Junior Tournament Players

[jmjmkim]

This weekend, I was driving by my local tennis park and there was "level 5 USTA junior tournament" going on. I got out to observe some of the players, and some seemed quite good, and most had at least some "game". I investigated further and found that these were 14's girls, and some were 10's and 12's girls.

What is a level 5 USTA tourney and how hard is it for kids to play this kind of a tournament.?

The USTA website described that there were 3 levels of junior tourneys, Novice, Satallite, and Open. This was designated as a "Open" level tournament. Isn't Open Level for ranked juniors?

I am currently teaching my 10 yr old daughter to play tennis (just preparing her to be a hitting partner for me when I get older and no one will play with me . . . .) My girl can rally pretty well, but I must say that she does not yet have a serve nor a game like these 12's and 14's girls. I was inspired today to work on my daughter's game and have her possibly play on one of these. Of course, by the time she can enter one, she'll have to play the 12's.

One final comment, . In one of the courts, i saw a friend of my daughter who is also 10. She must be playing the 10's. But from my recollection, she started taking lessons about 2 yrs ago. I did not see her actually play, and wonder if she was in the right place. Can a 10 yr old play in the Open level after about 2 yrs of lessons?

 

[Lakers4Life]

Start her out in a Satellite Tournament, before dropping her into a Level 5.

Your friend's daughter can play in an older age group. It's kinda like playing up a level in USTA leagues.

Level 3 are Sectional Championship tournaments, they are usually by invite or pre-qualifying by ranking.

Open means anyone can enter no matter of what ranking. Satellites are limited to unranked players.

 

[topspinrj]

You will see a lot 10 year olds playing up due to the new USTA rules. 10 and under must play on 60' ft courts and with low compression balls. This has forced a lot of the average and better 10 year olds up.

 

[polski]

From our section's junior tournament website:

Level Five
"The Rising Stars events are designed as introductory events to competitive tennis for those players who are new to tennis or are looking to gain experience in a tournament atmosphere. These one-day events are round-robin format with emphasis being placed on fun, match play, and education of parents and players. Eligibility requirements for this circuit include a USTA membership, the player must not have accumulated more than 200 points from any state in the current standings of any division, and players should be able to serve and keep score."

These are the beginner tournaments. Your daughter can play in these if she knows how to serve and keep score. They are for experience & very minimal ranking points can be earned at this level.

 

[jmjmkim]

Although I never imagine myself as becoming a "tennis dad" "Ms. Sunshine", I do believe some friendly competition and exposure to "life's disappointments" would build some character. I definitely want her to play High School.

Do you think thess kids that play the 16's and the 18's are better than the average High School competition? Are they the "creme of the crop"?

 

[Lakers4Life]

Although I never imagine myself as becoming a "tennis dad" "Ms. Sunshine", I do believe some friendly competition and exposure to "life's disappointments" would build some character. I definitely want her to play High School.

Do you think thess kids that play the 16's and the 18's are better than the average High School competition? Are they the "creme of the crop"?

Yes, most of the top players in HS also play in USTA Junior Tournaments. A lot times I see the Top Players only play the Top player from the opposing school then leave. That's because they are looking for Elite competition.

If you want to your daughter to play Tennis in HS that's fine. If you want her to get a College scholarship, then enter her in a USTA tournament. Thats were she has a chance to get noticed by a college recruiter or coach. They tend to show up at the semi-finals and finals of the level 4 tournaments.

 

[polski]

Although I never imagine myself as becoming a "tennis dad" "Ms. Sunshine", I do believe some friendly competition and exposure to "life's disappointments" would build some character. I definitely want her to play High School.

Do you think thess kids that play the 16's and the 18's are better than the average High School competition? Are they the "creme of the crop"?

Well...kids that take the sport serious enough to play it year round are usually the better high school players - as it is with any sport. At a higher level of tournaments, some kids are home schooled simply so they can focus on tennis.

At a level 5, we're not talking cream of the crop. Maybe someday they will be, but at this level they are JV or low ranking varsity kids.

 

[polski]

I just noticed that you are in California. My comments relate to the Southern section. It looks like Cali is different than how we do it here.

 

[Lakers4Life]

Without naming names the top Junior Girls player is from my area. She's only 13 but she plays in the Girls 18 division.

The recent CIF Championship was basically a Who's Who of the top Girls in So. Cal. BTW the CIF Championship is the only tournament recognized by the USTA, as far as HS tournaments are concerned, that points are given.

 

[PeterPanda]

These differe from like CT correct?

 

[TennisNinja]

L5's are for both sectionals and nationals points. At least in the PNW they are.

 

[Lakers4Life]

You all points count towards national and sectional rankings. Though there are alot of point chasers that play the lower level tournaments. Even satellite tournaments will give points, but only to the finalists. Look up any of the top ranking Junior players and check out how they got their points.

Also points are valid until you age out of that group. Many of the B/G16 players have both a B/G18 and B/G16 points.

 

[racket-e]

In norcal level 5s are championship tournaments which give a little national points and a lot of sectional point. Top 50 national players have good competition in these if they are playing up an age group (eg. top 50 14s player playing a 16s championship). The winner of a 16s championship is usually a 5 star/blue chip freshman or a 4 or 5 star sophomore.

 

[jmjmkim]

It was a relaxing day off today, the wife went to work, and my kids went to a friends house to do a social studies project, so I had a day to myself. I decided to go and watch the Juniors.

Boy, the first round was pretty good, but today, it was really competitive. I wasn't too impressed by the 16's and 18's boys, but the 12's boys competition was good. The shots were not hard, but they were very consistent and the points were well constructed.

The girl's competition was really enjoyable to watch. They were very hard hitting and the game was mostly baseline groundy exchanges.

One notable section was the girl's 18. They had some very good points. I think the winner was a girl from Ojai, as I noticed a van from the Weil Tennis Academy. A son of my wife's friend attended this academy in Ojai and ended up getting a scholarship to UCLA a while back.

Anyway, it was a good day. Now I want to go watch some pros at indian wells.

 

[Lakers4Life]

Junior Tournaments are fun to watch, especially when it get down to the Quarter Finals. My friend's daughter was suppose to play in that tournament, but is currently sick.