Tennis Sign-ups / Tryout Information

To-Do list for boys playing tennis this Fall:
     1.  Sign up by clicking the button above.
     2.   Complete all steps for "Final Forms" (required to participate, see below).
     3.  Read ALL the tryout information below so you know what to expect.

FINAL FORMS
There are a number of things you need to get done BEFORE the first day of tryouts. Parents, without having ALL of these steps completed, your son WILL NOT be allowed to participate in tryouts on August 12th. It is imperative that all of these items are completed. I would do them well in advance. Below are the things that have to be done:   

Step 1: Complete “Final Forms - Parent Registration”. I’ve included a PDF with directions on how to complete this step. Please see attached PDF Finals Forms is the program West Ottawa will be using going forward for ALL athletic registrations. This process will be taking the place of the “Panther Card” that has been used in the past.   

Step 2: Complete “Final Forms – Student Registration”. Please see PDF and follow those directions.   Once you and your child are registered for Final Forms, there are 4 items that need to be completed before your son can participate in tryouts:   

1.      Parents – Read & Fill Out/Sign “Parent Forms”. You have to do this before your child fills out their forms. 2.      Players – Read & Fill Out/Sign “Student Forms”. 
3.      Parents – You must pay the $46 Insurance Fee. This can be done right on the final forms website with a credit/debit card. 
4.      Athletic Physical must be turned in to the Athletic Office if they have not already done so. If your child attended the West Ottawa Physical Night, we should already have their physical on file and will enter it into final forms once they're registered. The Athletic Office will be open August 5th to August 9th from 9:00-4:00 if you need to drop off your physical.   At this point, you will have completed all required steps and your son can participate in tennis this fall. This will be the schedule for tennis tryouts during the first week.

Tryout Information

​Thank you for choosing to play high school tennis!  I'm looking forward to another awesome season.  Here is some basic information about high school tennis at West Ottawa: Important Dates - Monday, August 12 is the first day of tryouts at the HIGH SCHOOL NORTH COURTS.  Here is an overview of the first week of the season:            
            Monday, August 12               4:00-7:00
            Tuesday, August 13              4:00-7:00
            Wednesday, August 14         4:00-7:00
            Thursday, August 15             4:00-6:00 *meet the panthers night @ 7:00*
            Friday, August 16                  4:00-7:00

What do I need for tryouts?            
1.  "Final Form" Information Complete - I cannot allow you to participate without all steps complete.
2.  You need to be signed up, which you do by clicking the button above.  
3.  Bring your Racket, water bottle, and tennis gear.  That's honestly all you need. 

What do I need for tryouts?          
1.  "Final Form" Information Complete - I cannot allow you to participate without all steps complete.
2.  You need to be signed up, which you do by clicking the button above.  
3.  Bring your Racket, water bottle, and tennis gear.  That's honestly all you need. 

How many players make the Varsity team?  Fourteen players on varsity play in the starting lineup.  I generally take 14 players on varsity, give or take, depending on what I see during tryouts.  Challenge match results are the main factor to determine who makes the varsity team, but ultimately the coaches decide which players give us the chance to win the conference and regional title at the end of the season.  

At tryouts, will I be playing doubles or singles?  Most players will play doubles.  The varsity team has four singles players and ten doubles players.  JV is predominantly doubles.  So for 90% of the players trying out, I'm evaluating you on how good you are at playing doubles.  

What do coaches look at for picking a varsity team?

Things that Matter:
              1.  Your talent - Players who win move up, players who lose move to a lower spot.  
            2.  Your character/competitive spirit - If two players are approximately equal, I will choose the 
                  person who plays with urgency and shows they love to compete.  
Things that DON'T matter:
             1.  What grade you are in - Freshmen...Senior, it doesn't matter.  The best players play.
            2.  What team you played on last year - Last year's varsity players do not automatically keep their
                 spot.  They must prove they are still the best.  If you can show over the entirety of tryouts that you
                 are better, then their spot will become your spot.

​Who do I contact if I still have questions:  email Coach Metz at [email protected]