JUNIOR TENNIS COMPETITION JOURNEY

A Pathway To Success

From junior tennis players who are just getting the hang of it to those competing at the highest levels, the USTA provides play formats and programs to give kids the best opportunities to succeed and keep playing tennis. Through the USTA’s American Development Model framework, junior tennis players can learn to compete according to their age and ability to be on the path to self-confidence and having fun.

 

Learn more about how to get your kids involved with tennis with our Parents' Guide for Tennis

Introducing Competitive Tennis
So when is the right time to introduce competition to children and what is the right approach? The USTA has developed a research-supported-pathway to guide junior tennis players, parents, and coaches. These USTA-developed junior tennis programs are all designed to discover, develop, and play tennis for a lifetime. The right time to introduce competition varies for everyone, so you may also want to consult your child's coach or a local tennis pro for additional information.
USTA Team Challenge
A USTA Team Challenge is your first step into tennis competition. Team Challenges offer a low-pressure team environment for beginner junior tennis players of all ages to develop their skills with others of similar experience. These events are not focused on winning and losing, instead focusing on positive teamwork.
USTA Junior Team Tennis
Why wait until high school to join a tennis team? Or maybe you want to join another team! USTA Junior Team Tennis brings together boys and girls, ages 6 to 18, to play singles, doubles and mixed doubles against other coed teams.

Beyond being fun and a great form of exercise, Junior Team Tennis is a competitive, level-based environment that promotes individual growth, social growth and life skills.

USTA Junior Circuit
Ready to move into tournament play? A USTA Junior Circuit is an event that uses a non-elimination, round-robin draw format for junior tennis players of all ages so you can gain match experience in a tournament setting and then see your individual results. These fun events give you the opportunity to develop your skills through level-based play while learning and demonstrating good sportsmanship.
USTA Junior Tournaments
When you’re ready to play competitive tennis, USTA Junior Tournaments are a great way to get out on the court and test your game. You’ll have every opportunity to learn from the best, play against the best – and even make new friends along the way. There are 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.
The American Development Model
The USTA’s American Development Model (ADM) applies long-term athletic development principles to guide parents and coaches as their players develop and mature. Core to the ADM is highlighting the dangers of early sport specialization and the need to develop multi-sport athletes, as well as a focus on increasing physical activity and fun.
The Net Generation PlayTracker
The Net Generation PlayTracker is for players aged 5-10 and their parents to track progress at USTA competitive events, all in one place. Using the USTA’s ADM framework, players and parents will learn more about the recommended development pathway and earn digital incentives along the way.

Players that are 10 years old or younger and their parents can access their PlayTracker points within their usta.com account profile, underneath the Family tab.