Tennis News You Can Use
2020 was a year of difficult decisions. One of the myriad of problems the USTA was confronted with last year was what to do with player NTRP ratings. Due to shutdowns and closures due to the pandemic, the volume of matches did not achieve the numbers required to reliably make the NTRP calculation. The USTA statement that announced the decision that ratings would not be updated at the end of 2020 first declared the NTRP system to be fundamentally sound. (Cough.) The move was characterized as a difficult decision. I am sure it was.
You know what is even harder than making a decision of this magnitude? Fully thinking through the downstream side effects. An unintended consequence has emerged related to that decision. I am not being critical here, but merely describing the situation. The problem starts with this seemingly innocuous statement from the 2021 USTA League Regulations.
TennisLink will automatically remove expired computer and self ratings thereby allowing individuals to self-rate.
USTA League Regulations 2021, 1.04F(1)f .
The short version of the problem this creates is that the computer rated of a player who took a couple of years off but resumed competing in 2020 will expire. That player is required to (re-)self-rate to continue to register in NTRP based competition. It is a problem because there are different requirements and limitations for self-rated players in USTA League play. Additionally, it is likely that there are currently formerly computer rated players that have reverted to the null rating who are unaware of their predicament.
Gory Details
If a player doesn’t play a valid NTRP rated match over a specified period of time computer ratings and self-ratings expire. That period is currently specified to be three years. As a complicating factor, what constitutes playing a valid NTRP match is deceptive. There is a lot of sanctioned USTA play that simply isn’t included in the “real” NTRP calculation that would prevent that expiration from occurring. Mixed and Combo are both systematically excluded. Perversely, so are tournaments.
As a consequence, are probably more than a few USTA League Players with ratings that just expired. This happens every year. What is different this time is that some of those computer rated players played actually played league matches in 2020. The expiration of computer ratings for these players is likely to be a surprise for those players and their captains.
One such example is a player from a couple of the Trophy Husband’s USTA League Teams. This player played in the recently concluded 40+ Winter Season as a computer rated player. However, when the Spring 18+ season rolled around his rating had expired and he was forced to self-rate to participate.
OK, But Where’s the Problem?
There are a lot of restrictions and additional requirements both in the USTA National League Operating Procedures as well as in the section level rules and regulations. For example section 2.03A(4) in the USTA National League Regulations requires that all self-rated players to play at least four matches for a team in order to compete at Nationals. All other players have to play a minimum of three. So it is theoretically possible for a player to have already advanced to nationals by playing the requisite three times per their computer rating, only to have it expire out from under them.
Additionally, the USTA sections have delegated authority to require additional play for progress to the sectional championships. Section 2.03A(3)b of the USTA League Operating procedures indicates that the sections have the discretion to require up to four matches for that self-rated players to compete at sectionals. Players with valid computer ratings are only required to participate in two matches. For example, the USTA Texas Section office has imposed a requirement that self-rated players have to play three matches and further stipulates that defaulted lines do not count for self-rated players.
This brings us back to the very real situation on the Trophy Husband’s team. That team narrowly missed out on advancing to sectionals and are still hopeful that they might receive a wildcard. If they do advance to Sectionals, that player with the expired computer rating might be declared to be ineligible to compete at Sectionals because he only played twice for that team. Additionally, there is a chance that the player needs to play additional matches in ongoing league play in 2021 to avoid similar issues with eligibility.
Additionally, self-rated players are at risk for to grievances and disqualifications that would not exist if the computer rating had continued.
There is a very real chance that there are players with expired ratings who have advanced to post-season play with a team. If they (re-)self-rate to play in other leagues, per the letter of the regulations they are no longer eligible to play in the play-offs. Additionally, it is also likely that players in that situation may be completely unaware of that fact.
Common sense would dictate that the USTA would extend the duration of the computer ratings for players that had valid matches played in 2020. However, that potential solution may present some IT challenges for the USTA. The struggle is real for the USTA on that front. It probably isn’t as easy as it sounds. Additionally, common sense turns out to be shockingly uncommon.
People who are captaining USTA League teams in 2021 need to be alert to the fact that their formerly computer rated players may have reverted to unrated or have been forced to self-rate in the interim. I would advise any captain with a player on this bubble to plan accordingly. That would include building a surplus of matches if that is possible. Otherwise, prepare those pre-emptive questions and appeals.
And… watch out for potential disqualification issues.
- 2020 NTRP Year-End Rating FAQs, USTA National Website, viewed March 13, 2021.
- USTA League Regulations 2021, USTA League Resources & Regulations Page, downloaded March 13, 2021.
- 2021 Section League Regulations, USTA Texas Section, downloaded March 13, 2021.
Editorial Note: This post was updated on 12/25/2022 for the updated term “Trophy Husband.”
