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Tennistrainer Commentary

Why Can't Junior Tennis Players Earn Any Money?

by Janice Combs

O.K. USTA, NCAA what is going on? Is this some control freak thing? What is the big deal about earning some money to help offset costs (and there are many, many costs) and going to play college tennis? Who really cares? If Roger Federer wants to play for a college, what is the big deal? It costs a small or large fortune, depending upon your economic background, to play tennis. Now what is wrong with earning money every step of the way as a Junior? Why should our children be raised, forbidden, to have an opportunity to pay their own way all because the USTA and NCAA want to keep control of them and turn them into welfare recipients when they decide to open the flood gates of MONEY and all expenses paid on the tour, along with the wild cards our children will be GIVEN? What is WRONG with this picture? Prize money tournaments are all over Southern California as well as a host of other tennis related methods of earning expense money for our Juniors. So WHY can't the Junior player earn some money to help offset some of their costs? THIS SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THEIR CHANCE TO LAND A COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP! Give me a break! Ridiculous!

It is a well known fact that the USTA Juniors PLAYING pro tournaments are being told to check the amateur box to "preserve their amateur status" thus "allowing" them to get the college scholarship. And when the players check this box (the "amateurs") can actually make more money receiving expense money checks in many cases from the USTA sponsored ITF $10,000's - $75,00's pro tournaments (airfare, hotels, travel mileage)  than actual prize money that their illicet Eastern European counter part "professionals" are winning while "losing" their amateur status. This is a load of you know what! And it is time for American players to say to the USTA and NCAA enough is enough!!!

The road to pro tennis or college tennis should be left open and HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH MONEY. We all need money, and if you are from Eastern Europe, they use the lack of it to WIN (it and championships). Their system seems to be working!!! WHO IN THE WORLD IS IN CHARGE OF US TENNIS? Tell 'em like it is!!! Enough is enough!