2010 Junior Tournament Requirements

USTA NORTHERN SPORTSMANSHIP
The USTA views sportsmanship as the embodiment of these characteristics: determination, fair play, competitiveness, and compliance with the USTA Code of Conduct.  (You can find the USTA Code of Conduct along with Friend at Court information at www.usta.com .)

NEW JUNIOR TOURNAMENT SYSTEM
Starting January 1, 2010 USTA Northern’s new junior system will take effect.  Challenger 1 and Challenger 2 tournaments will no longer exist.  All tournaments will be within one system, Levels 3 – 7.  Level 3 will be the highest level offered with Level 7 being the entry level for tournament play.  Players will gain entry to each level based upon the number of points they have from Jan 1 – May 31 and Sept 1 – Dec 31.  From June 1 – Aug 31, Levels 5 & 6 will be “open”, meaning there will be no point restrictions to gain entry to those particular tournaments (Level 5’s will be open to sectional residents only, as they are national level points tournaments, Level 6’s will be open to residents and non-residents).  The Level 3, Level 4’s and Level 7’s will always have point restrictions in place.  (Please see the table below to understand how many points each level requires)

ENTRY INTO EACH LEVEL
Entry to each level tournament from September 1– May 31 (indoor season) will be points based. (Points may be accumulated year round, not just in this time period)  Players must have the minimum number of points in their current age group in order to receive entry into a tournament, or the minimum number of points from the lower age group in order to get in.  The following point guidelines will be in place to gain entry into each level:

Level            Minimum Points       Lower Age Group Minimum             Max Points       

3                         100                                 250         
4                         300                                 600
5                         200                                 400
6                          50                                  100
7                                                                                                          199

When point restrictions are in place, each tournament will be reviewed by USTA Northern and players will then be selected.  It will be the responsibility of the player to make sure they are registering for the proper level and proper tournament.  Please check your ranking and the number of points you have at: http://tennislink.usta.com/tournaments/rankings/rankinghome.aspx?Section=55&Division=G8 .  From the Jan – May period and the Sept – Dec period, player selections will be published on Monday afternoons prior to a Friday start.  During the summer months, June – Aug, published player selection lists for the Level 4 and 7’s will vary, due to variations in tournament start dates.

The most recent standings list as of the tournament deadline date will be used to determine acceptance/entry into the tournament.  Should a player get into a tournament that they do not qualify for; all points received from that particular tournament will be taken away and subtracted from the player’s record.  Should this occur a 2nd time by the same player, they will receive 2 suspension points under the USTA Northern Suspension Point System.  Should this happen a 3rd time in the same calendar year, they will receive 5 suspension points under “Unsportsmanlike Conduct”.  Accumulating 10 suspension points will result in the player being suspended from play.

If there is ever a question about qualifying for a particular tournament, please contact the USTA Northern office at: 952-887-5001.

TOURNAMENTS

Levels:
Level 3 - The highest level event played in the section, one (1) per year.  This is the USTA Northern Junior Sectional.  The winner of a Level 3 tournament earns 330 sectional points and 220 national points. The points in a Level 3 event count towards both national and sectional rankings.  Must have a minimum of 100 points in current age group or 250 points from lower age group to gain entry.

Level 4 - There are three (3) events per year that have a Level 4 designation.    The points earned in a Level 4 event count towards a national and sectional ranking. The winner of a Level 4 tournament earns 220 sectional points and 165 national points.  (All Level 4 Championship tournaments are limited to the top 16 players who register in each age group, each gender – draws of 16).  Must have a minimum of 300 points in current age group or 600 points from lower age group to gain entry.  (Since Level 4’s are limited to draws of 16, first priority will go to players from the current age group that qualifies.  Any remaining spots will then go to players from the younger age group). 

Level 5 - There are eight (8) events per year that have a Level 5 designation.    The points earned in a Level 5 event count towards a national and sectional ranking.  The winner of a Level 5 tournament earns 165 sectional points and 88 national points.  Must have a minimum of 200 points in current age group or 400 points from the lower age group to gain entry. 

Level 6 - These are all other events that are not Level 3, 4 or 5 tournaments.  Points earned in these events count towards a sectional ranking but NOT towards a national ranking.  The winner of a Level 6 tournament earns 88 sectional points.  Must have a minimum of 50 points in current age group or 100 points from lower age group to gain entry from January 1 – May 31 and September 1 – December 31. (From June 1 – August 31, Level 6’s are open to any player from any section)

Level 7 - This is the entry level for players getting involved in USTA sanctioned tournament play.  Points earned in these events count towards a sectional ranking but NOT towards a national ranking.  Players with more than 199 points will not be allowed to participate in Level 7 tournaments.  Must not have more than 199 points in the age group you are playing in to enter Level 7’s from January 1 – December 31.

DOUBLES
Starting January 1, 2008, USTA Northern along with USTA National, adopted a combined singles and doubles ranking list.  We no longer publish individual singles and doubles lists.  Doubles will comprise 15% of a player’s ranking, (e.g., if a player earns 100 points from playing a doubles event, 15% or 15 points will go towards their ranking.)

The chart below describes how the system will work:

USTA NORTHERN SUSPENSION POINT SYSTEM
The USTA Northern Suspension Point System will be in effect at all sanctioned junior tournaments in the section and will be used in main draw and consolation rounds.  Persons authorized to file suspension point reports are: tournament referees and their assistants, on-court umpires, tournament directors, members of the USTA Northern Player Development Committee (PDC) and the USTA Northern Director of Junior Competitive Tennis.  All of the above-authorized persons will report only on violations personally witnessed by them. 

Recording of Suspension Points: Suspension Point Reports with descriptions of all violations will be mailed to the Director of Junior Competitive Tennis in the USTA Northern office.  These reports will then be forwarded to the JTC (Jr Tennis Council) for documenting and recording on the junior player’s tournament record.  NOTE: Suspension points received out of section (National Tournaments, Zonals, etc.) will count against a player’s local record. 

The USTA Northern Player Development Committee (PDC) will implement the Suspension Point System and points assessed as defined in the Friend at Court for 2010.  For 2010, the PDC reviews all Code of Conduct reports and has final authority on points assessed. Below is an explanation of the Suspension Point System currently in use for USTA National and as defined in Friend at Court and used as a guide for the PDC in reviewing the points assessed for 2010. The third point explains the "Code" under the Point Penalty System.

Suspension Point System :
Application: The Suspension Point System shall apply to tournaments listed on the USTA Northern Junior Tournament Schedule. It applies to conduct:
*  During all matches (main draw, compass draw, consolation, qualifying, and  doubles);
*  During tournament activities
*  At tournament facilities
*  At facilities, such as hotels, dormitories, and homes where players stay.

Suspension Points
The USTA Northern Director of Junior Competition shall record suspension points upon being notified of the following violations:
Code Violations under the Point Penalty System. For each violation under the Point Penalty System (USTA Regulation I.P.) (Excluding Time Violations for delay between points, after warm-up, after a 90-second changeover, after a Set Break), two points shall be assessed for the following:   

·                    Point - 2 points

·                    Game -2 points

·                    Default - 2 points

Defaults

·                    Default for a flagrantly unsportsmanlike act on or off the court - 8

·                    Default for refusal to play or continue to play for any reason other than illness, injury, or personal emergency - 5

·                    Defaults because of an adult decision - 5

·                    Default for no-show - 5

·                    Default due to late arrival for a match - 1

·                    Disqualification for ineligibility - 3

Withdrawls

·                    Entering two or more tournaments, matches, or exhibitions scheduled to take place at the same time, in whole or in part, unless each Tournament Committee involved approves the multiple entries in writing - 5

·                    Withdrawal from a tournament (singles or doubles) after entries have closed for any reason other than injury, illness, or personal emergency - 4

Unsportsmanlike Conduct.

·                    Unsportsmanlike or inappropriate conduct off court at locations such as the tournament site, hotel, or housing - 5

·                    Not using best efforts to win - 2

Gross Misconduct.

·                    Physical act of violence against another person on or off the court by a player, parent, relative, coach, or other person associated with a player - 10

·                    Illegal use of drugs or possession of illegal drugs - 8

·                    Possession or consumption of alcohol beverages - 8

·                    Gambling activity (as defined in USTA Regulation I.N.18.) - 8

·                    Destruction of property - 8

Playing While Under Suspension
Competing in any sanctioned tournament while under suspension by the USTA or one of its Sectional Associations - 10

Suspension Points Received at International Tournaments
Each suspension point assessed a player by the International Tennis Federation at tournaments not on the National Junior Tournament Schedule - 1

Persons Authorized to File Suspension Point Reports with the Referee
The following persons are authorized to file suspension point reports with the Referee for offenses they personally witness:

• Tournament Committee members, Tournament Directors;

• Chief Umpire;

• Deputy Referees;

• On-court officials (including Roving Officials);

• Court Monitors, if specifically authorized by the Referee;

• Club or facility managers;

• Hotel or dormitory managers;

• Families housing players; and

• Junior competition staff and Player Development Committee (PDC) members.

Player Suspension

• Initially, if a player accumulates 10 or more points over any 12-month calendar period, he/she will be suspended according to the following information:

• First suspension: 8 weeks with no tournament play.  No ranking for the current year and no endorsement to the next Junior National Tournament/Event. The initial 10 or more points are erased following reinstatement.  After a first suspension reinstatement, a player shall be suspended either a second or third time with the accumulation of 5 or more points.  

• Second suspension: 6 months with no tournament play.  No ranking or endorsement as stated above.  The 5+ points resulting in the second suspension shall be erased following reinstatement. 

• Third suspension: Additional six months suspension.

Appeal Following Suspension

·        A player may appeal his/her suspension to the PDC.  All such notices of appeal must be received at the USTA Northern office no later than 10 days after the date of the original suspension notice. 

Notices Issued

            The PDC will inform players and their parent(s) by mail when a player accrues six (6) suspension points. Copies of subsequent suspension point reports received by USTA Northern will be sent to the player’s residence.  When a player accrues eight (8) points, an additional notification regarding the possibility of imminent suspension will be sent by mail for review by the player and his/her parent(s).  NOTE: Due to delay in receiving documentation, a player may accumulate additional suspension points before being notified when he or she is at 6 points.  Therefore, all players must rely on their own records of suspension points to avoid actual suspension.

            If, after receiving the 6-point notice, a discrepancy between the USTA Northern record and the player’s personal record can be found, a review may be requested in writing by the player and/or parent and sent to the PDC at the USTA Northern office.