HD Tennis Launches New Match Format for New Junior Players

September 6, 2012 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
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HD Tennis, a USTA Eastern Long Island Region member organization, has announced its First Annual DOTS Invitational, a new tennis program for kids that is designed to be a first introduction to match play in a less competitive format. The inaugural event has been scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 15 at Cantiague Park in Hicksville, N.Y. Registration begins at 10:00 a.m. and match play at 11:00 a.m.

“We created DOTS, or Developmental On-Court Tennis Series, to help children learn the basics of match play and aid them as they move to USTA Level 3 or Junior Team Tennis play, where less coaching is allowed,” said Martin DeVito and Herbert Harris, partners in HD Tennis. “This new format is designed to be fun for players, their parents and guests.”

DeVito and Harris explained that each team will play five games in three matches. Each match is expected to last approximately one hour. Each court will have a court monitor to aid the players, help keep score and keep the event on schedule. The format is 16 points per game—each player “serves” 4 or 8 times (2/4 on the deuce side, 2/4 on the ad side). A serve can be overhead, bounce and hit or by the court monitor. If there is a tie, the players will spin for serve, and the monitor will serve the ball in. There will be no switching of sides. Coaching, helping and cheering are all allowed and encouraged, according to DeVito and Harris.

Any club, Community Tennis Association (CTA) or youth tennis program is invited to send a team to the DOTS Invitational. Interested groups can contact DeVito at (631) 806-6112 or Harris at (516) 852-1797 or e-mail hdtennisli@gmail.com.

Awards will be presented at the end of the event and water and snacks will be provided. Cantiague Park is located on West John Street in Hicksville, N.Y. The rain date for the event is the following day, Sunday, Sept. 16.


Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
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