USTA League Restructuring(2013)

Profile of Member Base

66% of members are current program participants

Current USTA League Divisions& Section Sponsored Programs

USTA League Restructuring

• Adult 65/70 & over• 4 Tier Tennis (4TT)

2013

• Mixed 40 & over• Mixed 55 & over

2013

Section

Section

USTA League Task Force July 9-10, 2008

Special Task Force established to: Develop ideas which could result in improved and more competitive Local League Play, and to enhance growth at the local level.

Composed of:USTA Past President, USTA VP, Section ED and SLC, Club owners, USTA League Captains and players, National League Committee Members and staff, etc.

USTA League Task Force July 9-10, 2008

TF Members• Bud Spencer Chair• Alan Schwartz Past President USTA• Joe Grover Vice President USTA • John Callen Executive Director Southern• Pam Leibfreid Section League Coord. Mid-Atlantic• Mike Dickey Northern California• Ray Eccleston Intermountain• Sam Hopkins Texas• Greg Lappin Northern• Courtney Norman Northern• Mike Vandegrift Southern• Rich Bisk New England

Observers• Tom Gray USTA League Committee Chairman• David Schobel USTA Director of Competitive Play• Gail Marx National League Administrator• Laurie Covert USTA Division Chair • Bev WentzUSA League Committee Regulations Subcommittee Chair• Larry Jones NTRP Administrator

USTA League Division RestructuringTask Force Results (one of fourteen)

FINDING:Age groupings seem outdated in today’s spread of league participants. Other groupings seem more appropriate for principal league programs.

RECOMMENDATION:Conduct a thorough assessment of age groupings in Adult, Senior and Super Senior Leagues. Age groupings considered to be potentially more appropriate by the TF are: 18 and over; 40 and over; 55 and over (and perhaps 70+).

Age Distribution of League Players

Players and Age

0

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,00019

-25

26-3

0

31-3

5

36-4

0

41-4

5

46-5

0

51-5

5

56-6

0

61-6

5

66-7

0

71-7

5

76-8

0

81+

Age

Uniq

ue P

laye

rs

Age Distribution of League Players

Players and Age

0

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,00019

-25

26-3

0

31-3

5

36-4

0

41-4

5

46-5

0

51-5

5

56-6

0

61-6

5

66-7

0

71-7

5

76-8

0

81+

Age

Uniq

ue P

laye

rs

PARTICIPATION NUMBERS (2009)

ADULT SENIOR SUPERS TOTALS

Male Female Male Female Male Female

18-39 42,448 61,780 - - - - 104,228

40-45 18,952 48,947 - - - - 67,899

45-49 20,401 49,808 - - - - 70,209

50-54 16,825 33,892 10,907 18,984 - - 80,608

55-59 11,724 21,036 7,809 12,609 - - 53,178

60-64 7,342 12,154 6,618 10,063 5,812 6,826 48,815

65+ 4,710 6,646 5,282 7,424 5,778 5,680 35,520

Total 122,402 234,263 30,616 49,080 11,590 12,506 460,457

Adult = 356,665 Senior = 79,696 Super Senior = 24,096 Male = 164,608 (36%)Female = 295,849 (64%)

Study Approach

• Study Objectives:– Systematic Feedback on Age Breaks, Configuration

& Name Changes• Players• Captains• Administrators

• Methods:– Questionnaire/Survey– Focus Groups– Presentations to Leadership Groups– Analysis by Professional Research Company, as well

as USTA League Committee & Staff

6

Estimated Effect of Age Changes on Participation

Division Projected # % Change from existingStructure of Players (1000) structure division

18+ / 50+ / 60+ 460.4 Existing18+ 356.7 Existing

50+ 79.7 Existing

60+ 24.1 Existing

18+ / 40+ / 55+ 534.1 + 16 %18+ 271.1 - 24 %

40+ 170.5 + 114 %

55+ 66.3 + 175 %

18+ / 45+ / 60+ 483.4 + 5 %18+ 292.5 - 18 %

45+ 137.8 + 73 %

60+ 40.5 + 68 %

18+ / 50+ / 65+ 442.0 - 4 %18+ 310.3 - 13 %

50+ 105.2 + 32 %

65+ 19.8 - 18 %

Division League Type League Format NTRP Levels National Program

Adult

18 & Over 2-Sing ;3-Dbl1-Sing; 2Dbl

3.0; 3.5; 4.0; 4.52.5; 5.0+

YesYes

40 & over 2-Sing; 3-Dbl 3.0; 3.5; 4.0; 4.5+ Yes

55 & over 3-Dbl 6.0; 7.0; 8.0; 9.0(or straight)

Yes

65/70 & Over 3-Dbl 6.0; 7.0; 8.0 Section

Mixed

18 & over 3-Dbl 2.5; 6.0; 7.0; 8.0; 9.0; 10.0

Yes

40 & over 3-Dbl 6.0; 7.0; 8.0; 9.0 Section

55 & over 3-Dbl 6.0; 7.0; 8.0 Section

Approved Concept(2013 League Year)

What will the USTA Mid-Atlantic Section Leagues look like in 2013?

Division League Type League Format NTRP Levels Mid-Atl Program

Adult

18 & Over 2-Sing ;3-Dbl1-Sing; 2Dbl

3.0; 3.5; 4.0; 4.52.5; 5.0+

YesYes

40 & over 2-Sing; 3-Dbl 3.0; 3.5; 4.0; 4.5+ Yes

55 & over 3-Dbl 3.0; 3.5; 4.0; 9.0 Yes

65 & over 3-Dbl 3.0; 3.5; 4.0 Yes

Mixed

18 & over 3-Dbl 2.5; 6.0; 7.0; 8.0; 9.0; 10.0

Yes

40 & over 3-Dbl 6.0; 7.0; 8.0; 9.0 Yes

55 & over 3-Dbl 6.0; 7.0; 8.0 Yes

AGE RESTRUCTURING-The Opportunity-

Restructuring Time Line

Some Questions We Hear

I do not have enough courts to run the 40’s with 2 singles and 3 doubles

There are not enough singles players for the 40 and over group

What about the older crowd?

So, who is happy and who is not?It depends on your AGE!

HAPPY!Almost everyone, with more compatible age groupings.The 40-49 year olds now have 2 play opportunities.The 55-59 year olds now have 3 play opportunities.Anyone over 40 that likes singles, but doesn’t really want to play the 18 year olds.

NOT SO HAPPY! Some 50-54 year olds who are no longer the youngsters, but…once they are 55 they will be happy. Some 60-64 year olds are - no longer the youngsters.

Restructuring Marketing Plan

How can you help?

Education is KEY! Start now……… Get the word out with a positive voice. Utilize State and Local Websites Captain’s meetings Distribute Marketing material to facilities Meet with Local CTA’s to inform them of the changes.Marketing Material at Championships

USTA League Restructuring(2013)