuals who have a current or valid USTA rating are able to file a medical appeal (if you don’t have a current rating there may be other avenues for your rating to be considered for an appeal). The important thing to know before filing an appeal is that the injury or illness must be permanently disabling. Each appeal is reviewed through a Section and National Committee so the process can take some time, so be sure to give yourself enough time to go through the process.

To file a medical appeal, complete and mail or email the Medical Appeal form  to USTA Mid-Atlantic. All medical appeals MUST be accompanied by a letter from your treating physician stating the date the injury/condition occurred, the nature of your injury/condition, your prognosis and treatment rendered, and whether the injury/condition is permanently disabling. Your physician must also complete the Attending Physician’s Statement found here. We’ll let you know via email as to whether your appeal was granted or denied.

All appeals can be mailed to:
Appeals Committee
c/o Cassie Nocera, Adult Programs Coordinator
11410 Isaac Newton Square North, Suite 270
Reston, VA 20190 

If you have additional questions regarding Medical Appeals, please email Cassie Nocera or call 703-556-6120 x7017. We hope to get you back on the court soon!

Top Three Questions for Active Players

About: Laura Mitchell is a 4.5 USTA League player who moved from Northern Virginia to Virginia Beach, Va., five years ago. In her twenty-seventh year as a USTA member, she is also passionate about getting youth into the game and has served as the Northern Virginia Junior Team Tennis Coordinator since 2007, winning USTA National Junior Team Tennis Coordinator of the Year accolades in 2009. Laura participates in multiple USTA Leagues in Virginia Beach and Norfolk, VA annually.

Laura: Is it possible to see dynamic NTRP ratings?

USTA Mid-Atlantic: Dynamic ratings are not disclosed to players, whereas year-end NTRP ratings are published annually. The USTA respects the privacy of member information and does not disclose dynamic ratings to the public.  While this information might be desirable to some, in other instances it could negatively affect player experience and/or ability to participate in the USTA League Program.  Read more information here on Dynamic Ratings.

Laura: Is it possible for TennisLink to have easier instant information/communication on the site such as a chat box?

USTA Mid-Atlantic: There is an online chat feature in TennisLink which you can find here: http://activesupport.force.com/usta/USTA_Contact, but Active Network and USTA is always trying to improve customer service on TennisLink. You can also reach out to Cassie Nocera, Adult Programs Coordinator, at  leagues@mas.usta.com if you ever have a question regarding TennisLink during the year.

Laura: Will USTA League players have the opportunity to have UTR rating as well?

USTA Mid-Atlantic: USTA recognizes that the UTR is a great tool that can be used to help grow the game of tennis in the United States. It is being heavily used at the collegiate level in assisting college coaches to assess players. USTA Mid-Atlantic uses UTR at the junior level, but NTRP will continue to be the ratings used for the USTA League program.

Whether you are returning to play organized adult tennis in Maryland, Virginia, Washington DC, or West Virginia from a long break, or perhaps your NTRP rating changed, what questions do you have as the spring adult tennis league season approaches? How are you “gearing up” for USTA Mid-Atlantic tennis leagues? Tag us with your tips or questions on social media and use the hashtag #ustaspringgearup. Don’t forget, we’ll have more information throughout the month so subscribe to the blog and make sure you are following us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

If you still have questions feel free to send us an email and we’ll help you out!