SSS Tennis Committee minutes
Date & location: St Andrews 15/11/13
Members present
Mike Aitken (Chair) – St Andrews University Director of Tennis
Ben Pearson-Stuttard (Chair) – St Andrews University
Ross Simpson – SSS Sports coordinator
Kirsty McRae – Tennis Scotland
Andrew Merry - Edinburgh University
David Steers – Edinburgh University tennis coordinator
James Swanson - Stirling University

SSS Tennis Cup
- James gave a debrief of the event.
- 50 entries including a few late entries, which were accepted. 4 no shows on the day.
- The day was split in to a morning and afternoon session, with half the players going to each.
- The format of ‘timed-tennis’ in round robins was a success allowing lots of tennis to be played.
- Stirling won the team event. This was discussed as they had more players but it was decided that
this format works and encourages more players to enter.
-Payment system.
- Only one person paid online, leaving uncertainty of who will attend on the day. However
enforcing online payment may reduce entries due to the advanced commitment needed.
- James has sent the results to the LTA.
- Prize money will be processed soon.
- Player standard was varied with some players winning comfortably.
- Congratulations to James on a great event, and such a successful first SSS Tennis event of the year!
Action Points
- To encourage online payment, and early notice of withdraws.
- The main aim of the event is to get as many students involved in tennis as possible therefore so
long as the players aren’t regular BUCS players then all are encouraged to get involved.

SSS Mixed Doubles Cup
- Ben gave a summary of the upcoming event on Sunday 17th.
- Currently 40 players entered. A few St Andrews entries allowed in late due to the uneven balance of
male:female.
- Format will be ‘timed-tennis’ in round robins with each position of the group progressing to a semifinal then final, allowing lots of tennis to be played.
- BBQ provided in entry fee, and music to try to make more of an event of it.
- Prizes were discussed.
- SSS were happy with any reasonable prizes, Tennis cup went with cash prizes. Mixed Doubles
Cup will go with wine/beers and Bibi’s tennis cupcakes.
- Should be spare money from the event which will go towards helping the Touch Tennis day.

SSS Touch Tennis Tournament
- Andrew and David summarised the current position with the forthcoming event, 30/11/13.
- The tournament is a singles event open to all abilities, representing university/college.
- Facilities are booked, facebook event up, open for entries Booked CSC sports hall
- Format is tiebreaks
- May require to borrow balls & nets. Plenty of rackets however.
- Suggest to other universities to start touch tennis internally to increase publicity for future events.
- David has spoken to Rashid and asked for advice. Suggested doubles to finish with, Kirsty agreed
doubles could help the social feel to the event and level the standards.
Action points
- Andrew and David to buy new nets and balls if needed and to provide SSS with the receipt.
- Committee members to try and make internal touch tennis events within their respective
universities to increase publicity for future SSS Touch tennis.

SSS Championships
- James has booked the courts 18th-20th April, to be hosted by Stirling.
-Singles and doubles with qualifiers and a consolation draw.

Future events
- Racketlon in February in Aberdeen. Rob already planning event.
- Glasgow to host an event in March? Ben to speak with Glasgow.

General points on events
- Kirsty: Tennis Scotland could promote our events, and encouraged us to use facebook to create
events and publish them early.
- The issue of lack of College entries was brought up; Tennis Scotland will help to get colleges
involved, so pass on event information to them.
- James: future entry forms should have a ‘male/female (delete as applicable)’ entry.
- Introduce feedback forms.
- Ross: SSS are potentially making a deal with a sporting manufacturer so that there can be balls
provided at cost price for SSS tennis events.
- James suggests having events on Saturdays as easier with transport.
Action points
- To inform Kirsty at Tennis Scotland of SSS Tennis events to further publicity and to increase college
participants.
- All entry forms to have a ‘male/female (delete as applicable)’ entry
- Future events to be on Saturdays if logistically possible
- Ben to make feedback forms to send to all participants for future events.

BUCS Leagues – Rule change
- Ross reported back from a BUCS meeting on a rule change for tennis leagues as of next season.
- Universities can only have one team in the premier league. Any universities with two teams at the
end of the season the lower team will be relegated.
- All leagues below are only allowed a maximum of two University teams in each.
- Ben to send out official BUCS ruling once it is published

BUCS Tennis Scoring System
- Mike proposed speaking with BUCS to change the current scoring system of 2 points per rubber to
just 1 point per rubber.
- Mike to email BUCS.

Coaches and Tennis Scotland
- Kirsty spoke about increasing student awareness of assistant coach vacancies.
- Ben to send Kirsty an email contact from each university to be added to the Tennis Scotland email
list for coaching vacancies so the email contacts can inform their universities.

Stirling grand-prix
- James will email link around the committee.

Facebook
- Everyone was asked to join the Scottish Student Tennis Page, add all their university players to the
group and post the group on their university page. This is a great place to advertise the SSS events,
post event reports and add event photos.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/223132671196696/

Next Meeting
- Friday 7/02/14 2pm
- St Andrews Sports Centre