What are year end ratings?
- Every November/December, a “year-end” rating is published for every player nationwide. That rating is entered into the NTRP National Database as the start rate for the following year. The year-end rating is based partially on the player’s dynamic rating and partially on the benchmark calculation. The benchmarking process is what gives nationwide uniformity to the system as it calculates data from nationals, sectionals, state championships, local playoffs in that order and is averaged with the dynamic ratings for players to produce a year-end rating.
Who will receive a year-end rating in 2017?
- All 18 & Over, 40 & Over, 55 & Over and 65 & Over players who played at least three matches.
- Players who exclusively played in at least three matches in the Mixed Doubles Division AND do not have a C (computer) rating that is still valid will receive an mixed (M) rating and will have to self-rate to enter the spring league.
When will year-end ratings be published?
- The scheduled release date is December 1, 2017.
Tennisrecord.com and/or Tennisleaguestats.com indicated that I would get bumped up (or down), but I didn’t. Why?
- USTA leagues use the NTRP rating system. Alternate rating sites do not publish accurate NTRP rating data. Only TennisLink shows NTRP ratings.
Which matches are not used in the NTRP calculations?
- Combo Doubles, Interim, Singles League, Tri-Level, 70 & Over, Mixed (with exceptions), Tennis Apprentice, and Casual Sets. NTRP tournaments are also not used in ratings calculations.
How are ratings calculated?
- The dynamic ratings for 18 & Over, 40 & Over and 55 & Over Adult League matches are calculated every night in a national database in New York. After all National Championships, benchmarks are factored with the final dynamic rating to calculate a year-end rating.
- Mixed Doubles (for those who ONLY play Mixed Doubles) and Adult 65 & Over League data is calculated during the final calculation of year-end ratings.
- Ratings are actually calculated out to the 100th. So where you may see 4.0, the system sees somewhere between 3.51-4.00. Ratings to the 100th are not published.
- While calculating ratings, for both the dynamic and benchmark rating processes, the computer calculates a rating for each match played. This is based on your rating at the time of the match, your partners’ rating, your opponents rating and the score of the match. The computer calculates a rating for every player in each match. At the end of the year, the computer combines the ratings of your match results with the benchmark ratings and then includes any matches you may have played in the Adult 65 & Over League. After all of these have been included, your final year end rating is determined and published.
YOUR RECORD (TOTAL WINS AND LOSSES) IS NOT A FACTOR. What is important and what is used in the calculation is the score of the match and the strength of your opponent. A singles example: You play a computer rated person that is a strong 4.0 player (3.90) and you lose the match, 6-4,6-3. Then you play a weaker 4.0 player (3.52) and win the match 7-5, 6-4. When the computer calculates your ratings for each of those matches, your match rating might actually be higher for the loss to the stronger player than it is for a close win over a weaker player. This is because the computer is measuring you against your opponent and this is determined by how close the match is according to the score. When measuring you against the stronger player, even though you lost, you were not blown out, you held your own. Though you might not have been as strong as your opponent in that match, you were fairly close and would receive a strong match rating. When measuring you against the weaker player, the match was a very close one, only one break in each set was the difference. You and that player, on that day, were fairly close in performance, and you would receive a match rating close to, but above, your opponent's.
Does Dynamic NTRP treat doubles partners differently?
- The NTRP Computer Rating System maintains whatever rating differential between doubles partners that existed before a match. Example: Team A (3.32 player and a 3.50 player) win 6-1,6-3 against Team B (3.08 and 3.42). All four ratings will change based on the score of the match but the partners’ differential or spread between each other’s ratings will not change. Team A will maintain a .18 spread and Team B will maintain a .34 spread between the partners.
For those who may appeal their year-end rating, what are the criteria?
- The threshold for automatic appeals is based on a sliding scale. The range for approval depends on the number of matches played with a decreasing range as more matches have been played. Only players with National Benchmarked ratings are ineligible for appeal.
- Players age 60 or older may request an age appeal if they calculated a year-end 2017 rating higher than their previous 3 year-end ratings (C-computer) without benefit of appeal. S (self-rated) and A (appeal, automatic or medical) rated players are not eligible.
- Players age 65 or older who were bumped up or down in their 2017 year-end rating AND who had a 2016 C (Computer) rating may appeal their year-end rating using the Automatic Appeal link on TennisLink.
Who may not appeal their year-end rating except by medical appeal?
- Players who participated in OR qualified for an Adult League National Championship.
How do I file an Automatic Appeal (Up or Down)?
- Log onto TennisLink. To the right of your name (Welcome! Your Name) under NTRP Level and above USTA Account, click on the Appeal Rating Level link. Follow the instructions.
My appeal was denied. Why?
- You either were outside of the appealable range (rating too high or low) and/or qualified for an Adult League National Championship.