2016 JUNIOR TOURNAMENT REQUIREMENTS
USTA Northern Tournament Eligibility Page 1
USTA Age Eligibility Page 1
Junior Tournament System Page 1
USTA Northern Tournament Descriptions – Levels Page 2
Format of Play for USTA Northern Sanctioned Tournaments Page 3
Ranking Points Page 3
Ranking Requirements – Rankings/Standings List Page 4
Officials Page 4
Seeding Page 4
Scheduling Matches and Number of Matches Played Page 4
Financial Aid for Tournament Players Page 4
Sportsmanship Page 4
Anti-Bullying Policy Page 5
USTA Northern Suspension Point System Page 5 - 7
National Level 1, 2, 3 and 4 Tournaments Page 7
2016 JUNIOR TOURNAMENT REQUIREMENTS
USTA NORTHERN TOURNAMENT ELIGIBILITY
In order to be eligible to play in USTA sanctioned tournaments in the USTA Northern Section you must meet the following eligibility criteria:
USTA Membership requirement (except for 10U & Level 8 Tournaments)
· The junior player must hold a current USTA membership number assigned to USTA Northern.
· This membership number also allows the player to be eligible for ranking and endorsement in the USTA Northern Section.
Residency requirement
· The junior player must establish residency in the USTA Northern Section.
· A resident of USTA Northern is someone:
o whose family has permanent legal residence which is located within the Northern Section; OR
o who spends more than 6 months and 1 day living in the Northern Section.
o who’s family legally resides is that person’s domicile.
USTA AGE ELIGIBILITY
· In order to compete in USTA sanctioned tournaments, junior players must meet the “month of birth” eligibility requirement adopted by the USTA. This means that you may continue to play in the 12, 14, 16 and 18 age divisions until the first day of the month you turn 13, 15, 17 and 19, respectively. For example, if your 13th birthday is on February 25th , you may play in the 12s division during the month of January but beginning on February 1st, you would need to register for the 14s age division.
· When a tournament begins in one month and ends in the next, players should use the starting date of the tournament to determine eligibility for the age group you wish to register for. Tournaments that use TennisLink for registration will automatically have the USTA age eligibility of all entrants checked by TennisLink.
JUNIOR TOURNAMENT SYSTEM
Key points of the tournament system include:
· Northern Section sanctioned junior tournaments consist of Levels 3 – 8 and 10U.
· Level 8 is the entry level for tournament play and Level 3 is the highest level offered within USTA Northern.
· Levels 3 and 4 are national points tournaments.
· All 12s play for both boys and girls in Levels 5, 6, 7 & 8 will be green dot ball on a 78ft court.
· Points are not required to enter tournament levels.
· Level 7s are capped at 249 points in any age group. Players with 250 points or more can’t play in a Level 7 in any age group.
· Levels 3 – 8 and 10U tournaments may have a doubles event affiliated with them. In order to play in a Level 3 or 4 doubles tournament, players must also be selected to play in the singles event. Players must also play doubles in their own age group at all Level 3s, 4s and 5s. (We encourage players to play doubles; it is a vital element in the continued growth of a junior tennis player.)
USTA NORTHERN TOURNAMENT DESCRIPTIONS
Levels:
Level 3 - The highest level event played in the section, two (2) per year. These are the January Level 3 and the June Level 3 USTA Northern Junior Section Championships. The winner of a Level 3 tournament earns 650 national points and 330 section points. The points in a Level 3 tournament count towards a player’s national ranking and section ranking. You must play doubles in the same age group you play singles in – no exceptions.
The January Level 3 tournament will be a draw of 32 in singles and 16 in doubles (the top 32 players to register in each age group will be selected – selections will be based on the most current standings/rankings list after entries close – you must be selected in singles in order to play doubles).
The June Level 3 (Junior Section Championships) will be open, meaning any USTA Northern Section resident may play, no restrictions and no points required.
Level 4 - There are four (4) events per year that have a Level 4 designation. The winner of a Level 4 tournament earns 250 national points and 220 section points. (All Level 4 tournaments are limited to the top 24 players to register in each age group – selections will be based on the most current standings/rankings list after entries close). You must be selected to play in singles in order to play doubles. You must play doubles in the same age group you play singles in – no exceptions.
Level 5 – One (1) Level 5 tournament will be held each month. The points earned in a Level 5 tournament count towards a player’s section ranking (These are no longer national points tournaments). The winner of a Level 5 tournament earns 165 section points. From January – April and October – December Level 5s will be draws of 32 in each age group and from May 1 – September 30, Level 5s will be open, meaning no draw limits or point restrictions. From May 1 – September 30, Level 5s will also be open to non-section residents. All boys and girls 12s events will be green dot ball on a 78ft court.
Level 6 – At least one (1) Level 6 tournament will be held each week throughout the year. The points earned in a Level 6 tournament count towards a player’s section ranking. The winner of a Level 6 tournament earns 88 points. Level 6s are open, meaning there are no draw limits or point restrictions. Level 6s are open year-round to non-section residents. All boys and girls 12s events will be green dot ball on a 78ft court.
Level 7 - At least one (1) Level 7 tournament will be held each week throughout the year. Players with 250 points or more in any age group will not be allowed to participate in Level 7 tournament play in any age group, they must move up to Level 6 and above. Level 7s are open, meaning there are no draw limits. All boys and girls 12s events will be green dot ball on a 78ft court.
Level 8 – These are entry level tournaments. No membership is required to enter, however, players must create a USTA account at no cost in order to enter. Level 8’s will be either ½ day or one day non-elimination, non-rankings tournaments. All play in 12’s and 14’s will be green dot ball on a 78ft court.
10U – All 10 & Under tournaments will be open to anyone. There are no rankings affiliated with 10U tournaments. All play for boys and girls 10U tournaments will be orange ball on a 60ft court.
FORMAT OF PLAY FOR USTA NORTHERN SANCTIONED TOURNAMENTS*
· All Level 3s and 4s will be Full Feed In Consolation (FIC) in singles. (FIC = Should a player lose in any round in the main draw through the quarter finals, they are fed back into the consolation draw – consolation will be played out to the finals).
· All Level 5s will have the option of choosing which format they want to use (FIC, FMLC). (FMLC = Should a player lose their first match in the main draw they are fed back into the consolation draw).
· All Level 6s and 7s will have the option of running either First Match Loser Consolation (FMLC) or Modified Feed In Consolation (MFIC) in both singles and doubles, year round. That decision is made by the Tournament Director based on registration numbers. (MFIC = If a player loses their second match in the main draw, they are fed back into the consolation draw).
· All Level 8’s will be non-elimination tournaments utilizing Round Robin (RR) or Compass draws.
· In singles for Levels 3 and 4, in all age groups, with the exception of 12s, matches will be best of 3 tiebreak sets in the main draw. All 12s play, both boys and girls in main draw and consolation, will be best of 2 tiebreak sets with a Match Tiebreak in lieu of a 3rd set. In consolation, play will be best of 2 tiebreak sets with a Match Tiebreak in lieu of a 3rd set. Levels 5, 6 and 7 will have the option of running the best of 3 tiebreak sets in the main draw or best of 2 tiebreak sets with a Match Tiebreak in lieu of a 3rd set. All consolation matches will be best of 2 tiebreak sets with a Match Tiebreak in lieu of a 3rd set. All play in 10s may use the modified scoring formats as outlined in FAC (Friend At Court).
· All doubles events affiliated with Levels 3 and 4 will be single elimination, 8 game pro sets. If it is a stand alone doubles event, the format may follow FIC, FMLC or MFIC and may choose to play best of 3 tiebreak sets in the main draw.
· Start of Play – With the expansion of draw sizes for Level 3s and 4s, play could start as early as noon on Friday. With Levels 5, 6 and 7, play could possibly start as early as Friday morning. These considerations were made to accommodate the scheduling guidelines within FAC (Friend At Court). Please make sure to always check the tournament home page for start time information and any updates.
*Match formats may change due to weather conditions, draw sizes or other unforeseen circumstances.
RANKING POINTS
USTA Northern along with USTA National, uses a combined singles and doubles ranking list for all levels with the exception of Level 8 and 10U, which will have no rankings affiliated with them. A player’s ranking includes his or her best six (6) results in a rolling 12-month period in both singles and doubles. Singles equals 100% of points earned while doubles equals 15% of points earned. The chart below describes how the system works:
Player X (a player with better singles results)Best six (6) singles tournaments = 1500 points
Best six (6) doubles tournaments = 1200 points
15% of 1200 = 180 points
1500 + 180 = 1680 total combined ranking points
Player Y (a player with better doubles results)
Best six (6) singles tournaments = 1200 points
Best six (6) doubles tournaments = 1500 points
15% of 1500 = 225 points
1200 + 225 = 1425 total combined ranking points
If a player plays in a higher age level, the player will have a ranking in the higher age level. Points earned will also count down in the lower age level, provided a current ranking is established in the lower age group.
RANKING REQUIREMENTS
Standings List Explanation: A monthly combined (singles & doubles) standings list is published the 1st of every month as well as weekly on Mondays. This list includes all players who have participated in at least one sanctioned tournament event during the last 12 months. Tournament directors, to assist them in seeding their events, use this list most often. Players, who believe their standings are incorrect, should contact Kristi Bushinski at: . The standings list will use the best six (6) tournaments from the previous 12-month period to calculate total ranking points for that list. A player’s six (6) best tournaments in both singles and doubles will comprise their combined ranking. Once a player ages up (turns 13, 15 or 17), points from the previous age group will fall off of their player record, meaning the lower age group ranking will no longer show.
OFFICIALS
All Level 3s, Level 4s, and Level 5s are required to have a roving official designated by the tournament director. For all Level 3s, there should be one roving official for every 4 courts. For Level 4s, there should be one roving official for every 6 courts. For all Level 5 events, there should be at least one roving official per site used. Additionally, all Level 3s and 4s will be required to have a tournament referee.
SEEDING
Auto seed will be the method of seeding all tournaments. The Computerized List Method will be used for seeding (FAC), based on the current standings/ranking list after entries close.
SCHEDULING MATCHES AND NUMBER OF MATCHES PLAYED
In all junior age groups, it is recommended that no player shall play more than 2 singles matches and one doubles match per day when using the regular two-out-of-three set format. An additional singles and doubles match may be played in cases where the event is using a tiebreak in place of a third set. In case of poor weather conditions and tournament facility deadlines, the tournament director and referee will make any necessary adjustments to the rules regarding matches played. In some cases, adjustments to the schedule will have to be made if the draws are greater than 32 players and the event uses a full feed-in format. In some cases, match play may begin early in the morning on the first day of the tournament due to draw sizes.
It is recommended that in the 12 and 14 age divisions no match should start after 8:00 p.m., and in the 16 and 18 age divisions no match should start after 10:00 p.m. It is also suggested that players should be given a minimum rest of 12 hours between the completion of play of their last matches of any day and the start of play of their first matches the following day. (For complete scheduling guidelines, please refer to "Friend At Court" under "Scheduling Guidelines".)
FINANCIAL AID FOR TOURNAMENT PLAYERS
It is a goal of USTA Northern to make tennis available to all young athletes regardless of race, color, or financial status. Applications for assistance from available funds can be requested from the USTA Northern office at