By Diane Royston, Sunday Women’s League Vice President
Fall tennis in Atlanta begins in September, with warm (or even hot) temperatures and high humidity, and ends seven weeks later with players wearing sweatshirts and thinking of Halloween! Fall, to many in the Atlanta area, is the prime season to play tennis with all the good weather, the blue skies, and the lack of pollen in the air.
The Sunday Women’s League is one of ALTA’s largest leagues, with more than 19,000 players registered on almost 1,000 teams! And why do so many enjoy? Yes, the weather accounts for part of it, but for most, it’s getting out on Sunday afternoons with neighbors and friends, sharing time together, playing competitive tennis, and of course, preparing great food to share with your opponents.
Through my involvement as a volunteer, I have had the opportunity to speak with many players who say the best part of ALTA is making new friends. You all say you look forward to playing some of the same teams from season to season and you enjoy the competition and companionship of your opponents!
What makes a good match other than competition? Good sportsmanship. Honest line calls. That handshake at the end of a match. Additionally, here are some other traits:
Respect for opponents: Players should treat opponents with courtesy, regardless of the outcome. This includes shaking hands at the end of a match, refraining from taunting or mocking, and offering encouragement during tightly contested games.
Consideration for other teams: There are many Sundays when it’s difficult to field a lineup due to school breaks or holidays, and there are frequent times when teams struggle to field a full set of five lines. While it is not mandatory to play any match early, ALTA encourages teams to work together to play at least some lines early so teams won’t have to default lines. Remember, it may not be this season, but at some point, your team may be in a position to request that your opponents play early. If you can accommodate the request, please do so!
Be on time: This applies to both your own team and your opponents. There is a 20-minute default rule that allows a player to arrive ready to play within 20 minutes of the scheduled start time. This rule is primarily in place to accommodate traffic conditions, and we all know Atlanta traffic can be a challenge! Good sportsmanship is shown when you arrive on time and respect your opponents, as well as those on your team who are waiting to play after your match.
I am sure many of you have experienced exemplary sportsmanship during one of your matches — hopefully more than once! Are you aware that ALTA loves to award the Loretta Phillips Sportsmanship Award to these teams or players? It’s easy to nominate an individual player, a team, or possibly a facility director for a Sportsmanship Award by sending the ALTA first vice president an email with details of your experience (firstVP@altatennis.org). Awards are published in Net News each season. Please take the time to recognize good sportsmanship. Maybe you or your team will be next!
If you’re not on a team, perhaps you would like to get a group of your friends and neighbors together and create a team. Maybe you prefer to use the “Players Looking for Teams” feature on the main ALTA website? However you choose, come join the fun of playing ALTA tennis!
