*Updated July 2025
SELECTION CRITERIA
All team members will be determined by the coaches according to all the following criteria:
- Single elimination tryout tournament for new players, followed by challenge matches results
- Positive attitude, Commitment, Availability during the season, Attendance
- Responsibility and Reliability – responding to emails daily, filling out paperwork etc
- Respect everyone- Coaches, teammates, opponents
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TO REGISTER
FILL OUT VBR & MEDICALS: Participation in tryouts requires registration in advance through the Varsity Blues Registration System(VBRS) and the PAR-Q (Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire). Approvedd PAR-Q form must be emailed to coach Nabil right away.
*THESE FORMS WILL BE AVAILABLE BY AUGUST 1 AND MUST BE COMPLETED BEFORE AUGUST 21.*
TRYOUT DATES/TIMES/LOCATION: Mandatory tryouts begin Monday, August 25 at 11 am. With a single elimination tournament. Winners will continue every day throughout the week. OUA league matches start Friday, September 5. Locations are UTSC tennis courts (130 Old Kingston Rd, Scarborough) and in case of rain at one of the Mayfair indoor clubs. Tryout dates cannot be delayed/altered to suit individual schedules. Final team selection of 6 players and a few subs will be by Sept 1. Exact number of subs will be determined by the coaches
TRYOUTS FORMAT INFO:
STEP 1 - For first-year players will start with a single elimination tournament. Only winners will advance and play a maximum of 2-3 matches per day over the first 2-3 days. The matches at first will be eight-game pro sets regular ads scoring.
STEP 2 - Challenge matches will be played the rest of the week to determine rankings.
- Past team members and players with high UTR, NATIONAL, OTA rankings will be granted byes upon the discretion of the coaches to the next rounds of play.
- Come prepared to tryouts with your own equipment, water, food, etc.
- Tryout fee is $20 per player (if tryouts occur indoors a cost of $50 will apply).
- Email coach Nabil Tadros (nabil.tadros@utoronto.ca) with your tennis playing experience, any rankings, and your interest in trying out for further details.
ADDITIONAL TEAM INFORMATION
TEAM FEES: Team fees $150 per player and full uniform new player fee $250 (includes top, bottom, sweats, bag). Plus a one time U SPORTS registration fee of $50.
LEVEL OF PLAY AND TEAM POSITIONS: For the men's team, the top 6-8 players caliber is equivalent to UTR ranking of 10 and up. For the women's team 7 and up. The team consists of six singles players and three doubles teams. Several spots are available for subs. The players are ranked sequentially from number 1 as the strongest and up. Generally, the top 6-8 players play singles and doubles. Positions can not be guaranteed and will be decided once the tryouts are completed. Positioning on the team is an ongoing process. This is a team format/concept and players must accept the coaches decisions. For players who prefer individual concepts of playing tennis they should consider OTA tournaments.
SEASON: Length of season is roughly from end of August tryouts to the OUA championships in mid October. Regular season matches will take place for the whole day on Saturday’s and Sunday’s. Most home matches are at UTSC tennis courts, located at 130 old Kingston Road. In case of rain we will play in evening at one of the indoor clubs. The official OUA championship weekend in October starts with Friday morning matches and ends on Sunday evening. You will be missing classes on the Friday. The Varsity Blues website has a form you can download and take to your prof for official permission to miss a class. Winning teams advance to the Canadian national championships in August at the National Bank Open in Toronto or Montreal.
PRACTICES: As our team players are from all three campuses and many live at home in various parts in and out of the city, players may choose their own method of practice minimum twice per week:
a) Set up their own practice matches with team members at UTSC, Mississauga and downtown public courts (Ramsden Park or Sir Winston Churchill tennis club). The AC indoor courts available from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays at the Field House.
b) Practice with team coaches at one of the Mayfair clubs (location/dates/times to be determined).
c) The week before the OUA championship we will have two mandatory practices at the Mayfair Clubs.
