The setting was cramped and hot. Apparently, SATA was over budget and could not afford to run the air conditioning for their beloved members comfort. I had a hunch that we would be graced by the presence of Ken Mcallister. In my opinion it was a good thing he showed up to remind us all "who are daddy is" and how much the USTA cares about their finances. At this point we are all figuring out that we have no control and USTA Texas section "OWNS the leagues" we all enjoy. Once SATA was allowed to control leagues then the individual players lost their voice. It was a mistake to turn control over to a single large organization. This organization has made arbitrary decisions behind closed doors and expect everyone to be OK with it. After tonight, we can conclude that tennis players in San Antonio are tired of being excluded from SATA.
So, where does everyone go from here. The USTA owns the leagues and SATA controls the leagues. All this is taking place so that a small percentage of players can advance to sectionals. The only solution I see is for the original associations to restructure and reclaim control of the leagues. This has worked in Atlanta as they have withdrawn from the USTA all together. Perhaps a compromise can be reached. The local organizations could run their own league and then allow the teams that finish at the top to enter into the SATA/USTA league for a chance to go to sectionals. The USTA would lose the majority of their funds in San Antonio and teams would still be allowed to advance to sectionals. Just not at the expense of the entire league.
Please include your thoughts or reactions to the meeting.
Ace
ReplyDeleteI like your idea, "The local organizations could run their own league and then allow the teams that finish at the top to enter into the SATA/USTA league for a chance to go to sectionals."
Doesn't Houston do something like that?
Ace,
ReplyDeleteI was against the leagues being absorbed by SATA from the start. Their focus has always been to help the Juniors' tennis programs, which is fine but does nothing for the adult leagues.
Now that Ken McAllister has admitted "owning" the (local) leagues maybe the players can remember it is supposed to be about the game and not owning some sort of control over the players. Your idea regarding pulling the majority of players out of the SATA's arbitrary grip is awesome because it returns league control back to the players while allowing the best teams to be challenged at the next level.
In my opinion, SATA creates more problems because their main objective is: the Juniors.
TTA's main objective at the meeting: "Not" to answer any questions.
The adult league players' main objective: Actually play tennis.
Such divergent goals cannot manifest harmony.
I do agree there is too much emphasis on sending teams to sectionals. Most of us have no delusions of going to sectionals, much less nationals. We just want to play a decent length league.
ReplyDeleteI also was disappointed that the SATA board did not address any of the questions or concerns raised. The meeting ended early so there was plenty of time to open up discussions. On the other hand, I can see why they wouldn't want to do that as there were some very angry people and things probably would have gotten out of hand quickly. I do hope there are plans to address them later.
That being said, I commend the board for their time and efforts in trying to make a better tennis environment for us all. I don't get involved in the politics, I just want to play!
Can the original organizations regroup? That would be a positive for tennis in San Antonio.
ReplyDeleteI always agree to thank the people whom operate these community associations...but in the immortal words of Yoda, "No try, do or do not." We have been at "do not" for too long.
ReplyDeleteThe dynamics of situation are different everywhere and the USTA sectionals/nationals cookie cutter plan is not working here. League players were pidgeon-holed into the SATA method because USTA required it. USTA said, "If you don't (use SATA) your San Antonio teams can't go to sectionals/nationals." Our former, player controlled, men's/women's associations told us this at their last remaining meetings of authority. Ace's idea works cleanly for tennis players of San Antonio league tennis.
We the people can always take any government back. It is easy. Just stop, adjust your thoughts and act.
How do you post a new topic on this blog?
ReplyDeleteAt this moment, I am the only person who can post new topics on this blog. In the future, I would like to allocate individuals to cover different topics in areas that include women's and mixed leagues. Perhaps someone from each of the original organizations (ACTT, SAMTT, SAWTT, ect) could have permission to post.
ReplyDeleteAt this time you can email a topic request to this email--
sanantonioleaguetennisblog@yahoo.com
I will try to include all requests pertinent to SA Leagues tennis that are submitted. You may type out your topic in an email or include it as an attachment in microsoft office format. Let me know what this blog can do for you and tennis in San Antonio. I want it to be successful.
I see that Pat Wallace resigned as League Director to "spend more time with family". Does it really have something to do with all the stuff going on with SATA I wonder?
ReplyDeleteInteresting, maybe it has something to do with how the leagues are being run. I know many people are less than pleased.
ReplyDeleteMy concern is that the views of the general player population is not solicited by the governing bodies in major decsions. Evidence?
ReplyDeleteWhy wouldn't ACCT team captains be polled, or be otherwise involved, in decisions to dramatically restructure the league format? I'm a captain, and the first I knew about it was through Bradshaw's email.
How was the "Open" Forum advertisied. The only place I learned of it was in this blog.
I am not for reinventing the wheel, but I think ours has a flat...
The general thought is that women are in control of SATA and they do not wish to include the men. The open forum was posted on SATA's website but was not advertised because they really do not care what players/captains think. Closed door meetings and missing funds make everyone suspicious of SATA. The mens leagues are doomed because nobody noticed that when SATA took over all leagues, women were the major majority of league players. With men only holding 1/3 of the player population we are doomed under this organization without equal representation at SATA. The forum had as small an opening as they could get and still announce it. Numbers do not lie except for in SATA's book-keeping. The wheel is not flat, it fell completely off in 2007.
ReplyDeleteThe men's leagues need to fire our reps and get new ones. Every year at the captains' meeting we have the same complaints and nothing changes. We're told SATA made decisions like number of teams in playoffs without our input. Our reps never solicit feedback and don't inform of us when meetings will be so that we can attend and voice our opinions. Let's elect reps that actually want to represent us and not just their own interests.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if I agree with the above post, or not. First off, does anyone know who our reps are? Let's see...Hal Mallory represents us on the SATA Leagues Committee, but I don't really know if we have other representation. I'm not saying we don't; I'm just saying I don't know who they are. So, if any of you know of other representation, please respond. Secondly, I am somewhat deferential to those who volunteer their time when so many do not. I may not agree with everything they do, but I know I wasn't there "when the paper was blank"...
ReplyDeleteI don't know if the previous poster was refering to proposals for the coming year, or last year. Re. the spring season. I know that our captains voted on whether to flight or play 18 or 19 matches. They chose to play 19 matches in order to have 6 teams reach playoffs. If I remember correctly, under SATA (or USTA LEague?)rules we could only have 4 teams advance had we flighted. I'd be happy for correction here if someone remembers it differently.
Perhaps the previous poster is refering to the coming year. Here I am quite confused. First, there reportedly was a post on the SATA website where, in addition to introducing the "over 40 League," sweeping changes to the structure and format of the fall league were announced. This post has since been amended to say that the introduction of the "over 40 league" does not replace the traditional fall league. All of the sweeping changes to the fall league were removed. What does that mean about the fall? I'm very confused. Someone please help me out.
You don't know you the reps are? Perhaps that's the point. I know as a captain I've never had a rep ask my opinion. I thought Roy Salinas was our rep but found out he hasn't been for a while. And the playoff rule you mentioned is a SATA rule that the SATA board decided will apply to all rules. How ridiculous is that...if you have one flight you get 6 teams in playoff, but two flights (presumably because you have a larger league) gets your less teams in the playoffs.
ReplyDeleteHi Ace,
ReplyDeleteI am still languishing without organized tennis due to SATA's incompetence. I wonder how many others have given up on them regarding team tennis.