What is GCTA Tennis?
GCTA stands for Greater Columbus Tennis Association. It is organized play by other clubs and groups that allows for competitive tennis and social opportunities. Check out the website at: www.gcta.tennisscores.com (click on GCTA Women's) if you are interested in finding out more about the GCTA's Women's tennis leagues.
How Much Does It Cost To Participate?
The fee is $300 to play, and it is billed to your account (counts towards your minimum). This covers 11 practices, tennis balls, fruit trays, chips & salsa, and lemonade/pop at all home matches. This also covers coaching and facilitating of home matches, and also includes your mandatory $15 GCTA participation fee per team.
When Do We Practice?
Our women's 3.0 & below career teams will practice Wednesdays from 6:30-8:00 PM. Our women's 3.5 & 4.0 career teams will practice Thursdays from 6:30-8:00 PM. Our women's daytime 2.5 team will practice Fridays from 9:30-11:00AM. In consideration of the USTA indoor season schedule, our practice sessions begin in late May and extends into late July depending on the GCTA match schedule. If we have rain, please call the front desk to find out whether or not we will still have clinic (we will also attempt to text or email you). We will try to make a decision 1 hour prior to the start of practice/clinics to determine if we are still on.
When Do We Have Matches?
Home and away matches for women's 3.0 & 4.0 career teams will be Monday nights. Home matches begin at 6:30 PM with a 15 minute warm-up. Matches begin at 6:45 PM. Plan on arriving by 15 minutes early to get a little warm-up in with your own teammates.
Home matches for our 2.5 daytime team will be on Tuesday mornings with a warm-up time of 8:15 AM and a start time of 8:30 AM, while away matches will have a warm-up time no earlier than 8:00 AM and a start time to be no later than 9:30 AM. The GCTA match schedule generally begins either the last week of May or the first full week of June and will run through July or early August with play-offs and special events extending into mid-August.
What Is My Skill Level?
The USTA rating system is listed below for your review to help you self-evaluate for those of you who may be unsure of your level. If you are still uncertain, then please attend a Saturday morning co-ed clinic (11-12:30 PM) so I can help you determine your level.
General Characteristics of USTA Playing Levels
(From the USTA ranking system)
-1.5 You have limited experience and are working primarily on getting the ball in play.
- 2.0 You lack court experience and your strokes need developing. You are familiar with the basic positions for singles and doubles play.
- 2.5 You are learning to judge where the ball is going, although your court coverage is limited. You can sustain a short rally of slow pace with other players of the same ability.
- 3.0 You are fairly consistent when hitting medium-paced shots, but are not comfortable with all strokes and lack execution when trying for directional control, depth, or power. Your most common doubles formation is one-up, one-back.
My additional input: you can keep the ball in play 6-10 shots or more without missing; you play well enough to make an average high school team.
- 3.5 You have achieved improved stroke dependability with directional control on moderate shots, but need to develop depth and variety. You exhibit more aggressive net play, have improved court coverage and are developing teamwork in doubles.
My additional input: usually, you will have played for several years.
- 4.0 You have dependable strokes, including directional control and depth on both forehand and backhand sides on moderate-paced shots. You can use lobs, overheads, approach shots and volleys with some success and occasionally force errors when serving. Rallies may be lost due to impatience. Teamwork in doubles is evident.
My additional input: you do/have played tournaments, you can compete at the higher positions on most high school teams.
- 4.5 You have developed your use of power and spin and can handle pace. You have sound footwork, can control depth of shots, and attempt to vary game plan according to your opponents. You can hit first serves with power and accuracy and place the second serves with power and accuracy and place the second serve. You tend to over hit on difficult shots. Aggressive net play is common in doubles.
How Much Playing Time Will I Have?
You will play in several matches and playing time will be relatively equal among you and your teammates. More players are required to field a team that can start in a match, so that is why there is some rotation of players and why you will not play every match. Also, of course, there are schedule conflicts which also factor in to who is available to play in the matches. There are also other opportunities that can increase your playing time. At times, teams may have non-starters for that match day who want to play exhibition matches for fun. Also, if your team performs well enough, that extends your season so you will play more matches. There are also special events that a few of you may want to participate in as well.
What Social Opportunities Are There?
Besides competing, the emphasis really is on having fun with your fellow Kinsale friends. You are always invited to stay after practices and matches for food and beverages and team fellowship.
What Do I Wear?
Team Captains will take the lead on organizing and ordering match outfits. For practice, wear tennis appropriate attire.
What Role Does The Captain Play?
Captains will attend preseason meetings, help coordinate match play with the other clubs (correspondence with other team captains), report our scores on the website, determine player schedule availability, help set the line-up (in concert with the Club Professional who is the final decision-maker), take the lead in ordering match outfits, arrange social gatherings, and more.....Please support your captains because it is a lot of hard work on their part and they support you!
When Do I Formally Commit My Intentions To Participate?
Please let Jason know as soon as possible. Although we may add players even into summer, I must enter our preliminary rosters soon. This officially lets the GCTA know we have enough women of a similar level to field a team and the GCTA can then begin determining the match schedule. Please let me know as soon as possible as to both your intention to participate and the level and team (career, daytime, or both) for which you would like to play. Career teams require a minimum of 10 players, while daytime teams require a minimum of 15 players.