BEXLEY OPEN - COGP

The forecast looks pretty clear until at least 1:30. I hope to get matches played outside at Bexley. If we get a significant rain event, matches may finish indoorsat Scarborough as the rain site, with enough courts to get the tournament completed. Feel free to call the tournament cell phone for updates. An update will be posted here or individuals will receive a phone call from me if there are any changes.

If we go indoors again each participant will be responsible for a $10 fee per player per singles match. Thank you for your cooperation.

Please register as early as possible. No one is charged until the first day of the tournament, so there are no negative facets. Per experience over the last 20 years, the more that are signed up early, more players are attracted overall. The larger the numbers, the better the competition and playing experience.

The tournament will be held at the varsity tennis courts at Bexley High School in Bexley, Ohio, school address and map listed above. . All matches will be scheduled from there. There may be some matches scheduled at the middle school if the draws are large. Report to the high school for court assignment and instructions.

The tournament director is Alann Leinwohl, whose cell phone number and email address are listed above. If you have any questions please call. Alann Leinwohl usually assists with stringing, please contact him to confirm, if you need racket assistance. Alann has a new cell phone number for contact: (614) 902-0927. This is a USTA sanctioned tournament, so all junior singles players must be USTA members of good standing. All matches won will contribute points to the players District and Sectional ranking in their age group.

The OVTA district tournaments are being held June 11-14. Some junior matches will start on Monday depending on schedules in the district tournaments, and if you are still playing in the district tournament you may not be scheduled until Tuesday the 14th or Wednesday the 15th, but may be required to play two rounds those days. Please contact the tournament director if you are still in the draw for the district tournament or have any questions or concerns about this. The goal is still to finish all junior singles events by Friday.

We do not want to limit any players desire to play, but if you sign up for multiple divisions, expect to play back to back matches on occasion. The USTA rule is 60 minutes rest between matches in the SAME AGE DIVISION. If a player is registered in the 14's and 16's for example, they may have back to back matches on multiple occasions, if they keep winning. The rest only applies to the 14's division if played first, but there may be a 16's match scheduled immediately after the 14's and you are going to have to play immediately, no rest. We know that experienced players may want to do this, but rookies sometimes bite off more than they can chew, so, please be warned.

All matches will be the best two out of three sets, with a full third set used in the front draw while the backdraw will use the match tie break (first player to 10 points) used in place of a full third set. Be prepared to play up to 2 matches a day so we can complete the event within our allowed time frame. The draw will be FMLC (First Match Losers Consolation), so every player will have at least 2 matches.

Matches will begin on Monday at noon and will begin daily at the same time. Depending on draw sizes will affect playing times, which may continue most of the day. Matches during the rest of the week will generally be for juniors during the day, with matches beginning at 5:30 for adults. Please get with Alann if you have any reasonable special requests. Violin lessons or dance practice are not legit requests.

Please remember that requests are just that - requests. It may be impossible to accommodate everyone, though we go to great lengths in an effort to make it possible for everyone to play. The Official USTA position is that if you are going to play in a tournament - COMMIT TO IT. Doing the draws for a good sized tournament is like putting together a giant jig saw puzzle, one piece out of line affects many others. One match request will affect up to a dozen others, and getting them competed in our limited number of days becomes very difficult. We try, but please don't expect every request to be able to be granted .

PLEASE - Make sure you bring lots of fluids with you, You are responsible for yourself, no one else. Summer can be brutally hot on court. Rule of thumb is a minimum of a GALLON OF FLUIDS PER MATCH, on court with you, water or sport drink. Buy 2 water jugs of a gallon each, they are cheep, so you always have a back up if you have a very long match. Bring towels and extra tee shirts or outfits. You are responsible for your performance, and your gear, I.e. Band Aids, braces, wraps, sweat bands, hats, shoe strings, dry socks, etc.

All junior singles divisions, in this tournament, are USTA sanctioned. All participants must be a current USTA member of good standing Seeding for each division will be per the latest USTA MIDWEST RANKING lists, published online every Tuesday.. General format will be FMLC (first match losers consolation) for all junior singles events. All participants will play at least 2 matches. Results will be used for computation of current USTA singles rankings. Every match a players wins will generate USTA Midwest points for future ranking purposes.

All adult events and all doubles are non sanctioned, and will be single elimination. There will be no consolation draw or matches. No USTA points will be awarded for any matches won. If adult players desire for the singles divisions or doubles disvisons in the tournament to becoming a USTA sanctioned division, please contact the tournament director. It can be changed to a sanctioned tournament if enough players commit to the change and cost. To register for these events follow the instructions at www.cogp.com or contact the tournament director.