TENNIS

The spring season of USA Team Tennis for Youth is just around the corner.

The league is scheduled to begin the week of March 5 and will run for approximately eight weeks. There are three team divisions (red, white and blue) that are divided according to age and/or skill level.

Team captains/coaches are responsible for placing their team participants in the appropriate division.

The format of team play for each division is one boys singles, one girls singles, one boys doubles, one girls doubles and one mixed doubles. Each team must have a minimum of three boys and three girls or a maximum of five boys and five girls.

The top two teams from each flight (provided there are flights) will compete in the playoffs at the end of the league.

The registration fee is $12 for USTA members and $25 for non-USTA members. A one-year junior membership is included in the registration fee for non-USTA members.

The deadline to get individual team tennis applications into the Nevada Tennis Association office is 4 p.m. Feb. 19. Players can be added any time during the season, but all team members must play at least two of the local league matches to be eligible to compete in the playoffs.

The white division will play on Tuesdays, the blue division will play on Wednesdays and the red division will play on Thursdays. All matches begin at 5 p.m. For more information call Rob Merriman, Junior Programs Coordinator for the Nevada Tennis Association, at 792-8384.

• The USA Team Tennis Kick-Off Novice Tournament is scheduled for March 2-4 at the Las Vegas Academy, 315 S. Seventh St. The entry fee is $15 and the entry deadline is 4 p.m. Feb. 25.

The draw will be completed by noon on Feb. 28. The format of play for the tournament will be one eight game pro-set per match and the tournament is singles only.

To register, or for more information, contact Merriman at the NTA office, 792-8384.

• The USA Adult Tennis League is currently forming.

The league format consists of three doubles and two singles matches and the registration deadline is Friday. The league fee is $25, plus a USTA Tennis Link surcharge of $2 per registrant.

The league start date is March 10 and players may be added through March 9 for a $10 late registration fee. Any late team registrations will be subject to a $50 late registration fee.

Participants must be a USTA member in good standing through Aug. 30. To register, or for more information, contact the NTA at 792-8384.

TIP OF THE WEEK -- Here's a drill to give you objective feedback and re-enforce the low-to-high swing needed for topspin.

Place a chair behind you in such a way that your extended racket, when your arm is cocked back in preparation to swing, is in the center of the chair.

Now, take your backswing, making sure that you graze the seat of the chair with the edge of your racket before starting forward and up. Most chair seats are close to knee-height, which is normally where you want the racket to go on the backswing.

USPTA Professional Tom Sullivan has been the director of tennis for Canyon Gate Country Club since 1995. Sullivan can be reached at 363-0303.