PRESIDENT’S LETTER
Looking Ahead Following an Unprecedented Pandemic
I
t has been almost a year since we restarted
of these restrictions lifted, we expect to return to
league play after the spring season in 2020
our previous match format of best two out of
was shut down during the pandemic. We
three sets.
are happy to be able to offer league play
We’ve also heard there is a fair amount
during this time, as it is a much-needed outlet
of confusion regarding the ball exchange.
for so many of our members.
ALTA made no changes to our ball exchange
When we introduced our temporary COVID guidelines, we had no idea that we would still be
rules during the pandemic. We simply advised if anyone was uncomfortable accepting the offered
following them a year later. Understandably, we often receive
balls at the end of the match, they were free to decline.
questions about some of these temporary measures. Allow
They should be offered if the home team opened the can and
me to clarify:
subsequently won the match.
It probably comes as no surprise that the questions we are
Another change necessitated by COVID involved the
asked most often concern the mandatory third-set tiebreaker
location of our City Finals. Over the past year, all City Finals
that is played in lieu of a full third set. While we have received a
matches have been held at the courts of the home team.
lot of positive feedback from those who prefer the tiebreaker,
We are working on a plan to safely move back to centralized
the majority of our members want to see the option of a full
locations. As of this writing, plans have not been finalized, but
third set back in the mix.
many of you may see a different City Finals format as early as
Currently, our decision to keep the mandatory tiebreaker
this spring.
in place has more to do with restrictions and limitations
We are very thankful for the positive changes we have
at many of the participating facilities than anything else.
seen since last year, and look forward to the eventual return
Many of the larger public facilities and private clubs still
of our pre-COVID practices. It is definitely a slower and more
are limiting spectators and the time individuals can spend
measured process than the abrupt shutdown last year. Thank
at their facilities both prior to and after matches. Some are
you for your patience and commitment to our leagues as we
only allowing players to arrive a few minutes before their
navigate through it all.
matches begin. The third-set tiebreaker makes start times more predictable for those players not in the first time slot. We
Debbie Gaster, 2021 ALTA President
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reassess this each season, and when we start to see some
