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Why join a tennis league ?
Just when we thought it was time to hit outdoors, Mother Nature got some serious mood swings. Talk about a wild day in NYC. Floods, crazy winds and domino of cancelations - from trains to my own theatre plans.
But let's talk tennis leagues. This is where competition can get real. Leagues are a way to find new community, embrace the thrill and enhance our game. Having been both player and a captain, I've seen it from different angles. Together with some of tennis captains in the city, we assembled a few handy tips to help you through the world of NYC leagues.
USTA Leagues:
Think of them as official team experience. By joining you commit to being part of the team for the season, with leagues running in the spring/summer and fall/winter, organized by regions. Metro league, which is Manhattan is played mostly at NTC (National Tennis Center), Roosevelt Island and Columbia. Here's what you need to do.
1. Get in touch. You can contact the coordinator or fill out a survey to address your questions.
2. Open an account on USTA site and get the USTA membership. It is 44 USD.
3. Rate yourself. You can rate yourself through a questionnaire on the USTA site, or get evaluated at NTC. Remember, it is important to play at the right level, overestimating your skills might make it harder to find your way into a team.
4. Word of mouth. One of the best ways to find league is obviously by talking to your tennis friends.
The Upsides of the USTA League:
Community: You're not just joining a league; you're becoming part of a new tennis family. Those friendships carry on for years beyond the court.
Skill Building: It's the perfect way to hone your skills and get that competitive edge.
Hassle-Free Matches: Forget about hassle of booking courts or scheduling matches. Your captain takes care of that.
But, Keep in Mind:
Evenings: Most USTA matches are played in the evenings so be prepared to play at 8pm or later.
Locations: Not every court is going to be next door.
Time: Your commitment is for the entire season, which involves practices, matches and if you are lucky playoffs.
Flex Leagues:
Not quite ready for the commitment of USTA ? Flex leagues could be your perfect warmup. As the name hints, these leagues offer the flexibility to play on your terms, but you will be mostly handling scheduling and coordination. There are several of them offering choices by location, age, level.
Lastly, you can look into Impact team tennis which is a blend of tennis party with USTA competitive tennis so it is a little more social and light spirited.
And if you work for a large company, maybe you can form a corporate tennis team. A great and social way to get out on the court and socialize with your co-workers.
A BIG THANK YOU to captains who contributed to this article:
Brian Silvestry - Team Captain
"Team Captain who is an avid tennis player and loves to compete in leagues and play with friends in NYC parks. When you ask him how many times he plays per week the answer is 3 but his wife says every day."
Tom Rinaldi - Team Captain
"USTA is a good way to meet other players in the area. It's also relatively cheaper/easier access to some of the nicer courts like NTC, Columbia, Randall’s Island etc. Also the drama and pettiness can be good entertainment."
Scott Dainton - Former Team Captain who moved to Florida
"Please be cognizant of the amount of time it takes your Captain to put everything together. It's not just putting line-ups. It is coordinating with the league, confirming courts, confirming with the opposing captain, dealing with lots of people and sometimes lots of emotions and ton of admin behind the scenes. Captaining can be draining and totally thankless job - so help out whenever you can. Get back to texts and emails timely. Confirm your availability. Be nice :)"
Anna
Co-Founder and CEO of AD-IN
[email protected]
www.ad-in.me
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