More than 50 tennis teams and over 600 players from Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma will be competing in Des Moines, Iowa, August 8 – 11 for the United States Tennis Association Missouri Valley’s League Section Championships. Multiple sites throughout the city will host the competition, with an estimated economic impact of $350,000 for the community.
The teams, which represent various clubs, parks, recreational departments and organizations, have finished at the top of their local leagues and are now vying for a chance to represent the USTA Missouri Valley Section at the USTA League National Championships. This is the first of four league section championships with the remaining three in St. Louis, Missouri, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and Springfield, Missouri.
Beginning with the 2013 National Championship season, USTA League changed its structure and format. The change offers USTA League participants four age categories (Adult 18 & Over, Adult 40 & Over, Adult 55 & Over and Adult 65 & Over) to better align participants with players their own age. The restructuring guarantees more frequency of play opportunities at more appropriate age groups. Teams from the 18 & Over and 40 & Over categories will be playing in Des Moines.
“USTA League Restructuring has offered new adult league formats, including additional opportunities for players to play more within their age group,” said Lori Therrien, program manager of adult competition for the USTA Missouri Valley. “Players who can play frequently will find more opportunity to play against opponents closer to their age and ability.”
Established in 1980, USTA League has grown from 13,000 participants in a few parts of the country to more than 800,000 players across the nation today, making it the world’s largest recreational tennis program. In 2012, more than 17,500 players have participated in Missouri Valley League play.
Head Penn Racquet Sports is in its 26th year as official ball of USTA League.
For more information about USTA League or the USTA, visit www.missourivalley.usta.com.
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The USTA Missouri Valley is a not-for-profit organization covering a five-state region of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and parts of Illinois. As one of the 17 sections of the USTA, the USTA Missouri Valley has more than 24,000 individual members and approximately 400 organizational members. The USTA Missouri Valley Section offers recreational and competitive tennis for all ages and abilities. The mission of the USTA is to “Promote and develop the growth of tennis.”
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