We, the undersigned, request Mississippi Tennis Association (MTA) to conform to a rule similar to that held by the majority of the states plus Atlanta in USTA Southern Section (6 of 10 states/Atlanta) to limit the NTRP spread between partners in doubles combo levels 5.5 through 7.5. We, also, request USTA Southern Section to conform to a rule similar to that held by the majority of USTA sections with a combo division (5 of 8 sections) to limit the NTRP spread between partners in doubles combo levels 5.5 through 7.5. A current Southern Section rule does limit the NTRP spread between partners in doubles combo level 5.0.  This request does not include combo level 5.0 and levels above 7.5.

The requested rule change will maintain the stated purpose of combo divisions to encourage play with partners of different NTRP levels. The current rule discourages combo participation because it allows distorted NTRP levels of competition on a court or courts. When a 6.5 combo team has multiple 4.5 and 4.0 players or a 7.5 combo team has 5.0 players, fun competition is not possible. When we lose the fun competition, we will lose combo players. When we lose combo players, USTA will lose.

Rules limiting the NTRP spread between partners in doubles combo currently in use by other states and sections are:  1. The NTRP rating difference between the members of an individual doubles pair may not exceed 0.5.  2. The NTRP rating difference between the members of an individual doubles pair may not exceed 1.0.  3. Each combo level has an NTRP upper limit, and a player with an NTRP rating above the limit may not play at that combo level: 5.5 - highest rating allowed is 3.0, 6.5 - highest rating allowed is 3.5, 7.5 - highest rating allowed is 4.0.

In addition to this petition, MTA is conducting a poll on the same subject.  Go to www.mstennis.com to the link in the middle of the page to further express your opinion.  Let's have fun playing tennis!