Last weekend we examined a new USTA League National Regulation for 2024 that explicitly prohibits maintaining more than one identity with the organization. That sparked a quick detour through the relatively new Suspension Point system and some associated philosophical ruminations. This weekend we will wrap up the remaining new League Regulations for the coming year
The first update highlighted by the USTA in the list of “Major Regulation Changes for 2024” is a format change exclusive to the 40+ age group. Previously that division was contested using three lines of doubles and one line of singles. In 2024, an extra line of doubles has now been added to the mix.
For the USTA League program organization at the National level for the Adult division, 40 & Over age group, team matches at National Championships will consist of 1 Singles and 4 Doubles matches, beginning with the 2024 National Championships. Sectional Associations have the option, but are not required to adopt this format for the 2024 Championship Year. Conforming changes are reflected in 1.04(A) and 2.03(E) and the Glossary.
2024 USTA League Regulations, Major Regulation Changes for 2024
That new format comes with some interesting stipulations. Specifically, the Sectional Associations are allowed to conduct Leagues through the Sectional Championships using a different format than what will ultimately be used at the National Championships.
This is a good time to remind every USTA League player to review their local Sectional operating procedures every year. My home Section (Texas) appears to be going with the National format for 40+ play, as evidenced by the lack of overriding text in their Operating Procedures.
Some people in the USTA planning and provider ecosystem would have preferred to keep Sectional and Local Leagues at four total lines. Most facilities have court layouts in banks of two or four. Five is a difficult number for a site that has only eight courts, as only one USTA team match can be hosted at a time. This may also result in more sites being required for the Sectional Championships.
There are a couple of good arguments against deviating from the National format. A team that is best over fewer lines might not be the strongest group to represent the Section using the more expansive format. Additionally, a Sectional Championship team that barely made roster minimums might not have enough players to make the trip to Nationals. That would be a shame.
I frequently wear shirts bearing the slogan, “More Tennis is Always the Answer.” Paradoxically, I am concerned that adding a line may ultimately reduce overall participation opportunities. The additional doubles line makes it even more difficult to achieve critical mass for low participation areas that already struggle to muster enough players to conduct local Leagues.
Additionally, in the larger metropolitan areas, the mega rosters described in “USTA League Supersized” are probably about to get a little bigger. The captains of those teams have justification, if not a desperate imperative, to lock down 4-6 extra players. I am anticipating there may be fewer overall teams under this new format.
Rumor has it that what motivated the change at the USTA National level was a desire to eliminate the ties that frequently resulted from an even number of lines. It is very dramatic to watch a final match unfold that decides which team advances. That is way better than everyone standing around trying to count sets and games on their fingers and toes to figure it out.
Once the decision was made to go with five lines, it would have made sense to add Singles rather than Doubles to unify the 40+ division with what is played for 18+. On the other hand, USTA League formats now reduce a line of Singles at each age tier, which makes a nice pattern, I guess.
The impacts on participation and the competitive dynamics from this format change remain to be seen.
- 2024 USTA League National Regulations, USTA Resource Document, September 19, 2023.
- 2024 National Regulations & Texas Operating Procedures, USTA Texas Resource Document, version 06.30.23.
Don’t understand the concern about match ties – if there is a match tie, the USTA scoring system then uses sets and then games which also encourages playing each point as consistently as one can and reduces the chances mentioned in the next blog, that of tanking (which I have never seen). Think some communities put in a point system that helps people know who won immediately – 5 points for the 1st doubles, 5 for 1st singles, 4 for D-2, and 3 for D-3 lines. That seems to work for immediately knowing. Know that sections don’t have to implement but this change at the local level but if you want to practice being ready for advancement, worth practicing as if you would move forward but this is really going to hurt those small communities with just four courts – yes they can play one of the matches after the first set of matches but that really drags out the day.