Following the COVID-19 pandemic, and in accordance with new rules and government regulations, USTA Eastern has modified tournament formats to help players safely restart competitive tennis. The section will continue to evaluate the situation and accordingly adjust these formats over the coming months. Thank you for your patience as we work together to provide the best opportunities for players.  

 

Below please find the new play formats for junior tournaments and 10U tournaments, to be used during Phase 1 of USTA Eastern's "Return to Play".

 

Junior Tournaments

 

2020 Calendar  (September-December)

 

Format & Draws

 

In Phase 1, all junior tournaments will have limited draws of 16-24 players or less. The only exception will be the selected L4 Super Six, to be held at the end of July, which will have a 32-player draw.  More tournaments will be added to the schedule as facilities begin to open. ADVERTISEMENT Only singles events will be held in July, and the section hopes to add doubles events in August. For more on format, draws and selection see tables below. 

 

Ranking Points & Standings Lists

 

Ranking Point Tables

 

Beginning August 10, we began publishing the standings lists weekly.  To learn more about how they will be calculated through the end of the year, click here.

 

Selection into the first month of tournaments will be based on the March standing list, with the players that have aged out removed.  

 

Registration

 

To register for tournaments go to tennislink.usta.com or click here.

 

VIRTUAL TOURNAMENT DESK (NEW!)

For the safety of all tournament players, parents, coaches and staff we will NOT be using a physical tournament desk where social gathering is most common. We will be using Match Tennis App’s Virtual Tournament Desk to help facilitate CDC guidelines for social distancing. Please click here for more information on how to use the technology.

 

All tournaments have staggered entry deadlines, with the higher-level tournaments closing before the next lower-level tournament. See tournament descriptions below for standardized deadlines.

 

Concurrent Tournament Rule REVISED: 

No player may register for more than one Eastern “ranked”/sanctioned tournament where the scheduled dates overlap, unless the officially announced tournament starting dates are at least three days apart. The player must be age eligible for both divisions. Note: First time offenders will be given courtesy of a warning, but only if they are a first time violator. The courtesy will allow them to play in one of the two tournaments however they may be subject to suspension points. Allowable exceptions are as follows:

• Entering a tournament scheduled over successive weekends and another tournament through the intervening week
• Entering a Super Six and concurrent L1/L1A; however once selection for the Super Six has been posted, the player must give notice of withdrawal to one of the tournaments within the following 24 hours. Failure to do so will result in the assessment of suspension points. A player who does enter properly under this exception, but fails to withdraw from either event in a timely manner will still be subject to suspension points for late withdrawals or concurrent tournament violations
• Entering concurrent L7, L6, L5, L4 however once selection for the L4, or L5 has been posted, the player must give notice of withdrawal to one of the tournaments within the following 24 hours. Failure to do so will result in the assessment of suspension points. A player who does enter properly under this exception, but fails to withdraw from either event in a timely manner will still be subject to suspension points for late withdrawals or concurrent tournament violations.
• Additionally, no junior player may play in two age divisions in the same tournament unless one of the age divisions is singles and one is doubles. The player must be age eligible for both divisions.

 

Pathway

 

Level: Unranked Tournaments

• Length: Up to three hours; 16 max draw limit
• Match & Scoring Formats: 
  • BG12: Green Ball
  • BG14-18: Yellow Ball
  • Timed matches or short sets
• Draw Formats:
  • 0-2: Draw canceled
  • 3-5: One round robin bracket
  • 6-16: Two-four round robin brackets or compass draw
• Entry Fee:
  • $40/player without an official
  • $50/player with an official

 

Level: L7 Closed Tournaments (Low level to intermediate)

Up to four-day events closed to section; draws will be limited to 16-24 players per age division. Single elimination draws will be used in Phase 1. Can be sanctioned at facility discretion. Bottom up selection will be used. In bottom up selection, the unranked players are selected first, then lowest ranked, etc. In the event that the number of unranked players exceeds the published draw limit, selection shall be based on time/date entry. Entry deadlines will be standard: five days prior to start date.

 

Tournament Director Selection Process Instructions

 

• Length: Up to four-day event; 16-24 max draw limit
• Match & Scoring Formats:
  • BG12: 2 out of 3 short sets, yellow or green. Short Set (up to 4 games, no ad, 7 point tiebreaker at 3-3
  • BG14-18: 2 of 3 sets w/ a 10-point match tiebreak in lieu of a third set, no-ad
•  Draw Formats:
  • 0-2: Draw canceled
  • 3-5: One round robin bracket
  • 6-24: Single elimination
• Entry Fee:
  • $50/player without an official
  • $60/player with an official

 

Level: L5, L6 Closed Tournaments (From intermediate to high-level advanced)

Up to four-day events closed to section. Draws are limited by the section to max of 24 players. Players may only enter one tournament with overlapping dates (unless entry deadlines are staggered).  See concurrent tournament rule above. Can be sanctioned at facility discretion, and L5’s can be sanctioned up against the L4 sanctioned dates: July 30- August 2 and August 27-30. Seeding and selection will be based on the most recently published standing list. If the draw doesn’t fill with ranked players, the remaining spots will be filled by time/date stamp. L5 entry deadlines will be standard: 10 days prior to start date. L6 entry deadlines will be standard: seven days prior to start date.

 

Tournament Director Selection Process Instructions

 

• Length: Up to four-day event; 16-24 max draw limit
• Match & Scoring Formats:
  • Best of 3 with match tiebreak in lieu of 3rd set
  • No-ad scoring
•  Draw Formats:
  • 0-2: Draw canceled
  • 3-24: Single elimination
• Entry Fee:
  • $50/player without an official
  • $60/player with an official

 

Level: L4 Super Six

Up to four-day events and closed to section. Draws are limited by the section to max of 32 players. Super Six L4 will be draws of 32 and will select up to two players that are in the top 25 of the Eastern Standing list of the next younger age division, except in the 10 and under division. Players may enter in up to two age divisions when entries close. The Eastern office will select players for these divisions in the following order: 18; 16; 14; 12. If a player is entered in two age divisions and is selected in the other older age division, that player shall not be eligible for selection into the younger division. If a player is not selected for the older division, that players is eligible for selection in the younger division and is eligible to be an alternate in the younger division, but not in the older division. L4 will carry super six points and be a FIC-16, but it won’t be played to completion. L4 sanctioned dates: July 30-August 2 and August 27-30.

 

• Length: 3-4 day event; 32 draw
• Match & Scoring Formats:
  • Best of 3 with match tiebreak in lieu of 3rd set
  • No-ad scoring
  • Consolation: 8 game pro set, no-ad
•  Draw Formats:
  • FIQ (16)
  • Consolation rounds will not be played to completion
• Entry Fee:
  • $125/player with an official

 

10U Youth Progression Tournaments

 

General Guidelines

 

Tournament Directors must send the draw and schedule in advance, including match court and detailed facility instructions in order to avoid unnecessary human interactions. Court monitors will be required to wear a mask and gloves at all times and should assist kids with keeping safety guidelines.

 

Format and Draws

 

10U Youth Progression Orange L1 & L2 Draws will be limited to 16-24 players max. If a facility is running both boys and girls draws, they should be run on separate days. Tournaments Directors will have flexibility to extend the usual 4-6 hour limit to comply with Junior Tournament Guidelines.

 

Level: Youth Progression Orange L1 & Orange L2

• Length: 4-6 hour event (could run longer to comply with safety guidelines); 16-24 max draw limit
• Match & Scoring Formats:
  • 1 short set (first to 4), no-ad scoring
  • 2 short sets (first to 4), with a 7-point tiebreak in lieu of 3rd set, no-ad scoring
•  Draw Formats:
  • 5 or less: round robin bracket, at least two matches guaranteed
  • 6 or more: first match consolation
  • Co-ed or single gender
  • If both boys and girls draw are hosted, they must be run on separate days
• Entry Fee:
  • $45/player

 

Level: Youth Progression Green L1

• Length: Two-day event; 16-24 max draw limit
• Match & Scoring Formats:
  • 1 short set (first to 4), no-ad scoring
  • 2 short sets (first to 4), with a 7-point tiebreak in lieu of 3rd set, no-ad scoring
•  Draw Formats:
  • 5 or less: round robin bracket, at least two matches guaranteed
  • 6 or more: first match consolation
  • Single gender
• Entry Fee:
  • $50/player