Elysium B/G 12 September Pizza Compass Showdown

IMPORTANT INFO BELOW. *** THIS IS AN INDOOR TOURNAMENT ***. First matches begin at 4 PM Saturday afternoon. We have run over 150 Compass Draw Tournaments in the past 8 years, as such we have chronicled just about every possible question that has been asked, with answers covered below. EMAIL is our preferred method of communication due to the ability to communicate at any time of the day or night, and more importantly, email leaves a definitive electronic trail. Email, due to the clarity of the written word, also tends to mitigate questions of what was stated, at what time, and by whom. If you have any questions, please email the tournament directors at the email address listed above. We monitor messages constantly. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU INCLUDE THE PLAYERS NAME, AND USTA #. Thank you.

We always employ a USTA referee for all compass draw tournaments. We are trying to prepare all the players for making it to the high level Midwest tournaments, where the rules are adhered to without exception. Not that we will be as tough as they are, but it is best to be used to following the unbending USTA rules. The referee makes all decisions upon the court. Just as at the higher level tournaments, the referee's rulings are final, there are no appeals. You are responsible for knowing the rules of play, as set forth in, "Friend at Court", which governs all USTA tournament play. more info

This is the rule book that governs all tennis in the U.S. under the umbrella of the USTA. Click on the link to see the 365 page manual and retain a copy for yourself if you wish. more info

Our tradition for all tournament participants (PLAYERS) is an all you can eat pizza chow down, produced by Papa John's, with pop provided, on Saturday night. Pizza is delivered at 6:00 PM. Siblings are welcome, within reason, to jump in, after the players have eaten. Please use a little discretion, we want to make sure the players get enough to eat first. Trophies are awarded for first, second and third place in each division. Each player will also receive an Elysium Compass Draw tee shirt for participating. Muffins on Sunday morning for the parents as a big thank you for having the kids participate.

We start first matches at 4 PM on Saturdays, and 8:30 AM on Sunday mornings. PLAYERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR CHECKING THEIR MATCH TIMES LISTED IN DRAWS, ABOVE.With a full draw of 16 players all participants will have 2 full matches Saturday afternoon / evening and 2 full matches Sunday morning / afternoon. Even if you lose your first 2 matches, you are still in the tourny, so please don't leave. If you from out of town, it is only one night in a hotel and you are on your way home Sunday afternoon. We use the same time schedule for all INDOOR compass draw tournaments. Be sure to check your individual official match times - they will be posted in the "DRAWS" online. more info

Please check in 15 minutes before your scheduled match time. Be ready to go on the court, ready to play. Stay close to the desk, do not wander away, please stay within hearing range. If you miss your match being called you may be hit with game penalties. Check in time is not when you decide to go to the bathroom or change shoes or a racket grip. Matches go on court in the order of arrival of both players. If both participants are early and a court becomes available, those checked in first, go on first. Standard 10 minute warm up - enforced by the referees - we need to keep things moving. On Sunday there are USTA Adult leagues scheduled and we need to finish on time. Many Thanks.

Player selection process is as follows: we use a 16 player compass draw format. Only 16 boys and 16 girls will be selected to play. If fewer than 16 participants sign up for a particular division, we will use modified compass draws for 8 or 12 participants. With an 8 or12 player compass draw all players will get at least three matches. If there are more than 16 entrants in a division, per USTA Midwest guidelines, the highest ranked 16, using the most recent USTA Sectional rankings, will be selected for the draw. USTA Sectional rankings from any Section are considered of equal merit. The remaining registrants will be placed on the alternate list and be called in order of ranking should any players selected withdraw due to illness or injury. If you registered online and were not selected - YOU WILL NOT BE CHARGED.

We almost always have more applicants than the 16 spots available for play in any given division. The applicants not selected to play will then be automatically placed on the Alternate List by the TDM tournament software. If there is a withdrawal due to illness, injury or family emergency, the next highest ranked alternate will be called to take the available spot. Please email us to confirm you want to be on the Alternate List. If you want off or have other plans, please email us so we will not bother you with communications.

The TDM software that runs the tournament separates players by zip code in an attempt to prevent 2 players from the same area playing each other in the first round. There is the possibility that 2 players may live in adjoining suburbs, with unique zip codes, and still belong to the same club or junior program. If there are a large number of kids from one program, group or school please email us and list their teammates. We can enter them into an avoidance software program where they would hopefully not play each other in the first round. Reminder - this is not always possible, but we will try to accomodate and prevent first round teammate matches.

NO MONETARY REFUNDS ONCE THE DRAW HAS BEEN COMPLETED AND PUBLISHED ONLINE. You may withdraw without penalty up until the time that registration closes. You just need your confirmation number from your registration and your USTA number. Go to the tournament home page and follow the directions for WITHDRAWAL. Since this is a director selection process you wil not have been charged since you cannot have yet been selected to play. Once registration closes online and the draw has been done, you may only withdraw due to illness, injury or family emergency. NO MONETARY REFUNDS ONCE THE DRAW HAS BEEN COMPLETED AND PUBLISHED ONLINE.

This is a general explanation of compass draws and the process by which matches are run. more info

Here is a list of most of the hotels within a 5 mile radius. We always suggest calling the hotels directly, ask to make a reservation through them, and avoid their corporate reservation call center at all costs. The local managers have a lot of latitude to give away deals and special promotions - which you ill not get from the call center overseas. Quote tham a low rate you have received from from Travelocity, Expedia, Priceline or Hotels.com and many times the attendants have the power to match it. more info

There will be racket stringing available at the tournament. Alann Leinwohl will be in attendance to take care of all your racket stringing needs.