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I am hoping you will join me in asking USTA Southern California to ban level 5 tournament directors from scheduling matches during school hours on Mondays.
For those of you who may not be familiar with the Level 5 format- they are up to three-day events-Saturday, Sunday, Monday(if needed). It is an unspoken rule that we tournament directors schedule any Monday matches after 4:30, to allow children to attend school AND play their match, not to have to choose one or the other.
Tournament directors ARE scheduling Monday matches as early as noon on non-holiday Mondays. This upsets me, both as a tournament director and especially as a parent, who has had to make the decision to either withdraw my child (and loose money and have an avoidable "walkover" on their record) or pull him early from school with an unexcused absence.
These are "local level" tournaments, marketed as "high intermediate", that is meant to be user-friendly and convenient. These are not higher level National 3,2 & 1 events where elite players know they are committed for the duration of the event. Tournament play that forces players to choose between school and sport is not only wrong for educational reasons, it is socio-economically inequitable.
USTA Southern California confirmed that they don't think it is a good idea to schedule matches on Monday during school hours, but that they didn't have an official rule about this. They also said I am the only person to have complained about this, so they are not sure that it is an issue. That is why I am asking you to sign the below petition if you agree that children should not have to decided between playing the sport they love and attending school.
(PLEASE SKIP THE DONATE MONEY OPTION - it is an unavoidable field, due to the petition platform being free. I can't remove it)
Updates
Reached 100 supporters
December 5, 2021
19 Comments
What so many people do not understand is that much learning occurs during class discussions, something that cannot ever be made up. Please stop asking children to miss out on their education.
Playing tennis at that age should only be on weekends. It is a detriment to kids school for tennis. Once they are playing for their schools, they don’t have a choice but this action is unnecessary
I don't understand why anyone will knowingly create an avoidable conflict between school and sports.
L5 is not a friendly competitive level. One not high enough merit missing school.
Academics first, always. Matches held before 4:30 on a week day especially for high school kids is unacceptable.
This health crisis has placed a heavy and harder burden on learning than expected, pulling learners during the instructional time is not in the best interest of the learners, teachers or the learning community
Sports is important but so is education. Please don't make parents choose one or the other for their child. Hold sporting events after school hours OR during weekends only.
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(PLEASE SKIP THE DONATE MONEY OPTION - it is an unavoidable field, due to the petition platform being free. I can't remove it)
I am hoping you will join me in asking USTA Southern California to ban level 5 tournament directors from scheduling matches during school hours on Mondays.
For those of you who may not be familiar with the Level 5 format- they are up to three-day events-Saturday, Sunday, Monday(if needed). It is an unspoken rule that we tournament directors schedule any Monday matches after 4:30, to allow children to attend school AND play their match, not to have to choose one or the other.
Tournament directors ARE scheduling Monday matches as early as noon on non-holiday Mondays. This upsets me, both as a tournament director and especially as a parent, who has had to make the decision to either withdraw my child (and loose money and have an avoidable "walkover" on their record) or pull him early from school with an unexcused absence.
These are "local level" tournaments, marketed as "high intermediate", that is meant to be user-friendly and convenient. These are not higher level National 3,2 & 1 events where elite players know they are committed for the duration of the event. Tournament play that forces players to choose between school and sport is not only wrong for educational reasons, it is socio-economically inequitable.
USTA Southern California confirmed that they don't think it is a good idea to schedule matches on Monday during school hours, but that they didn't have an official rule about this. They also said I am the only person to have complained about this, so they are not sure that it is an issue. That is why I am asking you to sign the below petition if you agree that children should not have to decided between playing the sport they love and attending school.
(PLEASE SKIP THE DONATE MONEY OPTION - it is an unavoidable field, due to the petition platform being free. I can't remove it)
Updates
Reached 100 supporters
December 5, 2021
19 Comments
What about families who couldn't pull their kids out of school even if they wanted to? This is an unfair practice that would disproportionately affect already disadvantaged families.
What so many people do not understand is that much learning occurs during class discussions, something that cannot ever be made up. Please stop asking children to miss out on their education.
Playing tennis at that age should only be on weekends. It is a detriment to kids school for tennis. Once they are playing for their schools, they don’t have a choice but this action is unnecessary
I don't understand why anyone will knowingly create an avoidable conflict between school and sports.
L5 is not a friendly competitive level. One not high enough merit missing school.
Academics first, always. Matches held before 4:30 on a week day especially for high school kids is unacceptable.
This health crisis has placed a heavy and harder burden on learning than expected, pulling learners during the instructional time is not in the best interest of the learners, teachers or the learning community
Sports is important but so is education. Please don't make parents choose one or the other for their child. Hold sporting events after school hours OR during weekends only.
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What about families who couldn't pull their kids out of school even if they wanted to? This is an unfair practice that would disproportionately affect already disadvantaged families.