IHSA

IHSA Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes - 2007-08

boys/Girls TENNIS Advisory Committee

October 31 , 2007

MINUTES OF THE 2007-08 IHSA BOYS/GIRLS TENNIS
ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING

The IHSA Boys/Girls Tennis Advisory Committee met in the IHSA Office in Bloomington, Illinois, on Wednesday, October 31, 2007, beginning at 10:00 a.m. Committee Members present were: Division 1 - Jim Prunty, Chicago (St. Ignatius); Division 2 - Tracy Waters-Miller, Barrington; Division 3 - Patti Closing, Wheaton Warrenville South; Division 4 - Matt Gross, Ottawa, Division 5 - Melissa Welch, Urbana (H.S.); Division 6 - Mike Terry, Quincy (Sr.) and Division 7 - Brad Lee, Carmi (C.-White County). Also in attendance were Girls State Tennis Tournament Director, Jean Rezny, Mt. Prospect (Prospect); Boys State Tennis Tournament Director Matt Norris, Arlington Heights (Hersey); and Assistant Executive Director Susan Knoblauch. A special report was presented by Dr. Prodromos.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Item V. -Seeding Policy V. -B. -7. Tournament Assignments and Seeding Meeting

Recommendation: At the Sectional Tournament beginning in 2008-09 the # 3 and # 4 seed shall be randomly placed on lines 9 and 24 for a 17 or more entry draw and lines 5 and 12 for a 16 or less entry draw. #5 and # 6 seeds shall be randomly placed on lines 13 and 20 for a 17 or more entry draw and lines 7 and 10 for a 16 or less entry draw.

Rationale: After a three year review of the placed lines for #3 & #4 and #5 & #6 seeds, the committee felt that there has been opportunity to manipulate the seeding process. By leaving the decision of the #3 & #4 seeds and the #5 & #6 seeds up to a random draw the opportunity for tournament manipulation would be limited.

approved

2. Item VIII- Tournament Rules -A. Scoring 2. b) Sectional Tournament Scoring

Recommendation: No points shall be scored in the singles and doubles feed in bracket matches at sectional competition.

Rationale: No points earned rather than the current point system would secure that a team is not scoring ahead of a team still playing in the main draw at sectionals.

approved

ITEMS OF GENERAL DISCUSSION
1.         The committee heard a report from Dr. Prodromos from the Illinois Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Center. He presented information regarding shoulder injuries occurring in tennis athletes. His proposed solution was for the committee to review limiting the number of matches played daily at the state final to only allowing tennis athletes to play two matches a day. One suggestion was to add one more day of competition to allow for proper rest and recovery time for the athletes. The tennis advisory committee was concerned with time away from school for athletes by adding one more day of competition to the state final. The option of Sunday play was discussed, however many districts have local policies that prohibit Sunday play and it is unprecedented for the IHSA to ever host a state final on a Sunday. The advisory committee recommended that the sport injury report be reviewed by the IHSA Sports Medicine Advisory Committee for further consideration. The advisory committee also recommended studying Texas, Florida, California, and Georgia’s State Associations tennis tournament format which were all recommended as having tournament structures that only allowed for 2 matches a day.
2.         Jean Rezny, girls’ tennis state final manager, reported on the recently completed girls’ state final tournament. Items of discussion included the ability to dodge the severe weather predicted, tournament security and emergency plans, plans for securing indoor court space, USTA officials and the need for coaches to accurately complete the online record and match information.
3.         With the threat of severe weather the committee discussed the plan for coaches at the state final sites and the use of cell phone by players.
4.         Matt Norris reported on last spring’s boys’ state finals. Matt also had concerns with the lack of USTA officials available and being short some chair officials. Weather did cause the boys tournament to go indoors for one day and Matt complimented Jerry Morse- Karzen for his use of indoor court space during the tournament on Saturday.
5.         Susie Knoblauch also wanted to note that Jerry Morse-Karzen donated court time to the IHSA member schools competing during the boy’s state final. Jerry is a tremendous fan of high school tennis and the IHSA is deeply appreciative of his services at the North Shore Racquet Club.
6.         Mike Terry recommended that we work with the USTA on some joint mentoring and recruiting programs for potential officials. This could also be a joint project for the Illinois Tennis Coaches Association.
7.         The committee commended the efforts of both Jean and Matt for such excellent management of the state final events. Districts 211 and 214 and Barrington High School were also acknowledged for allowing the state tournament to be held on their sites. Acknowledgments of the volunteers used during the state finals were also noted. Volunteers are crucial in making this state final event run efficiently.
8.         This was the first season of no add scoring for the girls state tournament and regular scoring for the boys state tournament – Due to logistics and weather the proposed recommendation from last year seems to be working fine.
9.         The committee reviewed a proposal from Jerry O’Connor, Benet Academy regarding scoring. (See above Item VIII Tournament Rules A. Scoring 2. b) Sectional Tournament Scoring
10.       The committee reviewed a proposal from Hinsdale Central High School regarding a team tennis format. A lengthy discussion from the committee concluded that their indeed is interest in a team format but not at the cost of eliminating the current state final format that brings so many participants to the tournament. The committee will study the IHSTCA team format that is being offered this summer and use that as a gauge of interest and logistics.
11.       The request for non-school competition application form was discussed. Begin this fall the IHSA posted on the tennis menu page a list of nonschool tournaments that elite athletes could apply for IHSA approval for competition. The IHSA will continue posting tournaments that will be approved and will work in conjunction with the IHSTCA in recognizing what events may be requested for competition the future.
12.       The IHSA will work to move forward with Matt Norris to create an online bracket for the state tournament. This will allow fans and participants to view the tournament structure easier. The IHSA will continue to look into programs for downloading competitor information to the IHSA list of participants’ entry to make entering this information easier for coaches. It was noted that the IHSA competitor information link is open all season so scores can be recorded gradually.
13.       The committee discussed concerns with defaults and teams refusing to play. It was recommended that future IHSA tennis rules interpretation meetings address these issues and also schools give clear explanations as to what is expected when completing their competitor’s information.
14.       The IHSA List of Participants/Competition Information will delete the box significant matches because the committee felt that all wins and losses could be viewed as significant. The seeding committees need information from the entire season to make the most accurate seeding information.
15.       State final managers stressed the importance of sectional results being posted online in a timely manner so seeding preparation is not delayed.
16.       The IHSA acknowledged the great working relationship between the IHSTCA. Knoblauch recommended that if the tennis advisory committee was ever void of a member of the IHSTCA that one could be appointed to make sure that there would be a non voting member of IHSTCA at all IHSA tennis advisory meetings.
17.       Knoblauch complimented IHSTCA efforts to conduct clinics over the summer for coaches. Their sessions covered issues such as how to run a program to how to score the super tie break. The IHSTCA is providing strong leadership in Illinois for all tennis coaches.
18.       The IHSA thanked Melissa Welch - Girls Coach Urbana (H.S.) Division 5 and Brad Lee – Principal, Carmi (C.-White County) Division 7 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 5 and 7. Interested parties can submit a request to serve in writing to the IHSA office.

19. Future discussions will include increasing the number of tennis balls that the IHSA sends out to sectionals and a review of the state final seed committee members to confirm representation from across the state and the addition of medals for school athletic trainers present at the state final.
The next meeting will be held Wednesday, November 5th, 2008.
The meeting was adjourned at 1:15pm.