Why do I need a USTA Membership?
USTA membership is required for all entrants in USTA-sanctioned tournaments. USTA membership also provides many benefits, including a variety of discounts, entry to special events and early access to professional tournament tickets. Visit http://membership.usta.com/ or call 1-800-990-8782.
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What are the different Levels of tournaments available for juniors in Eastern?
There are 4 Levels of competitive junior tournaments in Eastern. Level 1 (L1) and Level 2 (L2) tournaments awards points for the round a player reached. Level 1 (L1) and +Level 1 (+L1) tournaments award the most points and Level 2 (L2) tournaments the least (see point tables). QuickStart and Level 3 (L3) tournaments do not award points.
A brief description of each Level:
+L1 Eastern Designated Closed tournaments are the most competitive events and offer endorsement to National Championships and National Team Events. These are two weekend events (the first weekend is qualifying weekend, except with the SE (single elimination)) and the second weekend is the main draw (unless otherwise noted on the tournament homepage). The main draw results count towards a player's National and Eastern standing. These tournaments are closed to Eastern residents and US Citizens ONLY. Proof of citizenship and residency must be sent into the Eastern office before playing in this tournament.
LEVEL 1 (L1) tournaments are the next most competitive events offered. These events are Open to everyone.
LEVEL 1B (L1B) tournaments also count towards a player's Eastern standing only. These are for the more experienced tournament players. These events are Open to everyone.
LEVEL L2R or L2O tournaments results count towards a player's Eastern standing and Regional standing only. These are for players ranging from their first competitive experience to those aspiring to the higher levels. L2R events are restricted by geographic location and L2O are open to everyone.
Level 3 (L3) tournaments are round robins events. Results from these tournaments DO NOT count towards a ranking. These tournaments are great for juniors who are beginning their competitive tennis careers. These events are Open to everyone.
QuickStart (8U & 10U) tournaments are round robin events. Results from these tournaments DO NOT count towards a ranking. The 8U events are played on a 36’ court with red foam or low compression balls. The 10U are played on a 60’ court with the orange compression tennis balls.
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What does “doesn’t count towards ranking” mean?
Eastern only counts your best 6 singles results and 15% of your best 6 doubles results from the past 12 months. If one of your tournaments reads “doesn’t count towards ranking” then it is not one of your best 6.
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How long can I play in my age division?
You may play in your age division up until the last day of the month before your birthday month. For example, if you are 12 years old and are going to turn 13 in May, you may play in the 12-and-under division until the last day in April (based on the tournament start date), then you “age-up” to 14-and-under.
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How do I enter a tournament? (VIDEO)
To enter a tournament, make sure your USTA membership is current or sign up for a membership. Then, click on Eastern's tournament schedule and select a tournament. If you find a tournament that you are interested in registering for and it has the TennisLink icon next to it, then you can register on-line for this tournament. If it doesn’t have that icon you can may register via mail or fax entry. Applications and payment are sent directly to the club having the tournament. This must be done before the entry deadline, which is normally 2 weeks before the start date of the tournament. Please find out ahead of time if the Tournament Director will allow you to fax the application and if the facility accepts credit cards.
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How are players selected for each tournament?
Players register for a specific tournament. After the entry deadline, seeding and selection is based on all available information.
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Who makes the seeds and the draws for the tournaments?
The seeds for all levels of junior tournaments are determined by the designated ranking chairs and based all available information. All +L1, L1, and L2 tournament draws are made by the software program, Tournament Data Manager.
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What determines my seeding and selection into an Eastern tournament?
Seeding and selection is determined by the ranking chairs. It is based on the most current sectional standings and ALL other available information regarding a player (i.e. sectional standing, national standing, lower age division standing, recent quality wins, etc.) and anything else which might assist a ranking chairperson in making a more informed decision. We may use many factors in determining seeds in a L1. It is important that ranking chairs have administrative jurisdiction in determining seeds, as extensive research and special circumstances goes into seeding specific tournaments.
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How are standings calculated?
USTA Eastern uses a Points-per round ranking program to compute standings. Players are ranked on their merit in Points-per-round. The round a player reaches determines how many points he or she receives. Junior combined standings are calculated on a 12-month rolling basis, i.e. the best 6 singles results and 15% of the best six doubles results, 2 of which can be National tournaments from the past 12 months, regardless of calendar year, are considered. Significant wins points are awarded, only in Eastern sanctioned tournaments, for players who beat a player ranked 50 or better from the previous month’s standing list. Significant win points are based on the tournament start date and the standing list published the month prior to that tournament start date. Who a player beats, exposure and good wins and losses are not criteria in this system.
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Do I have to play six (6) tournaments to get a standing?
No, you do not have to play six (6) tournaments to get a standing. Once you win a match in a USTA Eastern sanctioned tournament and those results are entered in the database, you will be on the next standings list published. You may play 1 tournament or 30; only your best 6 results in a rolling 12-month period will count towards a standing.
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What’s the difference between a ranking and a standing?
Although people sometimes use them interchangeably, rankings are not the same as standings. Rankings are final, year-end figures that quantify a player’s performance during that calendar year. These are published at the end of the year. Rankings only include results in the age division you are seeking a ranking.
Standings, on the other hand, refer to a player’s current position within his or her division based on tournament results received to date. Standings can and do fluctuate throughout the year depending on players’ match results and birthday eligibility. These lists are published every month. Points from older age divisions do travel down to standings in younger age divisions, where you still have results and are still age eligible.
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What does “complete” mean?
In order to be endorsed or ranked in the East your requirements must be completed. This means a player needs to retire and/or play a match in order for the tournament to count. In other words, a player who has not hit or received a single ball cannot be viewed as having participated in the tournament.
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What are the endorsement procedures for National Championship events and National Team events?
Players need to follow the on-line registration procedures for these events. The Eastern endorsement lists will be published at the end of that endorsement period. There are required tournaments; please refer to endorsement information. It is necessary that the required tournaments are played to completion. A player needs to retire and/or play a match in order for the tournament to count for endorsement purposes. In other words, a player who has not hit or received a single ball cannot be viewed as having participated in the tournament. No waivers are given for any reason. If for some reason you are unable to meet endorsement requirements Wildcard Applications are available in the USTA Eastern office.
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What is an endorsement list?
These lists are published quarterly. Include players who are age eligible and have completed the required endorsement tournaments in the age division seeking endorsement. Include eligibility into National Team and Championship tournaments. Only tournaments in the age division seeking endorsement are included. Players may get endorsed in more than one age division.
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When are new standings posted on the website?
We try to update the section standings at least once a month. These standings will reflect all results received from tournament directors by that time. If there is a delay in receipt of results from a tournament director, that event will not be part of the standings, though it will be calculated in the next standing.
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How often do Regional standings Lists get posted?
They are updated every 3 months and serve only for viewing purposes. These lists are not used for seeding.
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Do L2 tournaments count in my Eastern Section Standings?
Yes they can count. However, L1 status tournaments do not count towards your Regional standings.
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Do I earn points for matches won prior to a walkover?
Yes, you earn advancing points but not bonus points.
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How do I earn bonus points?
Bonus points are calculated based on the starting date of the tournament and the prior month’s standing list. For example a tournament with a start date in May will use an April standing list to determine the bonus points earned in a May tournament.
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How did my standing change if I haven’t played?
Sometimes standings change regardless of your participation in an event. This usually happens at the beginning of a new month, when players "age out," becoming ineligible for standings in a certain division. We also discard results from more than 12 months ago and recalculate the standings. For example, your standing in October may change in November even if you don’t play because your (and everyone else’s) results from the previous October stop getting calculated.
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I won a tournament last weekend. Why aren’t the results posted yet?
It all depends on how soon after an event the tournament director sends the results in to the section office or publishes them on-line. Depending on how many tournaments were hosted on that weekend, it can take a few more days to get all the results into the computer. Remember that each year we sanction more than 500 events in more than 50 divisions so the amount of information we receive each day is enormous. We try to get all results up and calculated as quickly as possible.
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Are some tournaments worth more points than others?
Yes. Refer to the point tables.
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Why don't I get more points in the consolation playoffs?
The system gives greater rewards to a player's success in the main draw.
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Do tournaments use a match tie-break in lieu of the third set count?
Yes. This includes +L1 consolation and qualifying rounds, L1, L1B, and L2 tournaments and all Boys’ and Girls’ 10 tournaments.
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Will players seek out the weakest tournaments in order to gain more points?
The point tables are structured in such a manner to prevent players from playing in weak tournaments and racking up points. A player can only use his or her best 6 results in a 12-month period to count towards a standing.
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What happens with smaller draws?
No matter what size draw, 0 points are earned for losing. Thereafter the points earned are based on the round reached according to the points table.
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What’s the Ineligible list?
This list includes any out of section players who Eastern players played at a National Tournament or any of our Eastern tournaments that are open to everyone. It also includes anyone who ages out in the upcoming month.
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What National schedule tournaments can count towards my Eastern standing?
A maximum of two (2) national events can count towards the best six (6) tournament results in the standings calculation. Any National tournament that is listed on the National Junior Tournament Schedule.
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Will tournaments outside the Eastern Section count towards my Eastern standing?
Only the tournaments listed on the National Junior Tournament Schedule will count in the Eastern Section. A maximum of two (2) national events can count towards the best six (6) tournament results in the standings calculation.
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If I am injured will my standing/endorsement be protected?
No. In Points-per-round, players have several opportunities to play tournaments. If a player is injured he or she will have time to come back after the injury and improve his or her position by playing tournaments. If a player is injured for a prolonged time period (2-4 months), he or she can play the National Open to qualify for a National Championship.
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How do ties get broken for purposes of quota or team selection?
1. Player whose best event has the highest number of points, second best, third best, etc. through six events.
2. Total bonus points earned in all events played during the computation period.
3. Highest single opponent bonus earned second highest, third highest, etc.
4. Best random draw number.
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Where can I send corrections to my player record?
Please submit any corrections [include your name and USTA number, the tournament ID#, name and dates of the tournament, the division you played in and opponents' name(s)] to Rob Festa, Competition Coordinator, by e-mail to festa@eastern.usta.com.
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