...Getting Started
...Screening
...Trying Out
...Regular Players
...Substitute Players
Board Members
Tryout Schedule
Season Schedule
Level Winners
Luncheon
Ham N Eggs
Rules
Contact Us
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We're glad you're interested in KWTA. Our association was founded in 1969, and joining is a great way to make new friends and have fun playing tennis.
Membership is open to women living in the Missouri cities of Kirkwood, Glendale, Oakland, and/or the Missouri R-7 School District.
We have nine levels of ability, ranging from advanced players in the A1 level, to beginners in the C3 level. There are 12 regular players on each level and a number of substitutes. Regardless of your playing ability, we are sure there's a spot for you as either a regular or a substitute player.
We play outdoors at the tennis courts in Kirkwood Park.
League play runs from the beginning of May through the end of September.
Each level is assigned a specific weekday of play as follows:
(Monday...A3 B2) (Tuesday...A2 B3) (Wednesday...C1 C3) (Thursday...A1 C2) (Friday...B1)
You will play once a week and on the same day each week. Play begins at 9:00 AM during the spring and fall seasons, and at 7:30 AM during the summer. Check the current season schedule for exact dates.
Each week you'll play a doubles match of 24 games with three other women from your level.
Scores are kept by individual. The top two winners from each level get to move up a level the following year, and the bottom two move down.
You can miss up to four weeks of play but you must arrange for a substitute. Substitute names are provided.
An informal mixed-level tournament, Ham N' Eggs, is held in the summer. In October, we celebrate the season with a luncheon banquet, where the level winners are awarded with trophies, and a group picture is taken so that we may announce their success in the local newspaper.
Countless lasting friendships have been made through KWTA. During the season, we have a lot of fun, but the league endures because we all take our commitment to playing tennis seriously. There are rules that must be followed and penalties for arriving late or failing to arrange for a substitute. That understood, we look forward to having you join us as a KWTA member!
Still interested? Good!
You'll begin by contacting our Level Chair so that she may get an idea of your tennis experience and ability. Then she will call the captain of an appropriate level and the captain will call you to arrange a screening date. You must be screened to see which level is appropriate for you.
To screen, you'll play a match of 24 games with three of the regular players from a level. If you win ten or more games you have passed and can try out for that level. Those that do not pass may screen for a lower level. However if you win 14 or more, you should consider screening at the next higher level. Once you have passed your screening, you are ready to tryout.
Tryouts for a particular level are open to:
- All who have passed a screening that level
- Substitutes and regular players for that level
- Regular players from the level directly below
- The top four players from two levels below
If you win a regular spot at tryouts, congratulations! You then have a couple of responsibilities before league play begins in the first full week of May. Your captains will collect $15 in KWTA dues, $10 tennis ball fee, and $25 Kirkwood Parks tennis permit fee. As a regular player you will also be expected to serve as a captain or on the governing board once every three years. But for now, grab your racquet and head on out to Kirkwood Park to enjoy your first season of play!
To be a substitute, all you have to do is pass the screening for the level you wish to play. There are no tryouts, dues, or fees. Substitute players are welcome and encouraged to play in the "Ham N Eggs" tournament and attend the end-of-season luncheon.
Prior to the start of league play, you will be called by your captains with information about the up coming season. As a new sub, it's a good idea to come with your calendar on the first day. You are more likely to be called to sub if regular players have met you and know that you are eager to play. Subs are an important part of KWTA. The regular players depend on your prompt attendance and your best play to fill their absence.
