To pin a thumb tack on this moment in time, I am in the middle of what is shaping up to be a broad and sweeping arc examining the return to organized competitive play following the COVID-19 shutdown. In my home USTA Section, Texas, sanctioned tournaments are allowed to resume July 1.
The July tournament calendar featured two “Major Zone” Adult tournaments. Major Zones are large high point value tournaments that draw players from all over the section. There are nine total Major Zones conducted annually in Texas. To have two scheduled in July represents the peak of the Adult tournament season.
The cancellation notice for the Major Zone that was scheduled for Fort Worth next month was posted last Monday. This did not come as a surprise to me because many of the facilities used by that tournament are either still closed or are open under restrictive conditions that would not be conducive to conducting tournament play. The cancellation statement expressed concern over both safety and player experience.
The cancellation notice for the San Antonio July Major Zone scheduled was posted yesterday. That notice simply cited circumstances related to COVID-19. Texas Adult Sectionals, which is scheduled for September, is hosted by the same organization in San Antonio. The cancellation notice expressed hope and optimism that that Sectionals will still happen.
Checking player sentiment in the Texas Tournament Player Facebook Group, the Traveling Circus, the cancellations of the Major Zone tournaments brings sadness. If the comments are a reflection of the collective outlook, then most are in agreement that it is too soon to conduct a big tournament that draws players from all over the state.
Taking a quick look at the USTA adult tournament slate for July, there were 11 tournaments on the calendar in Texas. Four have been cancelled including the two Major Zones mentioned above. I am pretty sure one of upcoming scheduled tournaments local to my area will be held come hell or high water. In March, that the host organization quickly converted a tournament from sanctioned to non-sanctioned in order to carry on during the USTA tournament suspension period.
I had not made any hard decisions on whether I would play either of the two cancelled Major Zone tournaments. As outlined in “The Physics of Tennis Tournaments: Critical Mass” yesterday, my division already has a minimal number of players and if only a couple drop out, then the draw will not make. So add potential peer pressure as an additional variable to my own calculation.
I am relieved to have been let off the hook on making a personal decision. At the same time, I am disappointed at the continuation of the indefinite horizon on return to play. I am simultaneously ready to play and not ready to play.
Meanwhile back at the farm, USTA Texas produced and released a video titled “Get Out and Play Texas.”
I like the video a lot. I am really looking forward to the day when it moves from aspiration to reality.
- TennisLink Adult Tournaments in Texas Scheduled for July 2020, viewed June 13, 2020.
Great post!