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Tournament Player Responsibilities
The following tournament procedures are provided by the USTA North Carolina (aka NCTA) to help you navigate
and enhance your tournament experience. We have organized it by timeframe to help you with having the smoothest
tournament experience possible.
In most junior tournaments you are playing "unofficiated" matches. When you register for a tournament, you declare
that you know the rules of tennis and you will be playing your match according to THE CODE (pages 36-42 of
Friend at Court). Please take a few minutes to review these 6 short pages of The Code with your player:
Friend at Court2018.PDF
Now—1-2 Days Prior to Tournament Start:
Review The Code and make sure you as a player are familiar with its contents. –
Become familiar with the tournament homepage (it is the page where initial registration
was found) and identify:
o Respective age division's scoring and match format (ex. 4 or 6 game sets, ad or no-ad scoring)
o Special rules or regulations for your age division (ex. racket/court size, balls used).
o Bookmark the tournament homepage in your smart phone* so you can reference it during the
tournament and check it for the most up to date information pertaining to weather delays.
(*If you do not have a smart phone, print out the tournament homepage for reference during the tournament.)
- Print the Medical Waiver/Parent Alert and fill it out and take it with you to tournament check in.
When draws are posted:
-Draws are usually available on-line on the tournament homepage by noon Thursday prior to the
tournament;
-On the tournament home page, check the “Draws” tab to find the your match time and location
-Confirm the appropriate site for your event if tournament is using multiple facilities
-Tennis is an outdoor sport—please refer to the weather and have player(s) dress and prepare
accordingly.
- Confirm the drive time to the play site and make plans to arrive at least 30min prior to match time
-Traffic is not an accepted excuse for being late.
Match Day:
-Recheck match time and location.
-Recheck the website for any updates.
-Arrive at least 30min early.
o Fill water bottles, re-grip rackets, use the bathroom, etc.
o The player (not parent) needs to check in for his/her match 30min early.
o If a court opens up due to a match ending quickly, the tournament desk can get you on early to
help the tournament as a whole move along. - Once checked in, stay near the tournament desk where
you can hear your name being called.
o You are on the clock once your name is called; if it takes 5+ minutes to get to the
tournament desk after you are called, you risk losing the toss and possibly starting down 0-3
in the first set.
During Matches:
-If no official is present, spin your racket before warming up to determine server and sides.
-Warm-up is 5min (roughly 3min ground strokes, volleys, overheads, 2min serves).
-You are responsible for warming up your opponent for the full 5min if they request it.
-Whenever an issue comes up during play, it is your responsibility as players to settle it amongst
yourselves in a timely manner.
-Parents and any other spectators cannot be consulted during any on court disagreements. Doing so
may result in penalties assessed to the player(s) and/or possible removal of the parent(s) or
spectator(s) from the premises.
-You may not leave your court for any reason other than to find an official. This includes between
sets.
o If your opponent does not call out the score, says the wrong score, or you cannot understand
the score, catch the serve and confirm the score with your opponent, then start the point over
again.
- If you forget the score or have a disagreement:
o Each of you state what the score is in your mind along with how you arrived at that score.
o If you cannot agree, go back to the most recent score you can agree on.
If any part of the ball hits the line (even a single hair), the shot is good.
- "Lets" may be called by either player while the ball is still in play.
If you feel your opponent did not call a ball correctly:
o Give you opponent the benefit of the doubt.
o You may ask "Are you sure?" once; if the player confirms their call, continue playing, no
further discussion.
o If you believe you recognize a pattern of incorrect calls then you may ask an official to
assist. You will continue to make your own calls for the time the official is present. Unforced
Errors: it is considered unsportsmanlike conduct for players, parents and spectators to applaud
unforced errors.
Coaching (talking to a player on court during a match) is only permitted during the rest period after
the second set prior to a match tiebreak.
o Please get an official before beginning your 3min of coaching on court.
o If you decide to take a bathroom break before the 3min is up, you forfeit your remaining
coaching time.
After Each Match:
- Both players need to return the balls and report the score to the tournament desk together, in a
timely manner.
Check the draws posted at the tournament or online for your next match time and location
o This should be done as soon as possible as your next match could be an hour after
completing your previous match.
Refer back to the "Match Day" section above and go through this document again for each of your
matches.
Be aware that match times may change after the draws are posted, so check the draws multiple
times.
Rain Delays:The most up to date information is on the tournament webpage.
Please refrain from calling the tournament desk during a rain delay.
o The tournament committee is busy making plans for the weather and rescheduling
potentially hundreds of matches.
o You will not receive any information over the phone that is not on the tournament
homepage. - Please be patient with us, we want the tournament to go on just as much as you.
The role of USTA officials is to help ensure fair play and to clarify any questions you may have about the rules
and regulations of tennis but NOT for instruction (scoring, serving and receiving order, tie-breaks, etc) When
you enter a tournament you are expected to know the rules and how to play a tournament match. That
said, USTA officials are your Friend At Court, not the tennis police, so when in doubt please contact officials
with any questions or concerns you may have.
If you have any questions prior to any tournament you may email either the Tournament Director or Referee or
during the event inquire at the Tournament Desk. Their contact information is listed on the tournament
homepage (email is preferred). Please note all withdrawals must be done by email.
Hopefully the above suggestions/procedures will enable you to have a fair and enjoyable tournament. The
Tournament Committee always welcomes any suggestions you may have.
This is your tournament and we are here for you.
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Selection Process
Players will be selected based on the most recent published
NC standing list. Effective 1/2018, Level 4 (NC L4) for age groups 14U-18U (L4
12U players must have established tournament standing):
Player must have one of the following:
-Some NC/other state standing
-A verifiable player record, i.e. JTT, High School, Middle School, other
district/sectional rank
The names of players who have been selected will appear as
"Competitors" after the tournament deadline when selections are made.
Contact us immediately if you realize that you cannot participate.
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