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Jr. tennis reverts to old age group competition
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Posted on Nov 19 2008
The 2008 NMITA Fall Classic Championships marked the return to the old age group competition of junior tennis tournaments in Oceania.
From the 9-and-under and 13-and-under age groups, the Fall Classic reverted to the 10-and-under and 14-and-under divisions, which were used in junior competitions in the region in the past several years until it was changed in 2007.
CNMI coach and Northern Mariana Islands Tennis Association vice president Jeff Race said majority of the member-islands of the Oceania Tennis Federations realized that there are more benefits for players in the 10-and-under and 14-and-under than in the 9-and-under and 13-and-under as far as balance of competition and level of skills/physical development are concerned.
“Players in the 14-and-under age group are forced to play in the 18-and-under division, where the level of competition is very high, as players in this higher age group have matured enough after playing in various tournaments,” Race said. “There is also a big difference in the physical development of players in the 14-and-under and 18-and-under age groups.
“So when we were in Fiji, there were discussions on going back to the old age group competition to sort of bring back to balance of competition. Most of the members agreed and we put the agreement in writing and brought it up to OTF,” Race added.
Race said more than a week before NMITA started the Fall Classic, he received information from OTF saying the federation decided to revert to the old age group.
“It’s good news for us and for most of the OTF member-islands. For us, Rafael (Jones) can still play in the 14-and-under age-group competition in the North Pacific Qualifying tournament next year and in the Pacific Oceania Junior Championships in Fiji,” said Race, who added Thea Minor is expected to stay in the girls’ 14-and-under age group competition for two more years.
Minor is only 12 years old, while Jones just turned 14 two months ago.
“We also have a lot of good players in the 10-and-under division who can stay in that age group and continue to improve their skills before moving up to a higher age group. It’s a win-win situation for us,” Race said.
