Pre-Season Report

Athletic Council Meeting January 16, 2008 Agenda Item 13.0

PRE-SEASON REPORT

SECTION VI BOYS TENNIS 2008

Chairperson: Terry McMahon

BOYS CHAIRPERSON BOYS ASSISTANT

Terry McMahon Mike Graffeo

41 Maple Dr. Orchard Park HS

Orchard Park, NY 14127 209-6208 (S)

662-4843  592-8240 (H)

BOYS LEAGUE CHAIRPERSONS

LEAGUE NAME SCHOOL TELEPHONE

(H) (W)

ECIC Jason Krasinski Cheektowaga

NFL Dave Shambach Lockport 434-6463 439-6422

CCIAC Rod Beckerink Southwestern 488-2321 664-6273

NO Chris Horgan Medina 798-3193 798-2100

Buffalo Andrea Norton City Honors 692-3942 888-7141

BOYS TENNIS CALENDAR

The Section VI approved Boys Tennis season is March 5 - June 15

First Practice March 5, 2008

First Scrimmage March 12, 2008

First Contest March 14, 2008

Seeding Meeting: Site Southtowns Tennis Club, 9:00 AM May 18, 2008

Sectional Entry due date May 19, 2008

Spring Scholar Athletes Form May 15, 2008

SECTIONALS

Tuesday-Friday, May 20-23, 2008

3:00 PM

Lancaster High School

STATES

Thursday- Saturday, May 29- 31, 2008

National Tennis Center, Flushing (NYC)

New York State Public High School Athletic Association

Boys Tennis Coordinators Annual Meeting

Date: Monday, November 19, 2007

Place: NYSPHSAA Office; 8 Airport Park Blvd.; Latham, NY 12110

Time: 9:00 AM-called to order at 9:15.

Agenda:

I.  Attendance-

{Present}: Neil Stepman(1), Gene Gould(2), Bob Walrath(3), Rick Steiner(5), Terry McMahon(6), Barry Kubit(8), Bob Siracuse(9), John Valente(11), Selina DeCicco (Boys Coordinator), Bob Stulmaker(Assistant Director), Joe Altieri (Assistant Director)

{Absent}: Mike Burke (4), Matt Slattery(7)

II.  Update Coordinator List- *see attachment

III.  2007 NYSPHSAA Tournament

A.  Draw Sheets, Sportsmanship, *Section Results

-the format for earning “section points” for the 2007 championships will be checked by calling Joe Thyroff who has verified the scoring in past tournaments. Results will be sent by e-mail to all section coordinators for their records and will appear in the 2008 Championship Program.

--“Sectional Champions” will be given a t-shirt or hat from the extra shirts/hats that are made for the state championship committee each year, reserving nine items for the sectional team winner.

IV.  2007 Annual Report

--The next annual meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 17, 2008 at 9:30 AM at the NYSPHSAA Office, 8 Airport Park Boulevard, Latham, NY 12110.

-The seeding meeting schedule in regards to many preparations required before the start of the tournament was discussed. Due to a late start of the seeding meeting from a mix-up of the conference room, a late arrival of a section coordinator, broken printers in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, and 1st time coordinator experience, it was suggested by the committee to have the starting time be more “flexible.” Starting after 1 PM to allow for necessary preparations before the start of the tournament was suggested and agreed by the committee rather than starting the tournament at a later time or moving the seeding meeting to an earlier time.

-Suggestions to improve the start of the tournament were made based on limited courts and court time available due to construction at the tennis center forcing a pressing schedule that might still be a concern while construction continues in 2008. These suggestions included: the state coordinator to” expand a personal tournament committee” for the purpose of fulfilling some of the pressing responsibilities that must occur before the start of the tournament. Assistance in the following might be considered: someone other than the state coordinator compiling the tournament draw rather than the state coordinator trying to run the seeding meeting and compile the tournament draw at the same time; printing the draw during the seeding meeting or use a personal printer to make copies should problems with the hotel printers reoccur, to allow the state coordinator to arrive at the tournament site with necessary equipment in a timely fashion; to prepare the tournament desk area, and to assist the tournament desk in its operations and communications with trainers, officials, etc. This would allow all coordinators to observe and oversee matches involving their sectional athletes when necessary.

-Concern to “expand a personal tournament committee” is a financial concern as to whether this expense could be a budget item. I will inquire.

-A “poster draw” was suggested to facilitate the seeding meeting while compiling the tournament draw.

-Record keeping for Boys Tennis, past results, access to results, etc. was discussed. It is our understanding that Lloyd Mott is given copies of all results for state championships. I will contact the NYSPHSAA office at my earliest convenience to verify as the committee expressed an interest in such records.

-Clarification of guidelines for the NYSPHSAA Tournament, including situations of unsportsmanlike conduct (ex. cheering and/or taunting) will be made by the tournament committee should any such situations occur at the NYSPHSAA tournament that may vary with USTA Tournament guidelines. (What seemed permissible in junior USTA Tournaments may not adhere to the appropriate behavior set forth in our sportsmanship standards for NYSPHSAA competition.)

V.  Review Rules

A.  Coman Tie-Breaker

-the coman tie-breaker will be used again during the 2008 tournament for doubles only.

B.  3rd Set Tie-Breaker

-the coman “10-point” tiebreaker will be used for the third set for consolation doubles.

- the “10 point” tiebreaker will be used for the third set in consolation singles.

-the third set tie-breaker may be used for main draw matches after a rain delay at the tournament director’s discretion.

VI.  Confirm 2008 NYSPHSAA Tournament

A.  Seeding Meeting

-May 29th, 2008, 9:00 AM at the Crowne Plaza LaGuardia Conference Room.

B.  Dates: May 29th, 30th, 31st, 2008

-Players/Coaches Welcome Meeting at 1 PM at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center

C.  Crowne Plaza LaGuardia Hotel: (718)457-6300

-Sectional Coordinators are encouraged to make all reservations at their earliest convenience by attention to Dorothy Becker of the Crowne Plaza LaGuardia. Early arrivals, cots, etc. were discussed as items which need improvement.

D.  Commitment to Compete/Code of Conduct Forms

-Code of conduct forms were made available to coordinators at this meeting. Contact the NYSPHSAA office should more copies be needed.

VII.  Issues/Concerns

A. USTA Officials

-Clarification of guidelines for the NYSPHSAA Tournament, including situations of unsportsmanlike conduct (ex. cheering and/or taunting) will be made by the tournament committee should any such situations occur at the NYSPHSAA tournament that may vary with USTA Tournament guidelines. (What seemed permissible in junior USTA Tournaments may not adhere to the appropriate behavior set forth in our sportsmanship standards for NYSPHSAA competition.)

B.  Player Withdrawal (loss of condition)

-the consolation singles final ended with a player with “loss of condition” as stated by the USTA Official.

C.  Dress Code

-see item A above.

D.  Tournament Improvement (“On Deck” board, Walkie-Talkies, Water, Trainers, Tournament Desk, Bungee Cords for NYSPHSAA Banners)

-Walkie-talkies and cell-phones will be used by the sectional coordinators, officials and trainers to communicate with the tournament desk as needed. It will be necessary to acquire several walkie-talkies for those without cell-phones and for the officials during the tournament.

-An “on-deck” white-board will be available to keep players informed of matches waiting

-water will be available for players at the 2008 tournament as the NYSPHSAA has a new contract with Price Chopper.. Arrangements for delivery will be reviewed by Joe Altieri.

-A request for two trainers was made by the committee for the 2008 tournament.

-Early reservations will be made for an indoor facility at either Sound Shore in Port Chester or Point Set Indoor Racquet Club (Dan Dwyer is the contact person there.)

E.  National Tennis Center Schedule (Deadline: Saturday, 12:00 Noon)

-a meeting with the USTA Office is suggested by the committee to review the conditions of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center and the conditions for the 2008 tournament to review availability of courts, deadlines for completions of play, indoor court space in case of rain, and other expressed concerns for the tournament, electrical outlets, golf carts, opening the front gate, a storage room and/or room for the tournament desk committee, officials and trainers, possible use of Armstrong Stadium and Arthur Ashe Stadium for the finals, open/closed restrooms/showers, etc.

F.  New Business

-A proposal by the committee to have plaques awarded to the champions of the main draw of the tournament in singles and doubles was discussed and all present were in favor of this proposal. Three (3) plaques as shown in the state program (N.Y.S.P.H.S.A.A. Plaque Replicas made by Conference Medal and Trophy Co., Inc., the official awards manufacturer to the NYSPHSAA), would replace the current NYSPHSAA “medal award” as NYSPHSAA State Plaques are awarded in most state championships. The fee for the State Plaques would be $76.65 including shipping and handling as shown in the state program. This formal proposal will be

G.  NYSPHSAA Issues

-(Joe Altieri )Discussion of the new form for Submitting Rosters, Pictures, State Tournament Results & Schedules; the contract with Price Chopper for bottled water for state competition.

H.  Next Meeting

-9:00 AM, May 29th, 2007 at the Crowne Plaza LaGuardia Hotel in conference room TBA.

Respectfully Submitted,

Selina M. DeCicco, Boys Tennis State Coordinator

12/3/07

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