The Mid-Atlantic Section (MAS) recommends that you consider bringing the following: towel, water jug, extra clothing (to change into), hat, fruit, sports drink, warm-up balls, and your racquets. Be aware of weather conditions you will be playing under and bring other items if needed.

 

Make sure that you understand how to get to the tournament site. Call the tournament if you need further help. Use sites like www.mapquest.com to locate a site. Be sure to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to match time. You may want to get there early and stretch before your match.    

 

Checking in at the tournament desk!

Find the Tournament desk and check-in showing your USTA card . Please check yourself in, do not ask someone else to do it for you. Once you have checked in it indicates that you are ready to play. Stay within calling area of individuals working at the desk. So make sure that you use the restroom and that your water jug is filled before you check-in. Remember: be patient if the matches are running behind. Matches may run longer than expected.

 

Under USTA rules you can be penalized. If you show up more than 15 minutes late, you may be defaulted out of the tournament. A default means that because you were absent at the beginning of the match the victory will be awarded to your opponent. The length of time you are allowed to be late before being defaulted is at the discretion of the tournament referee, unless the tournament has indicated that the USTA Point Penalty System will be used (Below).

 

5:00 Minutes or Less	5:01–10:00 Minutes	10:01–15:00 Minutes	More than 15:00 Minutes
Loss of toss*	Loss of toss*	Loss of toss*	Default
Plus 1 game	Plus 2 games	Plus 3 games

Loss of Toss means selecting: * Serve, return or side

 

It is your responsibility to call the tournament to find out if it is raining at the tournament. If you are unable to get through, keep trying. If you are unable to reach the tournament director then you must drive to the tournament site, so that you will not be defaulted. Remember, the tournament director has many players and parents calling to find out about the tournament, so be patient. Be sure to locate the time & location of your match. Many tournaments post updates on the Tournament Homepage – check there for information, also.

 

Once the draw has been made, you are under obligation to play in the tournament. So you must call the tournament and notify them if you cannot play, so the tournament can call your opponent! This is a courtesy that you owe the tournament and your opponent. The sooner you call, the better. Since many players may travel many miles and in some cases have an overnight stay it is your obligation to notify the tournament.

Tournament Terminology

That means that you moved on to the next round in the tournament without playing a match. Byes occur in the first round of a tournament.

What type of format is used at junior tournaments?

Tournament directors use various formats. Five formats are used most often by directors in

· SE —a single-elimination format, which simply means you play until you lose.

· FRLC — a format in which all first round losers compete in a consolation draw.

· FMLC – a format in which a player who receives a Bye or Withdrawal in the first round but loses their first match played will be fed into the consolation. This guarantees 2 matches.

· Feed-in consolation (aka back draw)- a format in which all losers from all rounds through the quarterfinals are fed into another tournament draw.

· Round robins--designed so you play everyone entered in the tournament in your division. Use with eight or fewer players.

· Compass Draw--use a format that guarantees each participant the opportunity to play a number of matches.

Players should check the draw type – they may not wish to travel a long distance only to play 1 match.

  

Tiebreakers are used when the score reaches 6-6 in a set. The type used most often is the “twelve point” tiebreaker. The first player to win seven points (winning by a margin of two points) will win the tiebreak and the set.

 

In tennis, unlike other sports, the clock does not determine the length of the contest. Therefore there are no definite starting and stopping times. It is difficult to say exactly how long a match will last. Tournament directors schedule with this in mind and usually award the first player and his/her opponent who checks in with the first available court and so on, thus rewarding individuals for showing up on time. In some cases, however, matches may get backed up. Please, be patient with the directors. They are trying their best.

 

Go to the tournament desk. They will give you 3 balls for your match and tell you what the format is. If it is 2 out of 3 tie-break sets, you may receive new balls for the third set. You will receive a short warm-up period just prior to your match. It will range from 5-10 minutes. During that time you should hit whatever ground strokes, volleys and serves you need to be prepared to play your match.

 

Tournaments are seeded so that the best players do not meet each other in the first round. The MAS sends a seeding list to all tournament directors so that each tournament director can do his/her own seedings. The MAS seeds all Designated Tournaments. There is one important thing to remember regarding seedings. Seedings can be done a month before the tournament starts so that tournament directors can make the draw, schedule the matches, and send out times. Therefore a recent result would not be included in that tournament seeding.

 

Most draws are made by computer. All players entering a division are placed into the computer. Then the tournament director pushes a button that makes the draw.

Where are seeds placed in a draw? Does the #1 seed always play the #4 seed in the semifinals and the #8 in the quarters?

No, seeds are placed according to USTA rules. The #1 seed is placed at the top of the draw and the #2 seed in placed at the bottom of the draw. Then a coin is flipped to see if the #3 is placed at the top or bottom of the draw. The #4 is placed in the opposite seed position. This is how all seeds are done for a tournament. Also, many tournaments use computers and the tournament program will do the seed placements. The tournament program will vary seed placements in each draw.

Will there be umpires at all tournaments?

Not all tournaments can obtain umpires at each site. Some umpires are paid and some are volunteers. However, the people who are there are doing the best job possible and are trying to be fair to all sides. All the professional umpires are usual wearing a “blue shirt”.

 

A withdrawal is given when a player fails to play a scheduled match due to injury, sickness, etc. It is the withdrawing player’s obligation to notify the tournament desk immediately. Please be considerate of other individuals' time and call if you will be unable to attend the tournament. A default is an action taken by the tournament referee or director to remove a player from the draw. A retirement is when a player is unable to complete a match that he/she has already begun playing. 

 

If the official does not start your match, spin your racket to determine who has the choice of side, serve or receive. Take all practice serves before your first game. Make all calls loudly. Volunteer all of your own violations such as double bounces, ball touching you, reaching over the net, foot faults, etc. Never catch a ball before it bounces.

 

Call the score before starting to serve. If you disagree on the score, every effort should be made to reconstruct each point in the game. Go back to the last score where there is an agreement. Do not ask spectators for their opinions. If you still disagree ask the umpire.

 

When playing it is your responsibility to call fairly and honestly all balls, in or out, on your side of the net. All calls you have in doubt must be called in favor of your opponent. Calls of “out” or “let” must be made clearly and instantly. Never go to your opponent’s side of the court to look at a mark. If you feel that incorrect calls are continually being made, ask the tournament referee for assistance.

 

If you have a problem with the score, you should try to work out the problem without any assistance from parents, friends, or spectators. If you can not agree go to the tournament desk to help settle the dispute. If you can not agree then go back to the score you can both agree on.

 

If you have a problem with lines calls, then you should go to the tournament desk without parental assistance or find an umpire (If available and not on-court). Only the player can request an umpire & must notify their opponent why he/she is leaving the court.

 

Do not confront the parents. It is the player's responsibility to notify the tournament director or referee, not the parent's responsibility.

 

In an non-umpired match, the player should tell his/her opponent and go directly to the facilities without conversation with anyone. In an umpired match the player must notify the official on-court.

 

Coaching is not permitted during a tennis match, except during the authorized rest period between 2^nd & 3^rd sets. Use of a foreign language is not allowed to converse with a player.

 

You just finished your first match. Do you have another match? How much time do you have between matches?

As soon as you finish your match report the score to the tournament desk. Find out the time of your next match. All junior players should be given at least 1 hour until their next match. A tournament referee has the authority to authorize more time under severe weather conditions for those who have played long matches.

You split sets. How much time do you have until you must return to the court?

That depends! Players in the Boys & Girls 10, 12, 14, & 16 and under division players receive a mandatory 10 minutes rest period. Boys’ 18 and Girls’ 18’s do not receive a rest period between second and third sets. When leaving the court make sure to return in 10 minutes or you could be penalized.

 

How many matches in a day should you expect to play?

Tournament directors should only schedule two singles and one doubles match a day, but in some cases it may be necessary to play two singles and two doubles matches a day. All singles matches should be played before starting doubles matches. Exceptions are made whenever inclement weather is involved.

 

Tennis is a game for life. It instills self-reliance, integrity, discipline and sportsmanship, when played according to the rules. Not following “The Code of Tennis” can damage your reputation for many years. Play hard, play fair, have fun!