USTA National Spring Championship

Girls Alternates By Event
Boys Alternates By Event

Colette Lewis from zootennis.com will provide daily coverage of the tournament. more info

• 1/05 THU - Entries Open
  
• 2/29 WED - LAST FULL DAY TO REGISTER
  
• 3/01 THU - Entries close 11:59 am (1 Minute before NOON) EASTERN TIME
  
• 3/02 FRI - Selections Posted by Noon Central Time (See "Selection Process" Tab above)
  
• 3/03 SAT - Ordered Alternates Report posted by 2:30 pm Central Time (See "Alternates" Section below)
  
• 3/04 SUN - Late Entries added to alternates list by 5:00 pm Central Time (See "Late Entries" Section below)
  
• 3/08 THU - 6:00 pm Wildcards will be decided-probably earlier. (See "USTA Wild Cards" Section below)
  
• 3/08 THU - First alternate reached verbally will have 15 minutes to decide before the next alternate is contacted
  
• 3/09 FRI - Seeds posted by Noon pm Central Time (See "Seedings" section below)
  
• 3/09 FRI - First Match Times posted by 4:00 Central
  
• 3/10 SAT - Open spots filled by onsite alternates (See "Alternates" Section below)
  
• 3/10 SAT - Mandatory Check-In at the Mobile Tennis Center 4:00 pm - 9:00 pm (See "Mandatory Tournament Check-In" Section below)
  
• 3/10 SAT - 6:00 pm last opportunity to make any changes to doubles (See "Doubles" Section below)
  
• 3/10 SAT - Mandatory Player Meeting at 6:00 pm at the Mobile Tennis Center - Receive Draws and can Book Practice Courts after Meeting!
  
• 3/10 SAT - Site opened until 10:00 - Late arrivals can still check in
  
• 3/10 SAT - TIME CHANGES - SET YOUR CLOCK FORWARD BEFORE YOU GO TO BED!!!!
• 3/11 SUN - Play Begins: Singles 1st Round and Doubles 1st Round
  
• 3/12 MON - MD Rd of 64, Cons Rd of 64 Qual, Doubles Rd of 32
  
• 3/13 TUE - Cons Rd of 64, MD Rd of 32, Cons Rd of 32 Quali, Doubles Rd of 16
  
• 3/14 WED - Cons Rd of 32, MD Rd of 16, Cons Rd of 16 Qual, Doubles Qtrs
  
• 3/15 THU - Cons Rd of 16, MD Qtrs, Cons Rd of Qrts Quali, Doubles Semis
  
• 3/16 FRI - Cons Qtrs, MD Semis, Cons Semis, Doubles Finals
  
• 3/17 SAT - Main Draw Finals & 3/4 Playoff, Consolation Finals

• REGISTRATION CLOSES 11:59 am Eastern (1 Minuet before NOON) ON THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012
  
• At this time you are not allowed to play more than one age division. All of the age divisions for Spring National Championships are considered the same tournament even though the events are played on different dates in different locations. In other words you CANNOT play this tournament and Easter Bowl 16s. You can register for this tournament and if you do not get in, you may withdraw from the alternates list to enter the other one.
  
• This is a National Level 1 Tournament
  
• Singles is a 128 Draw
  
• Airport is called Mobile Regional Airport. Pensacola, FL and Gulfport, MS have airports within an hour from Mobile
  
• All matches will be played at the Mobile Tennis Center - we have 60 courts, 32-40 will be used for matches and 20-28 will be used for practice during matches.
  
• Mobile is in the Central Time Zone
  
• No housing is provided
  
• You must be endorsed by your section to play this tournament
  
• Any wildcard applications must be submitted through your section before registration closes
  
• Play will start for everyone on Sunday 3/11
  
• Please read all of the information provided on the website. It is a lot to scroll through but will probably answer any questions you might have.
  
• Email any other questions to tennismobile@gmail.com

YOU MAY NOT PLAY THIS TOURNAMENT AND THE EASTER BOWL 16s. Even though the two tournaments are different dates and locations, they are both considered the same "USTA Spring National Championship." There is enough time between selection postings for this tournament and entry closing of the 16s. If selected for this tournament, you may not enter the 16s. If you are on the alternates list for this tournament and want to enter the 16s, you must first withdraw from the alternates list. The last full day to register for the Easter Bowl 16s March 14th.
THE EASTER BOWL 18s IS AN ITF EVENT, and you can play both 18s events.
Players who are found to be entered in two concurrent USTA National Championships will not be accepted into either USTA National Championship and must be levied Suspension Points.
Do not enter any two tournaments at the same time, YOU WILL BE PENALIZED. Permission will not be given to anyone to enter 2 tournaments, for any circumstance.
How to avoid Penalties:
If you are accepted as a player in this tournament, you may not withdraw and then enter another tournament with a common date.
If you are placed on the alternates list and you decide to enter another tournament, you must withdraw from the alternates list first and then enter the other tournament.

Withdrawal Prior to Entry Deadline, Thursday 3/1 11:59 am (1 minute before NOON) Eastern Time:
Go to the Tournament website and click "EDIT REGISTRATION" on the right side of your screen then "Withdraw". From there you can withdraw. If you do not know your Confirmation #, then click "Locate Confirmation" just below "Withdraw." We cannot withdraw you, you must do this yourself. You will lose the processing fee if you do not withdraw online before registration closes.

Withdrawal After Entry Deadline:
Immediately contact the tournament to withdraw from the tournament. You must fax or email your withdrawal. DO NOT call to withdraw. There are No refunds. You will receive suspension points unless the withdrawal is due to illness, injury, or personal emergency AND a written verification is provided on or before the last scheduled day of the tournament.

Defaulting during the tournament:
You must see the trainer and get approval from the Head Referee at the Mobile Tennis Center. Do not tell anyone at the desk and think you have properly defaulted. Unless you speak to the Head Referee in person, it will count as a "No Show." NO PHONE WITHDRAWALS WILL BE ACCEPTED - YOU MUST WITHDRAW IN PERSON!

If you withdraw before registration closes, your credit card will not be charged.
If you withdraw after registration closes, there is no refund.

A player shall not withdraw from a tournament after entries close except for illness, injury, or personal emergency. A withdrawing player shall immediately notify the Tournament by fax or email that the player will not be playing.

If the player is not playing because of an injury or illness, the player shall provide written verification of the injury or illness from a medical professional no later than the last scheduled day of the tournament.

If the player is not playing because of a personal emergency, the player shall provide a written explanation of the situation to the Referee no later than the last scheduled day of the tournament. The Referee shall determine whether the situation is a personal emergency. FYI - a personal emergency does not include "my parents can't get off work" or "I have too much homework" or "I can't miss school".

CONTACT INFORMATION
It is your responsibility to notify me of your most current contact information. I will first email an alternate to offer an open spot. If there is no response, I will call the available phone numbers. I will leave a message, but move on to the next alternate. Please email tennismobile@gmail.com or fax to (251) 208-5188 your contact info.

ORDERED ALTERNATES REPORT
This is the order alternates will replace any withdrawals originally selected from the Standings List. (This report will be posted after selections.) Until seedings are prepared and posted, withdrawing players originally selected by the Section Quota will be replaced with an alternate from that section, unless there are none.

POINT OF NO RETURN
It is your duty to notify us if you have reached the point where travelling is not an option. We understand that some of you may not be able to come at a moments notice if a spot opens. Please be courteous and withdraw from the alternates list if you know you cannot travel. I have to contact alternates in order, even though it may be the night before the tournament and you are in California. We cannot know someones intent until you tell us. As long as you are on the Alternates by Event Report, YOU are telling us you can still attend.

ENTRY FEE
Because you were not selected in the initial process, you must call (251) 208-5185 and provide a credit card number for processing the Entry Fee.

ON-SITE ALTERNATES
Please email tennismobile@gmail.com if you plan to be an on-site alternate. On-site alternates need to check in during registration hours. If there is more than one on-site alternate, we will follow the ordered alternates report when filling an open spot.

Late Entries go below all other alternates in order received. You must email your late entry request. Once received, you will get a simple response of "Received". No action can be taken until 3/4 after selections and regular entry-alternates have been posted. Thank you for your patience.

Please Check the "Entry Fee Owed Report" when posted to make sure your fee has been paid. There will be several Credit Card Failures and Alternate Entries that will have to pay the entry fee. We do not accept checks. YOU HAVE TWO OPTIONS ONLY:
1. OVERNIGHT YOUR FEE. MONEY ORDER ONLY - The Fee is $118 Made Payable to MATA, c/o Mobile Tennis Center, 851 Gaillard Drive, Mobile, AL 36608.

2. CALL IN YOUR CREDIT CARD NUMBER. Call the Mobile Tennis Center Pro Shop at (251) 208-5185 only, Monday - Thursday 8:30 am - 7:00 pm. Do not call any other phone numbers or email for credit card processing.

Some of you will send in your waivers and it is listed on this report. If you have an "S" in the Waiver column, it means I have received your Signed Waiver with contact information completed.

Please complete and return this document. It must be completed to compete in the tournament. The sooner we receive it and upadate your information, the smoother registration will go. Thanks.
Click here for form more info

Mandatory means just that. We are staying until 10:00 pm for your convenience to work on the Doubles Draw. We feel strongly that you should be able to make it by that time.
For those of you that "just can't make it by that time" need to do the following and please do not call:
1. Make sure your entry fee has been paid - check the Tournament Entry Fee Report when posted
2. Email or Fax in your Medical Release Waiver WITH your CELL phone numbers & HOTEL info completed to 251/208-5188.
3. Show up 30 minutes before your match time. Please be patient with us when checking in, we will be focused on getting matches on and off the court. Checking in people at this time will be a detriment to the tournament.
4. Those of you playing 8:30 am matches at the Mobile Tennis Center will need to be on your assigned court at 8:15. Make sure you allow yourself plenty of time.

On Sunday we will only have one person checking in players for the tournament (those that did not come the night before). Obviously this is not enough to check in everyone 30 minutes before their matchtimes. If you are not on your court by your assigned match time, you will be penalized. Because you did not check-in the night before, is no excuse for being late for your match. We cannot predict if there will be 5 people or 50 people waiting to check in when you do. You cannot play your match until you have checked in for the tournament. If there is a line that causes you to be late for your match, unfortunately that will be your problem that could have been avoided. Therefore, we urge all of you to check-in on Saturday this includes Locals, Commuters and Travelers.
Thank you for your cooperation.

MATCH CHECK IN RULE:
Regulation IV.A.2 now states "The referee may penalize a player who is on site for lateness if a court is available and the player has failed to check in at the tournament desk by the scheduled match time."

THIS MEANS, IF THERE IS 1 OPEN COURT AT 10:00 AND THERE ARE 3 MATCHES TO PUT ON, THE REFEREE WILL START THE CLOCK FOR LATENESS FOR ANYONE WHO HAS NOT CHECKED IN FOR 10:00 - EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH COURTS FOR ALL 3 MATCHES.
1. The first matches of each day will report directly to the court at 8:15, and balls will be on the court. Matches should begin promptly at 8:30. As the tournament progresses, we may start the first matches later in the morning but the procedure will remain the same for the first scheduled time of each day.
2. For all matches after 8:30 am, please get in a single-file line at the tournament desk at least 15 minutes before your scheduled match time. Do not wait until 9:59 to check in for 10:00. Please go to the bathroom, fill your water bottle, etc. before you check in.
3. Once you have checked in, please stay near the tournament desk until we tell you the court assignment. You must be where you can hear us call your name after you check in.
4. We will be watching the clock for lateness. Please do not ask if your opponent has checked in - you have other things to think about. The staff and the Referee will take care of lateness issues you need only worry about your own timeliness.

We are using the Mobile Tennis Center - 40 courts for matches & 20 courts for practice all day

If you are in need of a Pro on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday, Please contact: Andy Pinkus at (251) 533-5839.
If you do schedule a hitting session, you must pay at the Main City Desk before your session and they will direct you to the court. The rate is $40 per hour and $20 per half hour. CASH or Credit Card ONLY. Present your receipt to the Pro.

For Thursday, you need to call to reserve a court for practice (251) 208-5180. Your may call that week and identify yourself as a tournament player. There will be no charge for practice courts. There will be limited courts on Thursday between 4:00-6:00. Friday and Saturday, March 9th & 10th, Practice Courts are first come, first serve. We will not take reservations on these days. With 60 courts, you should not have a problem getting on a court.

During the Mandatory Check-In you may sign up for practice courts for Sunday and Monday. Each day we will have the sign up for practice courts for the next day. We will have 20 practice courts on site during matches.

YOUR GAME FACE more info

We do have a Fully Stocked Pro Shop at the Mobile Tennis Center. The tournament discount is 20% off regular priced clothing, shoes, racquets, and bags and 10% off most sale merchandise.

There will be two Experienced Stringers at the Mobile Tennis Center during the tournament. Cost with your own string is $15. We also have a large string inventory if you do not have your own.

Wilson US Open Ball is the Official Tournament Ball. There will be no practice balls available until the second day of the Tournament. The Wilson Ball is available for sale in the Pro Shop.

One trainer will be on site at the Mobile Tennis Center during matches. By law, trainers are not allowed to distribute any medicine. Please bring your own Tylenol, Advil, Sinus Medicine, Epi Pens, etc.
Temperatures can go either way, so pack for hot and cold weather and Always HYDRATE.

If you have an injury or illness, we strongly suggest you see the trainer. If you need to withdraw due to injury or illness, the process will be much smoother if we have confirmation from the trainer. Without confirmation, or a written doctors excuse by the end of the tournament, you may incur suspension points for leaving. Remember if you withdraw during the tournament, you must see the Head Referee in person or it will count as a "No Show."

For the 5th consecutive year, HIGH-TECH TENNIS is bringing their very popular video services to AL for the National Spring Chps… Don’t miss your chance for Match Play and College Recruit Videos. Also, come early on check-in day and let them show you EXACTLY what your coaches see using Dartfish (the same technology used at Bolletteiri’s Academy and at USTA training centers) – Just $10 to view your strokes and $45 for a CD. Danny and Julie provide a wonderful video service to tournament players and they always add value AND fun to the tournament experience for players, parents, and coaches alike. It’s time for you to find out what so many of the top players already know: VIDEO WORKS! Please visit www.high-techtennis.com for more info, including samples, and contact Danny or Julie Thiets (video@high-techtennis.com or 678.640.2723) to reserve your match time. They have TEN digital camcorders and their services are very popular…FIRST COME/FIRST SERVED… more info

For entry, use the USTA Registration System.

National Event

This event is restricted to the following Jr. players: U.S. Citizens; Permanent Resident Aliens; Diplomats, Refugees/Asylees; CTA. Refer to USTA Regulation III.A.2a.