Frequently Asked Questions for Junior Southern Championships, Bullfrog Designates and Southern Level 3.
For any questions, please contact either Sandy Hastings at hastings@sta.usta.com or Bill Ozaki at ozaki@sta.usta.com.
What is the 2013 schedule?
For a quick review of USTA Southern Level 1-4 tournaments, please go to our tournaments page.
Doubles Counting for National Level 3
Summer Southern Closed (12-18)
Southern Opens (12-18)
Doubles Counting for National Level 4
Southern Spring Closed, Mobile, AL
Southern Winter Closed, Louisville, KY
Southern Winter Closed, Knoxville, TN
Doubles Events Counting for National Level 5 Points
The following BullFrog Designated events are hosting doubles in 2010, as our National Level 5 doubles events, will be as follows:
| Macon, GA |
12 & 14s |
| Hudlow, Norcross, GA |
16 & 18s |
| Baton Rouge, LA |
16 & 18s |
| Montgomery, AL |
12 & 14s |
| Auburn, AL |
12 & 14s |
| Columbus, GA |
16 & 18s |
| Memphis, TN |
16 & 18s |
| Little Rock, AR |
12 & 14s |
| Cary, NC |
12 & 14s |
| Mobile, AL |
12-18s |
| Knoxville, TN |
12 & 14s |
| Jackson, MS |
16 & 18s |
| Hilton Head, SC |
12 & 14s |
| Clemson, SC |
16 & 18s |
| Raleigh, NC |
16 & 18s |
What is the new USTA Southern Level 1 and 2 Tournaments Singles Seeding Criteria?
Effective November 5, 2009
Seeding shall be done using only the results from most recently published USTA Southern Combined Standings Lists of the division in the order in which players appear on the list. Click here for the seeding calculator.
- Players with low Southern Standings with National top 50 Standing, should be placed in 1-4 Seeding.
- Players with low Southern Standings with National top 51-100 Standing, should be seeded in the 5- 8.
- Players with low Southern Standings with National top 50 Standing, in the lower age division should be placed in 9's Seeding.
What is the 2013 doubles seeding criteria?
- Teams shall be seeded in the order of their combined standings (e.g., Player A holds the #1 standing and Player B holds the #10 standing. The Team of A & B would have combined standing of 11.) Teams that have the same combined standing shall be seeded in the order of the total number of Doubles standings points held by each team.
Players with current top 50 USTA National standing, top 100 ITF ranking, top 1000 ATP or WTA rankings may be considered for seeding.
How will standings/rankings be determined?
A player must accrue at least one point in an age divisions in order to be included in the USTA Southern Section standings. A player’s best six tournaments will be considered. Points may be earned in the age group played and are applied, if eligible, to the lower age group. The singles results will be added to 15 percent of best six (6) doubles results for final combined standings.
A player’s final ranking will be based on his/her best six tournaments. A player must have earned a minimum of 200 points in an age division to earn a final ranking. Points are earned only in the age group played and are not applied, if eligible, to the lower age group. The singles results will be added to 15 percent of best six (6) doubles results for final combined standings.
Are bonus points counted?
Bonus points are attached to the tournament in which they are earned to the
opponents standing in the previous month. To be included, the tournament must be among the player’s best six. Bonus points are not earned against players from the younger age group who have high standings in the younger age group only.
Click here for the Points Per Round Chart.
What is the tie break procedure for players with the same point totals on the Standings/Rankings list?
1. A player whose best event has the highest number of points, second best, third best, etc through 6 events.
2. Total Bonus Points earned in all events played during the computation period
3. Best random draw number.
Are team events counted?
Yes.
Will byes qualify as wins in tournaments?
Not until the player wins a subsequent round.
How will withdrawals, defaults or walkovers by an opponent affect the points that I earn in a tournament?
The player advancing will earn the points for that round.
How many wins does a player need in order to be included in the standings or rankings?
The determining factor is the number of points earned not the number of wins as one of a player’s best six for standing and ranking purposes
Will match play between Southern players in tournaments outside the Southern Section count towards USTA Southern Section standings/rankings?
National Schedule tournaments outside of the Southern Section may be counted as one of a player’s best six for standing and ranking purposes.
Can a player be ranked in more than one age division?
Yes, as long as he/she has earned the required number of points in each age division.
Are tournaments weighted?
The point levels per round are the "weighting" of a tournament. Click here for the Points Per Round Chart.
Do losses count?
No points are earned or taken away for a loss.
Will there still be endorsement requirements?
Yes. Play in a minimum of two Bullfrog designated tournaments and/or Southern Championships will be required for endorsement to the Winter and Spring Nationals. Play in a minimum of one Bullfrog designated and the summer Southern Closed shall be required for endorsement to the Clay and Hard Court Nationals. Points are earned only in the age group played and are not applied, if eligible, to the lower age group. Bonus points are earned only in the age group played and are not applied, if eligible, to the lower age group
Can I sign up for more than one division in a tournament?
Players are allowed to enter two divisions in Southern Level 3 and Bullfrog tournaments with these guidelines.
#1. Players selected to both age divisions they apply for will automatically be selected in the older age division. They would be removed from the other age division.
#2. Players not selected to either division would remain on the alternates lists for both division but would be obligated to play the division they first get in from the alternates list. They would be removed from the Alternates list in the other division.
#3. Players selected to one age division would be removed from the alternates list of the division they were not selected.
#4. Once a player is selected for any one division no changes can be made.
PLEASE NOTE THIS IS FOR SOUTHERN LEVEL 3 AND BULLFROG TOURNAMENTS ONLY AND DOES NOT MEAN YOU CAN ENTER MORE THAN ONE TOURNAMENT FOR THE SAME DATES. This is not offered in Southern Open or Closed Championships.
What is the difference in aging up and playing up? Aging up is when a player’s date of birth requires them to move to the next age division and is no longer eligible for the younger age division. Playing up is when a player enters an older age division but the player is still eligible to play in the younger division.
Do the selections lists consider the players who have aged up? No consideration is given for players aging up. Selections are based on the most current standings in that age group. In Southern Level 3 and Bullfrog Designateds 1/8 of the draw is taken from the younger age players in the top 80 who are still in the younger age group.
Do the selection lists consider players who are playing up? Yes, in Southern Level 3 and Bullfrog Designateds 1/8 of the draw is taken from the younger age players in the top 80 who are still in the younger age group. This is not done in any Southern Open or Closed Championships.
Is there a penalty for entering two tournaments that occur on the same date? Players could get suspension points for entering two or more tournaments that occur on the same date. Two suspension points for first offense, five for any other additional infractions.
If I withdraw from a tournament will the entry fee be refunded? Refunds are made for anyone who withdraws no later than 7 days before the start of a tournament. Your processing fee will not be refunded.
Can I change my division entered after the deadline of a tournament? Divisions can only be changed if you were not accepted in one and the other division has openings.
How do I find more information on college tennis? Click here to download the USTA Guide to Tennis on College Campuses.