USTA/EASTERN JUNIOR TOURNAMENT PLAYERS

 The USTA/Eastern Section is making major changes in its competitive system, some already implemented in 2005 and others to begin in 2006.  These changes include:

                1)  Points-per-Round (PPR) ranking system.

                2)  Increased flexibility in endorsement requirements. 

                3)  Players may play in two age groups but no in the same tournament and not in tournaments that start on the same date.

 These changes were made in the best interests of Eastern junior players.  The benefits of each are described below:

·              A Points-per-Round (PPR) ranking system.  (Beginning in January 2006)  This will replace the current head-to-head STAR system, and will achieve a number of things:

-  Simple and easy way to understand.  Players can easily understand the system and decide what tournaments to play based on possible points to attain.

-  Provide a reward-based system.  The previous STAR system penalized a player for losing, and only rewarded good wins.  There is never a penalty for losing in PPR, and all rounds won are rewarded with points.

-  Encourage players to play more.  There will be no more "bad losses" to potentially deter a player from entering a tournament.  As players play more, their chances of having tournaments with high point values increases.  Players will no longer be able to "sit on a good win".  PPR systems usually produce large increases in tournament play.

-  Alleviate concerns of being knocked lower in the standings by a young player "playing up".  Younger players playing up tend to reduce the head-to-head competition amongst the older players, which was a problem with the results-based STAR program.  Head-to-head competition is much less of a factor in a PPR system. 

-  Raise the level of play in the section.  By generating more competition and increasing opportunities for national and older-age events, we will be helping our players excel at the next level.                      

- Conforms with National, ITF, and professional ranking systems.

·              Increased flexibility in endorsement requirements.  (Currently in effect)  Players must play 2 of 4 tournaments instead of the previous 2 of 3.  This provides players greater flexibility in their planning, allowing for more national and ITF play, school functions, social activities, etc.

·              Players may play in two age groups.  (Currently in effect)  This allows players to gain experience in the older division, but still be eligible for national play in their natural age division.  It generally strengthens play in both age divisions.  The player must still fulfill requirements in the age division in which they are seeking endorsement. 

FAQ's

Won't the players with the time and money to travel to all the tournaments get many more points than those who don't?  The standings will be based on a player's best six tournaments, not the total of all their tournaments.  While a player who plays more tournaments has more opportunities to have results with high point totals, only six of those events will count.

Won't players who get easy draws and do well in weak tournaments be higher in the standings than their actual level?  All ranking systems have ways for players to get ranked ahead of their ability, and PPR is no exception.  The 2006 PPR system will award bonus points for wins over players in the top fifty in section.  Therefore players who do well in a strong tournament will earn more points than players who do well in a weaker tournament.  More players will enter tournaments with good points, as they look for better opportunities to gain points.  This will strengthen all draws.  The PPR system was not designed to be the most accurate ranking system, but rather one that promotes and rewards play.

Will seedings and draw selection be compromised by any inaccuracies in the PPR standings?  Seedings and draw selection will be done using ALL available information.  Standings, endorsement lists and year-end rankings will be based solely on PPR.

If I play more national tournaments or older age division events will I sacrifice opportunities to gain points in the section?  No.  Points gained in any older age division event will count in the younger age division.  Up to two national events can be counted amongst a player's best six tournaments.

All Eastern Juniors:

Beginning January 1, 2006 the USTA/Eastern Section will be implementing the new Points per Round Ranking System for juniors.  We feel this is imperative because it promotes match play, makes it easier to follow the progress of players, and enables players to more easily understand the ranking process.  Please check www.eastern.usta.com periodically for any updates or changes. 

Requirements and Regulations

1.      All junior players ranked must hold a current USTA membership card. 

2.      Only junior players who maintain a permanent residence within the boundaries of the Eastern Section are eligible for ranking. 

3.      All junior players, Boys’ and Girls’10-18, will receive points based on the rounds they reach.  Players will also receive bonus points in addition to points earned for the round won.  Please refer to the tournament levels, point tables, and bonus point tables.

4.      A player must play and win a round to receive any points for the tournament.  For the purpose of establishing what a “win” is please see definitions below.

·         Byes do not qualify as wins.

·         Withdrawals or first round defaults will not qualify as a win.  

·         Walkovers (after 1^st round default) qualify as wins for the advancing player and earn Points per Round.   Players will not receive bonus points.

·         Retirements qualify as wins for the advancing player and earn Point per Round and bonus points for significant wins. 

5.      A player who is defaulted from a tournament for code violations under the Point Penalty System or misconduct forfeits any points accumulated during the tournament. Players defaulted in singles or doubles will lose points accumulated in both singles and doubles. 

6.      Section/Region Singles Standings for all age divisions will be based on the best Six (6) tournaments played in the last twelve (12) months in which a maximum of two (2) national events count.  All eligible players who have won at least one match in a USTA Eastern Section sanctioned tournament will have a Sectional Standing.

7.      Points earned in a higher age division count towards a player's Sectional standing in the player's natural age division, as well as in the age division of the tournament itself.

8.      Section Singles Final Rankings for all age divisions will be based on the best Six (6) tournaments played and completed, in the age division they are seeking a ranking, during the calendar year.  Only a player's best two (2) national results will count in the final rankings.  Players must accumulate at least 100 ranking points during the calendar year and have played to completion at least four (4) Level 1(L1) eastern tournaments in order to earn a year-end singles Section Ranking.   These tournaments must be played to completion and must be played in the age division they are seeking a ranking.  Completion refers to completing all the matches you are schedule to play in the event. 

9.     Region Singles Final Rankings for all age divisions  

a)      Long Island will be based on the best Six (6) regional tournaments played during calendar year.  All eligible players who reside in the Long Island Region, who have won at least one match and played and completed at least four (4) Level 2 Long Island Regional (L2R) one (1) of which can be a Level 2 Open (L2O) will have a Ranking.

b)     Metro will be based on the best Six (6) regional tournaments played during calendar year.  All eligible players who reside in the Metro Region, who have won at least one match and played and completed at least three (3) Level 2 Metro Regional (L2R) one (1) of which can be a Level 2 Open (L2O) will have a Ranking.

c)      Southern will be based on the best Six (6) regional tournaments played during calendar year.  All eligible players who reside in the Southern Region, who have won at least one match and played and completed at least four (4) Level 2 Southern Regional (L2R) one (1) of which can be a Level 2 Open (L2O) will have a Ranking. 

d)     Northern will be based on the best Six (6) regional tournaments played during calendar year.  All eligible players who reside in the Northern Region, who have won at least one match and played and completed at least three (3) Level 2 tournaments at least one (1) of which must be a Level 2 Regional (L2R) , will have a Ranking.

e)      Western will be based on the best Six (6) regional tournaments played during calendar year.  All eligible players who reside in the Western Region, who have won at least one match and played and completed at least three (3) Level 2 tournaments at least one (1) of which must be a Level 2 Regional (L2R) , will have a Ranking.

10.  Doubles Final Rankings:  Players/Teams who receive one win in an Eastern Doubles Tournament played during the calendar year will receive an end-of-year Doubles ranking.  In addition five (5) points will be awarded to a player’s section singles standing for every win accumulated in an Eastern doubles tournament.

11.  Tiebreak rules for Standings and Final Rankings.

a.       A player whose best event has the highest number of points, second best, third best, etc. through six (6) events.

b.      Total Significant win points earned in all events played during the computation period.

12.  Results of exhibitions, interscholastic and intercollegiate matches shall not be considered for ranking purposes.

13.  Please see the attached table “Eastern and National Ranking Tournaments and Tournament Levels” to view the list of tournaments that will provide the sole data for ranking.

14.  Sectional Tentative Rankings will be published in January to the www.eastern.usta.com.  Sectional Final Rankings will appear in the Eastern Section Yearbook and will include all players who have accumulated at least 100 points for the year and played to completion at least four (4) level 1 (L1) Eastern tournaments. Additionally, a complete final rankings list will appear at www.eastern.usta.com.