Early Start NTRP Ratings - What They Are, What They Aren't

A few weeks ago the USTA published the Early Start 2015 NTRP Ratings for Adult League players.  If you played Adult gender leagues (combo excluded) in 2014, and your rating was either bumped up or down, your name appears on this list.

What does it mean?
The Early Start Rating means that if you plan to play in a 2015 league that starts prior to the end of year ratings that come out in December, then the rating listed on the early start list will be your rating for that league ONLY.  If your name does not appear on the list, it means that for early start leagues, your rating remains the same.

What DON'T they mean?

The Early Start Ratings do not mean that your rating has changed at all for 2015 leagues that begin in 2015.  In fact, just because your name appears on the Early Start list as having been bumped up or down, your rating might still remain unchanged from your 2014 rating when the FINAL ratings come out in December.  In addition, they also do not mean that you won't be bumped up or down once the final ratings come out in December.

Huh?  How is that Even Possible?

Remember that your rating is DYNAMIC.  Your current "Early Start Rating" is merely a snapshot in time.  It changes percentage points with each match you play, each match your opponents play.  So if your team played in an Adult League Sectional, and you played the team that won and went to Nationals, those players have yet to play Nationals, and those matches will affect your rating. 

NTRP Tournament matches also affect your final yearly rating.  The Early Start Ratings do not take tournament matches into account.  This is important not only if you yourself have played an NTRP tournament, but also if your opponents had played any NTRP tournaments.

Because of the above reasons, after Nationals, the USTA computer will take into account ALL the matches from 2014, including Nationals and tournaments (which are not taken into consideration for the Early Start Ratings), and will spit out your final rating for 2015 Leagues in December.  That will be the rating that actually counts.

Can I Appeal An Early Start Rating?

Yes, you can.  However, you can only appeal down.  You do this when signing up for an Early Start 2015 League.   Simply attempt to register for the league in question, and if you are ineligible due to your rating being too high, click the appeal rating button.  The appeal will be answered instantaneously.

Final Thoughts

As a player, it is easy to get excited, upset, anxious, or fearful about your rating going up, going down, or staying the same.  While the Early Start Ratings may be useful in giving you an IDEA if your rating is moving up, down, or staying put, at the end of the day it has little to no real value as Tallahassee does not have Early Start 2015 Leagues.  Ignore them, and by all means put no stock or emotional energy into them.  Be patient, and wait for the end of the year ratings to come out.  Those are the ratings that make a difference.  Though investing a ton of emotional energy into a rating isn't rational or worth it in the end, many players attach their self esteem and self worth to their rating.  For those players, save yourself three months of an emotional roller coaster of jubilation and/or turmoil and just wait for the end of year rating.