Updating USTA Regulations, Schoolhouse Rock Style

Fiend at Court Unplugged

Last Sunday I described a request I made to the USTA Adult Competition Committee to update the glossary in the USTA Adult and Family Tournament, Ranking, and Sanctioning Regulations. Today I want to step through the process for how that actually occurs. To keep this topic from being as boring as it… Well, actually is… I am going to unapologetically leverage the linguistic style of the Schoolhouse Rock classic, “I’m just a Bill.”

I'm just a request,
An unsolicited text,
And I'm sitting here waiting until...
Well, it's a long long journey
Relayed in this here ditty.
Adult Competition 
is the name of the Committee.
But I should be in the Regs some day
At least I hope and pray it's my best
But today I am just a request.

The USTA Adult and Family Tournament, Ranking, and Sanctioning Regulations used to be in the USTA Friend at Court, but was extracted out in 2021 to be a standalone document. Section I.D outlines the amendment process. The very first sentence establishes that updates may only be made by the USTA Adult Competition Committee (ACC). It also indicates that the Adult and Family Regulations Subcommittee considers and makes the recommendation on amendments.

I'm just a request,
Not yet ACC blessed,
And I'm sitting here waiting until...
Well, for the Regs Subcommittee
To decide if they'll admit me.
And recommend the text, 
to the ACC Committee.
But I should be in the Regs some day
At least I hope and pray it's my best
But today I am just a request.

Proposed amendments are subject to review and comment by the Office of General Counsel and the Chair of the Constitution and Rules committee prior to adoption. An organization the size of the USTA cannot open itself up to lawsuits or criminal activity brought about by a USTA committee changing regulations that could be damaging to the organization. It also illustrates the multiple moving parts that prevent the USTA from acting quickly and decisively.

I'm just a request,
Wording I may suggest,
And I'm sitting here waiting until...
Well, for the chief General Counsel,
Legal standards review.
To protect the USTA, 
In case someone sues.
But I should be in the Regs some day
At least I hope and pray it's my best
But today I am just a request.

If it seems complicated up to this point, let me kick it up a notch. Proposed amendments recommended by the Adult and Family Regulations Subcommittee are forwarded to the USTA ACC and the Executive Directors of each Sectional Association. By regulation, that has to occur a minimum of 21 days before the ACC meets to consider ratification of the proposal.

I'm just a request,
That may never progress,
And I'm sitting here waiting until...
A written notification,
Is sent to every Section,
For their consideration, 
And ACC inspection.
But I should be in the Regs some day
At least I hope and pray it's my best
But today I am just a request.

The USTA Adult and Family Tournament, Ranking, and Sanctioning Regulations Section I.E describes the types of “Conforming Changes” that can be authorized by the Office of General Counsel:

Conforms with the USTA Constitution, USTA Bylaws, ITF Rules of Tennis, and USTA Regulations;
Makes language and stylistic changes;
Promotes clarity;
Eliminates ambiguity;
Corrects a mistake; or
Provides additional guidance.

My proposed update to the Glossary was specifically to address ambiguity in the Regulations. It appears to be on good footing at least in that regard.

I'm just a request,
An unsolicited text,
And I'm sitting here waiting until...
Well, it's a long determination,
Reviewing my performance.
Closing ambiguity, 
And general conformance.
But I should be in the Regs some day
At least I hope and pray it's my best
But today I am just a request.

Per the USTA Adult and Family Tournament, Ranking, and Sanctioning Regulations, Section I.E, approved changes are in effect on January 1 of the following year when they are ratified, “Unless otherwise specified.” I am hard pressed to think that a Glossary update would be urgent enough for an accelerated timeline.

I'm just a request,
An unsolicited text,
And I'll be sitting here til next year at best...
Cause, it's a long long process,
With multiple reviews,
To see if my proposal, 
Ever makes it to debut.
But I should be in the Regs some day
At least I hope and pray it's my best
But today I am just a request.

We will see what (if anything) happens.