Girls Tennis - Tryout Information - Fall 2023
Tryouts for Girls' Tennis will be held during the week of August 14.
WHO CAN TRY OUT?
While we welcome players of multiple ability levels to be part of our program, players do need to have a basic level of tennis proficiency - hitting groundstrokes, making serves, being able to keep score, knowing the rules of the game - to try out. Because of the number of players in our program and the length of the season, we do not have the resources to be able to prepare our teams for competition and teach beginner-level lessons. We would be happy to direct you to some great local programs that can more effectively teach you the basics of the game and then welcome you to the team after you have gained the basics.
TRYOUT PROCESS and REQUIREMENTS
Tryouts for Girls' Tennis will begin on Monday, August 14. In order to try out, players must have the KSHSAA Pre-Participation Physical and SMSD Athletic Participation packet completed. Players may not participate until these items are completed. Information about these requirements and links to forms can be found on the Shawnee Mission East Athletics website. Click on More on the main menu. This paperwork needs to be submitted to Mrs. Dusek - the athletic department assistant - before the start of practice.
Also, all players should complete the tennis player interest and contact information form, so that we know that you are planning to participate. We will also use the information to update our contact lists, to plan our practice and match schedules, and to help guide decisions in ordering equipment.
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We will use the first two days of tryouts to make an initial assessment of the players’ ability level to determine who is in competition for spots in the Varsity/Junior Varsity Group. Players in competition for a spot in the Varsity/Junior Varsity Group will compete in match play during the remaining three days of tryouts for those positions.
OUR GROUPS
We use the tryout process to sort our players into two groups - Varsity/Junior Varsity Group and Blue/White Group. Our goal is to have these group determinations made by the end of the first week of practice.
Varsity/Junior Varsity Group
Through the tryout process, we will designate a core group of players as the Varsity and Junior Varsity teams. Typically, this has been a group of 32 players. These players will practice from 3:15-5:00 each weekday. We generally meet together at the start of practice and then use both the HS courts as well as 6 upper courts at Harmon Park.
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Assignments for specific matches will be determined based on the opponent's level, the opponent's squad size, and the event in order to create as many competitive matches for as many of our players as possible. Match assignments are sent out on a weekly basis. Because KSHSAA limits the number of events each player can play and because we schedule more events than any one player can play, you will not compete in every match on the schedule and many of the players in this group will have an opportunity to compete in varsity level matches and tournaments.
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Competition for the 2 singles positions and the 2 doubles teams that will represent East in the Regional tournament will take place throughout the season. In determining these positions, our goal is to field a squad that gives our team the best opportunity to win a 15th team state championship.
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Blue/White Groups
All players who do not make the Varsity/Junior Varsity group will be placed on a Blue and White team. The Blue and White group will be organized after Varsity/JV teams have been determined. In the past, we have had a Blue/White team draft/organizational meeting on Monday or Tuesday of the second week of the season. Players are organized into teams of between 5 and 8 players. These teams will practice and compete with each other on a rotating schedule usually from 5:00-6:00. More details about the schedule will be determined once we have a better sense of how many players will be part of this group.
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The goal is that all players placed in the Blue and White groups will have the opportunity to compete in at least 2 interscholastic matches. Players may be asked to play in additional interscholastic matches as opportunities become available. The Blue/White season concludes with an intrasquad tournament.