When I first wrote about Intersectionals in “A Tale of Two Nationals,” it was immediately clear that a lot of people had no idea that this event even existed. Additionally, people who only play USTA League were challenged by the idea of a National Championship for teams in the absence of a predecessor qualifying competition. Players with tournament experience also asked questions along the lines of how individual players “qualify” for the team.
Participation at Intersectionals isn’t typically a question of qualification on either a team or an individual basis. The best word to describe it is arguably “Selection.” While a standard page for the tournament can be found on the USTA website, individual players cannot register to play in Intersectionals without an endorsement. Intersectionals is fundamentally a competition between the Sections and each Section office is trying to assemble the best possible team.
How each Section selects its team varies widely. My best general advice to any player that is interested in competing in Intersectionals, is to reach out to their local Section office for more information. In some Sections, you will be pointed at an application process or added to a distribution list. In other sections, you might receive a “Congratulations, Captain…” response. If your Section Office has no idea what you are asking about… Welcome to tennis advocacy.
In my home Section of Texas, prospective players receive an invitation to apply for the Intersectionals team every year around April 1. It isn’t exactly clear to me who is on the distribution list for that message, but I assume it includes all players that have played age group open tournaments recently as well as players who have participated or applied for Intersectionals in the past.
Casual Googling turns up Intersectional information and application pages for several USTA Sections. I also know from other players, that the selection process for some Sections is shrouded in secrecy. For obvious reasons, I prefer an open application and selection process with some measure of accountability. I apply every year, but rarely get selected. There are a lot of strong players in my age divisions in Texas.
The first year I was selected to the Women’s 45s Intersectionals team in Texas, was a fluke. Following is an excerpt from the Standing Orders of the USTA Texas Section. (This is from an undated version. The official link from USTA Texas is dead, so there is a chance that the excerpt below isn’t current.)
USTA Texas will select teams for all divisions offered for the USTA National Men’s and Women’s Intersectional Team Events. Three months prior to the USTA entry deadline for submitting team members’ names the #1 singles player in each respective division (determined by the rolling 12 month period) will be invited. Each of the teams will consist of up to 6 men or women players in each age group that will be selected by the respective team captain and approved by the intersectional coordinator.
Standing Orders of the USTA Texas Section, Article VII
I was invited to participate on the Intersectionals team the first time because I was ranked #1 during the selection window. I wasn’t the best player in Texas by a long shot, and I was painfully aware of that fact. My rankings points came from the fact that I had played more age group open tennis than anyone else. I debated whether I should accept the invitation since I felt like I didn’t deserve it.
Ultimately I accepted the invitation with the idea that I might never have a chance to do it again. The experience completely transformed my tennis life.
First of all, it was so beneficial for me to be around the other players on Team Texas that year. I learned so much about how serious they were about competition at that level. I discovered how intentional the top players were with their tennis training and that many worked with a coach. The team warm-ups for these events were comparable to what I regarded as a full workout prior to the event.
Additionally, I had never been around a more inspirational tennis event than the one at Intersectionals. The tennis is so good and the community around it is even better. The mix of fierce competition in such an empowering and supportive environment is the most amazing thing I have ever experienced.
I returned home from my first Intersectionals with a new sense of purpose. It was clear that it would be a challenge for me to win at that level. Intersectionals taught me that I wanted to compete in that environment regardless of the outcome.
My advice to every tennis player over 35 is to energetically pursue selection to your Section’s Intersectional team. Depending on the strength of your Section, it might be tough to make the team. Alternatively, you may become the tennis catalyst that brings your Section to compete at Intersectionals. Regardless of the outcome, the journey of striving is its own reward.
Playing at Intersectionals can be transcendent.
- Southwest Intersectionals Selection Information, USTA News Release, March 6, 2019.
- Midwest Intersectionals, USTA News Release, Undated, Viewed November 18, 2022.
- Standing Orders of the USTA Texas Section, USTA hosted document, undated, viewed November 18, 2022.
