UTR Sports and the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union (IGHSAU) announce that the UTR Rating is the official tennis rating of the IGHSAU.
Created by UTR Sports (formally known as Universal Tennis), the UTR Rating system rates all players – professional, collegiate, high school, junior, and recreational – on the same 16-point scale, regardless of age, gender, or location. A player’s UTR Rating reflects their current skill level based on actual performance.
The IGHSAU is the only state activity association in the nation solely devoted to promoting, directing and regulating interscholastic athletics for junior high and high school girls. The IGHSAU sanctions 11 sports for Iowa girls, including 118 girls tennis teams.
With the UTR Rating being widely considered the gold standard of college recruitment, the IGHSAU partnership opens up more opportunities for student-athletes. "Adding UTR is great for our sport. Not only will this keep high level players in the high school season, but will also help those that are looking at a tennis career after high school," says Cedar Rapids Xavier Head Coach, Matt Foxhoven.
Cedar Falls Head Coach, Tara Sagers, also speaks well towards the addition of UTR. "I see the benefits for our players with having these matches count towards their UTR. As a coach, we try to show the value of being a part of a team, and this adds to that value. Additionally, serving as one of the factors for postseason play, this can help provide the best and most competitive draws we can."
The adoption of the UTR Rating as the official rating system in Iowa ensures all high school tennis has one universal system for tracking player development, analytics, and discouraging roster stacking. UTR will be used as a factor during postseason.
"UTR Sports is excited to work with the IGHSAU to become the official rating for these high school student-athletes and coaches. We look forward to working with coaches across the state to help innovate and elevate high school tennis," said Chase Hodges, UTR Sports Vice President.
The IAHSAA adopted UTR Sports for boys tennis in 2022.