Tennis Advisory Committee

Minutes
September 4, 2002 • 10 a.m.
FHSAA Headquarters
Gainesville, Florida


The meeting was called to order by Gary Pigott, FHSAA Tennis Administrator, at 10:00 a.m. The following committee members were in attendance: Bill Beard (Pace H.S.), Carole Russell (Episcopal H.S.), Mike Kypriss (Dr. Krop H.S.), Kelly Mulligan (Gulliver Prep School) and Steve McGahee (FACA Chair & Mulberry H.S.). Committee members Debbra Love (Dunnellon H.S.) and John Danise (Sebastian River H.S.) were not in attendance. Ms. Love is no longer a tennis coach and Mr. Danise had an emergency situation arise. FHSAA staff members Paul McLaughlin and Cecelia Jackson were also present.

AGENDA ITEMS

Mr. Pigott reviewed the procedure for completing the expense vouchers and e-mail addresses were collected.

Mr. Pigott gave the committee a tour of the new FHSAA building.

Mr. Pigott welcomed the committee to the FHSAA office, reviewed the agenda and gave the committee an overview of their purpose and objective as an advisory committee. Each person present introduced himself or herself.

The committee selected Mike Kypriss, Dr. Krop High School, as chairperson.

Discussion - Review of 2001 Tennis Advisory Committee Minutes: Mr. Kypriss reviewed the four recommendations from the 2001 Tennis Advisory Committee meeting.

Recommendation #1: It was moved by Mr. Danise, seconded by Mr. Hartman and carried, Vote: Unanimous (8-0), to allow hats, caps or visors to be worn with the bill facing forward or backwards at the discretion of the coach (Regulation 6.052).
Rationale: No advantage is gained by wearing a hat backwards.
Headwear is not part of the tennis uniform (unlike baseball).
Adapting to current trends in the sport of tennis.
Serve toss or sun location may dictate bill facing forward or backward.
Legal in all other levels of tennis; USTA rules allow hat backward.
No registered officials at matches, rely on coaches for enforcement.
Individual sport; many amateur and pro tennis players wear their hat backwards.

ATHLETIC DIRECTORS: Endorsed 6-2.
2ND Reading TNAC: Unanimous (5-0)
2nd Reading ADAC:

Recommendation #2: It was moved by Mr. Hartman, seconded by Mr. Beard and carried, Vote: Unanimous (8-0), that an annual FHSAA sponsored rules meeting be required for all head tennis coaches.
Rationale: All other FHSAA sponsored sports have an annual rules meeting.
Education of coaches is critical for the smooth administration of the sport.
Annual meeting should reduce the amount of confusion relative to proper procedures and rules.

ATHLETIC DIRECTORS: Endorsed 9-0.
2ND Reading TNAC: Unanimous (5-0)
2nd Reading ADAC:

Recommendation #3: It was moved by Mr. Danise, seconded by Mr. Beard and carried, Vote: Unanimous (8-0), to provide a copy of the “Friend At Court” USTA rules book to all tennis schools.
Mr. Danise offered to contact the Florida Tennis Association (FTA) about the possibility of donating 500 “Friend At Court” rules books as part of their educational program.
Rationale: Most coaches don’t have a copy of the “Friend At Court” tennis rules book at matches.
If coaches are expected to follow the rules, a rules book should be provided as a reference.
Any issues not addressed by the FHSAA Tennis Manual, defer to USTA rules.

ATHLETIC DIRECTORS: Endorsed 9-0.
2ND Reading TNAC: Unanimous (5-0)
2nd Reading ADAC:

Discussion: A letter from Hialeah-Miami Lakes High School coach Alex Schiraldi was reviewed. Mr. Schiraldi’s letter regarded the problem of fielding a full team and the application of regulation 19.011. The committee made the following recommendation to address the concern.

Recommendation #4: It was moved by Mr. Hartman, seconded by Ms. Mulligan and carried, Vote: Unanimous (8-0), to change the regulations to not require all players with less than a full team to play in the Division 1 singles at the district tournament. Any school with less than a full team will not be eligible for the team title and will follow regulation 6.025 with regard to singles and doubles positions. As per regulation 6.025, forfeits will not apply during the district tournament.
Rationale: The current regulation results in many non-competitive matches and unbalanced draws.
Unfair to schools/students with lower skill levels and lack of participation.
Doesn’t punish individuals and will not permit a 3 player team to win the district tournament.

ATHLETIC DIRECTORS: Endorsed 9-0.
2ND Reading TNAC: Unanimous (5-0)
2nd Reading ADAC:

Discussion - State Tournament Sites/Hosts: The following arrangements have been made for the State Tennis Finals. Mr. Pigott encouraged all committee members to notify anyone interested in hosting to contact him in the FHSAA office.
Class 4A: Site-Sanlando Park & Lake Brantley High School; Dates: TBA
Host: University High School, Orlando
Class 3A: Site-Sanlando Park & Lake Brantley High School; Dates: TBA
Host: University High School, Orlando
Class 2A: Site-Hillsborough Community College, Tampa; Dates: TBA
Host: Jesuit High School, Tampa
Class A: Site -TBA; Dates: TBA and Host: TBA
Maclay School (Tallahassee) has expressed a strong interest in hosting on FSU's campus but has yet to be confirmed.

Discussion - FACA Recommendations: Steve McGahee, newly appointed Florida Athletic Coaches Association (FACA) Tennis Chairperson, did not have any items for the committee to review.

Discussion: The existing FHSAA Tennis Manual was reviewed. Several clarifications were reviewed, but no changes were recommended.

Open Agenda:
Discussion – Palmer Fax (Playoff Format): Ms. Mulligan submitted an item from Todd Palmer, Spruce Creek Tennis Coach, regarding a change to the tennis playoff format. Much discussion was held with regard to possible changes to the format. Mr. Pigott requested that alternatives be discussed and reviewed at the upcoming FACA meeting in Daytona Beach.


Discussion - Completion of Regular Season Matches: Mr. Kypriss brought up the growing problem of tennis teams not wanting to complete individual matches once the team match score has been decided. Mr. Pigott encouraged all coaches to contact the FHSAA office when this occurs at their regular season matches.

Discussion – Individual Participation Requirements (Policy 8): Mr. Pigott reviewed the amendments to Policy 8 (FHSAA Handbook, pages 107-108) with regard to minimum participation requirements for teams and individual players during the regular season, district and region tournaments. These changes will be in effect for the 2003 tennis season.

The meeting was adjourned at 12 p.m.