With summer upon us it is time for clubs and recreation programs to begin play in the USTA Junior Team Tennis (JTT) program.
The rules are fairly simple. First and foremost, you have to be a junior player at any level. Players are placed on teams of at least 4 players of the same gender and ability.
Most teams hold practices several times a week that may include all players (boys and girls). Once a week, team matches are played that consist of 2 singles and 1 doubles. Play is the best of three sets using no-ad scoring with a tie-break at 6-6. If players split sets they play a 12-point tie-break for the match.
The interesting part of the program is the match scoring. The winner of a match is the team that wins the most games, not necessarily the most matches. Standings for the season are based on the team that has won the most games.
For example, a team can win one match 6-0, 6-0 and lose the other two matches 6-4, 6-3. They will be awarded 26 points, while the other teams earn 24 points. In this case, the team that won only one of the 3 matches came out on top.
The scoring system seems inappropriate for the following reasons:
• Most players are familiar with playing on teams where points are awarded for matches won. If there is a tie in the standings, it would be broken by sets won, and games won. In JTT, the only thing that matters is games won!
• When players are just learning the sport they are forced to learn the JTT scoring system on top of everything else. It seems that a simpler approach will make the sport easier to learn.
• The scoring system puts pressure on players to win every point. Often they are struggling to stand in the proper space and keep track of the score. The pressure of trying to win every point adds an unnecessary burden.
• Players are rewarded for beating their opponents as badly as possible. Is that the message that should be sent to entry level players and intermediate players in a recreation program?
• If the two singles matches are played first and one team wins both matches by a score of 6-3, 6-2 or worse, then the match score is 24-10. It is impossible for the other team to win the team match even if they lose the final match 6-0, 6-0.
The rationale provided by the USTA divisional organizers justifies the scoring system by saying:
• Every game matters – players shouldn’t give up if losing or take it easy if winning.
• A lower skilled player can contribute to the team, even if he/she never wins a match.
• In cases where teams have less than 4 players, you can either play the doubles or two singles. Once two matches are completed, it is possible the match has been decided, i.e. one team won both matches.
While the merits of the scoring system can be debated ad nauseam, league coordinators usually notify parents about the intricacies of the unique scoring system in advance. In other words, most players enter the team match knowing how the winner will be determined.
Despite the oddities of the Junior Team Tennis scoring system, the important thing is that kids are playing tennis.