Racquetball: July/August '02 Elite

July-August 2002
Vol. 13, No. 4 | Contents

Save the "AA" for Batteries ...
by Linda Mojer

It’s been an issue for quite some time — the quantum leap between the “A” skill division and “Open.” Given the current climate on the pro tours and relaxed eligibility standards ... right down to where you live — an “Open” draw can feature a top seed that you’ve played (and beaten) every week for a year, or a vacationing pro from out of town. And if there’s cash involved, you can expect to see even bigger names, from further away, in any Open draw.

In response, the “Elite” division was developed and instituted several years ago, and is now a full-fledged, point-earning bracket of play across the board. If your state still offers “AA” as the stop-gap, your points are being compiled in “Elite” when the results come in. So urge your tournament directors to call it what it is — Elite!

A similar move to “broaden” the player base and give more competitive opportunities to skill level players was established with the addition of “Age + Skill” divisions. With an aging roster of players who are still at the top of their games, standard age divisions can also include pro tour regulars (like Ruben Gonzalez at 50!) who raise the bar a bit above average. Now it’s acceptable to offer “Age plus” A/B and C/D brackets at sanctioned events, and for players to earn ranking points for placing in them.

So now it’s time for everyone to get on track with a standardized “menu” of division offerings [shown at right]. “Intermediate” is not a recognized division; 23+ B/C is not a recognized division; “BB” is not a recognized division ... so if you’re playing in any of these mutations at a sanctioned event, your points aren’t being tallied because they just don’t “fit” the ranking structure. Don’t let your wins fall through the cracks — insist on “recognized divisions” at all your tournaments!

Rulebook citation: C.4

C.4 RECOGNIZED DIVISIONS
Title opportunities at national championships will be selected from the division lists which follow. Combined “Age + Skill” divisions may also be offered to provide additional competitive opportunities for non-open entrants.

For ranking consistency, state organizations and tournament hosts should select from these recognized divisions when establishing competition in all sanctioned events.

(a) Open Division. Any eligible player, as defined in C.1.

(b) Adult Age Divisions. Eligibility is determined by the player’s age on the first day of the tournament. Divisions are:
24 & under Varsity
25+ Junior Veterans
30+ Veterans
35+ Seniors
40+ Veteran Seniors
45+ Masters
50+ Veteran Masters
55+ Golden Masters
60+ Veteran Golden Masters
65+ Senior Golden Masters
70+ Advanced Golden Masters
75+ Super Golden Masters
80+ Grand Masters
85+ Super Grand Masters

(c) Junior Age Divisions. Player eligibility is determined by the player’s age on January 1st of the current calendar year. Divisions are:
18 & Under
16 & Under
14 & Under
12 & Under
10 & Under
8 & Under (regular rules)
8 & Under (multi-bounce rules)
6 & Under (regular rules)
6 & Under (multi-bounce rules)

(d) Skill Divisions. Player eligibility is determined by AmPRO skill level certification, or verification by a state association official, at the entered level. [Exception: Elite, which is considered an intermediate or state "open" level and does not require certification.]
Elite*
A
B
C
D
Novice

(e) Age + Skill Divisions. Player eligibility is determined by the player's age on the first day of the tournament, plus AmPRO skill level certification, or verification by a state association official, at the entered level. Such combinations may be offered as additional competition to players who do not fall into the "open" or designated skill levels of play. For example: 24-A/B, 35+ C/D, 65+A/B, etc.

*Given that unrestricted OPEN level play may include eligible pro tour athletes, Elite level play can include state-level open, or “semi-pro” players — and therefore does not require “certification” of any type. Players in “lettered” divisions (only) must be able to verify their eligibility at the entered level of play.