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USTA Eastern
70 West Red Oak Lane
White Plains, NY 10604
P: (914) 697-2300
F: (914) 694-2402

Adult Tournament Players

Adult Tennis Tournament Information and Regulations

Adult Tournament Play in the Eastern Section:

Types of Tournaments
Age Group Events	NTRP Events
Age Group Events are open to all players with current USTA Memberships, and have reached or will reach the minimum age limit of the division (25, 30, 35, 40…, 80, 85, and 90) on or before December 31st.	The National Tennis Rating Program (NTRP) is the official system for determining the levels of competition for the USTA Adult Leagues and NTRP Tournaments. The primary goal of the program is to help all tennis players enjoy the game by providing a method of classifying skill levels for more compatible matches and tournament play. The rating categories are generalizations about skill levels, and available to any player aged 19 or older. Further information on NTRP ratings and tournaments play can be found here, or by contacting Rob Festa at (914) 697-2398 or festa@eastern.usta.com.
Family Events: Family Events include: Father-Son, Father-Daughter, Mother-Son, Mother-Daughter, and Husband-Wife Doubles, and Century Doubles.
Innovative Tournaments: USTA Eastern sanctions several innovative tournament formats including 1 Day Shootouts, One-on-One Doubles, ect… for more information on hosting or participating in Innovative Tournaments, please contact Rob Festa at festa@eastern.usta.com

Rankings:

The USTA ranks players in both singles and doubles on a rolling 12 month calendar. A Points Per Round system is used to calculate rankings. Using a similar method as the USTA for national rankings, points will be awarded based on rounds reached. Further information on USTA Eastern Adult Rankings can be found here.

Regulations:

By registering for USTA Adult Tournaments, you are agreeing to abide by the ITF Rules of Tennis and The USTA Rules & Regulations set forth in the USTA Friend at Court, as well as USTA Eastern Section Rules & Regulations. These rules apply to spectators as well; the player is responsible for their entourage. "The Code" as outlined in FAC also applies to all events sanctioned by the Eastern Section. The highest level of sportsmanship is expected from all tournament participants.

USTA Eastern Regulations:

1. You must be a currently enrolled member of the USTA to play in any USTA Sanctioned Event.

2. The regular scoring system shall be used in all sanctioned events and the 12-point tie-break shall be used at six-all in each set except where indicated to the contrary by the referee. The 12- point tie-break is the only tiebreak to be used in Eastern sanctioned tournaments. In lieu of a final set, the referee may mandate that either the 12-point or match tie-break may be played.

3. No player shall enter more than one Eastern sanctioned tournament where the scheduled dates overlap unless the officially announced tournament starting dates are at least three days apart, except where the scheduled dates of play do not conflict, such as in the case of two tournaments, one of which is scheduled over successive weekends and the other through the intervening week. This exception will not be broadened to permit entry into two tournaments where one is played during the daytime and the other evenings.

4. New balls (3) shall be used for each match and it shall be optional with the tournament chairperson if new balls will be used for the third set. Balls will remain the property of the tournament director upon the completion of the match.

5. During individual competition, no coaching, either verbally or by signals of any kind, is permitted except during an authorized intermission (the 90-second odd game changeover is not an authorized intermission). The same rules apply to team competition unless they have been modified in advance by an agreement between the teams. Violation of this regulation renders the player and his/her coach or advisor liable to disciplinary action, which may include disqualification of the player and/or removal of the coach or advisor from the premises.

6. It is the responsibility of the players at all times to ascertain the starting time of matches.

How Many Matches May be played in One Day?

Under normal conditions a player must not be required to play more than two singles matches or three doubles matches in any one day, excepting where a player is entered in both singles and doubles he/she may be required to play two singles and one doubles match per day at the discretion of the tournament referee.

45-and-older divisions	50-and-older divisions
In senior men’s and women’s 45-and-older divisions, a player shall not be required to play more than two matches in the main draw of the same age division in one day. (These two matches may consist of two singles, two doubles, or one singles and one doubles.)	In senior men’s and women’s 50-and-older divisions, a player shall not be required to play more than one singles and one doubles, or two doubles matches, in the main draw of the same age division in one day.
*Consolation Draws:* If a player in any senior age division also plays in a consolation event in that division (singles or doubles or both), the requirements above for the main draw competition shall apply to consolation competition as well, except that if in any one day the player must play in both main draw and consolation competition, then the maximum matches for such day shall be increased to three, (two singles and one doubles, one singles and two doubles, or three doubles.)

Notes:

- Playing 16 or more games of singles, or 20 or more games of doubles, to complete a match carried over from a preceding day, may be counted, if the player so desires, as a match for the day on which it is completed.

- Pursuant to the above restrictions, if a player enters two age divisions, then such restrictions shall apply separately to each age division.

Withdrawals, Defaults and Retirements:

Withdrawals: A withdrawal will be deemed to have occurred when, prior to the draw being made, a player notifies the tournament director of his/her intention to withdraw. If a player notifies the tournament desk of a withdrawal because of injury or illness after completing a match in an event but before beginning the next match, the withdrawal may also be listed as a walkover.

Defaults Other Than Point Penalty Defaults: A default will be deemed to have occurred when a player fails to appear for a match and fails to notify the tournament director of an intent to withdraw, or a player notifies the tournament director that he/she cannot play once the draw has been made; or a player having already played a match, notifies the tournament director that he/she cannot continue to play. There will be no suspension points assessed if a player notifies the tournament director of intent to default at least 12 hours before the start of his/her first match. Suspension points will be assessed for defaulting in any other match.

Retirements: A retirement will be deemed to have occurred when, during the course of the match, a player is unable to continue play due to injury or loss of condition. If a player retires in his/her "last match," that tournament shall be deemed completed since the player takes the loss.

Note: Defaults for any reason will result in review by the Adult Competition Committee and the possible imposition of up to and including two (2) suspension points. When a default is due to illness, injury or family emergency, it is the responsibility of the player to hold documentation verifying such reason. If a player accumulates five (5) suspension points for defaults, the player may, at that time, present this documentation to the committee for its review.

- Default from a tournament due to lateness will not preclude a player from the right or obligation to play other matches assigned in the same tournament (e.g., a consolation-round match or a playoff match).

- A player who is defaulted from a tournament due to the imposition of the Point Penalty System or for cause will, however, be barred from further competition in the same tournament.

For more information on Adult Tournaments in the Eastern Section, please contact Rob Festa at (914) 697-2398 or at festa@eastern.usta.com.