Junior Tournament Guide

Guide to Junior Tournaments for Players and Spectators

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

RESOURCES

R E S O U RC E S

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J U N I O R TO U R N A M E N TS

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TO U R N A M E N T PAT H WAY S K I L LS

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S ECT I O N TO U R N A M E N TS

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S ECT I O N TO U R N A M E N TS - T E A M E V E N TS

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S ECT I O N TO U R N A M E N TS - D O U B L E S

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RU L E S A N D R EG U L AT I O N S

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P L AY E R C O D E

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PA R E N T G U I D E

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S P ECTATO R P O L I CY

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S P O RTS M A N S H I P

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T E XT U P DAT E S

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J U N I O R T E N N I S TA L KS

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Navigating the world of USTA Junior Tournaments can sometimes be confusing.

Below is a link to a resource page where you can find helpful information and videos.

Be sure to bookmark this page for easy access.

2026 SCHEDULE USTA JUNIOR RESOURCES

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TOURNAMENT PATHWAY SKILLS

WHEN SHOULD I START PLAYING IN TOURNAMENTS?

Levels 1, 2, 3 Open: National Tournaments

After players have achieved success in USTA Junior Circuit events, they may want to explore USTA Junior Tournaments. We strongly recommend beginning at Level 7 tournaments, an intermediate level competitive tournament that guarantees multiple matches in one day.

WHAT ARE THE SEVEN LEVELS OF COMPETITION? The structure of USTA Junior Tournaments utilizes seven levels of events, ranging from Level 7 (Intermediate) to Level 1 (National Championships) and a universal ranking system that distributes points consistently across the country.

HOW DO I KNOW WHEN I AM READY TO MOVE TO THE NEXT LEVEL? There are different philosophies for advancing through competition, but one universal principle is that a player should only advance to the next level if they are consistently winning more matches than they are losing.

VIDEO: USTA JUNIOR TOURNAMENT STRUCTURE 4

ADVANCED ADVANCED

WHERE SHOULD I START?

You have good shot anticipation and frequently have an outstanding shot or attribute around which a game may be structured. You can regularly hit winners or force errors off of short balls and can put away volleys. You can successfully execute lobs, drop shots, half volleys, overheads and have good depth and spin on most second serves.

Level 4: Section Tournaments You have developed your use of power and spin and can handle pace. The player has sound footwork, can control depth of shots, and attempt to vary game plan according to your opponents. You can hit first serves with power and accuracy and place the second serve. You tend to over hit on difficult shots. Aggressive net play is common in doubles.

HIGH INTERMEDIATE

• You have played high school tennis.

Level 3 Closed: Section Tournaments

Level 5: Section Tournaments

INTERMEDIATE

• You are between the ages of 11 and 18 and have competed in the USTA Junior Circuit.

You have mastered power and/or consistency as a major weapon. You can vary strategies and styles of play in a competitive situation and hit dependable shots in a stress situation.

Level 6: District Tournaments

LOW INTERMEDIATE

• You are between the ages of 7 and 10, have played the USTA Junior Circuit and have completed the Play Tracker requirements.

ADVANCED

JUNIOR TOURNAMENTS

Level 7: District Tournaments

You can vary the use of pace and spins, has effective court coverage, can control depth of shots, and are able to develop game plans according to strengths and weakness. You can hit the first serve with power and accuracy and can place the second serve. You have good shot anticipation and frequently has an outstanding shot or attribute around which his or her game can be structured. You can regularly hit winners or force errors off of short balls and put away volleys. You tend to over hit on difficult shots. Aggressive net play is common in doubles.

You are fairly consistent when hitting medium-paced shots, but is not comfortable with all strokes and lacks accuracy when trying for directional control, depth, pace or altering distance of shots. You are more comfortable at the net, have improved court awareness, and are developing teamwork in doubles. At this level, you may start to utilize mental skills related to concentration, tactics and strategy.

You are learning to judge where the oncoming ball is going and how much swing is needed to return in consistently.

Movement to the ball and recovery are often not efficient. You can sustain a backcourt rally of slow pace with other players of similar ability and is beginning to develop strokes. You are becoming more familiar with the basic positions for singles and doubles, and are ready to play social matches, leagues and low-level tournaments.

You have the ability to keep score independently.

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SECTION TOURNAMENTS - TEAM EVENTS

SECTION TOURNAMENTS

L3 CLOSED, L4, L5

L3 CLOSED, L4, L5

L5 SELECTION HYBRID METHOD

SELECTION & SEEDING

• L3 CLOSED and L4: The current published National Standings List at the entry deadline • L5 selection: A hybrid method using the current published National Standings List and the World Tennis Number (WTN) at the entry deadline • L5 seeding: The current published National Standings List at the entry deadline

SCORING Singles Main Draw: Best of 3 with Match Tiebreak in lieu of 3rd, Ad Scoring Singles Consolation: Best of 3 with Match Tiebreak in lieu of 3rd, No Ad Scoring Doubles: 8-Game Pro Set, No Ad Scoring

ENTRY DEADLINES

SELECTION • L3 CLOSED TEAM: The player’s current published National Standings List at the entry deadline • L4 TEAM and L5 TEAM: The team’s combined current published National Standings List at the entry deadline

SEEDING/SCORECARD POSITION • L3 CLOSED, L4 and L5: The current published World Tennis Number (WTN) player’s rating at the entry deadline

ENTRY DEADLINES Wednesdays at 4:59 PM CST

Wednesdays at 4:59 PM CST

L3 CLOSED OUTDOOR RALLY IN THE VALLEY Draw Size: limited to 16 players Singles: compass draw Doubles: single elimination

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L4 INDOOR & OUTDOOR Draw Size: limited to 32 players Singles: feed-in through R16 with 3-4 and 5-6 playoffs Doubles: single elimination

L5 INDOOR Draw Size: limited to 16 players Singles: compass draw Doubles: single elimination OUTDOOR Draw Size: limited to 24 players Singles: feed-in through R16 with 3-4 and 5-6 playoffs Doubles: single elimination OUTDOOR FLIGHTED Draw Size: limited to 32 players Singles: compass draw Doubles: single elimination

L3 CLOSED

L4

L5

TEAM Draw Size: limited to 24 players (12 teams)

TEAM Draw Size: limited to 16 players (8 teams)

TEAM Draw Size: limited to 16 players (8 teams)

Draw Format: Round Robin with playoffs - 2 groups of 6 teams

Draw Format: Round Robin with playoffs

Draw Format: Round Robin with playoffs

BG12-14: Each team consists of 3 Gendered Dominant Duo players from each age division, boys and girls

Mixed Dominant Duo

BG16-18: Each team consists of 3 players from each age division.

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SECTION TOURNAMENTS - DOUBLES

RULES AND REGULATIONS

HOW TO REGISTER TO PLAY DOUBLES:

LATE ENTRIES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED

• Please make every effort to secure a partner before the Singles entry deadline.

• A player must play in the same age division in singles and doubles.

Click on the links listed below for instructions on how to add/find a partner at the time of registration or after registering for the event but before the registration deadline: To Invite/Find A Partner While Registering For An Event

PROBLEMS WITH REGISTRATION

For a technical problem, contact the USTA Missouri Valley Junior Competition Department at bazan@movalley.usta.com or 913-322-4832 BEFORE THE ENTRY DEADLINE. If calling, be sure to leave a voicemail. The time stamp on the email or the voicemail needs to be BEFORE the entry deadline.

DRAW POSTING

To ensure that we don’t have to redo the draw because of a higher-than-normal number of tournament withdrawals, we will post the Singles and Doubles draw by noon 2 days before the start of the tournament.

MULTIPLE AGE DIVISION REGISTRATION

Invite A Doubles Partner After Registration From Your USTA Account

• A player may be registered for no more than two age divisions. The USTA Missouri Valley selects players for the singles main draws in the following order: 18, 16, 14, 12. Unless otherwise notified at bazan@movalley.usta.com, a player entered in two divisions will be placed in the older age division should the player qualify for both divisions.

Setting Yourself Up As Looking For A Partner After Registration

• A player must play in the same age division in singles and doubles.

AUTOMATIC ACCEPTANCE INTO THE DOUBLES DRAW:

1. A player who invited their doubles partner through Serve Tennis and a player who accepted the doubles invitation from that player through Serve Tennis before selections and; 2. Both players are in the Main Singles draw.

• If you no longer wish to play doubles, please withdraw from the Doubles event prior to noon on Sunday after the Singles entry deadline.

Click on the link listed below for instructions on how to add/find a partner after registration has closed. Any doubles pairing not confirmed in Serve Tennis prior to the singles entry deadline must be confirmed by noon on Sunday after the Singles online entry deadline with the tournament director.

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Online registration is required and needs to be completed before the entry deadline.

FIND A DOUBLES PARTNER

• When a draw does not fill, alternates may opt to play up or down a division as long as they are age-eligible and do not invalidate the seeds.

TOURNAMENT WITHDRAWAL AND REFUNDS

Before Entry Deadline - Withdraws and Refunds Please withdraw through the player profile on USTA.com before the entry deadline. Click on the “Withdraw” link in the Edit Registration box to complete. Your credit card will not be charged if you withdraw before the entry deadline. Click on the “Locate Confirmation Number” link if you have misplaced the confirmation number.

After the Entry Deadline - Withdraws and Refunds Withdrawals done after the entry deadline must be emailed to the tournament director at the address above. Refunds are not given for withdraws that happen 6 days before the start of the event. Written verification must be provided by a medical professional by the last scheduled day of the tournament for a withdrawal due to illness or injury. A written notice of the situation must be provided by the last scheduled day of the tournament for a withdrawal due to personal circumstances/emergency. The tournament committee will determine whether the situation is a personal circumstance/emergency.

Failure to provide documentation will result in Suspension Points.

CONCURRENT TOURNAMENTS

Player shall not enter two tournaments at the same time. When entries close, a player shall not be entered in two or more sanctioned tournaments if any part of the tournaments overlap unless each Tournament Committee involved understands the situation and concurs in writing. After a player has been eliminated from a tournament whose play schedule partially overlaps with that of a second tournament, the player may enter the second tournament.

SPECTATOR POLICY

Our top priority at USTA Missouri Valley is to ensure our junior tournament space remains safe and enjoyable for our players. We have seen a rise in incidents involving spectators, prompting us to develop a Spectator Policy effective January 1st to address this issue. Please click here to learn more about the policy and the consequences that may arise if the expectations are not met.

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PLAYER CODE

PARENT GUIDE

TOURNAMENTParent/Spectator Tournament GuideGUIDE PPARENTG/ SPECTATOR

The Code for Players

TOURNAMENT PREPARATION

THE TENNIS PLAYER WILL: • Play fairly and have fun.

• Abide by The Code and USTA rules.

• Respect officials and accept their decisions.

• ALWAYS give benefit of doubt on a call to your opponent.

• Use your best efforts in competitive matches.

• Refrain from the use of bad language and inappropriate gestures.

• Refrain from ball/racquet abuse.

• Refrain from the use of coaching during competition.

• Never use unfair or bullying tactics to gain advantage on or off the court.

• Respect opponents and always shake hands at the end of a match.

• Win with grace and lose with dignity.

Ensure has all all their their Ensureyour yourplayer child has equipment equipmentincluding including aa racquet, racquet, suitable suitable clothing clothing (shorts, (shorts, t-shirts t-shirts and and a hat/sunscreen if they are a hat/sunscreen if they are playing playing outside), tennisand shoes and outside), tennis shoes water. water.

Check the tournament tournament home home Check the page page frequently frequently for for any any updates updates on on schedule, schedule, draws drawsor orother other relevant relevant tournament tournament information. information.

Remember tennis Remember that that tennis matches in length, so vary matches in length,vary so be prepared prepared for a wait, for abe wait, particularly if a particularly a tournament tournament has if been affected hasweather. been affected by bad by bad weather.

Talkto toyour yourplayer child about Talk aboutthe the importance of fair fair play play and and importance enjoyment,ensuring ensuringthey theytry try their their enjoyment, best and and focus focus on on any any goals goals they they best haveworked workedon onwith withtheir their coach coachin have in training. training.

Allow enough time for your journey including including allowances journey for delays. delays. IfIfyou youare aregoing goingtoto tournament be delayed, let the tournament director know director know as as soon soon as as possible.

YourYour childplayer should avoidavoid should playing if they are are injured playing if they injured or ill.orThey needneed to give theirtheir ill. They to give bodybody timetime to recover properly to recover properly fromfrom injury or illness. injury or illness.

Make sure sureyour yourplayer child is Make is committed committo playing andand completing the the ted to playing completing tournament in in its its entirety. entirety. tournament Withdrawing from from aatournament tournament Withdrawing without aa valid valid excuse excuse can can result result without in aaplayer playerbeing beingpenalized. penalized. in

Do not not expect expect the Do the tournament tournament to to wait for if you you are are running running late. wait for you you if Depending on theontournament late.

Depending the tournaschedule, the referee may ormay may ment schedule, the referee notmay be able to delay the match. or not be able to delay the match.

Check in to the tournament desk at least minutes • Point your player to desk 15 at 30 Point your player tothe thetournament tournament at least least 15 prior to yourprior scheduled match time and remain close while minutes scheduled match time and remain minutes priortotoyour your scheduled match time andby remain waiting for the tournament director close bybyfor totocall call your match. close forthe thetournament tournamentdirector directorto callyour yourmatch. match.

• Help youryour child to stay calm and relaxed and check • Help player stay calm and relaxed and check that they have everything that they need take onto that they have everything that they need to to take onto thethe court. court.

Make sure sureyour yourplayer child has • Make hasplenty plentyof ofwater waterand anduses usesthe the restroom before goingononcourt. court. restroom before going

• Encourage your child to stretch and and warm up up • Encourage your player to stretch warm offoff court, as as thethe on-court warm-up is is limited to to court, on-court warm-up limited fivefive minutes. minutes.

• Confirm knowswhat whatscoring scoringformat formatisisbeing being Confirm that that your your player child knows used and check with used and check withthe thetournament tournamentreferee refereeififunsure. unsure.

When everything is said and done the bottom line is good sportsmanship. Treat sportsmanship - treatothers othersthe wayway you want to betotreated! the you want be treated!

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The code can be found in the Friend at Court on pages 36-42.

• Ensure each player is responsible for calling all out-balls eachofis player is clearly responsible for calling on on theirplayer side the net and fairly even ifallit out-balls costs them • Ensure Each responsible for calling all out-balls on their their side ofnet the netshould clearly and fairly even if or it costs them the point.

Such calls clearly a hand side of the clearly and be fairly evenaudible if it costs them the the point.

Such calls should be clearly audible a hand signal may be used. point.

Such calls should be clearly audible or aorhand signal signal be used. may bemay used.

• Reinforce your player serving to call the score before every serving to call the before score before point andplayer audibly.

• Reinforce The clearly playeryour serving should call the score every every point point clearly clearly and and audibly. audibly.

• Teach your player to always treat their opponent with child to always treat opponent with respect.

Good sportsmanship andtheir honesty are extremely • Teach your respect. regardless Good sportsmanship are extremely important of whetherand theyhonesty win or lose. important regardless of whether they win or lose.

• Encourage your player to raise their racquet for a referee yourischild to raise their racket racquet a referee forfor a referee or official if there an issue.

• Encourage or official if there is an issue.

• Swearing, throwing racquets/balls in temper or in throwing an unsportsmanlike manner is unacceptable •behaving Swearing, racquets/balls in temper or and can result in unsportsmanlike a player being penalized. behaving in an manner is unacceptable and can result in a player being penalized.

• Coaching your player during a match is not allowed, but free to show otherduring signs ofa encouragement and but •feel Coaching your child match is not allowed, support feel freebetween to showpoints. other signs of encouragement and support between points.

• If you can, make sure to watch their whole match theirsure performance.

•regardless If you can,of make to watch their whole match regardless of their performance.

• Make sure your player shakes their opponent’s hand noMake theyour outcome. sure child shakes their opponent’s hand • matter no matter the outcome.

• Check that your player reports the match score toCheck deskreports even if the theymatch lost. score that your child • the tournament to the tournament desk even if they lost.

• Have your player find out the next match time. The number of matches your plays will depend on the child find outplayer the next match time. The • Have your draw format. number of matches your child plays will depend on the

• Be prepared to wait between matches and be patient the tournament who will always try patient and •with Be prepared to waitdirector between matches and be get matches on court as soon as possible. with the tournament director who will always try and get matches on court as soon as possible.

• Encourage consistent positive behavior from your player of consistent the result. positive behavior from your child •regardless Encourage

draw format.

regardless of the result.

• Remember to thank the tournament officials and staff. are hardworking, dedicated people and many •They Remember to thank the tournament officials.

Theyare are volunteers. hardworking, dedicated people and many are volunteers.

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SPECTATOR POLICY In an effort to promote a more enjoyable and fair experience for all, the following policy is in immediate force and effect, and shall be diligently and stringently enforced. USTA Missouri Valley has implemented a “ZERO TOLERANCE” policy for improper behavior.

1. Any attempt by a spectator to speak to an official/tournament director regarding a line call or other ruling during match play shall be cause for immediate removal from the playing area and, if warranted, from the premises.

We’re excited to relaunch the SuperSport campaign, which first began in 2024 in partnership with USTA Missouri Valley and the Match Tennis App. This initiative promotes sportsmanship in tennis tournaments and aims to create a positive environment for all participants, regardless of their age or skill level. The winner of the 2026 SuperSport campaign will receive the Grand Prize trip for two to the 2027 US Open.

2. Any spectator behavior deemed unacceptable towards a player, other spectator or staff member shall be cause for immediate removal from the playing area or the entire premises. If said behavior is directed towards a player, either before, during or after a tournament, it shall result in an automatic and immediate suspension of that spectator’s right to attend USTA Missouri Valley tournaments, for a period of time to be determined by the USTA Missouri Valley Grievance Committee.

3. Refusal to adhere to a removal request shall trigger immediate enforcement of the point penalty system against the player with whom the spectator is involved (per point penalty system regulations), including possible immediate default.

4. The On-Site official/tournament director is the SOLE judge regarding unacceptable behavior. Umpire/spectator communication, whether it be about a ruling or any other facet of a tennis event is prohibited while a match is in progress. Being a parent, coach, etc. does not endow special privileges. With the only exception of the right to remove their own child from competition at any time, a parent or coach is merely a spectator. REMOVAL IS NOT SUBJECT TO APPEAL.

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December 31

JUNIOR TENNIS TALK

WITH BETH AZAN AND CAITEE MARGENTHALER

CLICK TO WATCH PAST TALKS September - Planning for 2026 August 26 - All Things Rankings June 3 - Summer Kickoff May 12 - Rally in the Valley April 7- How Tournaments are Awarded March 17- Sportsmanship February 10 - Tournament Registration January 13 - New Information for 2025 New Junior Tennis Talks are posted every month.

Follow us on social media to see the latest updates: @ustamvjradvisorypanel 14

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