|
USTA
RATINGS
|
|
|
|
DYNAMIC NTRP PROCESS
The National Tennis
Rating Program (NTRP) is the official system for determining the
levels of competition for the USA League Tennis Program. The USTA
NTRP Computer
Rating System assigns ratings based on play in the local league
and at championship level (state, regional and nationals) during
the current league year.
Terminology:
Rating - the playing level that a USTA member's
NTRP rating has been rounded up to for purposes of creating leagues
of common ability.
Example: 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0 etc
Dynamic Rating - a player's actual rating to the
100th of a point that is generated daily by the NTRP database.
Example: 2.36 or 3.29. This 100th of a point is not shown to the
player or to PATA.
Ratings
Publish Date - the date the USTA chooses to publish a player's
rating. At this time a player's dynamic rating is "leveled".
Example: a player with a 2.32 would now have to play 2.5 and a
player with a 3.37 would now have to play 3.5.
Early Start Leagues - Because PATA leagues play year twice a
year (similar to League Atlanta), we have permission to begin play
for the State Championship year early. Any leagues that play after
the Ga. State Championship, but before the current year ends, are
termed Early Start Leagues. (Ex: Adult Men's & Women's State
Championships are in May 2004, we have a league that plays in August
2004. This league would be an early start league for the 2005 league
year).
WHAT'S THE SAME AND WHAT'S DIFFERENT ABOUT THE
DYNAMIC NTRP RATING PROCESS
| PREVIOUSLY |
CURRENTLY |
|
Find a team/facility |
same |
| Use most current year-end NTRP
computer rating (good for 2 years) |
Computer ratings will now be good
for five (5) years |
| New players must attend an
"on-court" rating clinic |
Self-rate using TennisLink and NTRP
Guidelines |
| Participate in local league
competition |
Same |
| All players subject to
disqualification during local league play |
All players subject to
administrative disqualification by the NTRP computer rating
system if the disqualification level is reached three (3) times
for all matches played through the Sectional Championships |
| New players subject to
disqualification through the Sectional Championships |
All players subject to
disqualification through the Sectional Championships |
|
USTA
Rating Levels |
|
USTA NTRP
Guidelines |
1.0 This player is just starting to play tennis.
1.5 This player has limited experience and is still
working primarily on getting the ball into play.
2.0 This player needs on-court experience. This player
has obvious stroke weaknesses but is familiar with basic
positions for singles and doubles play.
2.5 This player is learning to judge where the ball is
going although court coverage is weak. This player can sustain a
short rally of slow pace with other players of the same ability
3.0 This player is fairly consistent when hitting medium
paced shots, but is not comfortable with all strokes and lacks
execution when trying for directional control, depth, or power.
Most common doubles formation is one-up, one-back.
3.5 This player has achieved improved stroke
dependability with directional control on moderate shots, bur
still lacks depth and variety. This player exhibits more
aggressive net play, has improved court coverage, and is
developing teamwork in doubles.
4.0 This player has dependable strokes, including
directional control and depth on both forehand and backhand
sides on moderate shots, plus the ability to use lobs,
overheads, approach shots and volleys with some success. This
player occasionally forces errors when serving. Rallies may be
lost due to impatience. Teamwork in doubles is evident.
4.5 This player has begun to master the use of power and
spins and is beginning to handle pace, has sound footwork, can
control depth of shots, and is beginning to vary game plan
according to opponents. This player can hit first serves with
power and accuracy and place the second serve. This player tends
to over hit on difficult shots. Aggressive net play is common in
doubles.
5.0 This player has good shot anticipation and frequently
has an outstanding shot or attribute around which a game may be
structured. This player can regularly hit winners or force
errors off of short balls and can put away volleys, can
successfully execute lobs, drop shots, half volleys, over-head
smashes, and has good depth and spin on most second serves.
5.5 This player has developed power and/or consistency as
a major weapon. This player can vary strategies and styles of
play in a competitive situation and hits dependable shots in a
stress situation.
6.0 These players will generally not need NTRP ratings.
Rankings or past rankings will speak for themselves. The 6.0
player typically has had intensive training for national
tournament competition at the junior and collegiate levels and
has obtained a sectional and/or national ranking. The 6.5 player
has a reasonable chance of succeeding at the 7.0 level and has
extensive satellite tournament experience. The 7.0 is a world
class player who is committed to tournament competition on the
international level and whose major source of income is
tournament prize winnings. |
|
1. The
National Tennis Rating Program (NTRP) Guidelines
define the characteristics of the various NTRP skill levels.
2. The
USTA NTRP
Computer Rating System is the official system to
determine computer ratings for players throughout the country
who participate in the USA League Tennis Program. It is a
mathematical system that assigns computer ratings to players by
direct and
indirect comparison of match results with other
players.
Note:
A computer-derived rating is valid for five years or until another
computer rating is generated.
3. Players in the
USA League Tennis Program without a computer rating (generated
within the last five years) must self-rate in accordance with the
NTRP Guidelines. Factors such as a player's on-court performance,
tennis background and any additional information should be
considered in the self-rating decision. When players
are rating themselves, if they question at which level they should
play, they should place themselves in the higher NTRP level of
play. (See Valid Computer Rating Chart)
4.
Players without a computer rating are required to declare a
self-rating on TennisLink when entering the program regardless of
the NTRP level they enter. They begin to generate a
computer rating after their first match with a computer rated
player.
5. Players with a
computer rating (generated within the last five years) must enter at
that rating or higher. (See Valid Computer Rating
Chart)
6. In
the adult/senior division, computer ratings will be calculated at
regular intervals for all participants during local league
competition, at the end of the local league season and either during
or at the end of the area sectional championships.
7. At
adult/senior national championships, players will continue to
generate computer ratings through their last match played.
8.
After the adult/senior national championships, benchmark and
year-end computer ratings will be calculated using USTA NTRP
Computer Methodology Procedures approved by the USA League Tennis
Committee.
9. In the mixed
doubles division, computer ratings will be calculated for
participants who play in that division exclusively.
Year-end ratings will be based on local league and championship
level competition.
|
Frequently
Asked Questions:
1. Why is a player's rating
different in TennisLink than on their winter roster?
TennisLink will only display a
player's year-end rating when doing the name search. This rating
may not match every roster a player is on. PATA is an early start
league and we often have ratings published mid-season. Therefore,
the USTA Southern Section allows a player's rating to be
"protected" on each individual roster.
2. What does protection on a
roster mean?
The USTA considers each team number to
be one specific team (even if the same people play together season
after season). If a player registered on a winter team in
September with a 4.0 Early Start League rating they can play on
that team, at that level all the way through national
championships (provided they are never disqualified) even if their
year-end rating now shows them as a 4.5.
3. What if I want to be added to
a Winter team?
Regulations state that all players
must use their most current rating in TennisLink at the time of
registration. As of now, this rating is the national year-end
rating that is displayed in TennisLink under the ratings search
option.
4. What if I don't agree with my
rating?
Appeal it to the State League
Coordinator by filling out the online form (see appeal process
below). There are
specific criteria for granting an NTRP appeal so do not include a
long explanation of why you want your rating changed. Criteria
for appeals is explained below. PATA league coordinators and
directors do not have the authority to change your rating.
5. I just appealed my early start
league rating and now TennisLink has me back up/down again. Why?
The national year end ratings overrode
all early start league ratings. Unfortunately, although you have
protection to play on your roster for the season, you will need to
appeal again should you wish to register for any other team.
Note: If you were granted a medical appeal please notify
Peckham@gatennis.com if
you do not see your proper rating.
Click Here
For Other Frequently Asked Ratings Questions
|
|
APPEAL
PROCESS
Your USTA rating is computer generated
based on your matches played in the USTA Adult leagues. See the NTRP Ratings
Guidelines above
for rating information. A player has the option of appealing his or her
rating. In order to appeal, the player would complete an online form which
is submitted to the Georgia Tennis Association. The form is a very
simple form to complete. No explanations/justifications of your reason for
requesting a different level is asked for. The GTA then reviews your
applications and grants or denies the request based on the explanation
below.
APPEAL
EXPLANATION
All ratings must be appealed through the Georgia
Tennis Association. Appeals are handled by the Georgia State League
Coordinator. PATA has no access to the appeals process.
Your appeal is granted if you meet one of
the three criteria that have been set forth by the national regulations.
Criteria is:
All players except national benchmarks
whose rating is within .05 above the NTRP level will be granted
New players (self-rated) with 3 or fewer
matches and whose ratings is within .10 above level will be granted an
appeal
Any player who has reached age 65 during
the league year and whose rating is within .10 will be granted
Medical Appeal:
Permanent disabling injury or illness
occurring after year-end ratings were achieved. Doctor letter on their
letterhead may be faxed to Georgia Tennis Association.
If your appeal was denied, you did not meet
one of these criteria and unfortunately your rating can not be lowered at this
time.
If you do not play any league tennis, the
rating that you now have is good for 5 years from date of publication.
Click Here to Appeal
Dynamic
NTRP Talking Points
During the next two years, the USA League
Tennis Program will undergo a major change with the implementation of
Dynamic NTRP ratings. Dynamic NTRP will allow for ease of entry and ease of
administration while maintaining the integrity of USA League Tennis without
the requirements of current National NTRP verification procedures (visual
verification).
Select sections will administer their 2002
league season with dynamic NTRP as a pilot program. Dynamic NTRP will begin
for all sections at the start of the 2003 league year. Georgia will start
Dynamic NTRP ratings in June of 2002 for the 2003 league year.
OVERVIEW
The use of a dynamic rating system is predicated on having the
ability to get the match results into the national database quickly and
easily using the team captains to report scores. The USTA has developed an
automated data management system, Tennis Link. The system will integrate
the programs used to administer the USA League Tennis Program and the USTA
membership database.
Tennis Link will provide:
-
Significantly improved team registration,
membership and eligibility management
-
Increase efficiency in match scorecard
entry
-
Automated standings
-
Ease of entry into NTRP tournaments
Dynamic NTRP ratings will be used to:
-
Produce a better year-end NTRP rating based
on all previous match results and the use of national benchmark NTRP
ratings.
-
Determine "clearly above level" players
-
Produce Dynamic ratings at any point in
time to establish ratings for players that begin prior to January 1st of
the championship year
INFORMATION FOR NEW USA LEAGUE TENNIS
PLAYERS
New players will benefit from ease of entry and the elimination of
on-court verification and associated costs. New players to the system enter
the program by rating themselves using the NTRP General and Specific
Characteristics of Various Playing Levels, located in "National Tennis
Rating Program" the USA League Tennis web page and in various USTA
publications. The NTRP characteristics have not changed. As many
perspective USA League Tennis participants know current league players,
accurate self-ratings are possible.
Tennis Link will provide a self-rating
declaration box for new players to use at the time of registration.
Players begin to generate a dynamic NTRP
rating after their first match with a NTRP computer rated player. The
self-rating is only used at time of entry.
INFORMATION FOR RETURNING USA LEAGUE
TENNIS PLAYERS
Returning USA League Tennis players begin the year with their most
current NTRP computer rating. IF more than 2 years has elapsed since the
last computer rating, an individual may self-rate to enter the program.
DISQUALIFICATION
Dynamic NTRP ratings will be run by the computer to determine if any
players are "clearly above level" using the current Disqualification
Procedure Guidelines. Those players will be disqualified if they achieve
the currently established "clearly above level" status 3 times based
on all matches reported in the national database for Adult and Senior
Divisions. This includes all match play in Adult and Senior divisions in
all sections.
QUICK FACTS
The dynamic NTRP rating may be calculated at any time throughout
local league play. Administrators will be able to monitor match results and
determine if any dynamic NTRP disqualifications are necessary.
Players are subject to a NTRP
disqualification through the sectional league championships.
There will be no player NTRP
disqualifications at the national league championships.
Sections will administer the appeal process.
The administrator shall immediately notify the player's captain (and the
player) of the disqualification.
Upon being NTRP disqualified and notified, a
player has the right to appeal within the deadline established.
Players disqualified by NTRP may be allowed
to move up and participate on another team during the same local league
season provided the local league allows additions to the roster during the
season.
| 