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Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the levels of tournaments the Florida Section offers, and describe each?
Rookie Tournament – “Rookie” denoted in the name of the tournament
(EX: Summer Rookie).
Rookie tournaments are open to all junior players who fulfill USTA requirements for playing in a sanctioned tournament.
USTA Florida Section sanctioned Rookie tournaments are designed for and specifically limited to new players, recreational players, and players with few if any standing points under the Florida points system. The events are not open to non-residents, academy or other players with advanced skills, or any player ranked IN ANY DIVISION in the top 200 of the Standings List in the Boy’s and Girl’s 10s or top 400 in the Boy’s and Girl’s 12s, 14s,16s, & 18s.
The tournament director has the option to use any format including but not limited to round robins.
Match play scoring format may include an eight game pro-set with regular scoring and a set tie break (first to 7 by 2) at eight games all.
A maximum of (4) four matches may be played per day.
The entry deadline is the Wednesday prior to the start of the tournament.
Local Tournament – The only type of tournament not specifically denoted by title.
- Local tournaments are open to all junior players who fulfill USTA requirements for playing in a sanctioned tournament.
- All singles draws will include a consolation round.
- Match play scoring format may include a match tie break (first to 10 by 2) in lieu of a third set. Notification prior to the start of the tournament is desirable.
- The entry deadline is the Wednesday prior to the start of the tournament.
- Entries will only be accepted via online registration. No mail, phone, or fax entries will be accepted. Foreign players will be registered manually by the tournament director with the information obtained from the USTA Florida office.
Super Series – “Super Series” denoted in the name of the tournament
(EX: Summer Super Series).
Super Series tournaments are open to all junior players who fulfill USTA requirements for playing in a sanctioned tournament.
There will be a draw limited to 32 entries based on the latest standing list.
Doubles events will be used in lieu of singles consolation.
Entry fee for a Super Series tournament includes both the singles and the doubles.
The entry deadline is the Monday prior to the start of the tournament.
Doubles only: tournament directors will be allowed an eight game pro set format to count as a match.
Entries will only be accepted via online registration. No mail, phone, or fax entries will be accepted. Foreign players will be registered manually by the tournament director with the information obtained from the USTA Florida office.
Designated – “Designated” denoted in the name of the tournament
(EX: Summer Designated).
- Player must have submitted their proof of residency to the Florida section office (re: Question #7).
- The tournament format will be determined by the Junior Competitive Tennis Council (usually a modified feed-in consolation).
- The entry deadline is Saturday, two weeks prior to the start of the tournament.
- Entries will only be accepted via online registration. No mail, phone, or fax entries will be accepted.
Sectional Championship and State Closed – “Sectional Championship and State Closed” denoted in the name of the tournament
(EX: Summer Sectional Championship).
- Player must have submitted their proof of residency to the Florida section office (re: Question #7).
- The tournament format will be determined by the Junior Competitive Tennis Council.
- The entry deadline is Saturday, two weeks prior to the start of the tournament.
- Entries will only be accepted via online registration. No mail, phone, or fax entries will be accepted.
2. What is the difference between a Designated and a Sectional?
A Sectional awards more points than a Designated event, with the winner receiving 1000 points, and is equal to a Level Four tournament in the National Junior rankings. Designated tournaments award 615 point for winning with a Designated 1 status and 307 points for winning with a Designated 2 status. Designated events are equal to Level Five tournaments in the National Junior rankings.
3. What is the difference between the standing list, ranking list and endorsement list?
Standing list – Includes any players that have played in a tournament that Florida takes into their ranking. This includes National Championships, which results in non-Florida residents being included in the list. This list is primarily used for tournament director seeding purposes. Players listed solely on the Standings list will not be allowed to play in our Designated events, Sectional Championships, or the State Closed, and will not be endorsed by the Florida Section.
Ranking list – Must have complied with the Florida Residency requirement by submitting your birth certificate and the declaration of domicile of your parents to the Florida office. Players on the Ranking list are eligible to play in all Florida section tournaments including the Designated events, Sectional Championships, and the State Closed. Players included on the Rankings list will also be eligible (if in good standing with the section) to be on our Endorsement list.
Endorsement list – This list is published prior to each National Championship, for selection purposes. Any player included on our Ranking list that is in “good standing” with our section should be included.
4. Why does my player’s record state “(Does not count toward total points)”?
Only your best eight events will count to your Florida section ranking. If you have over eight events on your record, the ranking program automatically drops out the lower scores, and keeps your best eight. Only three of these events can be National tournaments.
5. Why does my player’s record not include all National tournament points I have earned?
As stated above, only your three best National tournament results (that Florida considers for ranking purposes) will count to your Florida section ranking.
6. Why do I not appear on the ranking list?
In most cases this is because you have not proven your Florida Residency with the section office.
7. How can I prove my Florida Residency?
You must submit a copy of your birth certificate and a declaration of domicile for your parents to the Florida section office. After we verify that you are a Florida resident, we will add you to the ranking list.
8. Do my points carry up into the next age division?
No points will carry up with you to the next age division from a lower age division.
9. Should I “play up” prior to actually aging up?
Each player has a specific path they have chosen to follow, but we do recommend that you play up in the higher age division as you get close to aging up. This will allow you to go into the higher age division with points accumulated, rather than starting at zero. We highly recommend that you discuss this option with your coaches to determine the path that is correct for you.
10. How do I go about correcting my address, name, phone number or e-mail address on my USTA membership?
This can not be done by the Florida Section office. All of this information is controlled by the National Membership office. They can be contacted at 1-800-990-8782, or at
memberservices@usta.com. We strongly encourage you to keep your information updated with membership, as this is our only contact information for you.
11. How do I find my ranking on the website?
To find your ranking, go to www.ustaflorida.com, then click on “Junior Competitive” on the left side menu bar, then click on “Rankings.” When this page opens, click on Singles Ranking/Standing List. This will take you to the Tennislink Ranking Home page. Please put in Florida, 2007, Junior Divisions, and All List Types. You then click on “Find it”. This will bring up all rankings that have been published.
12. How do I find USTA Florida sanctioned tournaments on the website?
To find the tournament list, go to www.ustaflorida.com, then click on “Tournaments” on the left side menu bar, and then click on “Searchable Schedule.” You then need to specify Florida as your section, 2007, month you want to view, and junior division. Then click “Find it”.
13. Do I receive points for byes, withdrawals, and defaults?
You receive points for byes only if you win the following round. You do receive points for all withdrawals and defaults regardless if you win next round.
14. How many tournaments or matches must I win to be ranked?
You will appear in the Standings if you have won a match, thus accumulating points. You will appear in the Rankings list if you have won a match and have complied with the Florida residency requirement.
15. I won a local tournament, however only 13 points appear on my record. Shouldn’t I be awarded 26 points?
Points are awarded based on the size of the draw. We consider a “full draw” a draw size of 32. Any draw size less than 32 would award point from the bottom up. EX: A player in a local tournament wins his division. The system award him 13 points, and he believes he should be receiving 26 points. Upon reviewing the draw, I see that it is a draw size of eight. This means the player played 3 matches, not 5, which awards 13 points. You can start at the bottom of the point table and work your way up according to the amount of matches won. To view a points table go to www.ustaflorida.com, then click on Junior Competitive on the left side menu bar, then click on Rankings, then on Florida Junior Rankings System. The point chart will be in a PDF at the bottom.
16. What should I do if my tournament results are published incorrectly on the website?
It is best that you contact the tournament director directly and ask them to correct and republish the tournament results to the Internet. This is the most efficient way to get the results posted correctly to your ranking.
17. How are players notified of changes in the rules and regulations?
For the most current updated information, please see our Junior Competitive website at www.ustaflorida.com. This is the fastest way to get the most current information.
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