On Monday, January 10 the NSWPTL Board announced that points earned during the Winter session of play in 2022 would not count towards team placements in Fall 2022, without any consultation with member Club Pros, Coordinators or Administrators. This petition calls on the Board to reverse this decision for this reason, as well as the for the following factors:

1. It is not a proportional response to the current covid risk.

Pre-vaccination, suspending team movement during the season was understandable. However, post-vaccination, the risk of serious illness has dramatically decreased especially while playing an outdoor sport. School and Professional sports programs both indoor and outdoor are continuing to play their seasons with postponements scheduled only as needed. Today's ruling is not proportional to the current nor potential risk.

2. Equity with other Women's Leagues

All Women's Paddle Leagues are allowing movement to happen at the end of this season, which includes the Southwest Ladies League (Hinsdale PD, Hinsdale Golf Club, Glen Ellyn PD, etc), New Jersey's Ladies League, New York's Ladies League, and Connecticut's Ladies League.

3. Equity with the Men's Leagues

Last year, the Men's League did not suspend team movement. They have not suspended team movement again this year. If the Men's League can figure out how to play and keep members safe, certainly the Women's League can do so as well.

4. Engagement

This rule means that for 3 out of the past 4 half seasons, there has been no team movement. In their ruling, the League cited a need to maintain player engagement as a reason for this ruling. We feel that this ruling will actually cause disengagement and feelings of stagnation amongst players.

5. Other Sports Leagues

From Professional sports leagues all the way down to local school programs, sports are continuing to be played. Play-offs, State titles, etc. are all returning in both indoor and outdoor sports. While some postponements need to occur, they are done on a case by case basis.

6. Movement Up/Down Promotes More Evenly Balanced Competition In Each Series

The goal of any travel league is to provide players and clubs with a more competitive environment to allow for more competitive matches. By moving the top two teams up and bottom two teams down, there will be fewer uneven matches (i.e. less blowouts) by creating more evenly balanced teams in each division.

Please sign ASAP to show your support for this petition, and share with your teammates and friends in the NSWPTL.