From the Trenches at Junior Tennis Tournaments

Lots of parents at the Regional Segment in Mobile talking about Wayne Bryan's letter to the USTA (if you haven't read it, google it) Found not a single person who didn't agree wholeheartedly. Consensus is that NO ONE is listening to them and that all the changes are ruining junior tennis..

Sad sad sad. :(
 

seminoleG

Semi-Pro
Lots of parents at the Regional Segment in Mobile talking about Wayne Bryan's letter to the USTA (if you haven't read it, google it) Found not a single person who didn't agree wholeheartedly. Consensus is that NO ONE is listening to them and that all the changes are ruining junior tennis..

Sad sad sad. :(

Consumers drive the Market. I had a casual conversation with a MFG Rep from one of the BIG Companies They are concerned about the Junior System ($$$$). Less kids in big events, less kids buying 12 Racket Bags, 10+ Raquets etc..


Asked would MFG Companies Sponsor events, his answer is several are considering it given the lack of Uniformity Thru the US and lack of consensous in the USTA about what to do.
 

tennis5

Professional
I am looking at the Opens for Feb, and there is a staggering amount of really good kids who will not make the 32 cut.

Really sad.
 

SoCal10s

Hall of Fame
I was looking at some of last week results at the regional segment tournament in Palm Desert .. some of the USTA kids played in the B18S and got spanked by the local SoCal kids.. USTA are spending tons of time and money on these kids and they can't even win like they used to .. USTA is a joke..
 

seminoleG

Semi-Pro
I am looking at the Opens for Feb, and there is a staggering amount of really good kids who will not make the 32 cut.

Really sad.

Well I guess we will see if the Parents have what it takes to force change. From the parents I have met (I hate to generalize) don't think so.

Most seem to talk a big game, and are so scared of the TD's and USTA folks.
 

seminoleG

Semi-Pro
I was looking at some of last week results at the regional segment tournament in Palm Desert .. some of the USTA kids played in the B18S and got spanked by the local SoCal kids.. USTA are spending tons of time and money on these kids and they can't even win like they used to .. USTA is a joke..

Girl that won our Regional 18s couldn't even get WC into Major Events. Has ITF Ranking and points but stopped playing USTA. USTA hasn't given her much support BUT now I guess they will listen.
 

SoCal10s

Hall of Fame
Girl that won our Regional 18s couldn't even get WC into Major Events. Has ITF Ranking and points but stopped playing USTA. USTA hasn't given her much support BUT now I guess they will listen.

don't hold your breath on that one.. USTA won't admit their mistakes or oversite.. if this girl makes the pros .. USTA will take credit though ...
 

tennis5

Professional
No choice but to play more sectional events and get results.

Tennis Maverick,

The sectionals in some areas are really strong.
Socal, Florida, and even Eastern is really strong.
( they have many boys in the top 50 on TRN for sophomore year).

The points are miniscule.

SF at a sectional - 9 points.
SF at a level 1 - 600 points.

The kids who get the wild cards are set.
 

tennis5

Professional
Well I guess we will see if the Parents have what it takes to force change. From the parents I have met (I hate to generalize) don't think so.

Most seem to talk a big game, and are so scared of the TD's and USTA folks.

All we can do is write letters to our sectional heads and the USTA.

If you have a relationship with the press, please feel free to tell them about the demise of junior tennis right now.

And warn younger parents ( I only do this for the boys' parents) that tennis in this country is very difficult right now if the ultimate goal is college tennis.
 
Tennis Maverick,

The sectionals in some areas are really strong.
Socal, Florida, and even Eastern is really strong.
( they have many boys in the top 50 on TRN for sophomore year).

The points are miniscule.

SF at a sectional - 9 points.
SF at a level 1 - 600 points.

The kids who get the wild cards are set.

I know...unfortunately. But, you do know that it was the college coaches who pushed for cutting the draws down, and I assume that PD wanted as well, just as they do with Pro Circuit events. It gives PD players a leg-up. And WCs? That has been an issue for decades. If P. Mac didn't have WCs, he'd be nobody but John's little brother. Everyone else had to play locally but him, and Gimelstob never had to play the endorsement tournaments either, but Taino did, and they played 1&2 at UCLA together.
 
The new changes for 10 and under are in full swing here in NE participation levels are very high, over 30 kids in one weekend signed up, green ball in U12 are record high over 15 in one weekend in one tournament. The new changes means less tournaments using green for U12 which is why the participation level is so high.

Overall the participation level for the month of january for 10 and under and green ball in U12 in year 2012 has been excellent.
 

ga tennis

Hall of Fame
The new changes for 10 and under are in full swing here in NE participation levels are very high, over 30 kids in one weekend signed up, green ball in U12 are record high over 15 in one weekend in one tournament. The new changes means less tournaments using green for U12 which is why the participation level is so high.

Overall the participation level for the month of january for 10 and under and green ball in U12 in year 2012 has been excellent.

Not the case in Georgia.Only kids who are just getting started play quickstart.
 

seminoleG

Semi-Pro
The new changes for 10 and under are in full swing here in NE participation levels are very high, over 30 kids in one weekend signed up, green ball in U12 are record high over 15 in one weekend in one tournament. The new changes means less tournaments using green for U12 which is why the participation level is so high.

Overall the participation level for the month of january for 10 and under and green ball in U12 in year 2012 has been excellent.

Glad its working some where. :)

I'm a bit disheartened that the U11 Green Ball is not taking hold. As for the 10U I asked the TD @ Regional about the lack of entrants and he expected it to get worse. Really why I asked: "As it gets Hotter the kids just don't want to play 10U." The kids he is getting for 10U aren't "Tennis Players" they are recreational type campers.

The best part of this is Tennislink will have all the data the various Sections will need to evaluate where the program is succeding and where it needs a boost.
 
The truth is that they don't care at all. I brought this up last year explaining that in years prior when our son won his National Open that he wouldn't even get into the draw now under the new rules. There is a player who is in the top 30 in the country that is not going to get in a National Open of the next age group up. Now he is going to have to stay in his age group and destroy most, if not all, of the competition. At the top levels they are telling players that they should move up as soon as possible which is shown by their actions of WC their boys into the ITF tournaments.

These new changes are nothing more than a way for their players down there to look like they are doing well and to make it look like USTA Boca is the right thing.

I was asked by the person who gave me the information before to not bring stuff up on here any longer because the USTA sent them emails telling them to keep quiet. Nice system they have there.

Needless to say, wait until you hear what they have planned for the 2013 Regionals. I would suggest you call your Sectional office and ask them about it. The head of every Jr Sectional committee knows about this so if they say they don't then they are lying.
 
Darien/Greenwich/Stanford CT has the largest little league BB groups in the nation. These surrounding areas are competing against the largest Little league groups in the nation yet the tennis tournaments participation level in 10 and under and green ball U12 in these areas are very high. It is called the gold coast where neighborhoods are very affluent and they like to compete. Which is why there are high level of participation. Another high level of participation are the affluent areas of Boston.
 

seminoleG

Semi-Pro
Darien/Greenwich/Stanford CT has the largest little league BB groups in the nation. These surrounding areas are competing against the largest Little league groups in the nation yet the tennis tournaments participation level in 10 and under and green ball U12 in these areas are very high. It is called the gold coast where neighborhoods are very affluent and they like to compete. Which is why there are high level of participation. Another high level of participation are the affluent areas of Boston.


Pro - You mention high levels of participation with 30 Kids, and 15 kids. If you look at our regions the B10 was rarley below 25+ kids and the G10s below 16 at some of the smallest events. If I compared this years 10s it would be a compete disaster. BUT that would not be fair. I'll give it until the Spring compile the numbers and then we will see.

I'm more of an optomist than a nasayer at this point, BUT the results are just not very good. I'm talking about ALL of Florida.
 
Pro - You mention high levels of participation with 30 Kids, and 15 kids. If you look at our regions the B10 was rarley below 25+ kids and the G10s below 16 at some of the smallest events. If I compared this years 10s it would be a compete disaster. BUT that would not be fair. I'll give it until the Spring compile the numbers and then we will see.

I'm more of an optomist than a nasayer at this point, BUT the results are just not very good. I'm talking about ALL of Florida.

again FL is bigger than NE at least the tennis is big down there, here we have snow and long travel yet we still have the same participation levels as before. all quiet of the western front :)

agreed we should give this new rule at least 6 to 8 months for a better assessment.
 
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I was asked by the person who gave me the information before to not bring stuff up on here any longer because the USTA sent them emails telling them to keep quiet. Nice system they have there. Needless to say, wait until you hear what they have planned for the 2013 Regionals. I would suggest you call your Sectional office and ask them about it. The head of every Jr Sectional committee knows about this so if they say they don't then they are lying.

TennisFan2Day: It is a free country-no need to "keep quiet" about anything that will help us ALL make better decisions regarding junior tennis.

What have you heard regarding 2013 changes?
 

tennis5

Professional
TennisFan2Day -
I was asked by the person who gave me the information before to not bring stuff up on here any longer because the USTA sent them emails telling them to keep quiet. Nice system they have there. Needless to say, wait until you hear what they have planned for the 2013 Regionals. I would suggest you call your Sectional office and ask them about it. The head of every Jr Sectional committee knows about this so if they say they don't then they are lying.

TennisFan2Day: It is a free country-no need to "keep quiet" about anything that will help us ALL make better decisions regarding junior tennis.

What have you heard regarding 2013 changes?




TennisFan2Day -
Does this person who gave you the info know your screen name?

It would be helpful if you can tell the board what info you have, so we can compare notes.......

This board is anonymous.....

I feel like a broken record here.

I have been talking about this for weeks.

What I have heard so far, for 2013,
is bye-bye regionals, and 64 Super Nat Draws.

THINK ABOUT IT......
WITH NO MORE REGIONALS, AND A 64 DRAW FOR A SUPER NATIONAL.......
THAT MEANS FOR MOST PLAYERS, YOU WILL NEVER LEAVE YOUR SECTIONAL EVER AGAIN. PERIOD.
THIS MIGHT BE OK IF YOU LIVE IN FLORIDA OR SOCAL, BUT FOR THE OTHER SMALLER SECTIONS -
THAT IS A DEATH SENTENCE FOR ANY KIND OF TENNIS IMPROVEMENT.
I HAVE HEARD THESE CHANGES WERE VOTED ON ALREADY...... 2013.

I was going to get more info,
but the friend said he was told not to talk about it .....by the USTA.

I gather it is so bad, they don't want anyone to know until it is in effect.

Imagine you are driving on the highway at the legal speed limit of 65, and while your foot is on the gas pedal, they change the speed limit.
And you get screwed.

Same feeling here.

-----------------------------------------------------

FROM TRN - Collete Lewis ( SHE OBVIOUSLY HEARD ABOUT IT TOO......)
January, 12th, 2012

http://www.tennisrecruiting.net/article.asp?id=1349

8) Are More Major Changes Brewing for USTA Junior Competition?

A major revamping of the competitive structure of the USTA junior divisions is being proposed, not for the first time.
In an attempt to restore the importance of sectional play, many tournaments below the National Championship level could be eliminated, and even gold ball events could see draw sizes reduced and formats drastically changed.
Whether these proposals will have any true impact on player development is debatable,
but it must be said that while simplicity may not be its strong suit, the USTA can't be accused of fearing change.


_____________________________________

FOLKS, THIS IS A BIG DEAL.
MANY TOURNAMENTS BELOW THE SUPER NATS WILL BE ELIMINATED.
ALL, SO THAT WE CAN PLAY THE SAME PLAYERS IN OUR SECTION OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

OF COURSE, IF YOU ARE A PLAYER IN THE PD, NO RULES APPLY.
WILD CARDS WILL ENSURE YOU PLAY.

 
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I heard from the TD at one of the regionals last weekend that the changes for 2013 will be relatively modest but the changes described above are being contemplated for 2014. I was told these changes have not been voted as final and there was very substantial pushback from sections and TD's but a final vote will take place in March. The bottom line is that all national tournament selection will be based on sectional ranking. How many national tournaments there will be was not clear.
 

tennis5

Professional
I heard from the TD at one of the regionals last weekend that the changes for 2013 will be relatively modest but the changes described above are being contemplated for 2014. I was told these changes have not been voted as final and there was very substantial pushback from sections and TD's but a final vote will take place in March. The bottom line is that all national tournament selection will be based on sectional ranking. How many national tournaments there will be was not clear.

Thanks for posting.

You heard 2014, I heard 2013.

I HOPE IT IS 2014, AS AT THAT LEAST THAT WAY, THEY WILL HEAR A ROAR FROM US,
INSTEAD OF THIER QUIET, QUICK WAY OF PUSHING THINGS THROUGH.
THAT BEING SAID, THE PERSON WHO TOLD ME SAID IT WAS 2013.

BUT TENNISFAN2DAY SAID
Needless to say, wait until you hear what they have planned for the 2013 Regionals.
I would suggest you call your Sectional office and ask them about it.
The head of every Jr Sectional committee knows about this so if they say they don't then they are lying.



You heard vote was in March, I heard it already happened.

You heard there was pushback.
I heard there was TREMENDOUS PUSHBACK, but the USTA didn't care.

Sectional ranking - yes. As no one will be playing nationals, as it appears they are getting rid of most of them.

FOLKS, IF YOU HEAR ANYTHING FROM YOUR SECTION, PLEASE POST IT HERE.
 
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My information was from one TD but they apparently were at some meeting in Dallas where all this was proposed and the vote is to be taken in March. There was not much optimism that the junior committee would pay any attention to the feedback.
 

tennis5

Professional
My information was from one TD but they apparently were at some meeting in Dallas where all this was proposed and the vote is to be taken in March. There was not much optimism that the junior committee would pay any attention to the feedback.

ANYONE HERE WHO HAS A JUNIOR 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 AGE GROUP -

WE NEED TO PUT IN A PHONE CALL TO OUR SECTIONAL AND ASK WHAT IS GOING ON, AND THEN VOICE OUR DISPLEASURE.


( For the little guys, after it gets all messed up -
it will all be changed back by the time you get there.
Then again, you guys have the QS mandate.... Oh well.)
 
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I think that's the first I've heard this to be the case. Can I ask for details or evidence that this is the case?

Coaches across the board, at least the ones I deal with, were tired of hearing from weak players boasting that they had national exposure and were ranked in the high hundreds, as they sucked. It has been a common complaint for years. The current system is certainly not perfect, but it solves these coaches complaints. The top DI coaches now really get to see the cream; home schooling to point chase disappears so weak players can't inflate their ranking; and sectional events now become totally important and regional competition becomes paramount, as academic competition is with regard to the admission process at the elite institutions.
 
If the USTA has censors on the TW Forum as the Great Wall of America, then that tells you all you need to know about the competitive system that they put in.
 
FOLKS, THIS IS A BIG DEAL.
MANY TOURNAMENTS BELOW THE SUPER NATS WILL BE ELIMINATED.
ALL, SO THAT WE CAN PLAY THE SAME PLAYERS IN OUR SECTION OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

Geography is obviously limiting. However, if one of my players is in this situation, with me being located in the East, I would drive into CT or MA, and Southern Jersey, DE, MD, and PA to compete. You should also play up, and 16/18's should be playing men's events. At the end of the day, you'll have to just deal.
 

watergirl

New User
Hopefully this pastes correctly - This is the "proposal". Will have to post in multiple postings. This is page 1 & 2

USTA Junior Competition Committee
PROPOSED REVISIONS TO THE STRUCTURE OF
USTA NATIONAL JUNIOR COMPETITION
The proposed revisions to the structure of USTA national junior competition are built upon the foundation of our existing
tournament structure and the valuable input of the Sectional Associations, maximizing the finest of our current events, but also
making modifications that will quickly improve the competition landscape in a number of important ways. The proposals are
based upon a belief that true player development happens locally, and that only the very best players should compete at the
highest national levels. Players should not be “entitled” to play nationally, but must have earned their way by being able to beat
players at their local, District, and Sectional levels before moving on to Regional and National competition. The resulting benefits
of the proposal are many:
• In answer to the Committee’s charge, the proposal lowers costs by reducing the number of national tournaments and providing
access to national tournaments primarily through Sectional play while reducing days missed on a traditional school calendar.
• By creating pathways that require Sectional play to advance to most of the Regional and National tournaments and by
scheduling tournaments with different national ranking levels in the same date blocks, the proposal provides players a clearly
defined logical progression from Section to Region to National play.
• With the expectation that the QuickStart initiative will be successful and create a significantly larger pool of junior players, the
proposal creates a structure that gives players the opportunity for competitive matches at all levels without incentivizing or
allowing play beyond a level where the player hasn’t first achieved success.
The Major Changes Include:
Emphasis on Sectional Play. The proposal provides a renewed increased importance on Sectional play in two significant ways:
• Access to the USTA National Championships (Clay Courts and Hard Courts) has been revised to eliminate access through
qualifiers and the National Championship Selection List, resulting in an increased quota for these tournaments. Additionally,
the selection for the summer hard court USTA National Championship has been revised to give the June singles Sectional
Champion an automatic berth into the tournament.
• The proposal increases the number of Sectional Level 3s from one (1) to two (2) and increases the number of Level 4s from
three (3) to four (4), while eliminating the Level 5 ranking tournaments. In comparison, the number of national Level 3s has
been reduced and access to the national Level 3s and 4s is achieved only through sectional play by way of a sectional quota.
The new emphasis places increased importance on Sections to develop methods for players to age up because access is now
primarily through Sectional play and only one category of National tournament - the USTA National Selection Tournaments - will
select players from the next younger age division.
Periodization of National Schedule. The new periodization schedule enables players to develop their games as efficiently and
effectively as possible throughout the calendar year and leaves time for players to schedule training and Sections to schedule
their events. The new schedule reduces the number of date blocks on which National and Regional tournaments are
sanctioned from 15 to 11. Shifts in the schedule that accomplish this goal include:
• Moving the USTA National Clay Court Championships to the Memorial Day weekend and making it a 64 draw;
• Sanctioning tournaments of different national ranking levels during the same date blocks;
• Reducing the number of national tournaments sanctioned in the 12s division, as well as reducing the USTA National
Championship draw sizes in this division.
Introduction of New Tournaments. Several new events have been included on the schedule that are conceived to meet the
evolving needs of America’s junior tennis players in a changing world – including events which support the new USTA national
player development philosophy (and the new culture being created by the USTA’s Regional Training Center program) as well as
those utilizing college tennis as the inspiration and model for our junior players. These include:
• USTA National Grand Masters that introduces a progressive event where the very top finishers in the younger divisions
advance to compete with the best older players;
• USTA National Masters for our top 16 players in the 16s and 14s divisions;
• USTA National Winter Team Championships - Level 1, a Gold Ball tournament where the 16 top players in the country in the
18s, 16s and 14s divisions are waterfalled so that each team is comprised of players in all three divisions, and the concurrent
Level 2 version of this event where the next best 32 players compete in a similar format on 16 teams; and
• USTA National Doubles Championship, Level 1 Gold Ball tournament for the top 16s and 14s division players in the country,
where the emphasis is solely on doubles; and
• USTA National Selection Tournaments, which will be sanctioned twice each year concurrently on hard, clay, and indoor hard
courts and for which players are selected based on national standing and give the top entrants their choice in playing
surface.
New Quota System. As part of the renewed emphasis on Sectional play to gain access to National and Regional Tournaments,
a new quota system is proposed for the USTA National Championships that considers both size of Section, but also strength of
Section when the quotas are calculated. The proposed ratio is 60% strength/40% size. The same quota calculation will be
Page 2 of 7
used for Sections to endorse players to the USTA Regional Tournaments, which now will require players to play within their own
Region.
In Conclusion:
This proposal submits the revised tournament schedule as but the first (albeit important major) step toward an ultimate
transformation in cost effective player development. The implementation of a ratings system that will enable the evolution of truly
efficient local-based tennis “eco systems” and level-based tournaments is still needed to fully complete the player development
equation. Until that time, it will be incumbent upon localities, districts, and Sections to provide the best possible competition
experiences for the ever-growing number of new young tennis players.
Also key to the success of this proposal is a review and possible revision of the national ranking points tables to ensure players
have the ability to gain access to the higher levels as they improve their games. As part of this project, a new point table will be
developed for the USTA National Grand Masters. The review will also include a study of the Bonus Point tables and the effect
Bonus Points have on the rankings players from stronger sections who compete in Sectional tournaments that count for national
ranking.
USTA NATIONAL RANKING TOURNAMENTS
Players must meet the eligibility requirements of USTA Regulation IX.2. to enter and play in the National Ranking Tournaments
described below.
Note: The list of tournaments below includes only the National Ranking tournaments sanctioned by the USTA or its Sections,
except for USTA International Tournaments (USTA tournaments played using ITF tournament regulations). ITF tournaments and
USTA International Tournaments will also count for national ranking, and it is anticipated they will have the same ranking levels
as today.
LEVEL 1
USTA National Grand Masters. This new singles-only tournament will have a special points table developed that will award
points appropriately comparable to a Level 1 tournament. The goal is to have this be a hospitality event whereby the lodging
and meals are paid by the tournament. The tournament shall consist of 25 players selected from the most recently published
National Standings List as follows:
• 4 boys and 4 girls in the 14s divisions shall compete on the first day. The winner in each division advances to compete with
the 16s and the remaining 3 stay to train.
• 7 boys and 7 girls in the 16s division (plus the 14s winners) who shall play two rounds in a regular draw (first round losers
play a consolation match) with the players reaching the finals advancing to compete with the 18s. The remaining 6 stay to
train.
• 14 boys and 14 girls in the 18s division (plus the 16s winners) who shall play a Compass Draw.
USTA National Championships.
• The USTA Nationals Championships:
BG18/16/14 - singles draw of 128/doubles draw of 64; BG12 - singles draw of 64; doubles draw of 32
• USTA National Clay Court Championships: All divisions - singles draw of 64; doubles draw of 32
Draw Formats: BG 18: Singles MFIC Draw Format (losers of first three rounds fed into the consolation, a new draw format to be
programmed into TDM); BG16: Singles FIC Draw Format; BG14/12 Singles Compass Draw Format. All doubles draws will be
single elimination, unless a special request by a sanction holder is approved by the Committee.
Selection:
Hard Courts Clay Courts - All 64 Draws
Method of Acceptance BG18
128 Draw
BG 16/14
128 Draw
BG12
64 Draw BG18
BG
16/14 BG12
USTA National Boys’ and Girls’ 16
and 14 Masters Participants* n/a 16 n/a n/a 16 n/a
Sectional Champions 17 17 17 n/a n/a n/a
Sectional Quota** 95 87 44 60 44 60
Wild Cards 16 8 3 4 4 4
128 128 64 64 64 64
Remaining vacancies shall be filled using the most recently published National Standings List.
 

watergirl

New User
Page 3 & 4

* USTA Boys’ and Girls’ 16 and 14 National Masters Participants must play the tournament to completion to be
eligible for selection. This means a player must not have withdrawn from the tournament or had their
opponent advance due to a walkover. See description of this new Level 1A tournament below.
Page 3 of 7
** Sectional quotas shall be based on the ratio that a Section’s junior membership and number of players in the
Top 150 in all divisions bears to the total junior membership and total players in the Top 150 in all divisions. All
sections shall be guaranteed a minimum of 1 and there is no maximum quota. 60% shall be based on strength
of section; 40% shall be based on size of membership. See table that follows for actual quota numbers based
on membership and Top 150 players as of 12/31/10.
Replacing Withdrawing Players: Withdrawing players shall be replaced using the same method as currently used: Before the
draw is made, a withdrawing quota player or Sectional Champion is replaced with the next highest player on the Section’s
endorsement list and other withdrawing players (Masters participants and wild cards) are replaced using the most recently
published National Standings List. After the draw is made, all withdrawing players are replaced using the most recently
published National Standings List.
Sectional Quota:
Section
BG18 Hards:
Sectional
Champion +
95 Quota for
128 Draw
BG16/14 Hards:
Sectional
Champion + 87
Quota for 128
Draw
BG12 Hards:
Sectional
Champion +
44 Quota for
64 Draw
BG18/12
Clays: 60
Quota for
64 Draw
BG16/14
Clays: 44
Quota for
64 Draw
2011
128
Quota
Caribbean 2 2 2 1 1 2
Eastern 9 8 5 5 4 4
Florida 10 10 5 6 4 4
Hawaii Pacific 2 2 2 1 1 2
Intermountain 5 4 3 2 2 2
Mid-Atlantic 6 5 3 3 2 2
Middle States 5 5 3 3 2 2
******* 12 11 6 7 5 7
Mo. Valley 4 4 2 2 1 2
New England 5 5 3 2 2 2
Northern 3 3 2 1 1 2
Northern California 6 6 3 3 2 3
Pacific NW 4 3 2 2 1 2
Southern 16 15 8 9 7 13
Southern California 11 10 6 6 5 4
Southwest 4 3 2 2 1 2
Texas 8 8 4 5 3 5
112 104 61 60 44 60
USTA National Doubles Championship. This existing USTA National Doubles Tournament will be replaced with the new Level
1 championship and 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finishers shall receive Gold, Silver and Bronze Balls. The draw shall be 32 teams in
the 16s and 14s divisions only, with a Compass Draw format. Players must enter as teams by the entry deadline. Teams with
the highest Combined Standing are selected. Combined Standing is determined as follows:
Player A holds the #200 standing and Player B holds the #201 standing. The Team of A&B would have the combined
standing of 402.
If a team must be selected from among one or more teams with the same Combined Standing, the team with the highest
Combined Doubles Ranking Points shall be selected. Combined Doubles Ranking Points is determined as follows:
Player A has 25 doubles ranking points and Player B has 10 doubles ranking points. The Team of AB would have combined
doubles ranking points of 35.
Page 4 of 7
USTA Team Championships.
• USTA Boys’ and Girls’ 18 National Team Championships
• USTA Boys’ and Girls’ 16 Intersectional Team Championships
New Team Championships:
• USTA Boys’ and Girls’ 14 Intersectional Team Championships: This new tournament shall have the same format as the
existing 16s Intersectional tournament.
• USTA National Winter Team Championships - Level 1: This new team championship shall select the top 16 players in the 18,
16, and 14 divisions and waterfall these players onto 8 teams in the boys event and 8 teams in the girls’ event. Selection
shall be done using wild cards and the most recently published National Standings List. The Committee has yet to determine
the number of wild cards and will be making this decision prior to the submission of call items. The competition shall be
modeled after the college format (doubles 8-game pro sets followed by Best of 3 singles matches) using a Compass Draw
format. Each team shall be comprised of two (2) 18s, two (2) 16s, and two (2) 14s. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd place teams shall
receive Gold, Silver and Bronze Balls. Coaches will be selected by the national Player Development Staff from among
national coaches, RTC coaches, and USTA “faculty” coaches. The competition will include 2 days of training and education
followed by 4 days of competition.
LEVEL 1A
USTA Boys’ and Girls’ 16 and 14 National Masters. This new tournament will have singles draws of 16 (Compass Draw)
and doubles draws of 8 (single elimination), and shall have the 14s and 16s played at one tournament location. Participants
who play the tournament to completion shall be selected into the subsequent USTA National Championship, provided they
submit a timely entry. Players shall be selected as follows:
• Up to 4-6 wild cards using the same wild card committee process as is used for a USTA National Championship;
• 10-12 players from the most recently published National Standings List;
• Remaining vacancies and alternates selected using the most recently published National Standings Lists.
The Committee has yet to determine the exact number of players selected as wild cards and from the National Standings List
and whether players must have played one sectional tournament during a set period of time prior to the event in order to be
eligible for selection. The Committee will be making this decision prior to the submission of call items.
The 3-½ day tournaments shall incorporate training and education with the competition taking place on the final two days of
the tournament.
LEVEL 2
USTA National Selection Tournaments.
• USTA National President’s Day Tournament
• USTA National Thanksgiving Tournament
Three concurrent tournaments shall be sanctioned for 3-day date blocks over the President’s Day weekend and Thanksgiving
weekend. The draw sizes shall be 32 singles with an FIC format and 16 doubles single elimination. One tournament shall be
sanctioned on hard courts, one on clay courts, and one on indoor hard courts. The Feed-In shall be played through the
semifinals. Selection shall be based on the most recently published National Standings Lists. Similar to the existing USTA
National Opens, players may enter up to 3 tournaments and up to 2 divisions.
USTA Team Championships.
• USTA Boys’ and Girls’ 16, 14, and 12 Zone Team Championships
New Team Championships:
• USTA National Winter Team Championships - Level 2: This new team championship shall be held at the same time and
location as the USTA National Winter Team Championships - Level 1. The next top 32 players shall be selected in the 18,
16, and 14 divisions and waterfall these players onto 16 teams in the boys event and 16 teams in the girls’ event.
Selection shall be done using wild cards and the most recently published National Standings List. The Committee has yet
to determine the number of wild cards and will be making this decision prior to the submission of call items. The
competition shall be modeled after the college format (doubles 8-game pro sets followed by Best of 3 singles matches)
using a Compass Draw format. Each team shall be comprised of two (2) 18s, two (2) 16s, and two (2) 14s. Coaches will
be selected by the national Player Development Staff from among national coaches, RTC coaches, and USTA “faculty”
coaches. The competition will include time for training and education.
 

watergirl

New User
Page 5 - 7 Sorry all the charts don't line up.


LEVEL 3
USTA Regional Tournaments - Level 3. Four concurrent USTA Regional Tournaments - Level 3 shall be held three times
each year concurrent with the USTA Boys’ and Girls’ 16 and 14 National Masters and USTA National Grand Masters. The
draw sizes shall be 32 singles with an FIC format and 16 doubles single elimination.
Each time a concurrent segment of USTA Regional Tournaments - Level 3 is held, one will be sanctioned in each of four
Regions. Players must play in their own region and shall be selected based on the same sectional quota formula used for the
USTA National Championships. The Sections in each Region and the quota to each tournament are as follows:
Region 1 Region 2 Region 3 Region 4
Hawaii Pacific 1 Intermountain 5 Eastern 12 Caribbean 1
No. California 7 ******* 16 Mid-Atlantic 7 Florida 12
So. California 12 Missouri Valley 5 Middle States 7 Southern 19
Southwest 3 Northern 2 New England 6 32
Texas 9 Pacific Northwest 4 32
32 32
Note: Because USTA Regional Tournaments (both Level 3 and Level 4 described below) are held concurrently with the USTA
National Grand Masters, USTA National Masters, and USTA National Selection Tournaments, an automated selection process
will be in place that allows players to enter USTA Regional Tournaments and these other higher-level tournaments, but shall
require a deadline by which a player must commit to an acceptance in a USTA Regional Tournament and no longer be
considered an alternate for the higher-level tournament.
Sectional Ranking Tournaments - Level 3. Each Section shall have two tournaments designated as national Level 3
tournaments provided they are sanctioned as follows:
• January: The singles events of the January Level 3 Sectional Ranking Tournament must be held beginning on Martin Luther
King Weekend. Sections may opt for the tournament to be one-weekend or two weekends. At its discretion, a Section
may sanction the doubles events on any other weekend during the calendar year.
• June: The Sections shall sanction a Sectional Championship in June of each year. The first place finishers in the singles
events shall qualify for acceptance into the subsequent USTA National Championship, provided they submit a timely entry.
LEVEL 4
USTA Regional Tournaments - Level 4. Four concurrent USTA Regional Tournaments - Level 4 shall be held two times each
year concurrent with the USTA National Selection Tournaments. All aspects of these tournaments shall be the same as the
USTA Regional Tournaments - Level 3, except the national ranking level assigned to the tournament.
Sectional Ranking Tournaments - Level 4. Each Section shall have four tournaments designated as national Level 4
tournaments. They may be sanctioned at any time during the year; however, it is recommended that one of the
tournaments be held on Labor Day weekend.
Page 6 of 7
2014 NATIONAL TOURNAMENT CALENDAR
Note: The list of tournaments below includes only the National Ranking tournaments sanctioned by the USTA or its Sections,
except for USTA International Tournaments (USTA tournaments played using ITF tournament regulations), and the Easter Bowl
ITF,. ITF tournaments and USTA International Tournaments will also count for national ranking, and it is anticipated they will
have the same ranking levels as today.
JANUARY Martin Luther King Weekend Kick-Off to Junior Competition Year:
Sectional Ranking Tournaments - Level 3
FEBRUARY President’s Day Weekend:
USTA National Selection Tournament Segment:
Three USTA National President’s Day Tournament (Hard/Clay/Indoors) (all divisions) - Level 2
USTA Regional Segment: Four USTA Regional Tournaments (all divisions) - Level 4
MAR/APR Held on concurrent date blocks in late March/early April:
Easter Bowl ITF BG 18s - Level 1
USTA Boys’ and Girls’ 16 and 14 National Masters - Level 1A
Note: The intent is to sanction the Easter Bowl and Masters at the same site.
USTA Regional Tournament: Four concurrent USTA Regional Tournaments (all divisions) - Level 3
MAY Memorial Day Weekend:
USTA National Clay Court Championships (all divisions) - Level 1
JUNE Any time during the month of June:
Sectional Ranking Tournaments - Level 3
JULY 4th of July Date Block:
USTA Boys’ and Girls’ 16 and 14 National Masters - Level 1A
USTA Regional Tournament: Four concurrent USTA Regional Tournaments (all divisions) - Level 3
Beginning 2nd or 3rd Wednesday:
USTA Boys’ and Girls’ 16 and 14 Intersectional Team Championships - Level 1
USTA Boys’ and Girls’ 16, 14, and 12 Zone Team Championships - Level 2
Beginning 4th Thursday:
USTA Boys’ and Girls’ 18 National Team Championships - Level 1
AUGUST Beginning 1st Weekend in August:
The USTA National Championships (all divisions) - Level 1
At site of Cincinnati or New Haven Professional Tournament:
USTA Boys’ and Girls’ 16 and 14 National Doubles Championship - Level 1
SEPTEMBER Labor Day Weekend:
Sectional Ranking Tournaments - Level 4 recommended
OCTOBER Late October:
USTA National Grand Masters (BG 16/14) - Level 1
USTA Regional Tournament: Four concurrent USTA Regional Tournaments (all divisions) - Level 3
NOVEMBER Thanksgiving Weekend:
USTA National Selection Tournament Segment:
Three USTA National Thanksgiving Tournament (Hard/Clay/Indoors) (all divisions) - Level 2
USTA Regional Segment: Four concurrent USTA Regional Tournaments (all divisions) - Level 4
DECEMBER Between Christmas and New Years:
USTA National Winter Team Championships (BG18/16/14) - Level 1
USTA National Winter Team Championships (BG18/16/14) - Level 2
Note: The intent is to sanction the two team championships at the same location.
Page 7 of 7
TWO-YEAR PHASE IN
In an effort to:
• give the Sections and Districts sufficient time to go through a process similar to that undertaken by the Junior Competition
Committee and make adjustments, if necessary, to their own tournament calendars;
• allocate time in the Active programming calendar to re-program tournament selection processes for the 2014 tournaments; and
• undertake an educational and marketing campaign to educate our constituents, the players, parents and coaches;
the proposed changes shall be phased in over two years with only those listed below becoming effective in 2013:
Effective January 1, 2013:
• USTA National Grand Masters to be added to the National Junior Tournament Schedule and held October 2013.
• The USTA National Doubles Tournament will become the USTA National Doubles Championship with the draw and selection as
described in the proposal, and a Level 1 national ranking tournament with the top finishers receiving a gold, silver and bronze
ball.
• The Boys’ and Girls’ 18 and 16 USTA National Clay Court Championships and The USTA National Championships (hard courts)
shall be reduced to a 128 draw size.
• The July 2013 USTA Regional Tournaments shall be singles draws of 32 and doubles draws of 16.
• Ratings pilot will begin.
All remaining changes will become effective January 1, 2014.
EDUCATION, MARKETING AND BRANDING
The Committee recognizes that a comprehensive educational effort will need to be undertaken between adoption of the proposals
and the effective date on January 1, 2014 of the most significant changes and vows to dedicate time and resources to the effort.
Strategies under consideration include a Z-Card, an FAQ document, and informational sessions.
Additionally, the Committee hopes to brand the tournaments that count for national ranking using a consistent logo and phrasing
and will be working with the USTA marketing department to develop ideas that clearly identify the tournaments and the
competition pathway. Preliminarily, the Committee is considering the use of the “Advance Your Game” logo as the basis for
creating the brand with an identifier (similar to the ATP logo) that includes the ranking points earned for winning the tournament.
 
Wow! If this does go through, it will mean more $$$ for TDs and the USTA while operating under the false premise of saving the players money.
 

tennis5

Professional
Geography is obviously limiting. However, if one of my players is in this situation, with me being located in the East, I would drive into CT or MA, and Southern Jersey, DE, MD, and PA to compete. You should also play up, and 16/18's should be playing men's events. At the end of the day, you'll have to just deal.

? But, you can only play a sectional in your section.

And the strongest players only play sections.
 

tennis5

Professional
Moving the USTA National Clay Court Championships to the Memorial Day weekend and making it a 64 draw;



THIS SUCKS!!!!

FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, EXAMS START BEGINNING OF JUNE.
 
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tennis5

Professional
Reducing the number of national tournaments sanctioned in the 12s division, as well as reducing the USTA National Championship draw sizes in this division.



WHAT????? THEY MESSED UP THE KIDS IN THE 10'S AND NOW THEY ARE GOING TO DO IT AGAIN IN THE 12'S. HOW DOES THIS HELP THE 12'S TO REDUCE THE NATIONAL TOURNAMENTS AND THE DRAW SIZES.
IS IT SUPPOSE TO BE A SURPRISE WHEN THEY FINALLY GET TO COMPETE?
 
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klu375

Semi-Pro
A lot of these changes make sense. But 16 wildcards for a 128-draw tournaments in BG18 look really fishy (if I understand it right)
 

tennis5

Professional
USTA National Winter Team Championships - Level 1:
This new team championship shall select the top 16 players in the 18,16, and 14 divisions
and waterfall these players onto 8 teams in the boys event and 8 teams in the girls’ event.
Selection shall be done using wild cards and the most recently published National Standings List.

The Committee has yet to determine the number of wild cards
and will be making this decision prior to the submission of call items.

The competition shall be modeled after the college format (doubles 8-game pro sets followed by Best of 3 singles matches) using a Compass Draw format.

Each team shall be comprised of two (2) 18s, two (2) 16s, and two (2) 14s.
The 1st, 2nd and 3rd place teams shall receive Gold, Silver and Bronze Balls.

Coaches will be selected by the national Player Development Staff from among
national coaches, RTC coaches, and USTA “faculty” coaches.

The competition will include 2 days of training and education followed by 4 days of competition.


I WONDER WHO IS GOING TO GET THE WILD CARDS TO BE ONE OF THE FEW "LUCKY" TOP 16 PLAYERS WHO CAN THEN COMPETE FOR A GOLD BALL.

CAN'T TELL US HOW MANY WILD CARDS YET??????

WHAT IS THE CRITERIA FOR GETTING A WILD CARD????????

 
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tennis5

Professional
LEVEL 1A
USTA Boys’ and Girls’ 16 and 14 National Masters.

This new tournament will have singles draws of 16 (Compass Draw)

and doubles draws of 8 (single elimination), and shall have the 14s and 16s played at one tournament location.

Participants who play the tournament to completion shall be selected into the subsequent USTA National Championship, provided they submit a timely entry. Players shall be selected as follows:

Up to 4-6 wild cards using the same wild card committee process as is used for a USTA National Championship;
10-12 players from the most recently published National Standings List;



16 kids for a tournament.......

And possibly 6 of them are wild cards???

38% of the tournament players might be wild cards?????

 

tennis5

Professional
Players should not be “entitled” to play nationally,
but must have earned their way by being able to beat
players at their local, District, and Sectional levels before moving on to Regional and National competition.



Ok..... got it..... but uh, the wild card situation doesn't fly with that statement.
 

watergirl

New User
My understanding, as I was not there, is that McEnroe's Jr. Development goal is to put more players in the 2nd round of the US Open.

I guess I thought the goal was to grow the sport of tennis.

Also, those in attendance were vehemently oppossed but the general consensus was that, with perhaps a few modifications, National would ram it down their throats.
 

tennis5

Professional
My understanding, as I was not there, is that McEnroe's Jr. Development goal is to put more players in the 2nd round of the US Open.

I guess I thought the goal was to grow the sport of tennis.

Also, those in attendance were vehemently oppossed but the general consensus was that, with perhaps a few modifications, National would ram it down their throats.

Watergirl,

I don't understand how more players are put in the 2nd round of the US Open.
Do you mean, they will be better players?
 

watergirl

New User
Tennis 5 - I don't know - I'm just quoting what someone who was there said. They sent me the proposal to see what I thought. My first thought was how confusing.
 
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