The Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation (MCB) would like to wish all of our players, parents, and friends a Happy Halloween! May this holiday be filled with plenty of trick-or-treating, cute pumpkin carvings, and fun costumes! | |
We would like to invite our players to email a Halloween-themed drawing or show off your Halloween costume in a photo by Wednesday, November 1 at 5:00pm (Central Time). Please email your player's name and submission to: tiffany@mcbtennis.org to be included in the contest. All photos will be posted on the MCB Twitter page (@mcbtennis) on Wednesday afternoon and the drawing with the most "likes" by Friday, November 3 at 5:00pm (Central Time) will receive a complimentary entry ($260 value) into the 2023 "Little Mo" Internationals in Florida (December 1-6). Please note that you must already be registered in our Florida international tournament in order to redeem this complimentary entry. Also, remember to click on the "heart" icon to like a photo on Twitter!
Everyone who participates in this contest will receive a $25 prize at the "Little Mo" Internationals. Please visit the "Little Mo/Big Mo" Booth during our last remaining international tournament this year to receive your prize. Good luck to all players!
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2023 "Little Mo" Tournaments | |
We are looking forward to seeing all of our players again this year and welcoming new families for all of the fun, festivities, and memories on and off the tennis court! Thank you so much for your support of the "Little Mo" and a special thank you to our tournament sites, volunteers, and proud sponsors: Jersey Mike's Subs (Title Sponsor), Tennis Competitors of Dallas (TCD), RBC Wealth Management (RBC), Wilson Sporting Goods ("Official Ball and Racquet"), Lucky in Love Kids ("Official Apparel"), and Palm Beach County Sports Commission (PBCSC). The "Little Mo" is truly a "one of a kind" tournament for young tennis players held in honor of tennis legend Maureen "Little Mo" Connolly Brinker. These special events are focused on sportsmanship, character, new friendships, and competitive matches with approximately 2,000 youngsters from over 70 different countries competing annually. We hope you and your family will join us for our last tournament of the year!
Registration is still OPEN for our 17th Annual "Little Mo" Internationals in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida (December 1-6) - open to any player worldwide (ages 8-16)! Registration for all international tournaments will be on a first-come, first-served basis up to the entry limit - we will be accepting the first 30 players in Florida in each division. Be sure to register early as the draws typically fill before the registration deadline - some draws are already full!
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To register for a "Little Mo" tournament, please click on the "Register Now" button or scroll down to click on one of the events below: | |
All yellow ball results from the "Little Mo" tournaments (Regionals, Nationals, Internationals) will count towards your player's Universal Tennis Rating (UTR). *NEW IN 2023: All green dot results will count towards the new Universal Tennis Color Ball Rating (CBR). Also, just a friendly reminder that players must register in the proper age division according to their birth year for all "Little Mo" tournaments. This ensures that our players are competing against others who are born in the same calendar year (i.e., 8's play 8's, 9's play 9's). For example, if your player is turning 10 at any time this year (regardless of what age they will be at the time of the tournament), they will need to register in the 10's division. | |
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Registration Deadline for Florida international tournament is in a few days!
Friday, November 3
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We hope you and your family will plan on joining us for the 17th Annual "Little Mo" Internationals tournament in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida (December 1-6, 2023) - open to any player worldwide (ages 8-16)! To date, we have approximately 670 players registered from over 60 different countries and territories worldwide! The registration deadline is coming up later this week on Friday, November 3 at 11:30pm (Central Time). Be sure to register early as the draws typically fill before the registration deadline - some draws are already full! To register, please click here or click on the ad below.
It will not only be a fun, competitive tournament but a great destination for the family with many sights to see: Disney World, Epcot, Lion Country Safari, Sea World, DuBois Park, Peanut Island, The Gardens Mall, Mounts Botanical Garden, the beautiful Florida beaches, and more are all nearby!
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"Rafa Raffle" to be held at "Little Mo" Internationals in Florida! | |
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26th Annual
"Road to the Little Mo Nationals"
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The "Little Mo" began in 1976 as a local tournament for Dallas youngsters and later grew to include players from all over Texas. In 1998, it expanded nationwide and became known as the "Road to the Little Mo Nationals", one of the premier series of junior tournaments for boys and girls ages 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12. The Road is now in its 26th year as a yearlong circuit of regional and national tournaments for players who reside in the USA and its territories. It is the only circuit of its kind for talented, high-performance boys and girls in the United States who compete against others born in the same year.
The Road begins in the spring and summer with the four "Little Mo" Regionals (North, South, East, West) held in different cities across the United States. Yellow (regular) ball divisions will be offered for boys and girls ages 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 in addition to a green dot option for ages 8, 9, and 10. The top four yellow ball players (semifinalists) in each age division from each "Little Mo" Regionals will advance to the prestigious "Little Mo" Nationals in Austin, Texas. These players will form a 16-size draw in each age division at the Nationals. The top 160 players who reach the Nationals are the youngest and brightest future stars in American tennis!
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"Little Mo" East Regionals
Palm Beach Gardens Tennis Center
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
April 22-24, 2023
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"Little Mo" South Regionals
Arlington Tennis Center
Arlington, Texas
May 27-29, 2023
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"Little Mo" West Regionals
Berkeley Tennis Club
Berkeley, California
July 15-17, 2023
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"Little Mo" North Regionals
Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning
Bronx, New York
September 3-5, 2023
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26th Annual "Little Mo" Nationals
Presented by
RBC Wealth Management
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Austin Tennis Academy
Austin, Texas
September 22-25, 2023
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2023 "Little Mo" Internationals (CO, NJ, FL) | |
In 2006, MCB created the "Little Mo" Internationals for USA players to experience different styles of play and meet others from various countries and cultures from around the world. This flagship event was first held in Texas and it has evolved over the years into three different events in Colorado, New Jersey, and Florida. Today, the Internationals attract thousands of talented boys and girls (ages 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12) who travel from across the United States and worldwide to compete against others born in the same year. The "Big Mo" divisions have also been added in Colorado and Florida for ages 13, 14, 15, and 16. These unique tournaments are held at some of the most prominent and historic tennis clubs in the United States, which helps to create an unforgettable experience and enjoyable vacation for the entire family. There are also many fun tourist attractions and sights to see near our three international events such as Pikes Peak, Garden of the Gods, US Open, Times Square, Statue of Liberty, Broadway shows, Disney World, Epcot, and beautiful beaches.
This year, our host sites are the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado (June 30 - July 5), the West Orange Tennis Club in West Orange, New Jersey (August 20-24), and the Palm Beach Gardens Tennis Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida (December 1-6). In Colorado and Florida, yellow (regular) ball divisions will be offered for boys and girls ages 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16 in addition to a green dot option for ages 8, 9, and 10. In New Jersey, yellow (regular) ball divisions will be offered for boys and girls ages 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 in addition to a green dot option for ages 8, 9, and 10. The "Big Mo" divisions (ages 13, 14, 15, and 16) will not be offered due to limited courts in New Jersey. All players will have an opportunity to participate in Singles, Doubles, and Mixed Doubles in addition to many exciting and memorable activities such as the Player Clinic, Player Parade, Group Photo, Opening Ceremony, Player Gift Exchange, "Mo" Coins, Player Party, "Little Mo/Big Mo" Booth, and much more. Last year, the "Little Mo" Internationals in Florida featured over 600 players from 60 different countries!
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IMPORTANT REGISTRATION INFORMATION:
There is a lot of important information posted on each tournament's UTR homepage (where you will register for the event) including the Player Gift Exchange tradition, Player Referral Program, and much more. This information is located under "Description" on the "Overview" tab, and you will need to click on the "Read More" button in order to see all of the posted information. There is also a very important document uploaded as an attachment to each tournament's UTR homepage that includes our "Little Mo" Rules and Regulations, Code of Conduct, Tournament and COVID-19 Liability Waivers, and Health/Safety guidelines. Please take a moment to read through all of this information carefully before you start the registration process.
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10th Annual "Little Mo" Internationals in Colorado
U.S. Air Force Academy
Colorado Springs, Colorado
June 30 - July 5, 2023
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12th Annual "Little Mo" Internationals in New Jersey
West Orange Tennis Club
West Orange, New Jersey
August 20-24, 2023
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17th Annual "Little Mo" Internationals in Florida
Palm Beach Gardens Tennis Center
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
December 1-6, 2023
Registration Deadline: Friday, November 3 at 11:30pm (Central Time)
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Some draws are already full! | |
"Little Mo" Internationals (Colorado, New Jersey, Florida)
Rules and Regulations
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Welcome to the 2023 "Little Mo" Internationals (Colorado, New Jersey, Florida)! These tournaments are designed to provide outstanding competition at the international level while also encouraging players to develop new friendships, learn good sportsmanship, and most of all, have fun. The Internationals are the only tournaments of their kind for talented, high-performance boys and girls worldwide who compete against others born in the same year. Please read through the following rules and regulations carefully: | |
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Eligibility: The three "Little Mo" Internationals will be held in Colorado, New Jersey, and Florida. The Internationals are open to any player worldwide (ages 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12). The "Big Mo" divisions have also been added in Colorado and Florida for ages 13, 14, 15, and 16. There are no special qualifications or ranking needed to register for the international tournaments - any player who registers will be accepted into the draw until the entry limit is reached. *Please note that players do not need to compete in one of the "Little Mo" Regionals or the "Little Mo" Nationals in order to participate in one of the "Little Mo" Internationals.
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Entry Limits: Registration for the "Little Mo" Internationals will be on a first-come, first-served basis up to the entry limit - we will be using several different entry limits based on the tournament (see below). If a division reaches the entry limit before the registration deadline, a WAITING LIST will be established at that time. Be sure to register early as the draws typically fill before the registration deadline! *Please note that once you have received a confirmation email from UTR/Stripe, your player's entry has been accepted into the tournament and you can make your travel arrangements.
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Colorado: Registration will be limited to the first 30 players in each division with 2 wildcards to be determined by MCB. All divisions will initially be limited to a 32-size draw (maximum), but it may be possible for some divisions to expand into a 64-size draw based on court capacity.
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New Jersey: Registration will be limited to the first 14 players in each division with 2 wildcards to be determined by MCB. All divisions will initially be limited to a 16-size draw (maximum due to limited courts in New Jersey), but it may be possible for some divisions to expand into a 32-size draw based on court capacity.
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Florida: Registration will be limited to the first 30 players in each division with 2 wildcards to be determined by MCB. All divisions will initially be limited to a 32-size draw (maximum), but it may be possible for some divisions to expand into a 64-size draw based on court capacity.
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Multiple Tournaments: Players may compete in any "Little Mo" Internationals regardless of where they are currently living in the United States or worldwide. Players may also compete in as many international tournaments as they would like.
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Events / Guaranteed Matches: The "Little Mo" Internationals will offer Singles, Doubles, and Mixed Doubles events for all divisions. All players will be guaranteed at least two Singles matches during the international tournaments in addition to one Doubles match and one Mixed Doubles match (only if they are able to find a partner for each event).
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Age Eligibility / Registration by Birth Year: Players must register in the proper age division according to their birth year. This ensures that our players are competing against others who are born in the same calendar year (i.e., a player born in 2013 must play in the 10's division since they will be turning 10 this year).
- Boys and Girls 16's ("Big Mo") - born in 2007
- Boys and Girls 15's ("Big Mo") - born in 2008
- Boys and Girls 14's ("Big Mo") - born in 2009
- Boys and Girls 13's ("Big Mo") - born in 2010
- Boys and Girls 12's - born in 2011
- Boys and Girls 11's - born in 2012
- Boys and Girls 10's - born in 2013
- Boys and Girls 9's - born in 2014
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Boys and Girls 8's - born in 2015 (Only players who are born in 2015 will be allowed to play in the 8's divisions. Players born in 2016 or 2017 will not be eligible).
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Divisions: The "Little Mo" Internationals will be offering several different divisions based on the tournament:
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Colorado and Florida: Yellow (regular) ball divisions will be offered for boys and girls ages 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16 in addition to a green dot option for ages 8, 9, and 10. Players must register for only one division. This means that players competing in the 8's, 9's, and 10's divisions must choose to play with either the yellow (regular) ball or the green dot ball for their age group. Players in the 11's and 12's must play with the yellow (regular) ball. All divisions will be played on a full 78' tennis court with either the yellow (regular) ball or green dot ball.
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New Jersey: Yellow (regular) ball divisions will be offered for boys and girls ages 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 in addition to a green dot option for ages 8, 9, and 10. The "Big Mo" divisions (ages 13, 14, 15, and 16) will not be offered due to limited courts in New Jersey. Players must register for only one division. This means that players competing in the 8's, 9's, and 10's divisions must choose to play with either the yellow (regular) ball or the green dot ball for their age group. Players in the 11's and 12's must play with the yellow (regular) ball. All divisions will be played on a full 78' tennis court with either the yellow (regular) ball or green dot ball.
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Draw Formats: The "Little Mo" Internationals will be using several different draw formats based on the event type and draw size:
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Singles:
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32-size draw, 16-size draw or 8-size draw: A First Match Losers Consolation format with a 3rd/4th Place playoff will be used. This means that any player who loses their first match in the First Round (Main Draw) will move into the Consolation bracket. Any player who has a bye in the First Round (Main Draw) and loses their first match in the Second Round (Main Draw) will also move into the Consolation bracket. The losers of the Semifinal Round (Main Draw) will move into a 3rd/4th Place playoff.
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5 or less players: A Round Robin format will be used.
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Doubles and Mixed Doubles: A Single Elimination format will be used for all divisions regardless of draw size.
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Scoring Formats: The "Little Mo" Internationals will be using several different scoring formats based on the event type:
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Singles: All Singles matches (Main Draw and Consolation) will consist of two tiebreak sets (first to 6 games). At 6 games all, a 7-point set tiebreak (first to 7, win by 2) will be played. If players split sets, a 10-point match tiebreak (first to 10, win by 2) will be played in lieu of a third set. Regular scoring (with ad) will be used for all Main Draw matches and a 5-minute warm-up will be given before each match. *NEW IN 2023: No-ad scoring will be used for all Consolation matches in addition to the 3rd/4th Place playoff. *NEW IN 2023: A 2-minute rest period will be given between the first and second sets, and a 3-minute rest period will be given between the second set and match tiebreak. No coaching is allowed at any time. *Shortened scoring may be used in the case of rain.
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Doubles and Mixed Doubles: All Doubles and Mixed Doubles matches will consist of an 8-game pro set (first to 8 games). At 8 games all, a 7-point match tiebreak (first to 7, win by 2) will be played. Regular scoring (with ad) will be used for all matches and a 5-minute warm-up will be given before each match. No coaching is allowed at any time. *Shortened scoring may be used in the case of rain.
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Universal Tennis Rating (UTR): All yellow ball results from the "Little Mo" Internationals (Colorado, New Jersey, Florida) will count towards your player's Universal Tennis Rating (UTR). *NEW IN 2023: All green dot results will also count towards the new Universal Tennis Color Ball Rating (CBR).
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Travel Grants will be awarded to players who win their age division (yellow ball only) at all "Little Mo" Internationals! | |
We hope you will join us for our last remaining international tournament this year! Any "Little Mo" or "Big Mo" player who wins their yellow ball division (Singles only) in Florida will receive a special travel grant during the tournament - more details to be announced at the tournament!
These travel grants are sponsored by the Tennis Competitors of Dallas (TCD) and we are so thankful for their support of junior tennis!
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Player Referral Program
$20 for each player referred!
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Matias Moran helps promote the "Little Mo" by handing out flyers at tennis clubs! | |
We hope you will tell all of your friends about the "Little Mo" tournaments! As a special incentive for helping us spread the word, we would like to offer you an opportunity to receive $20 (per referral) from MCB if you are able to encourage a friend(s) to sign up. A custom question has been added to the tournament registration process whereby the referred player can type in your name on their entry form as having referred them.
For every player you refer, you will receive $20 at the tournament. Only the names entered during the online registration process will count towards earning this prize. Also, any player who withdraws from the tournament will not count towards this prize.
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In order to claim your referral prize, please stop by the "Little Mo/Big Mo" Booth during any "Little Mo" tournament this year. Referral prizes will only be awarded at the tournament and they may only be redeemed in the year they are earned. The more players you refer, the more you can earn! If you have any other questions about this special offer, or if you would like to help promote the "Little Mo" tournaments by distributing flyers to clubs in your area, please send an email to: carol@mcbtennis.org. | |
We hope you and your family will join us again next year for one or more of our "Little Mo" tournaments! We are aiming to post our 2024 tournament schedule by February/March of next year. When it is available, it will be posted on our MCB website (www.mcbtennis.org) under the "Tournaments" tab. We will most likely be following a very similar schedule compared to this year, which is still included on our website. In the meantime, we would recommend signing up for our monthly newsletter to ensure that you receive the most up-to-date information throughout the year. If you are not already subscribed, you can sign up on our website (www.mcbtennis.org) at the bottom of the page. | |
Follow our new TikTok page for fun videos before, during, and after our "Little Mo" tournaments! Stay tuned for engaging videos for/from all of our players. Tag us in your TikToks during our tournaments for a chance to get featured! | |
Pictured left to right: Cate Brennan, Renee Hinterlong, Cindy Brinker Simmons, and Suzie Brennan | |
2023 TCD Phyllis Brennan
"Volunteer of the Year" Award!
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Cindy Brinker Simmons, President of the Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation, recently presented Renee Hinterlong with the Phyllis Brennan Award at the 2023 Tennis Competitors of Dallas (TCD) Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon in Plano, Texas. The award, affectionately known as the "Volunteer of the Year" Award, is presented annually to an outstanding Tennis Competitors of Dallas volunteer. Renee has been an active TCD member and volunteer for more than 20 years. She has served as team captain, flight coordinator, on various committees, and on multiple Boards as Ladies Doubles Director, Rules Director, Presiding Director, Past Presiding Director, and currently as Pickleball Director.
Renee is deserving of this award not only in recognition of her commitment to TCD over two decades, but also this year specifically because of her work bringing pickleball to TCD with the creation of the Ladies Pickleball and Mixed Pickleball Leagues. She was the driving force beginning in 2020 in creating, promoting, and implementing TCD Ladies Pickleball, all while serving as Rules Director and dealing with the challenges of the Covid pandemic. Developing a new TCD league, much less two leagues during a pandemic, is no easy task.
Since the inception of TCD Pickleball, the Ladies League has grown from 4 flights and 23 teams to 9 flights and 78 teams. The Mixed League has grown from 3 flights and 17 teams to 5 flights and 50 teams. In fall of 2020, there were 341 registered Ladies Pickleball players and now there are 1,185. Mixed Pickleball began with 303 registered players and now there are 1,386. TCD Pickleball is now the largest organized, competitive pickleball league that plays seasons (as opposed to weekend competitions or tournaments) in the entire country. And Renee and her event committee hosted the first-ever TCD Ladies Pickleball Boot Camp in May!
Renee has a heart for Tennis Competitors of Dallas and is a great resource for all things TCD. She is a fantastic representative of Tennis Competitors of Dallas both on and off the court. Congratulations, Renee!
Established in 1992, the TCD Phyllis Brennan "Volunteer of the Year" is a very special award presented annually by the Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation. This award is given to recognize the outstanding volunteer of the year in honor of Phyllis Brennan. Phyllis Brennan was a volunteer for the Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation for over 20 years. She was the Ball Girl Chairman for many years for the Virginia Slims of Dallas, which was sponsored by the Foundation. She also volunteered countless hours for many other worthwhile causes in Dallas. Phyllis passed away on August 23, 1992, and this award honors her memory, her dedication, and her love of tennis! Please click here for a full list of all award recipients over the years.
Founded by the Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation in 1977, TCD began with 18 teams and quickly grew to 28 teams by the fall season. Today, TCD currently has over 8,000 members (342 Ladies Doubles teams, 110 Mixed Doubles teams, 115 Love-50 Doubles teams, 48 Love-60 Doubles teams, 78 Ladies Pickleball teams, and 50 Mixed Doubles Pickleball teams). TCD is a proud sponsor of the "Little Mo" tournaments and they have presented travel grants to deserving "Little Mo" players for many years. Thank you TCD for your loyal support!
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Former "Little Mo" Champion Katherine Hui joins the 2023 Stanford University Women's Tennis team roster! | |
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Congratulations to former "Little Mo" champion Katherine Hui who joined the 2023 Stanford University Women's Tennis team roster! Click here for photo credits and for the full article on the Stanford website.
As an 8-year-old, Katherine Hui competed in the 2013 "Little Mo" Nationals in Austin, Texas. The following year, she was the Girls 9 Singles champion and also received the Sportsmanship Award at the 2014 "Little Mo" Internationals in Rancho Santa Fe, California. Keep up the great work!
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Stay tuned for fun and exciting activities from the "Little Mo" Club! For more information on future giveaways and contests, please check out and follow the Instagram page: @littlemoclub! Also, be sure to fill out your player's profile so you can participate in all of the fun activities (for active members with a full profile only). Don't forget to add your picture so your friends can recognize you!
If you have any questions about the "Little Mo" Club or how to activate your account, please send an email to: info@littlemoclub.com. Thanks so much!
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Would you like to be a Sponsor of the "Little Mo" Tournaments? | |
We are actively looking for sponsors for the 2023 and 2024 "Little Mo" tournaments. If you are interested or you know someone who works for a company that would be interested in being a sponsor of our "Road to the Little Mo Nationals" circuit and/or the three "Little Mo" Internationals (Colorado, New Jersey, Florida), please send an email to: carol@mcbtennis.org. We will be happy to send a customized PowerPoint sponsorship proposal, which would include branding opportunities such as placing banners at various sites across the country, advertising in the player program and booklet, having your logo on the tournament t-shirts, and promoting your product(s) to our players, parents, and their families. | |
Do you have any Creative Ideas for the "Little Mo" Tournaments? | |
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We are always trying to improve the "Little Mo" tournaments and create a fun and memorable experience for our players and their families. If you have a creative idea or suggestion for the "Little Mo" tournaments, please send an email to: carol@mcbtennis.org. | |
Would you like to help the Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation? | |
Thank you so much for your support of the Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation and the "Little Mo" tournaments! It is the mission of the Foundation to organize memorable tennis events for young players while also providing opportunities to develop their game, enjoy tennis, and learn good values such as character, sportsmanship, and kindness. The Foundation has promoted the development of junior tennis for over 55 years and continues to benefit countless numbers of boys and girls throughout the United States and worldwide. We greatly appreciate any donations so that we can continue to offer the "Little Mo" tournaments in honor of Maureen "Little Mo" Connolly Brinker. | |
If you are interested in making a donation, please click on the "Make A Donation" button above. All donations are tax-deductible as the Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization. We are also always looking for volunteers at the "Little Mo" tournaments so if you would like to earn community service hours or volunteer your time, please send an email to: carol@mcbtennis.org. We thank you for your kind consideration and wish you all the very best for a wonderful and memorable year! | |
If you were a "Little Mo" player and you have recently signed with a college tennis team or are currently playing college tennis, please email: carol@mcbtennis.org to be featured in our next newsletter. | |
A Special Thank You To Our Sponsors: | |
The "Little Mo" tournaments are hosted by MCB in memory of its tennis champion namesake, Maureen "Little Mo" Connolly Brinker. Born in San Diego, Maureen became the first woman to achieve the Grand Slam of tennis in 1953 by winning all four major championships (Australian, French, Wimbledon, and US Open) in the same year. She was well known for her powerful groundstrokes from the baseline, which earned her the famous nickname "Little Mo" - a comparison to the explosive firepower of the battleship USS Missouri, also known as "Big Mo". Only five players in the history of tennis have won the calendar Grand Slam, and Maureen is still the only American woman and the youngest at age 18 to have accomplished this magnificent feat. She won an amazing nine consecutive championship titles (three US, three Wimbledon, two French, one Australian) - undefeated in 50 matches.
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Unfortunately, her spectacular career would be short-lived due to a horseback riding accident in 1954. While she could no longer compete at an elite level, Maureen's legacy as a legendary tennis star would continue through the Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation (MCB). Founded in 1968 with her dear friend Nancy Jeffett, MCB's mission would be the promotion and support of junior tennis development worldwide. That same year, she was inducted into the prestigious International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island. Sadly, Maureen lost her valiant battle with cancer the following year and passed away at the young age of 34. Although her tennis career only spanned three years, many premier sportswriters consider Maureen Connolly to be the finest of all female players for her achievements on and off the court. In 2019, she was honored by the United States Postal Service with her very own "Little Mo" Commemorative Forever Stamp.
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Today, MCB continues to support the growth of junior tennis by organizing numerous "Little Mo" tournaments throughout the United States annually for talented boys and girls (ages 8-16). These events are designed to provide outstanding competition at the regional, national, and international level while also encouraging players to develop new friendships, learn good sportsmanship, and most of all, have fun. The "Little Mo" tournaments are also unique in that young players have the opportunity to gauge their ability against others born in the same year from around the world (i.e., 8's play 8's, 9's play 9's). MCB strives to empower young athletes by giving travel grants, "Mo" Coins for prizes, and also Sportsmanship and Kindness awards to deserving individuals in honor of Maureen's legacy. The Foundation also contributes financially to many notable programs including the National Junior Tennis League for inner-city youth and Invest In A Child for deaf and wheelchair tennis.
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Over the years, many well-known collegiate players and famous tennis professionals have participated in the "Little Mo" tournaments including Andy Roddick, Taylor Fritz, Sebastian Korda, Emma Raducanu, Leylah Fernandez, Dominic Thiem, Belinda Bencic, Jenson Brooksby, Madison Keys, Tommy Paul, Brandon Nakashima, Vasek Pospisil, Borna Coric, Coco Gauff, Mackie McDonald, Ryan Harrison, Taylor Townsend, Donald Young, Steve Johnson, Sofia Kenin, Denis Kudla, CiCi Bellis, and Ana Konjuh among many others. Roddick won the "Little Mo" in 1992 (age 10) and he said, "the 'Little Mo' was my first big win!" Gauff won the "Little Mo" in 2012 (age 8) and she said, "the 'Little Mo' is where the belief began." This is all wonderful news for junior tennis and we are so proud that the "Little Mo" continues to be one of the most popular events for young players around the world.
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MCB has promoted the development of junior tennis for over 55 years and continues to benefit countless numbers of young players worldwide. It is our mission to provide a special and meaningful experience at all of our events while also inspiring outstanding attributes at a young age such as fair play, good character, integrity, sportsmanship, kindness, giving back, and an "attitude of gratitude". Thousands of players compete in the "Little Mo" tournaments annually and we hope to see even more youngsters play this wonderful "sport for a lifetime". We would also very much appreciate your help in spreading the word about the "Little Mo" so we can continue to impact future generations of young players. The MCB Tennis Foundation is led by its directors: Cindy Brinker Simmons (President), Brenda Brinker Bottum (Vice President), and Elizabeth Jeffett (Vice President). Carol Weyman (Executive Vice President), Matthew Cody (Tournament Operations Manager), and Tiffany Hollebeck (Tournament Operations Coordinator) organize the "Little Mo" tournaments. Thank you so much for your support of the "Little Mo" tournaments and the legacy of Maureen Connolly Brinker. For more information about the "Little Mo", please visit our website at: www.mcbtennis.org and click on "Tournaments". Play "Mo" Tennis! | |
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We hope you will find some time to enjoy the 1978 "Little Mo" movie (made for TV) about Maureen Connolly. The movie is about 2.5 hours long and features some major movie stars like Mark Harmon, Leslie Nielsen, and Glynnis O'Connor. It is a wonderful movie for the entire family and is very inspirational for young players who love the game of tennis. Thank you so much for sharing the "Little Mo" story with your child as it will help make their "Little Mo" experience more meaningful.
Please click on the popcorn icon to watch the "Little Mo" movie!
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