The final USTA League National Regulation update for 2024 has to do with team composition. Specifically, wording changes were made to the text that outlines the number of players on the roster who are at the designated level of play for two team Leagues. For example, a team competing at NTRP 4.0 may have a few players who are rated 3.5. In many areas, using lower-rated players is essential to achieving the minimum roster sizes.
For two team leagues, Sectional Associations have the authority to require from 40–100% of the rostered players to be at level.
1.04D(5) Two Team Leagues. If any Adult Division Age Group consists of only two teams in a level of play, each team must maintain its roster with a minimum of 40 percent of its players at the designated NTRP level of play. A Section may increase the required minimum percentage. The Adult Division 55 & Over Age Group that uses combined NTRP rating levels will not be required to comply with this Regulation.
2024 USTA League Regulations, Major Regulation Changes for 2024
The updates for 2024 are highlighted in red text in the excerpt above. I initially wondered if the phrase “a minimum of” was a straight insertion. If that was the case, then it raises the possibility that the new wording was because some yahoo filed a grievance because another team in their league did not include precisely 40 percent at-level players. Alas, the new phrase replaced the previous wording, “at least.” In my engineering circles, that is known as a “glad to happy” change. It is inconsequential.
However, there is something new in this Regulation for 2024. Sectional associations may now require a higher percentage of players to be at the designated NTRP level of play. This is yet another example of why everyone should read their Section Operating procedures each year. My home Section of Texas did not elect to go with a higher percentage of “at level” players, as evidenced by the absence of any overriding text for this Regulation in the Sectional Operating Procedures.
I am curious if any USTA Section has taken the decision to increase the percentage of players at the designated NTRP level. Doing so would likely reduce the number of teams that are ultimately formed, which would lower total USTA League registrations. The organization seems to use that as a key metric for assessing participation. Raising the bar would seem to be counterproductive to that objective.
I have previously written about two-team leagues in “The Terrible Twos” and “Shill Teams.” Both of those posts included themes on the social dynamics as well as the opportunity for NTRP ratings manipulation that can occur when a team exists for the sole purpose of enabling another team to qualify for Sectionals. If the second team is predominately below level, those matches will artificially depress the NTRP ratings of the winning team by lowering the average strength of their competition.
On the other hand, I wonder if there were other reasons that inspired some influential individual or organization to petition and lobby for the update. At level roster minimums likely would not have been added for the coming year without some sort of advocacy. This is the kind of thing that triggers rampant overthinking, which is the hallmark of this site.
I am wondering if there is a juicy reason that explains why the USTA decided that a higher percentage of players at the designated NTRP level might be a good idea in some instances. If so, it is a story that I would love to hear.
- 2024 USTA League National Regulations, USTA Resource Document, September 19, 2023.
- 2024 National Regulations & Texas Operating Procedures, USTA Texas Resource Document, version 06.30.23.
I totally agree with you about there being something behind the scenes at work here; however I don’t think that raising the percentage would cause fewer teams. I think it might cause fewer teams at the higher level but more teams at the lower level. Then, some of those players who are rated lower but are in fact really higher level players who have manipulated their rating, will do so well at the lower level that they will be moved up to their proper rating at the end of the year. This might help readjust the level of the players who should have been moved up during COVID but weren’t because of that one year the USTA did not move anyone.