BullFrog USTA Southern Section Designated

Alternates By Event

We will use 3 sites on Saturday and Sunday:
LP - Lyons Park Tennis Center
180 Lyons Park Ave., Mobile, AL 36604
Phone: 251- 694-1830 - NOT A TOURNAMENT NUMBER, ONLY USE IN CASE YOU ARE LOST.

CHTC - Cottage Hill Tennis Center in Medal of Honor Park
1711 Hillcrest Road, Mobile, AL 36695-4541
Phone: 251-666-9539 - NOT A TOURNAMENT NUMBER, ONLY USE IN CASE YOU ARE LOST.

MTC - Mobile Tennis Center
851 Gaillard Drive, Mobile, AL 36608
Friday Night we will split into to 2 sites:
mtcA - Girls Doubles on the side of the street with registration
mtcB - Boys Doubles on the side of the street with the Pro Shop

MAKE SURE YOU CHECK FOR THESE INITIALS ON THE DRAW!

• ALL TIMES POSTED ARE CENTRAL TIME:
  
• 8/26 Fri - Entries Open
  
• 10/23 Sun - 11:59 pm (One minute before Midnight) SINGLES AND DOUBLES Entries will Close
  
• 10/25 Tue - By 8:00 pm Selection Lists posted to the Tournament Website
  
• 10/26 Wed - Start calling alternates for any open spots - You have 8 hours to respond
  
• 10/27 Thu - Last day to withdraw and receive a refund with proper documentation
  
• 10/30 Sun - 8:00 am Alternates will now have 4 hours to respond.
  
• 10/31 Mon -Tournament Director Day Off - no calls or emails answered.
  
• 11/01 Tue - Last Day to make doubles changes: add or change partner, enter or withdraw via Email.
  
• 11/02 Wed - 8:00 am The first Alternate we reach will be offered any open spot
  
• 11/03 Thu - 6:00 pm First Match Times posted
  
• 11/03 Thu - 8:00 pm - Stop calling alternates, any open spots will be filled with on-site alternates
  
• 11/04 Fri - 2:00 Doubles Draws Posted, 4:00 Singles Draws Posted
  
• 11/04 Fri - 2:00-4:00 pm Mandatory Check-In at Mobile Tennis Center for Doubles Players
  
• 11/04 Fri - 4:30-9:30 pm Mandatory Check-In at Mobile Tennis Center for remaining Singles Players
  
• 11/04 Fri - 5:00 pm Doubles Matches begin, Everyone in doubles will play Friday at least 2 rounds, some older groups will play 3 rounds.
  
• 11/04 Fri - 5:30-9:30 pm Mandatory Check-In at Mobile Tennis Center for Sinlges Players
  
• 11/04 Fri - 6:00-8:30 pm Dinner served for participants and their guests at Mobile Tennis Center
  
• 11/05 Sat - Practice Courts Open at 6:30 am, Play begins at 8:00 am
  
• 11/05 Sat - TIME CHANGES - SET YOUR CLOCK BACK 1 HOUR BEFORE YOU GO TO BED!!!!!!!!!
  
• 11/06 Sun - Practice Courts Open at 6:30 am, Play continues at 8:00 am
  
• 11/07 Mon - Practice Courts Open at 6:30 am, Play continues at 8:00 am at the Mobile Tennis Center

It is important to realize this is a marathon of Tennis to play singles and doubles for 4 days. We offer doubles as another avenue for the players to earn points. It is more work for all involved and we put forth this massive effort for the kids to have the opportunity to earn points. Given that parents do not want to miss work and kids to miss school, the time period for this tournament is short. These are long, gruelling days and not for everyone. Please understand this before registering your child for doubles. Withdrawal after doubles registration closes is absolutely not acceptable as it will hurt another player (the partner). Doubles participants should be in top physical condition to compete. Again we only offer doubles for the opportunity to earn points not to test their physical condition.

YOU MUST SIGN UP WITH A PARTNER

Remember, the Doubles Event is just as important as the Singles Event. If you withdraw, you will be penalized. An excuse like "I could not miss school" is not acceptable.

The sooner you provide us with accurate doubles information, the sooner we can prepare and post the Doubles Draw. Thank you for your cooperation.

DOUBLES PLAY WILL BEGIN FRIDAY 11/4 AT 5:00 pm. The Round of 32 and the Round of 16 will be played on Friday. We may play a 3rd round Friday for 16s and 18s. EVERYONE IN DOUBLES WILLL PLAY FRIDAY NIGHT. Saturday, Doubles will be played at 8:00 am.

If you enter doubles, you may NOT enter a different age division than your singles.

TO FIND A PARTNER USE FACEBOOK, CONTACT USTA OFFICES, MEET PEOPLE AT OTHER TOURNAMENTS. TOURNAMENT DIRECTORS DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO PLAYERS CONTACT INFORMATION UNTIL REGISTRATION CLOSES.

The tournament will NOT partner players for Doubles. Each player is responsible for finding his or her own partner and MUST register prior to the doubles deadline. Partnerships must be confirmed and it is mandatory for partners to sign up with each other. To assist players in finding a doubles partner, please visit the tournament facebook page. TO FIND A PARTNER LOG INTO FACEBOOK then select this link, for more info

All players must have a copy of a Birth Certificate or Green Card on file in the Southern office.
Players should go to this link to see if their name is on file.
If your name does not appear here please fax it to 770-368-9091 or e-mail to howard@sta.usta.com.
more info

The Format of Play for Singles is a 64 Draw, Full Feed-In Consolation through the Quarterfinals, with a 3/4 Playoff in the Main Draw.
The Scoring for Main Draw Singles is Best 2 of 3 Sets and the Scoring for Singles Consolation is a Tiebreak in lieu of a third set.
With a 64 Draw, the Consolation Finals will not be played time does not permit.
The Format of Play for Doubles is a 32 Draw, Single Elimination with a 3rd/4th Playoff
The Scoring for Doubles is an 8-game Proset

IT BEARS REPEATING - ALL PLAYERS IN THE SEMIFINALS OF DOUBLES WILL PLAY AGAIN, EITHER FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP OR THE 3rd/4th POSITION!

If you need a hitting pro, you can contact directly:
Andy Pinkus (251) 533-5839 or Robert Kleeman (317) 397-7234
$20 for 1/2 hour and $40 for an hour, payable at the City Desk by cash or credit card prior to session.
Friday - Mobile Tennis Center 60 courts available until 4:45 pm and 4 courts available all night. Cottage Hill Tennis Center 10 courts available 5:00-8:00 pm
Saturday - All 60 Courts at Mobile Tennis Center open at 6:30 am until 7:45 am. 4 Courts available all day. Cottage Hill Tennis Center will open at 7:00 am with 10 Courts for practice until 9:30 am. Lyons Park will open at 7:00 am with 5 courts to practice until 9:30 am.
Sunday - Practice Courts are limited on this day. All 60 Courts at Mobile Tennis Center open at 6:30 am until 7:45 am. 4 Courts available all day. Cottage Hill Tennis Center and Lyons Park will only be available for practice from 7:00 am - 9:00 am.
Monday - All 60 Courts at Mobile Tennis Center open at 6:30 am until 7:45 am. 12 Courts available all day.

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 tennistournament@comcast.net 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.

Mandatory means just that. We are staying until 9:30 pm for your convenience. 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 8:00 am matches at the Mobile Tennis Center will need to be on your assigned court at 7:45. Make sure you allow yourself plenty of time. If you are playing at another site, you must check in at the Mobile Tennis Center first.

On Saturday 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 Friday this includes Locals, Commuters and Travelers.
Thank you for your cooperation.

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

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 $59 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.

Withdrawal before Sunday 10/24 11:59 pm Central Time
Go to the Tournament website and click "EDIT REGISTRATION" on the left 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.

Withdrawal after Sunday 10/23
You must fax or email your withdrawal. DO NOT call to withdraw. The email is tennismobile@gmail.com and the fax is (251) 208-5188. You may be eligible to receive a refund, but it may take 4-6 weeks. See next section "Refund of Entry Fee"

Withdrawal after Friday 10/28
You must fax or email your withdrawal. DO NOT call to withdraw. The email is tennismobile!gmail.com and the fax is (251) 208-5188. You will receive a penalty unless you have a documented medical excuse faxed to us at the time of withdrawal. You will not receive a refund no matter the excuse.

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 Refeee in person, it will be counted as a "No Show." NO TELEPHONE WITHDRAWALS WILL BE ACCEPTED. You must see the Head Referee in person or it will be counted as a "No Show" which carries 5 suspension points.

If you withdraw before registration closes, your credit card will not be charged.
If you withdraw after registration closes, you may be eligible for 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".

In order to receive a refund, you must notify the tournament immediately of your withdrawal, no later than Friday 10/28/11. Then, YOU MUST MAIL IN A SELF-ADDRESSED STAMPED ENVELOPE with your written medical excuse or emergency explanation. You must also include the exact "Payee" name the check is payable to. This must be received by the last day of the tournament which is Monday, 11/7/11.

WE WILL NOT ACCEPT LATE ENTRIES UNLESS THERE ARE NO ALTERNATES IN A DIVISION!!!

MATCH CHECK IN RULE:
Regulation IV.A.2 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 7:45, and balls will be on the court. Matches should begin promptly at 8:00. This is what we call a "Shotgun Start"
2. For all matches after 8:00 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. You must go to the bathroom, fill your water bottle, etc. and be ready to go on court 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.

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.

GREETINGS: We are soo excited about WHAT'S NEW at HIGH-TECH TENNIS: 28 BILLION digital photographs are taken each year-most of which just languish on hard drives somewhere-but we want you to SHOWCASE the photos of your precious tennis moments, so we're proud to bring you USTA LICENSED PHOTO FRAMES!!!
Also, what could be more perfect than a CANVAS FOR CHRISTMAS?!?!?
pssst...DVDs are LOW-TECH and we are HIGH-TECH so we're proud to bring you MATCH HIGHLIGHTS ONLINE!!! You pick your favorite highlights, we upload them to your personal online collection, and you watch/share them whenever you want...with whomever you want!
As always, please pass the info in this newsletter on to your tennis friends so they don't miss out. We send this out every month for YOU---I already know it (who do you think wrote it, LOL) and Danny insists that he's OFF THE CLOCK. If you think you're tired of reading that, just think how tired I am of hearing it!

PLAYERS: We Mobile in November and know you do too! We'll be looking for YOU as we make our 5th consecutive visit to the BullFrog (November 4-7) and then we'll be back for our 5th consecutive visit to the National Open (November 25-27). DON'T FORGET to contact us ahead of time - email or text, please..phone calls always slow us down - and reserve your camera or we may not be able to record what would probably the best match you've ever played in your entire life, LOL!

COACHES: We offer GROUP DISCOUNTS so if you have one or more players and you want us to capture some video, give us a shout ASAP. As always, please encourage your students to get their matches recorded. As you well know, there is nothing like a video to tell the story of what actually happens on the court during tournament match play so please don't miss this chance. more info

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.

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."