Missouri Valley / Heart Of America

USTA Heart of America COVID-19 FAQ

April 27, 2020


Below are some answers to questions you might have regarding USTA Missouri Valley and USTA Heart of America programs and COVID-19. 

 

1. Now that Adult League and Junior Team Tennis (JTT) Nationals are canceled for 2020, does that mean Adult League Section Championships and JTT Sectional Championships will be canceled as well?

 

Yes, all USTA Missouri Valley JTT and Adult League Section Championships, including Mixed, will be canceled for 2020. There are no plans to reschedule these events in 2020. District Adult League and JTT coordinators are busy working on local league and JTT play opportunities once tennis is back open for business. Districts will concentrate on developing local play that encourages social distancing, competition, fun and of course, tennis.

 

2. Why are the USTA Missouri Valley Section Championships canceled? 

 

USTA Missouri Valley has made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 Section Championships. We understand that this may be very disappointing for our players, but health and safety remain the USTA’s top concerns. With that being said, we are committed to getting our players back on the court as soon as it is deemed safe to do so. Our hope is for the districts to offer vibrant local summer leagues. They are working diligently to develop innovative play options once tennis is open for business again. Without being confined to section dates, districts will have more flexibility to schedule these leagues right through August. In addition, prioritizing local play will hopefully provide support to local facilities, who have been greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

3.  Will there be a Junior Team Tennis league?

 

Our current plans are to have a Summer Junior Team Tennis league starting possibly in early July. This will depend, however, on any restrictions that are placed on large gatherings. We will continue to monitor these restrictions closely.  For additional information, please contact Junior Team Tennis Coordinator, Rod Zerni, rodneyzerni@genesishealthclubs.com.

 

4.  Will there be District League Championships?

 

USTA Heart of America is currently having discussions as to the best and safest way to host a District Championship.  Please continue to stay engaged with social media for updates. You can also reach out to your league coordinator for updates – Terry Miller, ttm10s@aol.com, or Helen Elliott, Executive Director, hoatennis.usta@gmail.com.

 

5. Are JTT and adult local leagues that have not completed—or didn’t start yet—canceled?

 

Due to play suspension, Spring Junior Team Tennis has been canceled. Plans are to hopefully host a Summer Junior Team Tennis. Most USTA leagues have different schedules so the USTA Heart of America Adult Council is currently working hard to arrive at the best decision for all leagues to either complete or start.

 

6. When will the new junior and adult standings be published?

 

The determination has also been made to suspend the calculation and publication of the National Standings List (NSL) for Adult, Junior and Wheelchair play until further notice. The NSL published on March 18, 2020 will serve as the most current until tournament competition resumes. The junior USTA Missouri Valley standing published on March 12 and the adult standings published on February 28 will serve as the most current until tournament competition resumes.

 

7. Will my expiring membership get extended?

 

Expiring memberships will not be extended at this time.

 

8. Can I get a League or Junior Team Tennis refund?

 

Decisions regarding refunds and other reimbursement options are at the discretion of your district.

 

League Refunds: Due to the impact of COVID-19, the issuance of refunds is on hold until the suspension has been lifted. Once the suspension has been lifted and players have the opportunity to evaluate the impact of rescheduling their specific league, the district will establish a refund policy.  

 

9. Can I register for tournaments whose start dates are after May 31?

 

We will continue to be transparent about the next steps moving forward for our programs and events. Updates from the USTA and USTA Missouri Valley will continue to be posted on this page. We have attempted to change as many tournaments as possible to the “tournament director selection process". This means that players won’t be charged an entry fee until after selection is completed, at which point we hope to have made a decision as to whether the suspension period is extended. 

 

10. I am a tournament director. How do I select players for my tournament now that the tournament has been switched over to the TD selection process? 

 

Click here to view an article from the TennisLink Help Center that will walk you through the steps. 

 

For more FAQs, please visit the USTA National FAQ page.

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