What is the difference between intramural (IM) and Club tennis?
Intramural tennis is held by the Rice Barbara and David Gibbs Recreation and Wellness Center once every fall and spring semester. Play is casual and among members of the Rice University community: during the fall season, IM tennis is team-based and grouped according to residential college association; during the spring season, IM tennis is individual/doubles team based, and teams can be formed regardless of players’ residential college associations. No regulated practices exist for IM tennis. Registration for IM must be done every season and can be completed online using IMLeagues.
Club tennis is a competitive organization that represents Rice University in tournaments against other universities and is team-based year round. Tournament play is competitive and among individuals from institutions across Texas and beyond.
Can I participate in both IM and Club tennis?
Absolutely! Many of our players play both and have enjoyed both experiences.
Can I access the tennis courts outside of attending IM matches and Club practices?
Yes, if you have a Rice ID. Be sure to also bring your ID with you whenever you play on the courts – employees of the recreation center may come by and ask for your student ID to check and make sure that you are a Rice affiliate before allowing you to continue to play.
What skill levels does the club accept?
The club gladly welcomes players of all skill levels to join practices for drill and matchplay practice. Practices are a great way to work on tennis fundamentals and play people of similar skill levels.
For tournaments, the club generally sends out interest forms several weeks before tournament dates and forms teams based on member responses. While previous competitive experience is great and valued, it is not necessary for participation in tournaments.
How can I join the club?
Rice Club Tennis is open to both Rice undergraduate and graduate students, and there are no formal tryouts. Just show up to practice with your club dues and participation form, and be ready to play!
What is the participation form and why do I need to sign it?
The Rice University recreation center mandates that all participating club sports members fill out and sign a waiver form to avoid legal issues that can/may arise from injuries incurred during play. Members will not be allowed to practice or participate in tournaments if the form is not turned in. Forms will be collected by club officers at practices or can be turned into the recreation center directly.
How much are team dues and why do I have to pay them?
Base dues have yet to be determined for the 2020-2021 academic year. In the past, the base due has been $40. Base dues go toward team uniforms, tennis balls, and social events. An additional tournament fee of $20 will be collected throughout the year for players that play competitively. Tournament fees go toward additional team uniforms, tournament registration fees, and travel expenses. The team accommodates all members no matter their financial standing, so please let the president know if you cannot pay.
When and where are practices held?
Practices will be scheduled at the beginning of each new school year and fluctuate depending on the availability of court space. For the 2020-2021 academic year, practices will be held on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings from 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM as soon as the courts open. Practice will be held at the George R. Brown Tennis Center.
Are practices mandatory?
Members are encouraged to come to practice, but attendance is not required. Attendance at practice is considered for tournament roster selection, so if you want to play in tournaments come to as many practices as you can!
What are practices typically like?
Practices are structured and usually consist of a combination of drills, games, match play and optional fitness.
When are tournaments?
The tournament schedule varies from year to year and our season runs from September to May. The three largest tournaments for us are The Texas Sectionals (held at the end of February/early March), The Houston Regional (held in October) and Austin Regional (held in November). The most up-to-date schedule can be found on our tournaments page.
Does Rice Club Tennis offer lessons?
No, club tennis does not offer lessons. If you are interested in lessons we encourage you to sign up for LPAP Tennis through the university.
Where can I get my racquet restrung?
We are currently looking for a racquet stringer for the club, so if you have a stringer, please reach out to us! In the meantime, it would be best to go to a store, such as Tennis Express or Academy to get your racquet restrung.
What does the club do outside of playing tennis?
In addition to playing tennis, the club tennis team hosts casual events such as study breaks, Grand Slam match viewings, and team dinners throughout the year. The schedule for these events change from year to year and will be posted as soon as dates are determined.
What happens if it’s raining before a practice or a tournament?
For practice, look for an email around 6:15pm if practice is cancelled. You can also access a Live View of the Rice Tennis courts to check their status through the link below: https://riceowls.com/sports/2018/7/17/facilities-tennis-livestats-html.aspx
For tournaments, expect an email a few days before or the day before a tournament if it is cancelled. Sometimes, the tournaments will be cancelled early if the weather looks bad enough, and other times, they will cancel the day of.
Who can I contact/who is the best to contact if I still have questions?
You can reach the President, Matthew Su at ms161@rice.edu