USCTA Policies

Interim Guidelines for Play with Non-Wood Court Tennis Racquets (Updated Aug. 2024)

U.S. Open Policies

US-Open-Policies-2024-05-02-revised

U.S. Professional Singles Policies

National Open Policies

Approved by the USCTA in February 2013 and amended on June 22, 2013, November 8, 2014, June 6, 2015, December 9, 2017, and April 21, 2018.

Eligibility
Limited to the top invited USCTA Amateur players and U.S. based professionals.

Draws
Entries close 2 weeks prior
Draw posted 1 week prior, limited to best 24 players
Club USCTA Representative and Head Professional to do the draw

Seeding
World Ranking Points and then off handicap (at close of entries), seed 1 for 2, flip for 3/4 and draw 5-8 seeds. Refer to U.S. Open Policy #5 for players with exactly the same handicaps.

Non seeds
Drawn randomly from hat. If colleagues drawn together for first round matches, place player one bracket down; if on bottom of the draw, place player at the top

Player withdrawals
As per U.S. Open policy (on USCTA website) but 24 hours instead of 48 hours

Requirements
Amateurs need to be USCTA members

Format
2/3 set matches, final is 3/5 sets – all deuce and advantage

Prize Money
Appearance / prize money split: 60/40 for appearance / prize
All prize money will be distributed within sixty days of the completion of the event.
0.5 points for R16 losers, 1 point for QF losers, 2 points for SF losers, 4 points for Finalist, 8 points for Winner

Marking
Marking may not be done from the marker’s box.

Unaffiliated Pro Policy
National Open prize and appearance monies are granted to affiliated professionals and to unaffiliated professionals who are Category 1 players (handicap 5.4 and better). Unaffiliated professionals with a handicap of 5.5 and higher are only eligible to receive National Open prize money. Affiliated pros are those who draw a regular salary from a U.S. court tennis club or who have worked at least twenty (20) days at a U.S. court tennis club in the prior twelve (12) months.

U.S. Amateur Policies

Approved in 2012, amended on June 22, 2013 and June 6, 2015.

Tournament Committee
The hosting Tournament Committee (TC) must designate a Tournament Chair and post names of TC and TC Chair on the tournament notice. The name of the TC Chair is to be included on the posted draws. It is suggested, but not required, that the club’s USCTA Representative, Alternate, or At-Large member serve on the TC to help ensure that the USCTA’s tournament rules are being followed.

Eligibility
Amateur status
Current member of the USCTA

Draw Size
No limits (open to all who are eligible)

Seeding
One for every two players (or teams) for a maximum of 8 seeds (6 seeds for doubles). Place 1 through 4, draw 5 and 6 to see who plays #3 (remaining player plays #4), and then (for singles, if applicable) draw 7 and 8 (to play #1 and #2 seeds, respectively). Refer to US Open policy #5 for players / teams with exactly the same handicap.

A player without a singles result in RTO in the twelve months prior to the closing of the draw cannot be seeded but may enter the tournament. Seeds are based on players with 100 or more World Ranking points first and then, secondarily, on handicaps. A player with a World Ranking of 100 or higher but without a singles result would still be seeded. An inactive singles handicap has no impact on seeding for doubles draws.

Titleholder Seeding: If exactly equal by handicap, titleholders get seeding preference.

Doubles Handicaps
Round at the end of the calculation.

Use the better of a player’s singles or doubles handicap. If a player does not have one recorded singles match in RTO in the prior six months (to the setting of the draw) and three recorded singles matches in the prior twelve months, then a doubles handicap will be used. The Tournament Chair shall be the final arbiter of handicap questions.

Format
2/3 sets with deuce and advantage, singles and doubles finals to be held the same day and 3/5 sets with deuce and advantage. Prior to the Round of 16 for singles and doubles, the TC has the option for 40-all (no deuce) scoring. Players are capped at no more than four matches (singles and / or doubles) per day.

Player, Team Withdrawals, and Re-Seeding
Follow US Open Policies #8, 9, and 10 but use 12 hours instead of 48 hours.

Injuries, Timeouts, and Suspension of Play
Follow US Open Policies #12 & 13

Other
The Marker has authority and control for all play decisions once the match has started. Refer to the USCTA’s policy on player conduct, marker authority, and incident reporting for more information. The TC Chair acts as Tournament Director and is the point person for all non-play (match) decisions.

Marking
Marking may not be done from the marker’s box.

Posting
Publish tournament rules and 15-minute default reminder with posting of draws.

Tournament rules to be enforced by the TC.

Level Championship Policies

Approved in 2012, amended on June 22, 2013 and June 6, 2015.

Tournament Committee
The hosting Tournament Committee (TC) must designate a Tournament Chair and post names of TC and TC Chair on the tournament notice. The name of the TC Chair is to be posted on the draws. It is suggested, but not required, that the club’s USCTA Representative, Alternate, or At-Large member serve on the TC to help ensure that the USCTA’s tournament rules are being followed.

Eligibility
Amateur status
Current member of the USCTA
Must have at least three recorded singles matches on RTO in the three months prior to the tournament entry deadline.

Seeding
1 for 4

Format
2/3 sets with deuce and advantage from the quarterfinals. Format for rounds before the quarterfinals are the purview of the TC.

Player Withdrawals and Re-Seeding
Follow US Open Policy #10 but use 12 hours instead of 48 hours.

Injuries, Timeouts, and Suspension of Play
Follow US Open Policies #12 & 13

Marking
Marking may not be done from the marker’s box.

Posting
Publish tournament rules and 15-minute default reminder with posting of draws.

Tournament rules to be enforced by the TC.

Age Levels Policies

Age Levels
Approved in 2012, amended on June 22, 2013 and June 6, 2015.

Eligibility
Amateur status
Current member of the USCTA
Need to turn the required age in the calendar year of the tournament

Doubles Handicaps
Round at the end of the calculation.

Seeding
A player without a singles result in RTO in the twelve months prior to the closing of the draw cannot be seeded but may enter the tournament. Seeds are based on players with 100 or more World Ranking points first and then, secondarily, on handicaps. A player with a World Ranking of 100 or higher but without a singles result would still be seeded. An inactive singles handicap has no impact on seeding for doubles draws.

Refer to US Open policy #5 for players / teams with exactly the same handicap.

Titleholder Seeding: If exactly equal by handicap, titleholders get seeding preference.

Seed 1 for 4 players and teams

Format
2/3 sets with deuce and advantage from the quarterfinals. Format for rounds before the quarterfinals are the purview of the TC.

Player / Team Withdrawals, and Re-Seeding
Follow US Open Policies #8, 9, and 10 but use 12 hours instead of 48 hours.

Injuries, Timeouts, and Suspension of Play
Follow US Open Policies #12 & 13

Marking
Marking may not be done from the marker’s box.

Posting
Publish tournament rules and 15-minute default reminder with posting of draws.

Tournament rules to be enforced by the TC.

Policies for RTO Administrators Regarding Posting of Matches

For RTO Administrators and others interested in handicaps:

Injured Player Match Postings

Matches are to be counted on RTO if a player is injured but still plays the match.

National League Postings

All National League playoff matches are to be counted on RTO, regardless of marker / no marker, and as Competitive / IHSC-Sanctioned.

Tournament Score Postings

Tournament matches should be entered on RTO within 48 hours of the tournament’s completion and in the order they were played.

Incomplete Matches

Defaulting player concedes all remaining games in that set to the opponent. If player defaults after completion of a set, the next set is 6/0 to the remaining player.

IHSC-Sanctioned Competitive Match Eligibility

See 10/26/10 list of US tournaments where handicaps of CAT1 players (5.4 and better) can move.

Maximum Handicaps

Suggested maximum of 80 for true beginners and maximum use of the provisional status.

Handicap & Ranking Committee Views:

Manual Adjustments

Discouraged but pros have latitude to do them if them necessary. If done, an explanation needs to be provided on the player’s RTO page.
Leaning towards not allowing them for Cat 1 and requiring IHSC approval for players in the 5.5-10 handicap range. Other manual adjustments are purview of national associations.

Category 1 and Social Matches

Social matches involving Category 1 players are not to be counted on RTO.

Policies Regarding Dormant Handicaps

The treatment of handicaps of dormant players

The following changes have been agreed in respect of players with dormant handicaps i.e. no results recorded on RTO for twelve months.

Adjustment to handicaps
With effect from 1st October 2011, any player, irrespective of handicap category, who is inactive (i.e. fails to records at least one Singles result on RTO in a twelve month period) should have his or her Singles handicap automatically adjusted upwards by two handicap points by RTO and, if he or she remains inactive, by a further one point on the each anniversary of the original adjustment. Where a player only has a Doubles handicap and fails to record a Doubles result in a period, the relevant adjustment will be applied to his or her Doubles handicap.
The IHSC remains of the opinion that it is the responsibility of each the club professional periodically to review (in conjunction with a local Handicap Committee) and encourage actions to remedy incorrect handicaps, such as regular recording of results, use of provisional status and, in the last resort and where permitted, making manual adjustments. RTO will be amended so that a player’s record will show, upon enquiry, all activity in the preceding twelve months. RTO show clearly the impact of any automatic adjustments.

Dormant players who enter tournaments
1. Category 2 players and above
  Different approaches have been adopted by the member associations to deal with the issue of validating the handicap of a tournament entrant who has few or no recent recorded results on RTO and the arguments around this have been well rehearsed elsewhere. The broad agreement seems to be that tournament entry should be encouraged and that national associations may make their own rules on the validity of a tournament entrant’s handicap. However, particular care must be taken where seeding in tournaments is based on handicap to ensure that proper account is taken of entrants’ handicap status. The IHSC recognises that this may result in tournament organisers deciding that any player falling within Category 2 and above and having a dormant handicap should not be seeded.
2. Elite players
  Additional concerns arise where the dormant player is a member of the elite Category 1 group, where, importantly, handicap can be used as the test for tournament seeding (although much ranking in major international tournaments is done on World Ranking Points). The existing resolution of the IRTC that handicap movements for this group should be generated exclusively from tournament matches, together with a relative lack of accessible tournaments may result in a player becoming dormant without losing his or her effectiveness as a tournament match player.
  The adjustment set out in 1 above will apply to Category 1 players. However:
  1. a dormant Category 1 player entering a tournament will always be considered for seeding, based on his or her handicap after any adjustment relating to their dormant period; but
  2. any dormant Category 1 player entering a handicap tournament will be required to play off his or her handicap before taking into account any adjustment relating to their dormant period.

It is acknowledged that tournament organizers will need to give careful consideration of the data available within RTO if such adjustments are to be correctly dealt with, although we believe it would apply to relatively few tournament entrants.

Players who resume after an extended absence
It has been suggested elsewhere that players in Category 2 and above who have been dormant for twelve months or more should be reintroduced to RTO with a period where their handicap is treated as provisional. It is suggested that this period would be at least six matches, during which time they would be permitted to enter tournaments providing they can meet their national association’s rules on the validity of their handicap.

Transitional arrangements
Players who have not recorded a result in the 12 months ending on or after 1^st October 2011 will have their handicaps adjusted as described above.

IHSC 1st July 2011

IHSC-Sanctioned Competitive U.S. Matches

IHSC – Sanctioned Competitive U.S. Matches

The US tournaments listed below are counted as IHSC-Sanctioned Competitive for RTO. This means that handicaps of Category 1 players (5.4 and better) can move based on their results in these tournaments. All tournaments are singles only unless otherwise specified (S – singles, D – doubles).

All National League matches (S&D)
All National League qualifying matches (some teams with 3 players have playoffs to determine roster spots)
Jimmy Knott
US 55’s (S&D)
US Ladies Open (S&D)
Silver Racquet
Jimmy Dunn (D)
New York Open Handicap (but only in matches between two Cat 1 players)
National Open
Whitney Cup (D)
Gold Racquet
US 40’s, 50’s, 60’s 70’s (S&D)
Bathurst Cup (S&D)
US Amateur (S&D)
US Open (S&D)
Northrup Knox (D)
US Pro
Pell Cup (D)

USCTA can ask IHSC to include the following tournaments in the event that Cat 1 players are playing in them:

All Club Championship matches (S&D)
Club Championship handicap singles matches (but only in matches between two Cat 1 players)

National League Policies

USCTA National League Rules & Regulations

Authority
1. National League matches are official United States Court Tennis Association (“USCTA”) events.
2. The USCTA has final authority on all decisions pertaining to the administration of the National League.
3. The USCTA shall appoint a commissioner (the “Comissioner”) who shall be deeply involved in all major decision-making and included in all material correspondence pertaining to the National League.
4. The Commissioner shall be the official, neutral arbiter of any dispute pertaining to the National League.
Teams
1. National League teams (“Teams”) are to be defined and agreed upon at the start of the season with a roster of nominated players. Nominated players are only allowed to represent their specified Team.
2. A list (the “Floaters List”) of “floating” professionals eligible to represent any Team and to substitute for any nominated member of a Team will be circulated at the start of each season.
3. In the case of a player being unavailable to play a scheduled Fixture, his or her Team must select another nominated player from said Team, or selected a player from the Floaters List.
Fixture Scheduling & Publicity
1. Teams are required to agree on dates of scheduled fixtures (“Fixtures”) before the start of the National League season.
2. Each participating Team club shall appoint an individual to coordinate Fixture scheduling and publicity; upcoming Fixtures shall be publicized by the participating Team clubs.
3. The Commissioner requires Fixtures to be fulfilled on their publicized date; once a Fixture has been scheduled, both Teams have a duty to ensure that they are able to fulfill that Fixture.
4. Teams unable to fulfill a Fixture will be subject to a penalty, which, at the discretion of the Commissioner, could take the form of a point(s) penalty or a reduction in allocated prize money.
Fixture Play
1. Each Fixture will consist of two (2) singles matches and one (1) doubles match.
2. Singles matches shall consist of best-of-three 6-game sets, with a single deuce and single advantage per game and, if necessary, a 40-all one-point conclusion except where games are 5-all in a set.
3. Doubles matches shall consist of a single 8-game set, with deuce and advantage in each game.
4. Each Fixture shall feature an amateur event to be played in between the singles matches and the doubles match. The specifics of the event may vary among Fixtures, but will award a prize to the winning amateur(s).
Fixture Points
1. Each singles match victory awards two (2) points to the winning Team.
2. Each doubles match victory awards one (1) point to the winning Team.
3. The Team that wins any two matches in the Fixture receives an additional two (2) points.
4. The two (2) teams with the highest point totals at the end of the regular season qualify for the National League Final.
Distribution of Awards
1. Per USCTA policy, prize money shall be awarded and paid in-full within sixty days following completion of the National League Final.

Player Status & Reinstatement

Rules on Player Status

2018

Definitions

“Professional”

A professional is a player who competes in, teaches, or plays court tennis for

compensation. Professionals may play in professional and open tournaments, but may not play in USCTA amateur championships. A professional of a sport other than court tennis is not deemed a professional simply by virtue of being employed at a club where there is a court tennis court. However, any professional athlete, regardless of whether they are employed at such a club, must pay for court time and lessons at the rates and in a similar manner applicable to normal members, or they will be deemed a court tennis professional.

“High-Ranking Professional”

A “High-Ranking Professional” is any professional who has been a World Champion, achieved a top 5 world ranking while a professional, or who has played in an Eliminator or qualifying singles for the World Championship while a professional.

“ Apprentice ”

An “Apprentice ” is an amateur under 25 years of age who has applied to the USCTA and received a one-time, cumulative 24-month (at one or more clubs) for an apprenticeship exemption.

As someone who is doing this to learn the profession and possibly formally enter it, an apprentice may perform certain traditionally professional duties while retaining his amateur status, including hitting with and playing with members, making balls, stringing rackets, and marking matches, and may also accept certain benefits traditionally granted to professionals, including accepting free court time, salary, lesson fees, and entry to professional tournaments. An apprentice may not play in USCTA amateur championships but may play in the USCTA level championships, professional tournaments, and in non-USCTA amateur tournaments as permitted by the host club.

An apprentice may not accept prize money, appearance money, or expense money for playing in a court tennis match, competition, or exhibition, except as reimbursement for reasonable travel costs.

“Senior Apprentice ”

An amateur of any age who has applied to the USCTA and received a one-time, up to a cumulative time of six-months(at one or more clubs) for an apprenticeship exception.

Racquets and Court Tennis “Fellow”

These individuals are usually gap yearsstudent who are provided a reasonable room and board stipend in return for club membership privileges. The purpose of the fellowship program is to give young players an opportunity to play tennis or racquets for a period not to exceed 1 year, with no more the six months as a fellow at one club, while seeing the United States and meeting members of the tennis and/or racquets community. It is not intended to be a money-making position. A fellow may perform certain traditionally professional duties while retaining his/her amateur status, including hitting with and playing with members, making balls, stringing rackets, and marking matches, so long as he/she does not accept compensation for those services or for his work at the club. A Fellow may receive accommodation (usually with members), a stipend (not to exceed reasonably expected living expenses), and reasonable reimbursement of expenses incurred in attending and playing at tournaments around the country.

“Amateur”

An Amateur court tennis player is one who plays court tennis without compensation. Amateurs shall be encouraged to play for the love of doing so and for no financial gain. An Amateur player may accept financial or in-kind reimbursement for making balls, stringing rackets, and marking matches in a part time capacity, without losing amateur status, but may not compete in, teach, or play court tennis for compensation.

Probationary Period

A period of sitting out is required in order for some players to regain amateur status. During a Probationary Period, the probationer must conduct themselves as an Amateur at all times. He/she must pay tournament entry fees. He/she may not play in USCTA professional or amateur championships. He/she may play in the US Open, National Open, and any open handicap tournaments, but may not receive prize money or appearance money. He/she may play in club tournaments (as an amateur) at the discretion of the host club.

Reinstatement of Amateur Status

Players falling into the categories above, who wish to be returned to Amateur status, shall be treated as follows:

High Ranking Professionals shall not be eligible to return to amateur status.

Professionals who wish to return to amateur status must submit a written application to the Secretary of the USCTA, which shall state the professional’s request to return to amateur status, the dates of his/ her employment as a professional, the approximate dates and amounts of any prize money received, and any other information that the Professional may supply in support of the application. If he/she has been employed by a club or clubs, a letter from it or them outlining his/her service, including dates, should accompany the petition. If not, independent sources must be made available. In order to regain amateur status, a professional must complete a Probationary Period based on his/ her time as a professional. Professionals with up to three years of service must complete one year of probation; professionals with three or more years of service but less than ten years of service must sit out for a period of two years; professionals with ten or more years of service must sit out for a period of three years.

The USCTA Executive Committee shall determine whether a professional is permitted to return to amateur status, whether the professional has met the requirements of any probationary period, and the effective start and end dates of said period. The Executive Committee may request the views of other relevant committees in reaching the decision, or may delegate the recommendation to an appropriate committee. A vote of the USCTA board shall not be required.

An Apprentice who wishes to return to amateur status must provide written notice to the Secretary of the USCTA promptly when the apprentice ceases to serve as an apprentice at a club. Provided that the Apprentice has met the requirements of the program (as stated in the Definitions section above), there is no sit-out period before returning to amateur status.

A Senior Apprentice must, in addition to the rules applicable to apprentices, successfully complete 6 months of Probationary Status after the end of his or her apprenticeship before continuing as an amateur.

Amateur/Fellow: A player who meets all of the requirements of an amateur or fellow shall be considered an amateur and need not apply for amateur status.

Foreign Players: Recognizing the importance of uniform categorization with respect to foreign-based players, and particularly apprentices and trainees, the Executive Committee has the discretion to categorize foreign-based players and consider their applications for amateur status. The Executive Committee should ordinarily accord foreign-based players the same status they hold in their home jurisdictions, unless good cause exists to do otherwise; however, significant departure from the definitions included herein may be considered good cause.

Categorization

Should a question arise as to the appropriate category (i.e., Apprentice or Fellow) for a particular player, the Executive Committee shall have the authority to determine that player’s status using the definitions above. The Executive Committee may request the views of other committees or delegate its decision-making authority.

Documentation

Decisions made on any of the above are to be documented in USCTA Board meeting packets or Board meeting minutes so as to be part of the official record.