Girls Tennis

Girls Tennis

Overview

Portland Girls Tennis Program Information

WHO: The Portland Girls Tennis Team is open to all PHS girls who will be in grades 9 through 12 during the 2007-2008 school year. The top 12 to 15 players on the team will constitute the varsity squad, while the remaining players form the JV-A (and JV-B squads).

WHERE: All practices and home matches will be played at the Portland High School Tennis Facility. However, in the event of inclement weather, some practices will be moved indoors to the PHS gymnasium, Court One, North in Lansing, or to the MSU Tennis Facility. Team announcements, school announcements, posted signs on the tennis barn and/or outside of PHS room 403 will be used to inform all players of any changes to the schedule AS SOON AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE.

WHEN: Practices will begin Monday, March 10, 2008. Times and locations are described on the season schedule (See attached).

OFF-SEASON PLAY: No player will be denied a spot on the team because she did not participate in any off-season, organized tennis opportunities. Likewise, no player will be guaranteed a spot on the team because she did. However, it has been my experience that players who participate in off-season, organized tennis programs generally improve their skills faster and further than those who do not. For this reason, I will encourage ALL players to get involved in off-season tennis programs. I can suggest many that are available to all players at the best possible price that I can find.

EQUIPMENT/COSTS: Listed below are items that a typical player on a high school tennis team might have. They fall into one of three categories: 1) the player is expected to have it and must provide for its cost, 2) it is an optional item that is at the player’s discretion to purchase, or 3) it is an equipment item that is necessary and will be provided to the player by the school as part of the $100 activity fee. In any event, approximate costs are included when possible.

Uniform Items:

  • Team uniform top(s) – ~$50.00 (less any find-raiser money)
  • Team uniform bottom – required at player’s cost (must be BLACK)
  • Team sweat top – provided
  • Team sweat bottom – provided
  • Court shoes/socks – required at player’s cost

Equipment Items:

  • Tennis Racket/strings – required at player’s cost (loaners available)
  • Tennis balls – provided
  • Sweat towels – optional at player’s
  • Personal water jug – provided to Varsity players only
  • Equipment bag – provided to Varsity players only
  • Chair – provided to Varsity players only

Miscellaneous:

  • $100 Activity Fee – required at player’s cost
  • Physical – required at player’s cost BEFORE PARTICIPATION

TEAM RULES/EXPECTATIONS: As a player on the Portland Girls Tennis Team, you are expected to portray yourself with the high standards of dignity and character that have been established by those players who have come before you. This is NOT limited to matches or other school and team functions. It means ALWAYS! Furthermore, as a member of a TEAM, you have a responsibility to take care of yourself both academically and physically. You also have an expectation to help teammates maintain these high expectations. For when a player makes an error in personal judgment that leads to her absence or her inability to perform to her fullest potential, it undermines the success that the TEAM might have otherwise experienced. To that end, the followed team rules have been established.

  1. All school rules, athletic rules, and bus rules adopted by the Portland Public Schools Board of Education are in effect and will be STRICTLY ENFORCED.
  2. During match play you are expected to follow the commonly held USTA Code of Conduct guidelines. These will be taught and emphasized during practice sessions. This would include, but is not limited to, introducing yourself to your opponent(s) before you play, complementing them on good play during the match, and shaking their hands — win or lose — after the match. In short, you are to compete with dignity.
  3. You are expected to be on time to all schedules practices, be on the courts and ready to play at least 45 minutes before all home matches, and be in the teacher’s parking lot and ready to play at least 10 minutes before the bus is to leave for away matches.
  4. All players are expected to remain at the match site until all matches are completed (unless special notification is ACCEPTED BY THE COACH). Furthermore, you are expected to display your support to your teammates whose matches are still in progress.
  5. All players are expected to be at all practices unless:
    • The player had an unexpected conflict arise (eg. Home sick from school, family emergency, etc.),
    • The player has scheduled a private lesson with a tennis pro that conflicts with our schedule AND WITH COACH APROVAL,
    • Prior notification (preferably written) is given to AND ACCEPTED by the coach (eg: family vacation, prior yet unavoidable schedule conflict, etc.) Excuses that are often given but usually NOT ACCEPTED by the coach are routine appointments for haircuts, dentists, and the like; and, for after school jobs. There are several days-off built into the schedule that will be announced with plenty of lead-time that can be used for routine appointments. And, after school jobs simply have to be prioritized below tennis if the player is to be considered serious about the TEAM.

TEAM CAPTAIN: Each year a team captain (or captains) will be selected by the players for the following season. This position on the team comes with additional responsibilities that are critical to the success of the team each season. These responsibilities include – but are not limited to – the following:

  1. The Team Captain is the emotional leader at all tennis events: practices, matches, and tournaments.
  2. The Team Captain is expected to set a good positive example for others to follow. The Team Captain
    • Works hard and listens attentively at all practices.
    • Sets the tone for mutual support of all teammates.
    • Models handling success as well as failures.
    • “Leads by example.”
    • At practices, the Team Captain:
    • Leads warm-up activities and stretches.
    • Assists the coach with drill execution.
    • Makes sure equipment is ready before practice and returned at the end of practice (this detail can be delegated).
    • Is given the opportunity to call team meetings/discussions (upon the coach’s approval) as seen fit
    • At Matches and Tournaments, the Team Captain:
    • Leads warm-up activities and stretches.
    • Organizes our equipment “camp” at away events. The Captain also makes sure the “camp” is returned to its original condition at the end of the match or tournament.
    • Assists newer players with proper match and tournament etiquette (eg: when to listen for “next open”, how to warm up before it is called, how to warm up on court with an opponent, how to respond to bad calls, noisy crowds, and Coach Niebling, etc.)
    • Rallies the players to support “critical” and “close” matches.
    • The Team Captain acts as a liaison between players and coach. This is a critical and important role the captain must assume. Yet, it is probably the most difficult. In short, the captain acts as the person whom players can confide when it is difficult or inappropriate to involve the coach. Likewise, the captain is included in many of the “team management” issues and will be asked to give the coach recommendations on such matters.

TEAM AWARDS/VARSITY LETTERS: At the season’s end, varsity letters/inserts, JV letters and several team awards will be presented to the players. The following are the criteria by which the awards will be determined.

Letters
Varsity Letters/Inserts – The player must remain in good standing throughout the entire season. Players who do not complete the entire season will not be awarded varsity status. The player must also have participated in at least 1/3 of the varsity matches during the regular season (not to include regional and state tournaments). Furthermore, the coach maintains the right to award or deny varsity status to any player. However, no such action may be taken without the approval from the Activities Coordinator.

JV Letters – The player must remain in good standing throughout the entire season. Players who do not complete the entire season will not be awarded a JV letter. Otherwise, all players who do not obtain varsity status will be awarded JV status. As above, the coach maintains the right to award or deny JV status to any player, but not without approval of the Activities Coordinator.

Schedule