For Tennis Parents by a Tennis Parent

John Drew Smith Tennis Center – Macon, GA

Gentlemen,

My son recently competed in the Georgia State Qualifier in Macon which started the end of May. As it turns out, it was his last junior tournament since he will age out July 1st. I would like to share some thoughts and observations with you so that this state Level 1 event can be improved moving forward.

You may remember that I wrote to you after last year’s tournament as well. Many of my concerns were resolved for the 2015 event. However, new ones came up this year, many as a result of the construction at John Drew Smith Tennis Center (JDS). Given that the Southern 14s were held at JDS as well, I’m guessing you may also hear from parents and coaches that attended that event from across the Southern Section (see below for comments from Johan Kriek that he posted on his Facebook page). I’m hopeful that the sanctioning committee will take these comments into consideration as it awards tournaments for 2016 and beyond.

First, the things that went well:

• Tournament check-in ran much more smoothly this year with allowing players to check in at their first play site as opposed to having all players checking in at JDS. The first day of play (Friday afternoon/evening) with 3 rounds of doubles matches stayed pretty much on schedule.
• Ice and water were on hand at both sites where my son competed (Stratford and JDS).
• Even though the JDS clubhouse had been demolished prior to the start of the tournament, the portable bathrooms were spacious, clean, and air-conditioned. They were actually much nicer than the ones in the old building if you can believe that!

Now, problems we encountered and things that need improving:

• There was no trainer on site at Stratford on Friday when 3 doubles matches were scheduled. In fact, I believe the only site that had a trainer was JDS. In the extreme heat and humidity, this is unacceptable. Every year at this tournament, multiple players (and spectators) suffer in the heat such that some even have to be transported via ambulance to the hospital. This year was no different. The health and safety of the players should be the first priority of the tournament and of USTA. In fact, the last thing we saw as we left JDS on my son’s final day of play was his friend, who had stayed with us one night during the tournament, being taken to the hospital in an ambulance due to dehydration and heat exhaustion.
• Singles scheduling: This tournament was sanctioned May 29-June 3, six full days to play a 64-draw event with 6 rounds of singles (8 rounds in the Consolation bracket) and 5 rounds of doubles. Ms. Helton back-loaded the doubles so that it finished in the first two days of the event. However, she scheduled only 1 main draw singles match each day UNTIL the Quarterfinals where both the Quarters and Semis (full 2 out 3 set matches) were to be played on the same day. I can only speak to the B18s, but why in the world would she have these kids play two matches in a day at this point in the tournament when matches were almost guaranteed to be highly competitive and physically intense, especially in the weather conditions typical for Macon in late May/early June? Why wouldn’t she double up the singles earlier in the tournament (a) so players who lost could spend one less day paying for a hotel; (b) in case the predicted rain delayed matches as the week progressed; and (c) to reduce the risk of heat exhaustion for the players since the early-round matches were less-likely to be competitive? When I asked Ms. Helton this very question, I got a terse response along the lines of “I’m in charge and this is what I decided to do.”
• Recovery Rule: My son was one of the lucky ones who made it through to the Quarterfinals and was scheduled to play both the Quarters and Semis on the same day. His Quarterfinal match was a 2.5 hour 3-set battle versus the 3 seed. After my son won the match, he asked at the tournament desk if he could have extra time per the Recovery Rule to shower and eat lunch before his Semifinal match versus the 1 seed. He was told that he needed to speak with Ms. Helton. He went to the “tournament office” (the one air-conditioned trailer reserved for tournament staff and volunteers only) to find her, but she wasn’t there. Donna Bailey (the Tournament Director) was there, so my son asked her if he could have the extra time. Ms. Bailey apologized and said it was Ms. Helton’s decision to make then radioed for Ms. Helton to come to the trailer. My son explained his situation to Ms. Helton and asked if he could have 3 hours before his next match. She said no, that he could have the 2 hours required. I then reminded her of the Recovery Rule and her ability to use her discretion to grant extra time given the extreme heat and humidity. She again denied his request saying, “I am using my discretion and my answer is ‘No!'” and told my son to be back within 2 hours of the time he came off the court. Since we had already checked out of our hotel, and since JDS no longer has a locker room, we sought out a place for my son to shower. Thankfully, the Planet Fitness gym nearby let us pay a day fee so my son could use their locker room facilities. After showering and eating lunch and trying to rehydrate, my son found that he was not fully recovered and decided to withdraw from his Semifinal match. I am still at a loss to understand how Ms. Helton’s decision to deny my son extra time was in the best interest of the player. There were plenty of courts available at JDS since it was so late in the tournament, so it wouldn’t have impacted other matches schedule-wise. I heard similar stories from other players.
• Waivers: The top players in each age group were given waivers out of this tournament. While I understand the logic behind the waivers, I do want to point out that there was much conversation among the players that this tournament really doesn’t mean anything without the top players in the draw. The winner can no longer claim to be the best player in Georgia. Even the trophies reflect the reduced status of this event. Just food for thought.
• Food: And, speaking of food, there was no food available for purchase (or as a courtesy to players) at JDS. For players having multiple matches in a day, this means they had to leave the site to re-fuel between matches. Given the very limited parking on site, the time required to go off-site to eat was a big negative this year.
• Activities: Given that Main Draw players only had one match per day, it would have been nice for the tournament to schedule some sort of non-tennis activities for the players/families. A player party, discounted movie tickets, ping pong tables set up under a tent – any or all of these would have been valuable additions.

Please understand that I’m sharing my thoughts with you simply as a means to help the tournament improve in the future. Since my son is my last child at home, neither he nor my family will benefit from any changes moving forward. But, in the spirit of giving back to the game that has given our family so much, I would love to see the Georgia Qualifier, the sole State Level 1 event for Georgia Juniors, truly evolve into something special for the players who have worked so hard to earn a spot in the draw.

As referenced above, here is Johan Kriek’s Facebook post regarding the Southern 14s:

“I want to say something about the Southerns Junior Championships for the U/14’s in Macon GA….
I was not there in person (I go to many tournaments with my coaches) however I was in contact numerous times a day with parent(s) and kids themselves. I believe that it is good that kids at times play in peace (PIP) so as to learn to compete without the added pressures of coaches breathing down their necks etc….
However, it was way over 100 degrees in Macon GA with a trailer for kids with AC. Here is what I don’t get the logic from the USTA officials in their decision making….
5 kids collapsed due to heat exhaustion with one taken to a hospital by ambulance. Our top girl played her first singles match at 2:30pm, hottest time of the day with her following round at 1:30pm the following day. But the back-draw and doubles started at 8am! Where is the logic USTA officials?? The parent went to the officials after her daughter collapsed with her eyes rolling back in her head! And btw, the USTA official is so “official” that she used a stopwatch and told my academy girl she is doing this time thing all the while the kid is lying lights out on a scorching court ! ( this girl is fit ) but there is no way a 13 year old girl can take this heat day in and day out even drinking gallons of Pedialite! She also had already played three doubles matches also! They are little girls and do not have the physicality yet! The top USTA official then said ” we agree so from tomorrow on we will start early for main draw”…. Are you kidding me! It is too late now!! Grow some brain cells people!!!!”

I realize this email outlines just one family’s account of the tournament and that others may have had very different experiences. I will be posting this email on ParentingAces as well so others who attended the tournament can share their thoughts via the Comments. I hope you will read them and share them with the appropriate people on the sanctioning committee. Thank you for your consideration.

Best,
Lisa

Editor’s Note: I sent this email to various recipients at USTA Georgia, USTA Southern, and the national USTA office on June 18, 2015. As of late that afternoon, I had already received one reply and expect to hear from others on the “To” list as well. I hope you Georgia and Southern Section readers will share your experiences from both the Georgia Qualifier and Southern Closed if you were also in Macon. For those of you in other Sections, if you’d like to comment on your Sectional Qualifier and/or Sectional Closed, that would be helpful, too. These tournaments can do better!