The USTA Newsletter for Tennis Coaches
2010
9
High Performance Coaching
Vol. 11, No. 2
The USTA Newsletter for Tennis Coaches
2010
Important Changes for
Junior Tennis in 2011
by Lew Brewer - Director, Junior Competition
As the 2010 competitive year comes to a close, it's
important for coaches, parents and players to prepare for
the important changes in junior tennis that will take effect
at the start of the new year.
Following a multi-year examination of the National Junior
Tournament Schedule (NJTS) that included focus group
meetings with coaches, parents and players, a national
survey and meetings with leaders from all 17 USTA
Sections, the USTA approved a series of changes to the
NJTS with the following goals:
In general, the changes include a minor reduction in draw
size for the 14 and under USTA National Championships,
changes to the USTA National Opens that allow the
events to be played over a single weekend, expansion
and organization of USTA Regional Tournaments around
four defined weekends and an adjustment from the "best
of eight" to "best of six" for USTA National Standing and
Ranking Lists. In addition, all NJTS tournaments must
adhere to a required schedule of play that will help players
compete at their best and make travel planning a little
easier for families.
For a complete description of the changes, please visit the
USTA Junior Competition website at
http://www.usta.com/
Youth-Tennis/Junior-Competition/JuniorCompetition/
.
In addition to the changes to the National Junior
Tournament Schedule, the USTA has also approved
changes to the rules for 10 and under tennis that will take
full effect starting in January 2012. The rules for 8 and
under tennis requiring 36 foot courts, lower nets, smaller
rackets, slower and lower bouncing "red" or Stage 3 balls
and modified scoring have already been implemented.
For 10 and under tennis, tournaments will now be
conducted on 60 foot courts with the lower bouncing
"orange" or Stage 2 balls, slightly smaller and lighter
rackets and a slightly lower net. There is also an option for
10 and under play using the "green" ball.
These changes are the biggest changes in youth tennis
in more than 50 years. It will make the game easier to
learn and play and will be much for inviting for young
players. Although the rules won't be mandatory until 2012,
coaches and organizers are encouraged to start using
these rules and formats immediately. For a more detailed
view of the upcoming changes, please visit our website:
http://www.usta.com/rulechange/
.
· Help parents deal with the high cost to compete in
tennis on a national level;
· Help coaches schedule more time for training for
their players;
· Help USTA Sections by including more open date
blocks for Sectional tournaments that do not conflict
with national tournaments; and
· Adjust the NJTS, ranking rules and tournament rules
that reduce the incentive to play away from home
and mid-week during school and business days.