You need to play USTA tennis if you want to play in college!
August 17th, 2008 - byIt’s as simple as that. Take a gander at the NCSA men’s tennis and women’s tennis recruiting guidelines — notice anything about requirements for each level? All of them list USTA or ITA qualifications, from Division I all the way down to Division III.
And if you don’t believe me, read the following passage from an article in the Danbury News Times about a father-daughter tennis pair, Ward Jannuzzi and Lauren McCarthy:
She’s also a solid singles player. McCarthy was just 15 when she posted a 20-0 record as a sophomore and claimed the state championship. It was her only season of scholastic tennis.
“I wanted to do it to be in a team environment where it is fun. I knew college tennis was going to be really intense and difficult and competitive and it was just nice to see girls who were out there just to have fun. I really liked that they were supportive of me. It was a great year. I wouldn’t have traded it for anything.”
Thereafter, McCarthy eschewed scholastic tennis to concentrate on the Nationals. College coaches do much of their recruiting at two USTA junior tournaments, and because McCarthy was young for her grade she had only a one-year window in the 18s division.
It’s common sense — coaches know that the most-talented and most-determined players are going to play not just in high school, but in outside tournaments. McCarthy even went so far as to fore-go a year of high school tennis because she knew she would be looked at more seriously playing USTA tennis.
Now, you don’t have to go as far as quitting your high school team to just focus on USTA, but you absolutely need that extra playing experience if you want to ace your college recruiting opportunities.
