SUNDAY DROP-IN TENNIS AT PTC HIGHLIGHTS
The Drop-In Tennis at PTC program has been running each Sunday at the Phoenix Tennis Center for several years, and will continue through the coming Fall, Winter, and Spring. We’ll let you know about changes as we go along. Here are the highlights of how it is structured and how it will be working:
1. It is a Co-ed program, meaning both women and men are welcome, and will simply play together...NOT specifically structured as mixed doubles pairs.
2. It is for BOTH INTERMEDIATE AND ADVANCED players. “Intermediate” players are solid 3.0's, 3.5's, and some 4.0 players (especially gals). Advanced” players are typically 4.0 and 4.5. Note: if you are a beginner (actual beginner or an “advanced” beginner--2.5, or a beginning 3.0) we now have a special “Beginners Drop-In”. See the separate “Beginner’s Drop-In Highlights”. Basically, ‘everyone’ and ALL LEVELS are welcome!
3. Essentially, this is a 'doubles' program. However, there is always the option of some singles play if such is desired by some of the players...or made temporarily necessary by the # of players/courts on a given night. Mainly we follow the usual “drop-in” protocol of playing four games (each player serving once) and then changing partners and courts. Please read over the “Procedures” bulletin. Low-key, lots of fun, make new friends, meet new tennis buddies and potential future hitting mates!
4. The TIME in the Summer is 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm. Check-in begins at 7:00 pm. Come early to check in / warm up at court 4, so we can be under way by 7:30 pm.
Winter hours are 6:30 pm to 8 pm. Check in at 6pm
5. The cost is $6.00 per person, which covers courts at Phoenix Tennis Center, lights, and provides a new can of balls for each court, plus a few ‘munchies’.
6. Reservations are NOT required; after all, it IS a drop-in program. You are welcome, to send a note to let us know to expect you. We often have courts 5-6-7 and 4-3-2-1 on Sundays, with check-in at Court 4. When needed, we can usually snag extra courts or we take turns sitting out for a short time. Occasionally, the courts we use or the starting time might have to change…and on occasion, we have to skip a week when all the courts are in use by tournaments.
7. No membership is required. The only cost is the per-person $6 for courts, lights, balls, and snacks when you do attend. For holidays, we’ll vote on whether to meet or not.
If you have any questions or comments, feel free to write. Additional information is available at the PTC web site, including pix and video clips from past sessions. The URL is http://phoenixtenniscenter.net/ and then go to the Groups link. And again, whether or not Sunday Drop-In Tennis at PTC is for you, please pass this invite along to anyone who might possibly be interested!! (We are currently also using the Meet-Up announcement program (with the Phoenix Valley Tennis Group, and invite you to check it out, too! Using it helps us grow, and is free! (http://www.meetup.com/phoenixtennis/ )
See you on the courts!
Charlie Simmons (charliesimmons333@gmail.com) and Jessie Li (823jessie@gmail.com)
DROP-IN PROCEDURES FOR SUNDAY DROP-IN TENNIS AT PTC
Below is a summary of our ‘doubles rotation’ procedure—the most widely used procedure nationally for Drop-In Tennis, now being used for our Sunday sessions at the Phoenix Tennis Center. Simple and easy to follow, they are designed to allow everyone to enjoy multiple pairings--with frequent changes of both partners and opponents--a great way to meet new friends and acquire new ‘tennis buddies’. Please read and follow them.
1. As players arrive, after checking in and registering at 6 pm, go to a court requiring an additional player. The first to arrive will occupy the registration court—usually court 4 on Sundays. (We usually send our strongest players to start on courts 5-6-7.) When there are four players on a court, new arrivals go to the next court and pick a partner. Make a point of learning names and introducing everyone. New friends and contacts are one of our goals, along with ‘fun tennis’.
2. All matches are 'no-ad' and scored as 1,2,3,4. To start play, the team on the southern end of the court traditionally serves first. When a game is tied at 3-3, the next point determines the game winner. (Serve to the deuce court like normal, irrespective of gender.) Change ends as per usual, after the first and third games. When all players have served once, the match ends. The team with the majority of games won advances. If the match ends in a 2 games – 2 games tie, there is a one-point tie-breaker. The team winning the spin of the racket can choose to serve or receive. The receiving team determines who will receive the serve. Either serving team player can serve. Winner of the tie-break advances.
3. All matches should end at approximately the same time. If a bit of waiting is needed, just continue play ‘for fun’. When play ends on all of the courts participating in the ‘doubles rotation’, the winning team advances to the east and the losing team moves to the west.
4. On arriving at the adjacent court, partners split up and get new partners from the other pair of players arriving at that court. All attempts should be made so a player does not play with the same partner more than once during the Drop-In session. Please stay for the entire session unless there are an odd number of players, or an injury or emergency.
5. When there are ‘extra’ players (i.e. 1, 2, or 3) not making a ‘foursome’, they can be rotated into play at the end of each match cycle. While waiting, they are welcome to hit on any unused courts available. (Sometimes ‘singles’ play is arranged—see below.)
In addition to the above-described ‘doubles rotation’ procedures, sometimes players at PTC Drop-In Tennis would like to play ‘singles’. If that is YOU, speak to whoever is coordinating the session, and when possible, that can be arranged. Similarly, from time to time some players can be designated to simply stay and play on a court and not participate in the ‘doubles rotation’, in order to facilitate a team practice session, or for other reasons. Again, if this is something that applies to you, just speak to the session coordinator. Note: “advanced level” courts are often ‘regular’ sets.
Any additional questions or comments are welcome. Send them to Charlie Simmons at charliesimmons333@gmail.com.
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