BLACKWOOD TENNIS CLUB

SENIOR REPORT

2002-2003 SEASON

There have been a few highlights and some disappointments this year. Again this year, the Club did not field a Division 1 team. However we fielded teams in Divisions 2, 4, 6, 6 Men only and two teams in Division 2 Doubles. Most teams were competitive and even the team that wasn’t competitive every week, still managed to win sets and have an enjoyable season. This season the Club has 4 teams in the finals and we wish Divisions 4, 6, 6 Men Only and the Doubles Div 2 Green teams all the best for the finals in the next 3 weeks.

Yes you heard right, Seniors start finals next week. From an organisational point of view the season is too long and the Club has expressed these sentiments to the Association. The late finish has created a situation where players are trying to juggle commitment to a summer sport that is still running and a winter sport that starts in the next week or so.

I was very pleased to see that we had a number of players coming from Juniors and still playing Senior tennis for the Club. Our Division 6 Men Only team is comprised of ex- Juniors and they have finished top after the minor round.

However, on too many occasions our Senior teams, particularly the Women section, have struggled for players. Fortunately, we have not forfeited any matches this year. It is impossible to win a match when you start 8 sets to love down. Again on several occasions it was necessary to find 10 or more players to fill the teams and the Club only had to put 28 players on court for the singles competition and 16 players in the Doubles Competition. Thank you to the Juniors and the many other people who agreed to fill in, often at short notice during the year.

Whilst some players found work interfered with Saturday tennis, many were able to arrange shifts and ensured that they could continue to play an enjoyable game each week. Unfortunately, it was again evident that many players do not understand the word COMITMENT. We must continue to seek new players, particularly committed players and I ask that all members encourage new and existing players at every opportunity.

The Association is currently looking at two very significant changes to Senior Tennis for next year. The first is to split the teams into Men and Ladies competition, the same as the Juniors. This would enable club to field teams in grades appropriate to the standard of all players. No longer would one sex have to play higher or lower to accommodate a perceived different standard of the other members of the team. It would also allow clubs to provide a more even competition. The big draw back is the loss of possible social interaction of sexes.

The other significant change being examined is the possibility of split times. This would mean that a team would play from say 12.45 p.m. to 3.45 p.m. They would then leave the court and allow a second “shift” to play from say 3.45 p.m. to 6.45 p.m. The following week or maybe in the 2^nd half of the season the grade that played in the early session would then play in the late session. This would save people sitting around the courts for sometimes 6 or more hours for 3 sets of tennis. The association is also looking at reducing the number of doubles sets played in the singles competition to one 9 game set. This may be an option by itself to reduce the time spent at the courts. Clubs are finding it harder to get players to give up a whole afternoon for 3 sets. It is particularly difficult to convince Junior players, who are now used to playing for 2 hours and going home. The future of this club and the association may well depend on embracing some, if not all of the changes.

As a separate matter, the club urgently needs a couple of people willing to help run the Senior teams at Blackwood. It has been left to too few in the past 3 or 4 seasons and quite frankly I have other interests to pursue during the week, so please consider helping, rather than just playing Senior Tennis next year.

With players playing requirements changing, the club itself continues to seek new ways to meet the community’s needs. In 1997/98 the Club installed lights on 2 courts. The Club now has 6 lit courts available for hire in summer and 4 in winter, although 2 courts are used by the netball club on Tuesday and Wednesday nights during winter. This year, we conducted Social Tennis on Monday night and whilst numbers were low, it has been regular and we again thank Dean Lorraine for his organisation.

In closing, I wish all teams the best for the finals and suggest that if you can, please come and support your club mates, even for an hour on Saturday.

Garry Dolman
Senior Tennis Coordinator