Frequently Asked Questions
WHAT IS THE COST TO PLAY IN YOUR LEAGUES?
The entire 2-month season costs LESS than most weekend tournaments!
Your $37 registration fee includes an EXCITING seven-match regular season and a shot at the season-ending Tournament of Champions with the coveted “Really Big Trophies”.
HOW SHOULD I RATE MYSELF?
A rookie is a first year player who does NOT have a verifiable USTA rating. Players with a verifiable USTA rating shall play at that level and will not be considered rookies.
Rookies shall self rate themselves using the USTA’s National Tennis Rating Program Playing Level Guidelines. Rookies shall be subject to an ACE Index promotion after the conclusion of their first regular league season and prior to the first round of that first season’s Tournament of Champions if space is available. Promotion for the Tournament of Champions and subsequent regular seasons will occur for any Rookie who qualifies for the Tournament of Champions (if space is available) with an ACE Index over 95.00.
Non-Rookies will not be promoted during the regular season or for the Tournament of Champions.
For rookies self rating, below is the National Tennis Rating Program (NTRP) guidelines. The U.S. Tennis Association developed the NTRP rating system and it is the most accurate rating system available. Player levels are based on a scale from 1.0 to 7.0, but our leagues are based on levels from 3.0 — 5.0.
| 1.0 | This player is just starting to play tennis. |
| 1.5 | Has limited experience and is still working primarily on getting the ball into play. |
| 2.0 | Needs on-court experience. Has obvious stroke weaknesses but is familiar with basic positions for singles and doubles play. |
| 2.5 | Learning to judge where the ball is going although court coverage is weak. Can sustain a short rally of slow pace with other players of the same ability. |
| 3.0 | Fairly consistent when hitting medium-paced shots, but is not comfortable with all strokes and lacks execution when trying for directional control, depth or power. Most common doubles formation is one-up and one-back. |
| 3.5 | Has achieved improved stroke dependability with directional control on moderate shots, but still lacks depth and variety. Starting to exhibit more aggressive net play, has improved court coverage and is developing teamwork in doubles. |
| 4.0 | Has dependable strokes, including directional control and depth on both forehand and backhand sides on moderate shots, plus the ability to use lobs, overheads, approach shots and volleys with some success. Occasionally forces errors when serving and teamwork in doubles is evident. Rallies may be lost due to impatience. |
| 4.5 | Starting to master the use of power and spins and beginning to handle pace, has sound footwork, can control depth of shots and is beginning to vary game plan according to opponents. Can hit first serves with power and accuracy and place the second serve. Tends to overhit on difficult shots. Aggressive net play is common in doubles. |
| 5.0 | Has good shot anticipation and frequently has an outstanding shot or exceptional consistency around which a game may be structured. Can regularly hit winners or force errors off of short balls and can put away volleys, can successfully execute lobs, drop shots, half volleys and overhead smashes and has good depth and spin on most second serves. |
| 5.5 | Has developed power and/or consistency as a major weapon. Can vary strategies and styles of play in a competitive situation and hit dependable shots in a stress situation. |
| 6.0 | Generally do not need NTRP ratings. Rankings or past rankings will speak for themselves. The 6.0 player has obtained a sectional and /or national ranking. |
| 6.5 | The 6.5 player has extensive satellite tournament experience. |
| 7.0 | The 7.0 player makes his living from tournament prize money. |
HOW DO I QUALIFY TO PLAY IN A TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS?
Finish in the top four of your 8-player (or 8-team) regular-season league and you qualify to compete in that season’s Tournament of Champions.
HOW MANY PLAYERS WILL BE IN MY LEAGUE?
Just like its name implies, every Super-8 league will consist of exactly eight players or teams — no exceptions.
WHY ARE YOUR LEAGUES CALLED SUPER-8?
Besides the fact that every league has eight players, “Super-8” reflects both the unique league structure and the supercharged competition that it provides.
Since each league is divided into two flights of four competitors, you get not one, but two chances to beat your opponents during the first six weeks (and since one of those matches is home and one away, no one gets an unfair home-court advantage!). Following this, you will play one ‘bonus’ match against a specifically chosen, closely matched competitor from the opposing flight.
Now that makes for some truly SUPER competition!
WHAT IS THE “ACE INDEX” ?
ACE, the Automated Competition Equalizer, is our patent-pending rating software used to guarantee fair and competitive play at all times. In simple terms, ACE maintains the integrity of our leagues by analyzing a constant collective flow of match results and providing players with individual strength ratings — the A.C.E. Index — that compares you with all other players of your playing level. Unlike subjective measures of skill or potential, ACE applies a quantitative formula to your actual match results, enabling a much more accurate snapshot of your current competitiveness in relation to the other members of your league, and even to members of other Super-8 leagues.
DO YOU OFFER ANY TYPE OF GUARANTEE?
Unheard of in amateur tennis, we are so sure you will love playing in Visionary Tennis Leagues that we offer each and every new player a 100% money-back guarantee. Give us a try — if you don’t totally enjoy your first season of Visionary Tennis, simply let us know and we’ll give you all your money back.
REFUND POLICY
Notifications to registered players will go out prior to the release of the season’s schedules. If you receive a notice, but are unable to play that season, notify us prior to the schedules being released and we will gladly credit you for a different season or issue a refund. Also, if we are unable to place you into a league at your ranking level, we will also issue a credit or refund. No refunds will be issued to players placed into a league after the schedules are released.
Withdrawals taking place after the schedules are released disrupt the schedules and quality of the league for the other seven players or teams. If you should need to withdraw from a league, and can provide a qualified replacement player(s), both you and your replacement player will receive credit for a future season of play. Withdrawing players/teams that do not provide replacements will not be entitled to receive a credit or refund.
WHY DO YOU TOUT YOUR LEAGUES AS THE MOST EXCITING?
We bring many, many years of playing and coaching experience to Visionary Tennis Leagues. There are a lot of tennis playing options out there, and we’ve seen them all. Despite this, we can honestly say that we have yet to find any other leagues anywhere that offer you all of this:
- The nail-biting format of our Super-8 leagues. Every match will be meaningful.
- The flexible time saving capabilities of the FreePlaySM scheduling system. Play where you want, when you want.
- The Tournament of Champions. The three top finishers in Singles and two top finishers in Doubles from each Super-8 league compete for a really big Visionary Tennis Championship Trophy.
- Championship Day, bringing together the final four Tournament of Champions players from every playing level for a full day of FUN, FOOD, SPONSOR BOOTHS, PRIZE GIVEAWAYS and great tennis competition.
- Every league member and their guests will be invited for the weekend festivities!
The most exciting? Yeah, we believe we’ve got this hands down!