Wednesday, January 11, 2017

Playing Collegiate Guild Tennis

Kristianne Bontempo amongst Gretchen Shisler | Towpath Tennis Contributor

While gearing upwards for classes for your really showtime (or returning) semester at your chosen university, many of you lot are too deciding on whether to acquire involved inwards 1 of the many organizations offered on campus together with wondering what precisely they entail. Back when I was a freshman at Ohio University, amid the one-half dozen other guild activities I was interested inwards joining, 1 of them happened to go guild tennis. So a few things: 

1) Ohio University does non convey a Varsity team.
2) Even if they did convey a Varsity team, I wasn't certain I wanted to commit full-time.
3) I powerfulness not make the Varsity team.

Obviously all expert reasons why I should aim to play guild tennis!

As naive equally I was thinking I easily had a shot at walking on a guild lawn tennis team, piddling did I know that was definitely NOT the case. Another thing, joining any club is a commitment non a 'come equally you lot please' activity. Long story short, playing guild lawn tennis wasn't inwards the cards for me. However, I notwithstanding ever wondered how everything worked: Do you lot convey to travel? Is it co-ed? Do you lot play only a flavour similar inwards high school? How frequently are practices? Now that I've had the chance to beak to person amongst showtime paw sense on playing collegiate guild tennis, I tin terminate finally educate myself along amongst others who are debating on giving it a go!

Gretchen is going into her junior yr at Ohio State, together with on top of majoring inwards Marketing together with minoring inwards Fashion Retail, she plays for her school's guild Gray (B) lawn tennis team. She played inwards high schoolhouse but wanted to go out on her sense later learning most the guild lawn tennis squad during her summertime orientation. Trying out on her ain was intimidating, but at 1 time she can't imagine life on campus without tennis. Some clubs may abide past times unlike procedures but for the most purpose this is what playing on a guild squad is to a greater extent than frequently than non like: 
Gretchen (far right) plays for OSU's Gray team.


  • Most teams convey tryouts inwards the fall. Many schools convey to a greater extent than than 1 guild squad depending on how many tryout amongst varying levels or teams that move piece others don't. Previous members may fifty-fifty convey to tryout every year.
  • Members pay dues (generally most clubs do for 1 argue or another). Dues volition typically encompass move costs equally good equally uniforms. 
  • You are notwithstanding playing competitive levels of lawn tennis without the commitment of playing Varsity  (NCAA) college tennis. (ie. OSU Club lawn tennis practices 2x/week, tournaments aren’t every weekend together with non every actor goes to every tournament. Varsity lawn tennis plays together with trains nearly everyday together with commonly has a busy tournament/match schedule during the fall/spring seasons.)
  • Great selection for players who desire to play on a semi-regular basis, without sacrificing other social activities on campus (Gretchen is too a fellow member of a concern fraternity together with plant part-time).
  • Teams are co-ed.
  • Many universities ask a minimum GPA and/or minimum credit hours to go an active guild member.
  • Teams are active inwards fund-raising events equally good equally giving dorsum to their communities, such equally volunteering to instruct lawn tennis lessons.
  • Teams are invited to tournaments around the province past times other teams’ captains or past times the coordinator for USTA Tennis on campus. Normally, tournaments alone in conclusion 1 weekend.
  • Matches include (in this order):
                         -One Women’s Doubles
                         -One Men’s Doubles
                         -One Women’s Singles
                                           -One Men’s Singles
                         -One Mixed Doubles
  • Each stand upwards for consists of 1 laid together with teams win based on cumulative games, non sets won. (ie. The scorecard could tell 30-17 instead of 5-0, etc.). So fifty-fifty if your squad is downwardly earlier the mixed doubles match, they tin terminate notwithstanding necktie upwards the game marking forcing a super tiebreaker to decide the winner.
  • Matches are no-ad scoring. The receiving squad chooses which side volition supply at 40-40; for mixed doubles, the receiver of the deuce serve is the actor of the same gender.
  • Substitutions: Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 squad tin terminate at whatever signal substitute a actor (same gender) into a set. Once a actor is replaced, they cannot supply inwards that set. If a exchange occurs inwards doubles, the remaining actor cannot modify the side on which he/she receives or the service order. Substitutions are allowed inwards overtime if a actor has non already played inwards mixed doubles. 
  • You volition brand friends! Not alone volition you lot go spending each calendar week amongst your team, but many teams do social events together OFF the courts equally well. Your squad becomes similar family.
When you lot listen person say, "My college years were the best fourth dimension of my life," I incertitude they're alone referring to their coursework. When you're novel to campus or only looking for something to do on your downtime, joining an arrangement similar guild lawn tennis amongst others that percentage the same involvement is actually the best means to enrich your social life on campus while too staying fit (hello nutrient court)!
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