San Diego Junior Team Tennis Realizes Huge Growth and Participation in 2017

14 Advanced National Champions Team Top Gun 2013 RPTC with Conan Lorenzo

The fantastic growth of the USTA’s Junior Team Tennis (JTT) program is a source of pride for many in the San Diego area. Looking back in 2017, the numbers indicate that players and parents are catching on to the benefits of this great program. The statistics tell the story and they say something is going very right in San Diego JTT.

Leading at the JTT helm is UPSTA Coach Conan Lorenzo, the San Diego Area Coordinator for the Southern California Tennis Association. He stepped in 5 years ago, and that has made all of the difference. There are currently over 80 teams competing in with approximately 1,500 players in the various divisions, levels and age groups.

“The reason I asked to jump in to help with USTA San Diego Junior Team Tennis was mainly due to seeing other areas flourish in Southern California while we were in the back seat,” Lorenzo said. “I felt our division could do a better job with participation while also giving our other sections more competition at sectionals for team tennis.”

One remarkable change change in the JTT offerings is the use of junior ratings at all levels and expanding Red, Orange and Green divisions. There has been 100 percent growth in Orange Ball and Green Dot JTT participation. Also, the numbers of teams have doubled from the previous year.

“I think we are seeing more coaches get on board with the Red, Orange and Green Dot tennis,” Lorenzo said of the JTT boom in San Diego. “Specifically, the Green Dot players are adapting to this level. As a result, this trickles down to coaching. I believe more pros are using Red, Orange and Green Dot balls in training, matches and tournaments. I think this is terrific for San Diego.”

“Just like any startup program with organizing player levels, there is an adjustment period,” Lorenzo says of the learning curve around player ratings. “We had a few bumps and bruises and it took time to figure things out. Now that the computer has a lot of results to help rate the players more accurately, we are seeing our matches much closer in scores which makes each competition even better!”

Congratulations to all of the San Diego teams for winning their respective divisions below. They advance to the So Cal Sectionals in Palm Springs next month.

Division: 10-and-under Orange Ball and Green Dot Teams