Junior tennis is a program designed by the U.S. Tennis Association to help young players develop their talent and adhere to the standards of the game. The junior tennis program sets up tournaments for young people that follow standards of behavior and make accommodations for young participants.
Match Organization
In junior matches, all tournaments played during the school year will be played on weekend days and not school days. The USTA does not want its tournaments to interfere with the young player's education. All singles tournaments are best two of three sets, and, if needed, a tiebreaker will be used at the end of each set. In doubles tournaments, all matches consist of an eight-game pro set. If the match is tied at eight games each, a seven-point tiebreaker will be used to determine the winner.
Penalty Points
The USTA wants players to adhere to a code of conduct that encourages maturity and dependability. As a result, it may impose penalty points on players that can impact overall rankings. Players who withdraw from tournaments without proper notice, who are late for their matches and who argue with officials receive penalty points. Players who receive sanctions can get suspended and lose playing time in tournaments.
Age Groups
USTA junior tournaments are separated by age groups. Players are assigned to tournaments based on their ages, and a player must be able to prove his age at any tournament by presenting a copy of his birth certificate. Age group divisions for tournaments include 12 and under, 14 and under, 16 and under and 18 and under. Younger players are allowed to participate in older age groups, but older players may not "play down" under any circumstances.
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