IHSA Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes - 2005-06

Boys/Girls Tennis Advisory Committee

November 2, 2005

The IHSA Boys/Girls Tennis Advisory Committee met in the IHSA Office in Bloomington, Illinois, on Wednesday, November 2, 2005, beginning at 10:00 a.m. Committee Members present were: Boys/Girls Tennis Coach Carol Lina Metzcus, Chicago (Morgan Park Academy); Boys/Girls Tennis Coach Kelly Willard, Metamora High School. Boys Tennis Coach Michael Hand, Lisle (Benet Academy); Melissa Welch, Girls Tennis Coach, Urbana (Urbana H.S.) and Brad Lee, Principal, Carmi (Carmi-White County). Also in attendance were Girls State Tennis Tournament Director, Jean Rezny, Mt. Prospect (Prospect High School) and Boys State Tennis Tournament Director Matt Norris, Arlington Heights, Hersey High School and Assistant Executive Director Susan Knoblauch. Knoblauch recorded and submitted the minutes.

Girls Tennis Coach Neal Sipkovsky, Des Plaines (Maine West) and Mark Scheffler, Athletic Director, Springfield High School was unable to attend.

Recommendations

1. Recommendation: Article VIII – A 2 c All matches at the state tournament in the championship rounds use regular scoring.

Rationale: Under the traditional (regular) scoring system, the odds are greater that the more skillful player and team will win a given game. The No-Ad method increases the chances of the less skilled player winning by only needing one point to win a game. Regular scoring would eliminate wins from a deuce, or 3-all, the fluke shot, wild slugger, bad bounce, net chord or incorrect line calls which could assume undue significance in a match. In the regular scored match, the better player will emerge. According to research by the International Tennis Federation, No-Ad matches were approximately four (4) minutes shorter on average. Players who advance to the state tournament deserve the opportunity to play regular scoring.

No ad scoring however would still be used for the back-draw matches and all matches that are started inside. (Excluding the matches that are semi-final rounds or better in the back draw)

Approved

2. Recommendation: The committee recommends that effective with the 2006-07 school year qualifying Sectional Tennis Teams shall have the ability to adjust their line up (singles and doubles players) provided they do not change the qualifying participants or the number of entries (singles and doubles spots).

Rationale: This committee believes that this team concept will empower tennis coaches with the ability to use coaching strategies to best prepare their teams for Sectional and State level competition. The sectional tournament may require a coach to play his/her team in a different line-up and change the line-up for the state tournament. The participants qualifying from sectional to state would be the starting line-up and could be used in any capacity (singles or doubles) as best seemed fit by the coach.

Rejected

3. Recommendation: Site directors at the IHSA Sectional tournament shall be provided the names of all eligible coaches for all listed schools in their sectional.

Rationale: Managers of the tennis sectional event need to have accurate names of all the eligible coaches entered by a school in order to best supervise the tournament. Currently they just receive the head coach’s name. Schools are allowed four (4) eligible coaches in the state series.

Approved

4. Recommendation: A review of the boys and girls state tennis tournament to be split into a two class system starting with the 2006-07 season. The split will occur at a school enrollment of 1500. The state tournament series will be cut in half, with 16 sectionals in each class and a 64 draw in each event (singles and doubles) at the state tournament.

Rationale: The sports of boy and girl tennis have been growing with the girl’s tournament 2004-05 total entries at 311 and the boy’s entries at 307. With a two-class system, more schools may be inclined to begin programs, especially among smaller schools.

Item 4 was not a Terms and Conditions Item

From 1997-2005 for the boys season, approximately 50% of all schools participating in boys tennis were under 1500 in total school enrollment. During that time period, schools with enrollment under 1500 won 26% of the sectional team champions, had 36% of the individual qualifiers, finished in the top 20 (as a team) 14%, top ten 9%, and finished in the top 3 (won a trophy) 3% of the time.

A two-class system with 64 qualifiers at each position (singles and doubles) in each class would not bring additional qualifiers or require additional matches to the state tournament. It would actually shorten the tournament by one round in the championship draw and two rounds in the consolation bracket.

ITEMS OF GENERAL DISCUSSION

1. The committee heard reports from Jean Rezny, girls’ tennis state finals manager, on the recently completed girls’ state finals tournament and a report from Matt Norris on last spring’s boys’ state finals. The committee commended both Jean and Matt for such professional management of the state finale events. The IHSA also acknowledged Jean and Matt’s services as crucial to the success of these events. The IHSA would like to acknowledge our appreciation to Jean Rezny and Matt Norris and Districts 211 and 214 and the volunteers that make this state final event run so efficiently. Jean and Matt’s leadership is invaluable to the tennis team in the state of Illinois.

Three areas of discussion included: Harper College used for the boys series and not the girls series, Location of the girls round of 16 at Rolling Meadows and site managers being at their school site to see their team play.

2. The committee reviewed the IHSA boys and girls tennis manual. Editorial revisions were made in regards to updating the text.

3. IHSA Administrator Scott Johnson reviewed the online procedures, electronic seeding and reporting systems that continue to positively improve the organization of the tournament in regards to management and communication. The IHSA office needs to receive properly completed competitor information from member schools entered in the state series. The contest results (wins and losses – USTA/National rankings) are necessary to ensure that the seeding committee for both the boys and girls state finals can create the best draw possible. It is the professional responsibility of the tennis coach to report results. Matt Norris suggested to Scott some ways to randomize the seeded draw. Coaches will continue to see updates with postings of scores at the state series and the use of the electronic leader board and electronic bracketed results.

4. The committee reviewed the submitted By-law proposals from member school principals that directly effect tennis. The first by-law proposal was regarding boys and girls tennis contest limitations (18 to 20). The second was regarding 6 contest requirements for team entry. The third was regarding the start time for schools to cease non-school practice/competition. Such approved changes will occur through the legislative process and start as an IHSA By-law amendment during the 2006-07 IHSA legislative season.

5. The committee discussed the creation of a two classes in both boys and girls tennis. IHSA policy requires at least 300 school teams to be competing in a sport before the sport can recommend a split from one to two classes. There has been consistent progress in increased numbers during the 2002-03 and 2003-04 and 2004-05 school years. The committee wants the IHSA to review the recommendation for a two class system.

6. The advisory committee requested that the IHSA review the grouping and seeding policy #18 regarding that assignments are reviewed and rearranged every three years. The committee would like to go back to assignments on a year-to-year basis.

7. The addition of roving officials at sectional and state tournaments was discussed. The IHSA budgets a set amount for USTA officials and state final managers Matt and Jean will be exploring the best ways to utilize those USTA officials. The committee agreed that the addition of USTA officials elevate the level of professionalism to the event. The committee would also like to encourage qualified coaches during their off season to continue to support the state series by offering their services in any capacity to the state final managers.

8. The committee recommended continuing with the 2005-06 seeding process for the sectional tournament only.

9. The IHSA will continue to allow state qualifying teams to book their own hotels. If hotels offer group rates they are available to schools by asking for the IHSA state series rate.

10. A review of the indoor court plan for the state series was discussed. Forest View was used to finish the girl’s state series.

11. The IHSA will continue to examine ways to improve and create a state final feel to the state tennis series. (Signage, vendors, etc…)

12. The committee discussed the team tournament concept.

13. The IHSA thanked Carol Lina Metzcus, Neal Sipkovsky and Mark Scheffler for their service to the IHSA as a member of the tennis advisory committee. Seats on the advisory committee are available for IHSA Legislative Divisions 1, 2, and 6. Interested parties can submit a request to serve in writing to the IHSA office.

The meeting was adjourned at 2:48

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