Five Easy Steps to Starting a USTA League Tennis Team
USTA League Tennis is the world’s largest recreational tennis league providing organized, structured team matches for all ability levels. Approximately 400,000 players compete nationwide, with over 120,000 adult and senior players coming from the Southern Section alone.
STEP 1
The first thing you must do is contact your Local League Coordinator (LLC). LLC's will assist you in finding additional players, locating courts, and reviewing rules for local play. The Coordinator’s role is also to share information on the USTA League Tennis rules of play and to provide you with all pertinent dates and registration deadlines.
You can get additional information by visiting your state's website.
STEP 2
Determining Eligibility - It is important to remember that all players must be current USTA members. If you wish to start a USTA League Tennis Team but are not a current USTA Member, you can sign up online today! Not sure if you want to become a member? Check out all the great benefits a USTA Membership has to offer!
Remember the following when thinking about the type of team you wish to start:
- Players must be 19 years old in the calendar year in which they wish to complete on an adult team.
- Seniors must be 50 years of age in the calendar year in which they wish to compete to play on a Senior team.
- Super Seniors must be at least 60 or 70 to play on a Super Seniors Team.
STEP 3
Team Registration - Each team must review the local rules to determine the minimum number of players for a team.
The USTA offers USTA League Tennis play for players wanting to play on teams with all women or all men, mixed doubles and combo doubles.
All teams must register on TennisLink and the Local League Coordinator will assist the team captain with the registration process.
STEP 4
Finding Courts - Each local league determines the minimum number of courts required for league play during the season. To obtain permission to use courts contact public tennis facilities, neighborhood associations or private clubs.
Courts are usually required to have lighting and must be available for use during certain times throughout the league season.
STEP 5
The USTA League Tennis program uses a very clear system to determine your Level of Play. This system is refered to as the National Tennis Ratings Program (NTRP). Below are the levels offered for each of the league programs offered by the USTA.
- USTA League Tennis - Adults: 2.5- 5.0
- USTA League Tennis - Seniors: 2.5-4.5
- USTA League Tennis Mixed Doubles: 4.5- 9.5
- USTA League Tennis Senior Mixed Doubles: 5.5 –8.5
- Southern Combo Doubles: 4.5 to 10.5
- Sr. Southern Combo Doubles: 5.5 to 8.5
- Southern Super Seniors: 60’s – 2.5-4.5
- Southern Super Seniors 70’s – 2.5-4.0
Players may use a computer rating or they may self-rate using the NTRP guidelines.
New teams must play at or above their computer rating or self rating. Play begins at the local level and, depending on the success of their team, may advance to state, sectional or even national level.
More information and FAQ's about the NTRP system.