Does Age Matter in Tennis?
Yes, we are finding out that understanding your age and understanding what that age group needs is important. Starting in 2013, for the first time, the USTA Adult league season is being split up into the 18+ and 40+ divisions. Why? Is tennis so popular that we need two different seasons where one season (18+) in the past was good enough? Not quite, it has more to do with the USTA understanding its member demographics and our aging population.
If we take
our Pacific Northwest division, most not all, tennis club members are over the
age of 40. The USTA (United States
Tennis Association) polled its members and found that we like competing against
our age group as a whole more than having it wide open and more likely to lose
to someone who is just out of college.
Tennis is a game of physical and mental challenges. Over the last few years, most of our teams in
the Adult League representing the PNW that have advanced to Nationals have been
on the younger side; under 40. That
leaves thousands of disappointed club and USTA members every year who feel
they’re at a disadvantage against these younger teams. Well for 2013, more tennis members over 40
will be making playoffs and enjoying the extended season that so many hope for
every year. Was this a needed change?
Yes, in my opinion for the health of the sport. The USTA can’t afford to ignore this large
40-55 year old age group. These are
their long time members, committed league players and at the same time huge
tennis supporters. By giving this age
group a chance to go to playoffs more often and compete against the same age
group will make everyone feel like they have a better chance of winning; its
more like a reward from the USTA for turning 40.
The other highly promoted age
category for the USTA is the 10 & Under tennis group. We have found that if you start kids with
appropriate sized rackets and slower balls and have a smaller court, the kids
have more success. This success leads to
more enjoyment of the game and future competitors.
The bottom line is Tennis is a
game. If we step on court and we feel
that we have a 50/50 chance or better at winning we are more likely to enjoy
the game and continue to play it. The
USTA is trying its best to accommodate the younger generation and build the
number of future tennis players. At the
same time, for those of us that are over 40 the playing field just got more
even and more enjoyable. By
understanding the age groups more clearly the USTA will continue to grow and
tennis is more likely to grow as a sport.
Mark Bergman
Columbia-Silver Lake Tennis Director
markb@columbiaathletic.com
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