FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
ABOUT AWTA | ABOUT WTTA | USTA & NTRP RATINGS
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ABOUT AWTA
What does AWTA stand for?
AWTA stands for Austin Women's Tennis Association.
How can I join AWTA?
AWTA memberships are available to any interested female, age 19 or older. Annual membership costs $15, and runs from June 1-May 31 of the following year. You may join online (for an extra $3 processing fee,) or print out an entry form mail it with your $15 check. Want to join now?
How do I volunteer to help with an AWTA event?
Thanks, we can use your help! Contact our President.
How do I sign up my business as an AWTA event sponsor?
Thank you! Contact our President.
I have not played tennis in a while but would like to start again; what does AWTA offer for me?
AWTA's weekly PlayDays are a good way to start tennis. You may attend one PlayDay before joining AWTA, just to check out the fun and see if you want to continue coming. Check our calendar for days and locations. You may also want to sign up for our WTTA sub list; contact our WTTA rep.
How do I find out what AWTA is doing?
All AWTA events are posted on the AWTA website calendar. AWTA members receive monthly email notification as new information is added to the website or calendar. Monthly board meetings are held every second Wednesday and all members are invited to attend (see calendar for time and location).
If I join mid-year, when do my AWTA dues need to be renewed?
All members' dues expire May 31 and are due June 1. If you join in the middle of a year, your first "year" as a member will be less than 12 months. Every year thereafter, you will get 12 months' membership. We keep our dues very economical, so most people find even a partial year is a tennis bargain for them.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .AWTA stands for Austin Women's Tennis Association.
How can I join AWTA?
AWTA memberships are available to any interested female, age 19 or older. Annual membership costs $15, and runs from June 1-May 31 of the following year. You may join online (for an extra $3 processing fee,) or print out an entry form mail it with your $15 check. Want to join now?
How do I volunteer to help with an AWTA event?
Thanks, we can use your help! Contact our President.
How do I sign up my business as an AWTA event sponsor?
Thank you! Contact our President.
I have not played tennis in a while but would like to start again; what does AWTA offer for me?
AWTA's weekly PlayDays are a good way to start tennis. You may attend one PlayDay before joining AWTA, just to check out the fun and see if you want to continue coming. Check our calendar for days and locations. You may also want to sign up for our WTTA sub list; contact our WTTA rep.
How do I find out what AWTA is doing?
All AWTA events are posted on the AWTA website calendar. AWTA members receive monthly email notification as new information is added to the website or calendar. Monthly board meetings are held every second Wednesday and all members are invited to attend (see calendar for time and location).
If I join mid-year, when do my AWTA dues need to be renewed?
All members' dues expire May 31 and are due June 1. If you join in the middle of a year, your first "year" as a member will be less than 12 months. Every year thereafter, you will get 12 months' membership. We keep our dues very economical, so most people find even a partial year is a tennis bargain for them.
ABOUT WTTA
What is WTTA? How does it relate to AWTA?
WTTA stands for Women's Team Tennis of Austin. It is a daytime weekday ladies' tennis league offering interclub play for 11 different competitive levels (all ages) and a separate league for seniors (55 or older). In WTTA leagues, AWTA functions as any other tennis club in the city: We provide an organization that women can join - a kind of citywide "home club" - from which to play local league tennis. The only difference is that our teams use public courts (and sometimes a few other local community facilities) as their home courts.
How do I find out about WTTA's schedule and deadlines?
WTTA roster submission deadlines, substitute submission deadlines, league start dates, awards luncheon date, etc., are published on the WTTA website.
How do I join an AWTA team that plays in the WTTA league?
Join AWTA, then contact our WTTA squad rep.
Two teams have asked me to play for them. I am free on both days these teams play. Can I play on a WTTA team in one flight on one day and an AWTA team in another flight on another day?
No; each person must choose a flight that suits their skills. Seniors however can play in a regular flight and in Seniors.
I know many WTTA tennis players at my tennis club and in AWTA. Can I sub for both my club and AWTA?
Not in Championship or Flights 1-10. You have to choose one club affiliation - either your private club or AWTA. Things are a little different in the seniors (see next question).
Can I play for a for my club at Championship or Flights 1-10 and play Seniors for AWTA?
Yes. This change first took effect for the Fall 2005 WTTA season.
I am over 55. I want to sub for a regular WTTA team AND for the WTTA Seniors. Do I have to put my name on one sub list or two?
Two. The regular flight sublist is separate from the one for Seniors. But it's the same process to get on each list - contact the WTTA squad rep () and tell her you want to be on both lists and which flight you want to sub in for the Monday-Thursday leagues.
How will people find out I'm available as a sub?
Use the WTTA teams section of this website to let our squad rep know you're available and let her suggest the best way to get the word out.
How do I decide which WTTA flight fits my game?
Good question! In general, beginning players play Flight 9 or 10, unless they have quite advanced athletic skills. Gifted athletes may be ready to play Flight 5-7 shortly after starting tennis lessons. In Fall 2005, WTTA added a "Championship" level that includes some very skilled and experienced players, some of whom played college tennis and/or coach tennis locally.
WTTA rules allows clubs to list their team players on whichever team best fits their collective level. (If a club has only one Flight 3 player, but has a Flight 2 team, that player may have to play Flight 2. However, a higher-flight player is not allowed to "play down" in a lower flight just to round out a team.)
One good way to "test the waters" of various flights is to sign up on the sub list and substitute at different levels. You could participate in an AWTA event and ask the players on court with you to suggest a level. Players at our Thursday PlayDay may also be able to help you decide. Or you can contact our squad rep for names of captains looking for players or subs at the level you think fits best. Let the captains know you are interested in playing or subbing and ask if they can let you play in a fun match or at their team clinic. The captains can then help you determine your appropriate flight.
When do the different flights of WTTA play?
The weekly schedule for WTTA league play is as follows, with all lines starting play at 9:15 AM:
MONDAY: Flights 8-10 (the lower 3 levels)
TUESDAY: Flights 2-4
WEDNESDAY: Flights 5-7
THURSDAY: Championship and Flight 1
FRIDAY: Seniors (age 55 and over - all levels can play on any team, as long as they meet age requirement)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .WTTA stands for Women's Team Tennis of Austin. It is a daytime weekday ladies' tennis league offering interclub play for 11 different competitive levels (all ages) and a separate league for seniors (55 or older). In WTTA leagues, AWTA functions as any other tennis club in the city: We provide an organization that women can join - a kind of citywide "home club" - from which to play local league tennis. The only difference is that our teams use public courts (and sometimes a few other local community facilities) as their home courts.
How do I find out about WTTA's schedule and deadlines?
WTTA roster submission deadlines, substitute submission deadlines, league start dates, awards luncheon date, etc., are published on the WTTA website.
How do I join an AWTA team that plays in the WTTA league?
Join AWTA, then contact our WTTA squad rep.
Two teams have asked me to play for them. I am free on both days these teams play. Can I play on a WTTA team in one flight on one day and an AWTA team in another flight on another day?
No; each person must choose a flight that suits their skills. Seniors however can play in a regular flight and in Seniors.
I know many WTTA tennis players at my tennis club and in AWTA. Can I sub for both my club and AWTA?
Not in Championship or Flights 1-10. You have to choose one club affiliation - either your private club or AWTA. Things are a little different in the seniors (see next question).
Can I play for a for my club at Championship or Flights 1-10 and play Seniors for AWTA?
Yes. This change first took effect for the Fall 2005 WTTA season.
I am over 55. I want to sub for a regular WTTA team AND for the WTTA Seniors. Do I have to put my name on one sub list or two?
Two. The regular flight sublist is separate from the one for Seniors. But it's the same process to get on each list - contact the WTTA squad rep () and tell her you want to be on both lists and which flight you want to sub in for the Monday-Thursday leagues.
How will people find out I'm available as a sub?
Use the WTTA teams section of this website to let our squad rep know you're available and let her suggest the best way to get the word out.
How do I decide which WTTA flight fits my game?
Good question! In general, beginning players play Flight 9 or 10, unless they have quite advanced athletic skills. Gifted athletes may be ready to play Flight 5-7 shortly after starting tennis lessons. In Fall 2005, WTTA added a "Championship" level that includes some very skilled and experienced players, some of whom played college tennis and/or coach tennis locally.
WTTA rules allows clubs to list their team players on whichever team best fits their collective level. (If a club has only one Flight 3 player, but has a Flight 2 team, that player may have to play Flight 2. However, a higher-flight player is not allowed to "play down" in a lower flight just to round out a team.)
One good way to "test the waters" of various flights is to sign up on the sub list and substitute at different levels. You could participate in an AWTA event and ask the players on court with you to suggest a level. Players at our Thursday PlayDay may also be able to help you decide. Or you can contact our squad rep for names of captains looking for players or subs at the level you think fits best. Let the captains know you are interested in playing or subbing and ask if they can let you play in a fun match or at their team clinic. The captains can then help you determine your appropriate flight.
When do the different flights of WTTA play?
The weekly schedule for WTTA league play is as follows, with all lines starting play at 9:15 AM:
MONDAY: Flights 8-10 (the lower 3 levels)
TUESDAY: Flights 2-4
WEDNESDAY: Flights 5-7
THURSDAY: Championship and Flight 1
FRIDAY: Seniors (age 55 and over - all levels can play on any team, as long as they meet age requirement)
ABOUT USTA
What is the USTA? How does it relate to AWTA?
The USTA is the national governing body for the sport of tennis and the recognized leader in developing the game at every level in the U.S. - from local communities to the crown jewel of the professional game, the U.S. Open. Established in 1881, the USTA is a progressive and diverse not-for-profit organization whose volunteers, staff and financial resources support a single mission - to promote and develop tennis. The USTA is the largest tennis organization in the world, with 17 regional sections (Texas being the 3rd largest and fastest growing) with more than 640,000 members nationwide.
AWTA has no direct connection to the USTA. However, our competitive teams abide by USTA rules. Although AWTA does not provide any USTA teams, many of our members are also USTA members and league players.
What are NTRP ratings?
NTRP stands for National Tennis Ratings Program. It is a standardized list of tennis skills determined by the USTA. (Beginners start at 2.0-2.5, and touring pros rate 7.0 or above.) Players without an NTRP computer rating may self-rate in accordance with the NTRP guidelines. Factors such as a player's on-court performance, tennis background and any additional information should be considered in the self-rating decision. If you have any doubts about which level is appropriate, place yourself in the higher level. The USTA compiles results from every match in USTA sanctioned leagues and tournaments, adjusting ratings according to each player and her opponents' results. New ratings are published twice a year.
Do I need an NTRP rating for AWTA activities?
No; and WTTA team play does not require an NTRP rating. A self-rating is acceptable to help us keep a competitive balance so play is fun for everyone involved.
I don't know how to do a self-rating. What can I do?
You could ask players you normally play against to help you determine your level or you can get rating help at the TennisLink portion of the USTA website. (Click on NTRP Rating Help) You might also call one of the local tennis centers (such as South Austin Tennis Center at 442-1466 or Pharr Tennis Center at 477-7773) and schedule a lesson with a pro to help you determine your level.
The USTA is the national governing body for the sport of tennis and the recognized leader in developing the game at every level in the U.S. - from local communities to the crown jewel of the professional game, the U.S. Open. Established in 1881, the USTA is a progressive and diverse not-for-profit organization whose volunteers, staff and financial resources support a single mission - to promote and develop tennis. The USTA is the largest tennis organization in the world, with 17 regional sections (Texas being the 3rd largest and fastest growing) with more than 640,000 members nationwide.
AWTA has no direct connection to the USTA. However, our competitive teams abide by USTA rules. Although AWTA does not provide any USTA teams, many of our members are also USTA members and league players.
What are NTRP ratings?
NTRP stands for National Tennis Ratings Program. It is a standardized list of tennis skills determined by the USTA. (Beginners start at 2.0-2.5, and touring pros rate 7.0 or above.) Players without an NTRP computer rating may self-rate in accordance with the NTRP guidelines. Factors such as a player's on-court performance, tennis background and any additional information should be considered in the self-rating decision. If you have any doubts about which level is appropriate, place yourself in the higher level. The USTA compiles results from every match in USTA sanctioned leagues and tournaments, adjusting ratings according to each player and her opponents' results. New ratings are published twice a year.
Do I need an NTRP rating for AWTA activities?
No; and WTTA team play does not require an NTRP rating. A self-rating is acceptable to help us keep a competitive balance so play is fun for everyone involved.
I don't know how to do a self-rating. What can I do?
You could ask players you normally play against to help you determine your level or you can get rating help at the TennisLink portion of the USTA website. (Click on NTRP Rating Help) You might also call one of the local tennis centers (such as South Austin Tennis Center at 442-1466 or Pharr Tennis Center at 477-7773) and schedule a lesson with a pro to help you determine your level.
