FAQs

Team Formation, Registration & Court Logistics

How many players do you suggest make up a team?

We require a minimum of seven players per team, but teams can register as many players as they like. (Keep in mind, there is an entry fee per player.) Most teams are made up of 7 - 10 players.

Why are seven players required when only six play each round?

Each team plays three rounds per day (three courts/six players each round) for three days. In order not to impact other teams, an extra player is required in case someone has to drop out due to injury or illness. Players also like to take a break from time to time. Although we’ll be playing 8-game pro sets, it’s still a lot of tennis, especially if it’s a hot day.

Can I register individually?

Players must have a captain and register together as a team of seven or more.

When and how do I register for Tucson 2024?

Registration opens at 8am Pacific Time on Monday, April 1, 2024.  We recommend registering as soon as it opens…it usually fills up quickly. Registration takes place online only at www.meetplaytennis.com. Click on the pink button on the home page or the Tucson page of the website. The form goes live at 8am PDT on April 1 and cannot be accessed earlier. Registering in any other format will not be valid. There is space available for 10 teams in each division – 3.5, 4.0, 4.0/4.5 Combo – for each session. That’s room for a lot of teams! 

Which session should I register for to have the best chance of getting a spot?

Your best chance of getting into the event is to be available for either session.  You double your chances of getting a spot by doing so. Talk with your team about this beforehand so you can pick ONE of these options for Tucson 2024.

• Nov. 3 - 6 (Sunday to Wednesday) is the ONLY session my team can attend.

• Nov. 3 - 6 (Sunday to Wednesday) is my team's PREFERRED session, but we're available to attend either.

• Nov. 7 - 10 (Thursday to Sunday) is the ONLY session my team can attend.

• Nov. 7 - 10 (Thursday to Sunday) is my team's PREFERRED session, but we're available to attend either.

Please do not submit two registrations for the same team.

How many players do I need to register?

You will need a minimum of 7 players to register (including the captain). Long before the date of registration, start talking with your tennis friends and get commitments.  View the Sample Registration Document on the website (it’s a PDF) to see what information is needed.  (But please don’t try to register with this PDF… it is for informational purposes only!)

 Do I need to have all the information at the time of registration?

Yes. All information requested on the form is required at time of registration.  If you enter “TBD” anywhere, your submission may not receive priority.  Also, please be careful to enter the correct spelling of first and last names, and verify the accuracy of email addresses for all players, as this information is needed to communicate with players about the event and electronically process liability waivers.

What is the fee? When do I make payment for my team?

The fee for Tucson 2024 is $305 per person/minimum 7 players per team. No payment is due at the time of registration.  Captains will be notified within 24 hours if there is space available and payment will be due at that time.  Payment instructions will be sent when notified of space available. Payment can be made by Zelle (preferred), check or Venmo.  The captain of the team should be the one making all payments for the team. Players do not make payment individually. Team registration is not considered final until payment has been made in full.  If payment is not received within 14 days, your spot may be given to another team.

What if I want to add a player or two later?

Additional players (more than 7) can be added and paid for later. On or before August 31, the fee is $305 per person. After August 31, the fee is $325 per person. Players can be added up until one month before the event and later if necessary. To add a player after the initial registration, email the event director with player’s name, email address, rating, and t-shirt size.

What if it turns out my team can’t go after we register?  Can we get a refund?  What if a player drops out?

Refunds will not be issued for team cancellations or given to individual team members under any circumstances. However, substitutions for team members can be made at any time.  If the event is canceled by MPLT, team payment will be fully refunded.

Why aren't matches scheduled first thing in the morning?

The clubs where we play reserve their courts for their local members’ matches in the morning, and for clinics with their pros.

How do I arrange a court for practice?

In Tucson, practice courts at the Hilton Pusch Ridge courts as well as the Oro Valley Community Center courts are complimentary for MPLT participants, based on availability, a day before, during, and after the MPLT event. Call the tennis proshop at your desired location to arrange for court usage. They are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Pusch Ridge: 520-544-1780; Oro Valley CC: 520-544-1900

At Kiawah Island, practice courts at Roy Barth Tennis Center are complimentary for MPLT participants, based on availability, a day before, during, and after the event. Call the tennis proshop at 843-768-2838 to arrange for court usage. Practice courts are not available at Seabrook Island Racquet Club.

Eligibility, Ratings & Age

Do I need to be an active USTA member to participate?

Players do not need to be USTA members or currently playing USTA. We are simply using USTA ratings as a guideline to keep the tennis competitively fun. If you do not have a USTA rating, you will need to self-rate your skills based on USTA rating guidelines.

Can ratings within one team vary? Can 3.5s be on a 4.0 team?

As with USTA leagues, players are allowed to play up. A 4.0 team can have 3.5 players and a 3.5 team can have 3.0 players. Our rule is that the majority of players on a team be at the level of the division in which they play, for example, there must be at least four 4.0 players on a 4.0 team of seven players.

Can I put together some 4.5s and 3.0s to make up a 4.0 team?

No. The rating of a player cannot exceed the division in which they are entered.

What are the guidelines for 4.0/4.5 Combo teams? (Tucson only)

On the 4.0/4.5 Combo team, a 4.5 can only be paired with a 4.0. Two 4.5 women cannot play together. Two 4.0 women can play together in this flight. Combo teams must be played from the top down. For example, if there is only one combo team in the line up, they must play in Line 1. If there are two combo teams in the line up, they must play in Lines 1 and 2. Three combo teams can also be in a line up, filling all three lines. There’s no limit to the number of 4.0s or 4.5s that can be on a team; however, the above rules apply to each match. We strongly suggest that you have at least three 4.5s on a 4.0/4.5 combo team.

You don’t have a 3.0 division. What if I’m a 3.0…can I play?

Yes, a 3.0 can play up on a 3.5 team. In order to keep things as “competitively fun” as possible, we do not want players to play up more than one level. (We strongly discourage 3.0s from playing at the 4.0 or 4.5/4.0 level.) Furthermore, the majority of players on a team must be at the level of the division in which they play, for example, there must be at least four 4.0 players on a 4.0 team of seven players.

How strict are you on age?

Participants must be age 45 or older, or turning 45 within the calendar year. You can be 44 and play in the tournament if your birthday occurs on or before December 31 of the calendar year in which you are playing.

Kiawah - Travel, Hotel, Meals

What airport should we fly into?

The closest airport to Kiawah Island is Charleston International, which is 33 miles away (an approximate 45-50 minute drive). Savannah International Airport is 115 miles. Click here for more information on the various airports and directions to the Island.

Will we need a rental car?

Yes, you will need a rental car(s) for your team. The event will be held at two different court locations, one on Kiawah Island and one on Seabrook Island, and having your own transportation will be necessary.

Where will the tennis matches take place?

We will be playing at two facilities at or near the Kiawah Island Resort – the Roy Barth Tennis Center and the Seabrook Island Racquet Club. Seabrook Island Racquet Club is about six miles away (a ten-minute drive by car) from the Roy Barth Tennis Center on Kiawah Island.

What do you recommend we do for breakfast and lunch each day?

As the round-robin matches begin at 12:00 noon each day, you should have already eaten and come prepared to play. Light court-side snacks will be available, but if you need something more substantial during the afternoon, we recommend you stock up before your matches and bring food and beverages with you to the courts. A market on Kiawah Island offers deli sandwiches, salads, and other lunchtime options. There is also a full service grocery store just off the island. Water is available at the courts but be sure to bring a refillable water bottle.

Should we book our accommodations at Kiawah Island Resort?

Kiawah Island Resort offers a variety of accommodations -- from a five-star luxury hotel, to private homes, to two- and three- bedroom villas within walking distance of the tennis facilities. To view these accommodations and to make reservations, visit Kiawah Island Accommodations & Rentals or call 800-654-2924.  There are also many accommodations in the area listed on VRBO.com and other similar sites. Nearby Seabrook Island is also an option.

When should we arrive?

For the session, the first round of matches begins on Saturday, April 27 so you should plan on arriving on Friday, April 26, at the latest. For the second session, the first round of matches begins on Thursday, May 2 so you should plan on arriving on Wednesday, May 1, at the latest.

If you’re a new captain, there’s a new captains’ meeting for the first session on Friday, April 26th at 5pm-5:45pm, and for the second session on Wednesday, May 1, at 5pm-5:45pm. This is your chance to learn everything you need to know about the event, meet the event organizers as well as other new captains, and if you feel like it, enjoy a glass of wine with the group.

You might consider coming in a day or two early or staying after to take advantage of other fun things Kiawah has to offer. Five world-renowned golf courses, 10 miles of immaculate beachfront, hiking, biking, and kayaking are some of the other sports to be enjoyed. And, Charleston is a wonderful and historic city and only a 45-minute drive from the resort.

What is the recommended attire for the Oyster Roast & Low Country Dinner at Mingo Point?

The oyster roast and dinner is located at an outside venue on the nearby Kiawah river. Casual, comfortable attire is recommended and a sweater or light jacket to keep you warm if the evening is cool.

If my team makes it to finals, what is the timing? Can you give me some guidance on when to depart Kiawah Island/Charleston Airport?

The finals will be played at 9am on the fourth day of the event at Roy Barth Tennis Center for all divisions. Play will be best of three sets, regular scoring, with a match tiebreak game to 10 to be played in lieu of a third set. After finals, there is a brief ceremony at which prizes are awarded and photos are taken.

To be safe, you shouldn’t plan to leave the tennis facility before noon. Booking a flight out of Charleston before 4pm is probably risky (and later would be better), especially if you have a rental car to return.

Fun Stuff & Miscellaneous