MIAA listens to pitch on Universal Tennis Ratings

Since Universal Tennis formed a partnership with the National Federation of State High School Associations last February, 19 states have signed up to use UTR (Universal Tennis Ratings) to rank their tennis players.

UTR is hoping that Massachusetts becomes the 20th state.

At Thursday morning’s MIAA Tennis Committee meeting, UT president Anne Worcester and program manager Jonathan Hicks reached out in hopes of swaying the committee to consider using their platform in the future.

“This would allow tennis players to connect with other players (of similar skill level) in the city, state, country and world,” Worcester said. “Ever since the pandemic, tennis participation has increased 40%. The sport is safe, played outdoors and socially distanced.”

Hicks elaborated on the many ways that using the UTR could be beneficial to any high school.

“The formula takes into consideration the percentage of games and matches won as well as strength of opponent,” Hicks said. “It’s a system which is very easy to use. A coach can activate his team’s information in less than a minute and create a player’s profile in a short period of time.”

While no vote was taken on the matter, several committee members were clearly interested in the UTR. Sharon boys tennis coach Joan Cutter, a coaches representative to the Tennis Committee, said her son has used it and was impressed with it.

“You play a match and you can put the results and scores right into the phone,” Cutter said. “It does make the kids feel that every little match counts.”

MIAA assistant executive director Sherry Bryant spoke about the upcoming statewide tournament and the rankings which are supposed to be coming out at some point this week. She said the buzz surrounding football and people looking at the rankings every week should be a reason people in all sports should look forward to the new system

“Even though football was using a different (point) system, there was so much excitement leading up to the postseason,” Bryant said. “When we start doing it for the other sports, kids will have their eyes on it and that should enhance and spotlight students in all sports.”