Minutes of the USTA NorCal Adult Tournament Committee Conference Call Monday, November 28, 2018

Transcription

1 Minutes of the USTA NorCal Adult Tournament Committee Conference Call Monday, November 28, 2018 PENDING COMMITTEE APPROVAL NOTE: All minutes are final after approval by the committee and all committee decisions are subject to final approval by the Board. Committee Members Present: Betty Cookson, Steve Cornell (chair), Chrissie Costamagna, Anna Elefant, Ray Rockwell and John Togasaki Committee Members Absent: Amina Halsey and Jeff Heely Staff Members Present: Michelle Wilson Guests Present: Kevin Pope Steve Cornell, chair of the Adult Tournament Committee ( ATC or the Committee ), called the meeting to order at 7:38 p.m. and roll call was conducted 1. Approval of August 6, 2018 Committee Minutes Steve called attention to the previously distributed minutes. After review, the following motion was duly made and seconded: RESOLVED, that the minutes of the August 6, 2018 meeting be approved. The motion was approved by a vote of 4 in favor, 0 opposed, and 0 abstentions. 2. Approval of November 5, 2018 Committee Minutes Steve called attention to the previously distributed minutes. After review, the following motion was duly made and seconded: RESOLVED, that the minutes of the November 5, 2018 meeting be approved. The motion was approved by a vote of 4 in favor, 0 opposed, and 0 abstentions. 3. Challenger Pre-Qualifying Tournaments Update The ATC was informed that USTA National came out with wild card tournaments for the transition tour tournaments that were put out for bid. USTA NorCal is going to try to work with National to see if we could get a wild card tournament in NorCal on dates close to the Challenger Tournaments in NorCal. Ray Rockwell joined the call at 8:00pm.

2 4. ACES Awards Recommendations A. Most Outstanding Open Tournament of the Year The Committee discussed the recommendations for the Most Outstanding Open Tournament of the Year for the ACES Awards that were determined by staff based on existing criteria. Following discussion, a straw vote was taken with a vote of 4 in favor, 0 opposed, 0 abstentions and 1 recused to not award an organization with the Most Outstanding Open Tournament of the Year award because none of the 2018 Adult Open tournaments met the current criteria to award the award. B. Most Outstanding NTRP Tournament of the Year The Committee discussed the recommendations for the Most Outstanding NTRP Tournament of the Year for the ACES Awards that were determined by staff based on existing criteria. Following discussion, a straw vote was taken with a vote of 5 in favor, 0 opposed, 0 abstentions for the Most Outstanding NTRP Tournament award recipient based on current criteria NTRP Gold Cup Series Recommendations The Committee discussed the recommendations for the 2019 NTRP Gold Cup Series designation that were determined by staff based on existing criteria. Following discussion, a straw vote was taken with a vote of 5 in favor, 0 opposed and 0 abstentions to designate the following tournaments as 2019 NTRP Gold Cup Series Tournaments: 2019 NTRP GOLD CUP SERIES TOURNAMENTS Chamisal Open Senior and NTRP Mar.23-24; 30-31, 2019 Jimmy Kvarme Tribute Tournament Park Terrace April 13-14, 2019 Bay Club SF Tennis NTRP April 19-21, th Annual Silverado NTRP May 17-19; 2019 Tahoe Donner 11th Annual NTRP Tournament May 31 June 2; 2019 South Bay NTRP August 23-25, NTRP Tournament of the Year Recommendations The Committee discussed the recommendations for the 2019 NTRP Tournament of the Year designation that were determined by staff based on existing criteria. Following discussion, a straw vote was taken with a vote of 5 in favor, 0 opposed and 0 abstentions to designate the following tournaments as 2018 NTRP Tournaments of the Year:

3 Yuba City - May Natomas March Napa July Napa - July Tahoe Donner- August Johnson Ranch - July Natomas March Yuba City May Natomas - March Central Cal - May Central Cal May Napa - July Lifetime Roseville - June Jonson Ranch - July Tahoe Donner - August 7. Top 4 NorCal Men s Open Tournaments for National Top 500 List Recommendations for the Men s Open tournaments were presented. It was noted that these tournaments would count toward the National Top 500 List, and also that each section is allowed to submit up to 4 Men s and 4 Women s Open Tournaments for such purpose. After discussion, on a motion duly made and seconded, the Committee approved the following resolution: RESOLVED, that the following 2019 Men s Open Tournaments will be submitted to National to count in the National Top 500 ranking list Men s Tournaments st $3500 Mountain View Open (May 17-19;24-27) 2. LD Mocro Open (June 13-16) 3. Johnson Ranch Round Up $5000 Open and NTRP (Jul ) 4. Moraga Country Club Open (Aug. 6-11) The motion was approved by a vote of 4 in favor, 0 opposed, 0 abstentions, 1 recused Rationale: The four 2019 Men s Open Tournaments selected to count towards the National Top 500 List was selected based on number of entries and the quality of the draw for division in the tournament. Having four NorCal Men s Open Tournaments count toward the National Top 500 List gives NorCal players a chance of being on the National Top 500 List and possibly gives them opportunities to play in higher level tournaments. 8. Top 4 NorCal Women s Open Tournaments for National Top 500 List Recommendations for the Women s Open tournaments were presented. It was noted that these tournaments would count toward the National Top 500 List, and also that each section is allowed to submit up to 4 Men s and 4 Women s Open Tournaments for such purpose. After discussion, on a motion duly made and seconded, the Committee approved the following resolution: RESOLVED, that the following 2019 Women s Open Tournaments will be submitted to National to count in the National Top 500 ranking list.

4 2019 Women s Tournaments 1. $2,000 Natomas Open/Senior/NTRP (Mar ) st $3500 Mountain View Open (May 17-19;24-27) 3. Johnson Ranch Round Up $5000 Open and NTRP (Jul ) 4. Moraga Country Club Open (Aug. 6-11) The motion was approved by a vote of 4 in favor, 0 opposed, 0 abstentions, 1 recused Rationale: The four 2019 Women s Open Tournaments selected to count towards the National Top 500 List was selected based on number of entries and the quality of the draw for division in the tournament. Having four NorCal Women s Open Tournaments count toward the National Top 500 List gives NorCal players a chance of being on the National Top 500 List and possibly gives them opportunities to play in higher level tournaments. 9. Rankings Points for North South Senior Challenge Cup event The ATC discussed awarding ranking points for the North South Senior Challenge Cup event. During their discussion, the ATC was informed that Southern California awards points to the Southern California players for the event. It was also mentioned that since the 2018 tournament is in Fresno that it counts as a sanctioned tournament in NorCal for rankings because Fresno is a part of NorCal. Because it is a sanctioned tournament in NorCal, players received NorCal Level 4 ranking points for it this year. The Committee discussed what the rankings points should be for the North South Senior Challenge Cup event for future years. After discussion, on a motion duly made and seconded, the Committee approved the following resolution: RESOLVED, that beginning with the 2019 North South Senior Challenge Cup, the North South Senior Challenge Cup will be known as a Sectional Ranking Tournament and shall earn NorCal Level 3 ranking points. The motion was approved by a vote of 5 in favor, 0 opposed, 0 abstentions, 1 recused Rationale: The North South Challenge Cup is a Men s senior event where the best NorCal players play against the best SoCal Players. Awarding NorCal players NorCal Level 3 ranking points to play in this event may incentivize them to play in the event and will also reward them for playing in the event. It has been approved by the ATC to award Level 3 points as opposed to Level 4 because it is an event of a higher caliber of players than a standard senior tournament. Southern California and National have already been awarding ranking points for the North South Challenge Cup in their rankings. 10. Recommendations from the Sanction and Schedule Committee The ATC was presented with an from the Sanction and Schedule Committee with recommendations to discuss the possibility of rescheduling tournaments and a conforming change to the refund rule as it pertains to inclement weather.

5 A. Rescheduling Tournaments Due to Inclement Weather It was brought to the Committee s attention that some of the tournaments that were cancelled due to the unhealthy air quality because of the recent fires had asked to reschedule the tournament. Although the Sanctions and Schedules Committee entertained the current requests, the Sanctions and Schedules Committee wanted to bring the question of rescheduling tournaments to the Adult Tournament Committee and Junior Council to review and decide if there are some tournaments that should have the ability to reschedule if it gets cancelled due to inclement weather. B. Conforming Change to Entry Fee Rule The Committee was informed that there is going to be a conforming language change to the Adult Tournament Entry Fee Refund Rule. It was explained to the ATC that the rule currently states that if a tournament is rained out before a match is played, the tournament may withhold an administrative fee of $2.00 per entry in the case of a tournament that charges a per-entry fee or a total of $2.00 in the case of a tournament that charges a base fee. The language is being amended to include tournaments cancelled due to inclement weather (or other reason approved by USTA NorCal staff to protect the health and safety of the players). The Committee was notified that the Adult Tournament Rules will be amended as follows (new language is underlined, deleted language is stricken through): 18. Entry Fees. a. Processing Fee May Not be Charged by Tournament Committee to Accept Entries. Tournament Committees may not collect the Active.com fee when a player does not register online. b. Nonpayment of Entry Fee. The tournament may charge a collection fee for returned entry fee checks or nonpayment of outstanding fees at the tournament. Nonpayment of entry fees or cancellation of payment after the entry deadline will result in player suspension until such payment is received by the involved tournament. c. Entry Fee Refunds. The Tournament Committee shall refund a player's entire entry fee (minus the Tennis Link non-refundable registration fee) if the entry is not accepted, if the player withdraws before the draw has been published or no later than seven days before the start date of the tournament, whichever date is sooner. The Tournament Committee may not issue a credit for the entry fee in lieu of an entry fee refund. The Tournament Committee shall not charge any fee (such as a processing, service, or handling fee) for refunding the entry fee. However, in the case where the tournament is rained out cancelled due to inclement weather (or other reason approved by USTA NorCal staff to protect the health and safety of the players) before a match is played, the tournament may withhold an administrative fee of $2.00 per entry in the case of a tournament that charges a per-entry fee or a total of $2.00 in the case of a tournament that charges a base fee. d. Partial Rain Out Cancellation Policy. i. When Per Event Fee Charged. No refund of the per event fee will be required to be made to a player if that player finishes one match in an event and the event is subsequently rained out cancelled due to inclement weather (or other reason approved by USTA NorCal staff to protect the health and safety of the players). ii. When Base Fee Charged. No refund of the base fee will be required to be made to a player if that player finishes one match in the tournament, regardless of whether it is a singles or doubles match. A finished match is a match that takes place on court and is played to completion, meaning a player has either won a match point or has won after the start of the match because their opponent has retired or been defaulted.

6 The Committee was in agreement with the change. 11. Review Recent and Future Events A. USTA NorCal ROG Family Turkey Team Tournament November 11 Michelle gave an update on the USTA NorCal ROG Family Turkey Team Tournament on November 11 at Bay Club Broadway Tennis. She mentioned that there were 46 players in the tournament and that to go along with the Turkey/Thanksgiving theme, the winners received frozen turkeys and everyone else received pies (1 per family). All of the players had a great time and many are asking when the next tournament is. The ATC was also informed of the benefits that have been witnessed from having these tournaments such as these tournaments being a lot of players first tournaments and some of the players go on to play junior team tennis and adult events. B. Women s Intersectionals Nov at Phoenix TC, Phoenix, AZ Chrissie gave an update on the Women s Intersectional event on Nov at Phoenix Tennis Center. It was reported that everyone had a great time with total team camaraderie and that all of the NorCal teams supported each other. Great competition was had by all. The Women s 55 team won their division. The 35 s came in 4 th place. The 45 s came in 7 th place. The 65 s came in 5 th place. The 75 s came in 3 rd place. C. Year-End Dinner Monday, December 10 Steve reminded the ATC that the year-end dinner is going to be on December 10 at C era Una Volta in Alameda. 12. New Business Steve notified the Committee that he will be sending out an to find which members would still like to be on the ATC for the new term and what weeks and days works best for the members to be able to attend ATC meeting/conference calls. Next Meeting: January, 2019 Meeting adjourned: 9:15 pm Minutes respectfully submitted by Michelle Wilson, Adult Tournaments Coordinator