Everything You Need to Know About USTA tournaments Before Signing Your Kid Up

Is My Kid Good Enough/ Ready for Tournaments?

1. They can they serve, rally, and keep score. Your child should have a reliable serve, the ability to sustain a 4-6-ball rally with competent form, and an understanding of basic tennis scoring and strategy. Of course, none of these skills need to be totally perfect, but note that every age group (U10, U12, U14, U16, etc.) marks a significant rise in the level of competition. If your kid has never played a tournament and is about to age out of their current group, make sure they know the risks of playing someone a year or more older. For ages 14 and up, technical skills should be well established before competition.

2. They should have practice match experience. Your child’s first tournament match should not be his/her first match ever. Importantly, a parent and/or coach should be present during some of these practice matches to offer gentle encouragement and advice about the stresses of competition.

3. They understand the customs of tennis and code of conduct. Your child should know when they are allowed bathroom and water breaks during matches and some of the “unwritten rules” of sportsmanship (eg. apologizing for net cords and offering balls to the server). Remind them to always call the score before serving and to insist on hearing the score when returning. The code of conduct is also important; your child must know that swearing, racquet abuse, ball abuse, and unsportsmanlike conduct can cost them points, games, or even the whole match.

4. They are emotionally prepared. Tournaments can be stressful, and children can have a difficult time winning and losing gracefully. While you can’t expect them to act perfectly, consider waiting to introduce competition if they’re prone to temper tantrums or hysterical crying.

5. Coach says they’re ready. Consider that even lower-level tournaments typically attract the top 10% of the talent pool in tennis. Most coaches will not recommend their students for tournaments unless they strongly believe in their ability to compete at that level.

How Do I Sign My Kid Up & What Level of Competition can I expect?

1. Create a USTA account & Register Online. Go to USTA.com and create a free junior membership if they don’t have one. Then use the USTA tournament search tool to sign up for the right tournament before the entry deadline.  Most tournaments cost around $90 for registration.

2. Know the right level for your child. The USTA offers several levels of competition:

Level 7 is for intermediate local players/ new to competitive play. These tournaments are usually round robins where each entrant plays a fast four set against multiple opponents before an elimination stage. NOTE: This is the lowest level of competition but most players have multiple years of experience.

Level 6 is for intermediate-advanced local players who have some competitive experience. These tournaments are small-medium size, offering a single elimination format. Most draws include 8-16 entrants and require players to win 3-4 matches for the trophy.

Level 5 is for advanced local players who have competitive experience. Expect single elimination tournaments with medium sized draws, i.e. 16-24 entrants.

Level 4: This level brings together highly advanced players from a wider geographic area (eg. Southern California). These tournaments often have larger draws, usually 32-64 players, requiring players to win 5-6 rounds over multiple weekends to win the trophy.

Levels 3 & 2: This level is considered elite, national level competition. These events are closed; entrants must qualify based on rank/rating/ other tournament results. The differences between levels here is the size of the draw and the qualifications of the players. Level 3 tournaments mostly include 64 players, usually drawn from the surrounding region (eg. Southwest). Level 2 tournaments may include up to 128 players, usually drawn from the whole country.

Level 1: This level is considered elite, international competition.

How Does My Child Prepare?

1. Practice match play – Before your child’s first tournament, try to get 8-10 hours of practice set experience. Ideally, try to set him/her up with players that they can beat and players that can beat them.

2. Work on serves & returns – These are the most important shots in tennis. Although your child may be working on these things in private lessons, try to supplement with at least 1 hour per week on the serve. You can spread this out by serving 20 minutes per day, 3 days per week. If possible, try to spend about half as much time on return since your child will practice this shot during match play anyways.

3. Prepare your child for the uncomfortable reality of competition – Amateur tennis is notoriously petty and sometimes unethical. Players make their own line calls and keep their own score; cheating/ the suspicion of cheating is common as are arguments over the score. Gamesmanship (psychological warfare) is also common. Players love to pump themselves up at the expense of their opponents by shouting and occasionally getting in each other’s face. This doesn’t always happen, but it’s important to teach your child how to develop thick skin against these distractions. 

4. Build mental toughness. Encourage your child to stay calm, reset after mistakes, and focus on the next point. Talk to your child about the mental aspects of tennis, but remember that their kids and that it’s unreasonable to think they could have the same emotional maturity as adults. 

5. Get physically prepared – Stay hydrated, eat well, and maintain good sleep habits before tournament day.

What Do I Need to Bring to the Tournament?

1. Racquets & Racquet Accessories. For kids 10 and under, 1 racket is usually enough but it’s still best to keep a second one handy just in case. Most other players need at least two racquets.

2. Clothing & Essentials. Tennis shoes are mandatory; some tournaments may not allow players to wear running or basketball shoes. Bring extra clothing, socks, and undergarments if the tournament requires your child to play multiple matches in the same day. Hats and sunscreen are recommended to players and parents/ observers. Towels and sweatbands are also smart for heavy sweaters. A first aid kit may be handy although many tournaments provide Band-Aids and medical wrap.

3. Food & Hydration. Don’t assume the tournament will provide water or snacks. If it’s an all-day or multi-day event, a cooler can be handy.

4. ID & Registration. Most tournaments don’t ask for ID but keep your child’s USTA ID and tournament registration handy for check-in.

How does my child compare to other kids signing up for Level 6/7 Tournaments?

Boys & Girls 10 & Under: Players have 1.5+ years of experience and play 3-5 hours per week, usually including one private lesson, one group practice/clinic, and one supplementary practice with a friend or parent. Their forehand is usually their most developed shot, possessing moderate spin and power but lacking consistent depth and accuracy. Backhands tend to be slower with less spin, but not totally unreliable. Serves are less developed with players struggling to understand the “trophy position;” first serves are flat and inconsistent while second serves are often weak/ a tap-in. Volleys/net play is almost non-existent. Footwork and athleticism is still developing too; players are somewhat slow to react and often run between positions rather than using proper recovery techniques.

Boys & Girls 12 & Under: Players have 3+ years of experience and play 4-6 hours per week, usually including one private lesson, one group practice/clinic, and one supplementary practice with a friend or parent. Their forehand has improved power and spin but still lacks consistency and accuracy. Backhands have also improved somewhat, but usually not a capable weapon. Serves show improved “trophy position;” first serves are much faster than second serves, which may now have slice. Volleys/ net play begins to play a very small part in their game although players in this age group still struggle at the net. Footwork and athleticism shows improved reaction time and techniques but players often lack intensity at key moments.

Boys & Girls 14 & Under: Players have 5+ years of experience and play 4-6 hours per week, usually including one private lesson, one group practice/clinic, and one supplementary practice with a friend (many players at this point have surpassed their parents in skill). Their forehand develops spin and power but lacks variety. Backhands have improved power but are still mostly defensive. Serves include a “trophy position” and leg drive, but the difference of power and consistency between first and second serves is highly evident. Volleys are more technically developed but players are still highly uncomfortable at the net. Footwork and athleticism shows improved reaction time and techniques but players often lack intensity at key moments.

Boys & Girls 16 & Under: Players have 7+ years of experience and play 6-8 hours per week, usually including one private lesson, two group practices/clinics, and one or more supplementary practice with a competitor or high school teammate. Players may also have a fitness regiment that includes cardio and weightlifting. Forehand remains the greatest weapon in their game, but still lacks variety. Backhands are now fully developed although the shot is unlikely to produce heavy spin and power. Player possesses legitimate first and second serves that include decent power and topspin. Volleys are technically developed but players are held back by fear of failure at the net. Footwork is efficient but players in this group still make mistakes and occasionally lack intensity.

Boys & Girls 18 & Under: At this age, juniors are effectively considered adults as they have 9+ years of experience and are (mostly) fully grown. They practice at least 8 hours per week, usually including one private lesson, two group practices/clinics, and one or more supplementary practice with a friend (many players at this point have surpassed their parents in skill). Players may also have a fitness regiment that includes cardio and weightlifting. Forehand and backhand are fully developed and players are able to demonstrated variety. Most players possess a powerful first serve and a heavy spin serve to follow it up. Volleys are technically developed but only some players include this shot as a focal point of their strategy. Footwork is efficient but players in this group still make mistakes and occasionally lack intensity.