Mixed League 2009
Newsletter #1
December 17, 2008
Hey, Captains,
Schedules have been finalized and will hit the web this week. Something to add to your long list of things to do at this very busy holiday time.
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Answers to questions that some of you will ask
Why do we have X number of matches? Why did you divide us up this way?
We have given you the maximum number of matches possible in this short season. This means that many groups have been divided into smaller flights. Our original promise was 6-10 matches, and the majority of flights have 8-10 matches.
Can you give us more matches if we all agree to double up and play two matches every weekend? If we promise it won’t rain? If we send you chocolate?
No. (But you can still send that chocolate.)
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Things you should know for managing your roster and your season
**Post Season Eligibility
If you are a competitive team with post season dreams, you are reminded that your players need to meet the 2 match eligibility requirement for post season play, starting with local league playoffs. This is a national requirement, so it cannot be waived. This will take careful line-up planning.
If you now feel you have extra players who might want to move to another team, you don’t have to call us. Use your Captain Tool: Delete from Roster
**Playoff format for this league - something different for some of you
Local League Playoffs for Single flights
If you are part of a single flight, you have the traditional playoff, either 2 or 4 teams, depending on the size of your flight.
Which groups are Single Flights?
All of the 6.0 flights except Diablo North
All of the 9.0 and 10.0 flights
In the 7.0 division: Central Valley, Fresno, North County, Reno and Sonoma/Mendocino
In the 8.0 division: Central Valley, Fresno, Marin, Napa/Solano, Reno and Sonoma/Mendocino
If you are a newbie captain, go to the Captain Handbook link under League Information on your Team Page, and read the section called Post Season Play.
Local League Playoffs for Double flights
Which groups are Double Flights?
(You can tell this easily, if your team has a -1 or -2 after its name.)
6.0: Diablo North
7.0: all except Central Valley, Fresno, North County, Reno and Sonoma
8.0: all except Central Valley, Marin, Napa/Solano, Reno and Sonoma/Mendocino
If you are part of a double flight, your local league playoff scenario is different. Within your own flight there will be a 2 team playoff at the end of the local league season between the #1 and #2 teams. The second weekend of playoffs is for the two flight winners to play each other. For example, Lower Peninsula 7.0 is divided into two flights of 10 and 6. On the first designated playoff weekend the #1 team will host the #2 team in each flight. On the second designated playoff weekend, the winners of those two matches will play to see who advances to District Championships. A coin flip in the office will determine which team hosts that match, and this will be posted on your Current Standings page in January.
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Scheduling information. Follow these steps:
1. Look at your schedule on your Team Page and note your home matches.
2. Set up reservations with your club or facility for your home matches. You provide one time within the designated week and according to the parameters set out in the local rules (weekdays after 6 p.m. or weekends) Captains may agree to any other time, as long as all matches are completed by the season deadline of April 5.
Be smart and don’t leave matches until the final weeks. Rain can ruin the best laid plans, and matches not finished by the season deadline count in the final standings as losses for both teams.
3. Post your home match arrangements on your Team Page. Log in and use the Captain Tool: Post Match Dates
Don’t know about your password? Click on the Member Login link, top right of your team page to have it emailed to you.
4. Notify your away opponents of these arrangements. You can do this in several creative ways:
Send one email to all your opponents giving the dates and times of your home matches. This is easily done using the Captain Tool: Email your opponents.
(See print shot above)
Not a letter writer? Send a print screen shot of your posted schedule to your opponents.
Either of the above can be sent to individual captains, if you prefer. Go to your Standings page, and if you are logged in, you will see all their email addresses.
Or click on the team name and you will find a link to each captain’s email address under his or her name. Just click that to send an email.
However you choose to contact your opponents, this is a good time to exchange cell phone numbers. You’ll be glad you did when weather issues arise just before a match.
HOW NOT TO NOTIFY YOUR OPPONENTS OF YOUR ARRANGEMENTS
Do NOT accept an email that says, “I’ve posted my matches. Go look at them.” Why not? Because the home captain can change these dates and times at any time, without telling you. As the away opponent, you need documentation, at the start of the season of the original arrangements. Insist on it. Send that substandard email right back and ask him to be specific! This is for your protection.
Deadline to Notify your Opponents
Match times for week 1 and week 2: December 31, 2008 midnight.
Match times for all remaining matches: January 12, 2009
And finally,
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norcal.usta.com has had a facelift!
Our website has had some serious cosmetic surgery. Wrinkles are gone! Everything is tight! You will see her new look later this week. Please take a moment to mouse around and find your way. This will take some getting used to, of course. We hope you will enjoy this new look and new organization of information.
Sarah Robinson
Adult Leagues Coordinator
USTA NorCal
510 748 7373 x 2925