What do point levels in USTA Junior tournaments mean?
 

If a tournament says it is set up to receive Missouri Valley Level 3 points or something, what doe that mean?

You get alot more points then level 7.lol level 2 means nationals.

So the lower the number, the harder the tournament?

Yes, Satellites are lowest. Level 3 and 4 are usually where the top players of each age group play. The points usually double each higher level. Like losing in the finals of a level 4 would have the about the same points as winning in a level 5 finals depending on the no. of players. Level 3 tournaments are Sectional Championship.

The Missouri Valley Section is different from So. Cal., but here is a link to start: http://www.missourivalley.usta.com/J...Junior_Novice/

Contacts for Missouri Valley Junior Curcuit

So I'm a bit confused still... Is entering a level 3 tournament pretty much guaranteeing you to lose early on?

Unless your good, then yes.

Ok thanks.

Level 3 in California is a Sectional championship. Usually it's by invite or pre-qualified ranking. Basically they have reserved spots for the top players, then the rest of the spots are assigned based on ranking. So let's say there are 128 spots open, the top 128 ranked players are automatically qualified, but not all are going to enter, though most do. Some because of injury or whatever excuse can't play. So the rest of the spots are open to the 129th, 130th, etc... ranked players, until all spots are filled.

Why do tournaments in SoCal not have level names. I am here for vacation and want to do one but I dont know how to tell the level. In New England every tourny has the level in th title.

Goto the SCTA home page for Juniors. Here is the link of scheduled tournaments: http://assets.usta.com/assets/647/15...a%20events.pdf

For the Missouri valley the point system works like this
Level 5- 88 points for winner
Level 4- im not sure i think that they are rare
Level 3-220 points for the winner
Level 2- 495 points for the winner
Level 1- 660 points for the winner