Chicago District Jr. Team Tennis 2011/2012
Nancy Watland, USTA JTT Coordinator - Chicago
708-799-1323 x 24 or
Junior Team Tennis - the easy way!
Here is your help! How to Get Started!
What is USTA Jr. Team Tennis?
USTA Jr. Team Tennis gives boys and girls in the Chicago District the opportunity to participate in recreational competition in a round-robin format against other teams of similar ability. The focus of JTT is Fun, Sportsmanship, teamwork and Camaraderie!
USTA Jr. Team Tennis Divisions
Players are grouped according to age and ability. The player’s ability is determined using the Junior National Tennis Rating Program (JNTRP)
2.0 JNTRP (Beginner): Lacks court experience and strokes need developing. Player is familiar with the basic position for singles and doubles play.
3.0 JNTRP (Intermediate I): Is fairly consistent when hitting medium paced shots, but not comfortable with all strokes and lacks execution when trying for directional control, depth, or power. Most common doubles formation is one up, one back.
3.5 JNTRP (Intermediate II): Has achieved improved stroke dependability with directional control on moderate shots, but still lacks depth and variety. Exhibits more aggressive net play, has improved court coverage and is developing teamwork in doubles.
4.5 JNTRP (Advanced): Has begun to master the use of power and spins, is beginning to handle pace, has sound footwork, can control depth of shots, and is beginning to vary game plan according to opponents. Can hit first serves with power and accuracy and places second serve. Tends to over hit on difficult shots. Aggressive net play is common in doubles.
Chicago District Traveling League Divisions for 2011/2012 Season
10u Intermediate3.0-3.5 JNTRP2 hour format
10u Advanced**3.5-4.5 JNTRP2 hour format
12u Intermediate3.0-3.5 JNTRP2 hour format
12u Advanced**3.5-4.5 JNTRP2 hour format
14u Intermediate*3.0-3.5 JNTRP2 hour format
14u Advanced* **3.5-4.5 JNTRP2 hour format
18u Intermediate* 3.0-3.5 JNTRP2 hour format
18u Advanced* **3.5-4.0 JNTRP2 hour format
*Note: Players must play in the age division they will be in August 31st, 2012, to be able to advance to Sectional and National Championships. Tennislink will not allow players to sign up for a division if they are aging out of that division before August 31, 2012.
** Note: Any player that has 200 or more points on the Midwest Section standing list must play the advanced division in their age group. Any high school player that has advanced to state must play the advanced division.
Player Eligibility
All players must be USTA members through August 31, 2012. In order for your team to be eligible for participation in the District, Sectional, or National events the players must have a minimum of 3 matches (only one can be a default) played in the local league – Chicago District Traveling League.
How to create a TEAM:
- Go to , click on Tennislink > then USTA Jr. Team Tennis >scroll to bottom of the page and register to be a coach/captain. You can use your USTA number or Tennislink will assign you a number and you will create your own password as the coach/captain that you will use to create your team.
- Now you can create your team. Go to click on Tennislink > then on the right under your name will be My Options. You want to create a new team. You will fill in Type: Jr. Section: Midwest District: Chicago Area: Chicagoland. Then click on “GO”.
- Chicago District Traveling League will come up with jrin front of it. Click on jr and the screen for you to create your team will appear. Make sure you write down your Team number, so you can give it to your players to register for the team.
IMPORTANT! Once you have created your team, please email Nancy Watland, JTT Coord. for Chicago with 3 or 4 dates and times you would like home matches. She will try to accommodate your dates.
All teams must be registered on Tennislink by November 1, 2011.
All players must be registered on their team before their first match is played.
How to Register for a TEAM:
- Go to click on Tennislink > click on register for a team. You will need the team number from your coach/captain, your USTA number, and a credit card to complete your registration. There is a $10 player registration fee and $3.00 Tennislink fee – Total: $13.00.
Home & Visiting Club Requirements:
The home team coach is responsible for running matches at their facility! For all away matches, the traveling coach or assigned parent must have a copy of the lineup and be familiar with all the rules of play. Home facility is also responsible for providing food and beverage for players (usually pizza & pop).
Cost of Matches:
The matches for the 2011/2012 Fall/Winter season will be $15.00 per player and includes food and beverage to the players provided by the home facility.
Match Format:
- The format for the Fall/Winter season will be 3 boys/3 girls minimum per team with two courts for two hours.
- A team must have 4 rostered players to participate in a match in order for the match to count toward the standings
- 15 minute warm-up. Each round will be a 6 game pro set (regular scoring)with a 7 pt tiebreak at 5-5 or 30 minute match, whichever comes first.
Order of Play:
- Round 1 – b/g doubles; Round 2 – b/g singles; Round 3 – two mixed doubles. Match is won by Games Won. Players may play in only 2 positions of the above rounds.
Coaches – please adhere to the timing of all matches!
- Games are played with regular Ad Scoring.
- Players will stop play when time is called, unless they are between first and second serve.
- Unfinished games do not count toward your team total.
- Winners of each match will be determined by the most individual matches won.
- In the event of a match tie, total games won will be used to break the tie.
Defaults:
- The minimum requirement for each match is 4 rostered players. All defaulted matches will be scored at 6-0.
- If you have agreed to play a match with defaulted positions of any kind, do not mention this to the teams prior to the match. This is not fair to the defaulted team’s morale.
Team Line-Ups:
Coaches must exchange line-ups no later than 5 minutes prior to the match, and once line-ups are exchanged, no changes are permitted. The only exception is injury/illness in which case all players will move up and the bottom position will be the defaulted position.
Score Sheets:
The Home team must enter the scores on Tennislink at and fax the score sheet within 24 hours to Nancy Watland, JTT Coordinator, Chicago District 708-957-4993. If you were the away team and scores have not been entered in a timely fashion, please feel free to enter the scores.
If score sheets are not entered online or received by Nancy Watland with one week of the match, the match will be considered a DEFAULT for the home team that fails to input the scores and fax the score sheet. Please be aware that in the event of a tie in the overall standings, a default will affect your standings.
Parent Coordinators:
Coaches may want to recruit parent coordinators to assist with the following:
- Rosters – completing and submitting online
- Distributing basic JTT information to players
- Finding out from players which matches they can play
- Coordinating transportation to away matches
- Informing players when they will be playing after the coach determines the line-up for each match
- Relaying any rescheduled match information to players and parents
- Arranging for parent rep to accompany team to away matches
- At away matches, collecting and paying team fees to the home club
- Submitting completed score sheets online and faced to Nancy Watland within 24 hours
- Maintaining communication between players, parents & coach of your team
- Maintaining communication with district coordinator, Nancy Watland
Remember!
“No one gets benched in Tennis!”
See you on the courts