(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)