USTA Leagues

Overview

Launchpad is happy to be the home club for any teams competing in USTA Leagues during the indoor season (September through May). If you base your team out of Launchpad, at least half your matches will be held at Launchpad, and the remainder at other local clubs with indoor courts.

Launchpad teams compete against teams based out of other clubs, independent teams, and potentially other Launchpad teams if there is more than one team based out of Launchpad in that league’s division.

A team match consists of 3 doubles courts (with 3 doubles partners from each team competing against each other). The format for all indoor leagues is 2 out of 3 sets with a 10 point tie break in lieu of a 3rd set.

Matches are generally held afternoons and early evenings on either Saturdays or Sundays depending on the league and division. There is also a 5.5 Ladies Combo League that meets Thursday mornings. Different types of leagues compete at different times of the year, so please see the “Schedule” section below to see what leagues are coming up soon!

Below you will see references to a player’s “NTRP” (National Tennis Rating Program) rating, which is a measuring tool indicating a person’s current playing ability. Generally, anyone that has been playing less than one year that wants to join a league would be considered a 2.5 (beginner). 3.0’s and 3.5’s are more intermediate, and 4.0/4.5’s more advanced players. For context, a player taking an Adult Intro Course at Launchpad would likely be a 2.5, and the Launchpad Pro teaching the course a 4.0 or 4.5. More information on the NTRP rating system is available here.

How to Join

If you are interested in joining a team but don’t know how to get on one, please submit the form here and we will do our best to place you on one! You can also recruit some friends and form and captain your own team. Feel free to contact us directly at 419-246-1931 when any questions!

Fees

To participate in Leagues, you need to sign up for a USTA Membership ($44/year), pay the league fee (~$38) and pay an $18 court fee each time you play. Launchpad does not require membership for participation in any USTA League. All prices are set by the USTA and accurate as of 2023. These are subject to change by the USTA.

Schedule

The USTA typically offers the following leagues:

Combo Doubles 18 and Over: October - December

Men’s and Women’s Combo Leagues consists of players 18 years of age and older of different NTRP ratings that combine do not exceed the level of play. For instance, in 6.5 Combo, 2 players with NTRP ratings of 3.0 and 3.5 might play against 2 players NTRP ratings of 2.5 and 4.0 NTRP (both adding up to 6.5).

The divisions are 5.5 (Women’s only), 6.5, 7.5 & 8.5. All divisions are either Men’s or Women’s (no mixed)

Players may play up 1 level, but not down (e.g. a combined 6.0 doubles team could play in the 6.5 division, but not the 5.5 division). The maximum rating difference in 1.5 for combo leagues (e.g., a 3.0 and a 4.5 can play together in a 7.5 division, but a 2.5 and a 5.0 could not).

2.5 Women’s Winter Doubles: January - May

For Women over 18 years old rated 2.5 only. This is a USTA “social league” where beginner ladies rated 2.5 play against teams of other beginner ladies rated 2.5.

Mixed Doubles 40 and Over: January - February

40 & Over Mixed Doubles Leagues consists of players 40 years of age and older with doubles partners being one man and one woman.

The divisions are 6.0, 7.0, 8.0 and 9.0.

The combined NTRP rating of the man and woman competing as doubles partners in this league cannot exceed the level of the division, and the difference between the NTRP ratings of the man and woman cannot exceed 1.0 (e.g., a 3.5 woman and a 2.5 man could play together in a 6.0 division, but a 4.5 man and a 2.5 woman could not play together in a 7.0 division).

Tri-Level Doubles: January - March

Tri-Level Doubles Leagues combines players of different NTRP levels on the same team. Each team fields one court each of 3.0, 3.5 and 4.0 doubles players.

The divisions are Men’s and Women’s.

Players may play up one NTRP rated level, but not down (e.g. a 3.5 could play with a 4.0 partner for a 4.0 match). At least one player for each level must have the NTRP rating for that level (e.g., two 3.5s could not compete at the 4.0 level).

Mixed Doubles 18 and Over: March - May

18 & Over Mixed Doubles League consists of the same format as 40 & Over, with all players over 18 years old allowed to joined in the fun.

Summers?

Please note that as an indoor club, Launchpad does not offer USTA Leagues over the Summer. We recommend you become a member of the Toledo Tennis Club and participate in their USTA Leagues over the Summer. Additional information on becoming a TTC Member is available here.