World Team Tennis

This draft has been accepted for publication for Recreation and Parks in Georgia Magazine. Looking for improvements before I submit my final draft. Any feedback for improvement is welcomed.

Last tennis season, large packs of players, carrying heavy tennis bags over their shoulders, crowded under the clubhouse awning at the John Drew Smith Tennis Center. Team captains checked the draw board for matches and court assignments, then swooped by the front table to pick up cans of Wilson tennis balls. The place was abuzz with activity -- loud fun-loving banter, the clank of bag tags, and upbeat music from a large Sony portable stereo system. It was the first day of a newly introduced tennis program and everyone was excited, especially Carl Hodge, the City of Macon's Parks and Recreations Tennis Director who brought the program to John Drew Smith.

The program? World Team Tennis (WTT).

World Team Tennis, co-founded by Billie Jean King, is league play with a twist. WTT utilizes player substitution, no-ad scoring, and coaching on court to attract its participants. Teams are created with both men and women. Skill levels are averaged – players of different NTPR ratings can form a team. Singles, doubles and mixed matches are played. Scoring is modified so matches move with fast-paced excitement.

Who likes World Team Tennis and Why

Facility Managers and Program Directors embrace WTT:

Tried and True- The concept of team leagues was introduced in the early sixties. The pros began playing World Team Tennis during the seventies, and recreational teams were offered to the general public in 1985. In other words, WTT has been around the block a few times. Follow the already established format and you've got yourself one successful program.


Open Courts - With WTT's quick moving format, a team match can be played in as little as ninety minutes, leaving you plenty of time to conduct your other programs.

Varied Forms - The format is used under other names, like Corporate, Collegiate, X-Team Tennis and junior team tennis --all of which target different tennis audiences. Therefore, facility managers and program directors can satisfy the needs of a broader clientele base.

Players love the WTT concept for the following:

Networking and social – Players love World Team Tennis for the relaxed atmosphere. The entire team is allowed on court to cheer and coach their teammates. "We brought food,” says Adam Dalton, a tennis coach and 4.0 WTT player. "Sharing food and team spirit really develops a sense of camaraderie." Dalton adds, "We moved as a team, in doing so, we beat other teams stronger than we were."

Family Ties – since the league is co-ed, husbands and wives, or boyfriends and girlfriends can play together on the same team. Linda Lawler says, “It was a time that my husband and I could play tennis together, something we rarely get to do.”

Completive Track – All divisions winning at their local level are qualified to advance to the National Qualifiers, giving them a chance to compete in Nationals.

Inexpensive – With league fees costing around $30 yet providing six weeks of match play, WTT is affordable by most everyone who wishes to play.

Coaches like WTT:

Mentoring - The coaching rule permits team members to give advice to their teammates during points. Another opportunity to mentor comes with WTT’s rule on averaging NTPR player ratings. A higher ranked player can join a lower ranked team.

Substitutions – Being able to substitute players means a struggling player can walk to the bench, take a breather, cheer on his team, and jump back in the next match instead of shouldering a loss--which can be discouraging.

If you’re a programs director, facility manager or tennis coach looking for a different format, or, a player wanting a change in the way you’ve been playing matches, why not try World Team Tennis? Where else can you have the team on court, food in the coolers, music in the background and a chance to compete for a national qualifier? For program directors, coaches and players world team tennis is a win-win-win game!

How successful was WTT in Macon, Georgia?

Measure of success - Not only did WTT start out strong, but also the momentum kept growing each week. Macon's Tennis Director, Carl Hodge not only provided a new program for his community, but he filled his courts with activity during down hours. Who can argue with numbers? With 14 teams and 136 players, Macon sent four teams to national qualifiers.

How to get started:

For facility managers, and program directors:
--Visit www.WTT.com,
--Hover over “Local leagues and tournaments”
--Click on “Rec Leagues”
--Click on “Start a League” (located on the right side of page).
--Click on “WTT site licenses” and follow instructions.

Players and Participants:
--Visit www.WTT.com
--Hover over “Local leagues and tournaments”
--Click on “Rec Leagues”
--Click on “Check out all the WTT leagues by city”


For additional information on the WTT Recreational League, call 866-PLAY-WTT.