Adult League & Tourney Dates Set for Action-Packed 2022

Thanks to a revamped schedule enabling extended seasons and more play opportunities, the USTA Missouri 2022 calendar year is filled with a variety of exciting options for adult league players.

Leslie Echols — in her second year as USTA Missouri adult league coordinator — reconfigured start dates in a staggered format to allow participants the option of playing in multiple leagues. By developing less overlap, players can keep their tennis fix rolling through the bulk of 2022.

“In the past few years, a lot of the leagues were running during the same time in the summer,” Echols said. “It prevented some players from competing in as many leagues as they could if they were spaced out a little more. We’re trying to create more opportunities for players to play in multiple leagues. We also want to extend the number of weeks the league seasons run so our players are better prepared for Sectional play.”

With that in mind, Echols elected to kick off the 2022 league season with 40 & Over options first on the calendar. Those men’s and women’s leagues start earlier than previous years. Echols said by starting 40 & Over leagues first and waiting to begin 18 & Over leagues until May, USTA Missouri is better positioned to catch potential competitors returning home from college.

The 40 & Over leagues begin in March or early April depending on weather and run through May. Springfield-area teams play at Cooper Tennis Complex with the possibility of competing in Joplin or Branson if teams form in those cities. Columbia-based competitors battle at Cosmo-Bethel Park with teams from Jefferson City and Sedalia potentially jumping in.

The champions from the Springfield pocket and Columbia pocket then face off in district playoffs. This year, those postseason matches will take place in Columbia. Players interested in joining or captaining a team can contact Echols via email at lemotennis@gmail.com. Players and captains who’d like to find the right league fit can also complete a survey by clicking here.

“I’m really excited,” Echols said. “Players are excited about the new schedule and the opportunity they’ll have to be on more teams, play in more leagues and get more playing time. Which is what everyone wants. I’m hoping the changes will allow that to happen.”

In Springfield and possibly Columbia, too, Echols is pushing to get men’s leagues up and running for the first time in a few years. She has targeted the 4.5 level (which also includes 4.0-level players) and 3.5 level (which includes 3.0-level players) for both 40 & Over and 18 & Over leagues. Echols would like to get at least two teams for those leagues in both Springfield and Columbia.

“We’ve got a pretty good head start on the Springfield league,” Echols said. “We’re hoping to get some momentum going for the Columbia league. I have contacts there I’m in communication with. Hopefully we’ll see some action in both of those areas.”

While the 40 & Over leagues wrap up, both the 18 & Over and 55 & Over leagues get rolling in early May. After those offerings conclude, mixed leagues begin toward the end of June. Echols noted players have shown interest in a 55 & Over mixed league — which hasn’t taken place in years — in both Springfield and Columbia. Those would start in early August and run through mid-September with a District playoff in October.

The 40 & Over and 18 & Over mixed leagues, meanwhile, are slated to begin in late June and finish in mid-August to late August. Echols is seeking team captains for all these league options. Captains receive a credit for their league fee as an incentive to step up and lead a squad.

“We’re going to see more teams in some of the leagues than we typically have had in the past,” Echols said. “The players are excited because they’ll get to play different people instead of the same people over and over. I’m really hoping we can start reaching out to other areas and just keep growing the game.”

USTA Missouri adult tournament dates are already picked out for 2022 so players can mark their calendars. The spring tournament will occur May 13-15 at Cooper Complex. This expanded event will now include singles in addition to doubles for men and women. There will also be a mixed doubles option. Flights are available at the 3.0, 3.5, 4.0 and 4.5 levels. Players can learn more and register by clicking here.

Once mixed doubles leagues are done, the men’s and women’s tri-level playoff will again take place for the second straight year. This one-day, tournament-style event is set for October 1. And the adult fall tournament is set for October 28-30 at Cooper Complex.