The Rules of Tennis
I have previously observed that the word “grievance” is used a lot in the USTA League Regulations. I frequently cite this as evidence that something has gone terribly wrong with the spirit and intent of the league system. It is supposed to be fun. It is not supposed to be litigious.
In 2020, I observed that the word “grievance” appeared in the USTA League Regulations a whopping number of 196 times. The following year I was encouraged because the number of instances of the word actually dropped by one. If the 2022 USTA League Regulations draft that was circulated last June is accepted without modification, the number rebounded sharply to a total of 201 mentions.
The 2022 League Regulations includes a change to the Grievance Procedures that contributes to the uptick of mentions. In the past, each USTA Section had the option to “honor” sanctions that were imposed in another section. In 2022 that is now mandatory. This means that USTA grievance sanctions are applicable at the national level.
There is also an update associated with one of the grievance types defined in section 3.02 of the USTA League Regulations. A National League Grievance is a special type Administrative Grievance. It can only be filed against the National League Administrator. The change actually comes in section 3.03A(4) and the wording is oddly specific.
An Administrative Grievance against the National League Administrator shall be filed within one year of the incident leading to the grievance, or the grievance shall be barred.
New text in 3.03A(4), USTA League Regulations [1]
Whenever I see an update this specific, I immediately assume that the new wording is in response to something that occurred. Essentially what the update boils down to is a statute of limitations protecting the National League Administrator. To be honest, I don’t have any issue with the time limitation, but wonder why it wouldn’t apply to all grievances in general. That would seem to be a more equitable application of the principal.
Also new for 2022 is conformance with the USTA League Suspension Point System. 3.03D(4) indicates that the USTA League Suspension Point System shall be established prior to each League Year by the USTA National League Committee. That document appears to be a brand new document for 2022.
There are 16 instances of the word “grievance” in the Suspension Point System. I feel like creating a whole new document to deal with the punitive aspects of USTA League play supports my assertion that something has gone terribly wrong with the spirit and intent of the league system.
Like I said off the top, USTA League play is supposed to be fun. It is not supposed to be litigious. However, the litigious nature is only increasing over time.
- USTA League Regulations 2022, Draft document dated June 29, 2021.
- USTA League Suspension Point System, USTA Championship Year 2022, dated 10/19/21.
