Chick-fil-A Palmetto Championships - Belton SC L1/STA L2 (2021 Nat L5)

Media Report

BELTON TENNIS CENTER (BTC) 106 Brown Ave, Belton, SC
LEDA POORE PARK (LEDA) 14367 Hwy 20. Belton, SC
ANDERSON UNIVERSITY (AU) 1120 State Hwy 331, Anderson, SC
CARDINAL RACQUET CLUB (CARD) 808 Reed. Rd, Anderson, SC
KROC TENNIS CENTER (KROC) 205 Gibbs St. Greenville, SC

All courts in Belton are used for tournament play. Courts at the Belton Tennis Center and Leda Poore Park are available for warm up before 7:45 each morning and after play concludes each afternoon. Anderson University courts are available in the morning from the time staff arrives until 7:45. The Anderson University courts will be locked after play concludes each day. Cardinal Racket Club courts are available before 7:45 each morning, but there is a charge for the use of these courts for anything outside of tournament play. Eight hard courts are available at the Anderson Sports & Entertainment Center, Jim Ed Rice BLVD, Anderson, SC 29621 are available any time, including after dark.

Match times and locations are listed on the draws. Go directly to the location listed on the draw. Once you arrive, check in for your match on Match App. You will receive a message on Match App when it is time to report to the court for your match. GO TO MATCH APP NOW PLEASE AND DO YOUR PRE CHECK IN FOR THE TOURNAMENT. THEN CHECK IN FOR YOUR MATCH ON MATCH APP AT LEAST 15 MINUTES BEFORE EACH MATCH.

In response to the COVID-19, we will be using Match Tennis App’s Virtual Tournament Desk technology to help facilitate CDC best practices.

In order to compete in this event, all competitors MUST click the below link to fill out the check-in form, and sign the waiver for this tournament.
more info

* When setting up your Match Tennis App account, all family members should sign in with the same username and password.
* Make sure you opt for allowing notifications when signing up for Match Tennis App so court assignment messages are received.
* Make sure you add three DIFFERENT contact numbers during the Pre Tournament Virtual Check-In THAT WILL BE ON during the tournament. They all should be cell numbers since messages will be in the form of texts. When you are called to court, all your contact phones will receive the message.

* If you need to add or change contact numbers go to “My Account” in Match Tennis App and click “Completed Waivers” to add or change contact numbers.

For the safety of all Tournament players, parents, coaches and staff we will NOT be using a physical tournament desk for check-in where social gathering is most common. We instead will be using Match Tennis App’s Virtual Tournament Desk to help facilitate CDC guidelines for social distancing. Scores at the conclusion of each match will be reported to the tournament desk at each site while maintain social distancing. Please click the “more info” link to learn how we will be using VTD to keep you SAFE during the tournament:
more info

Tuesday at 2:00 we were informed all facilities at Belton-Honea Path High School were closing and their 6 tennis courts would not be available for the tournament. Since then we have been working on options. A special thank you to Anibal Braga at the Kroc Center in Greenville for allowing us to use their courts on Saturday and Sunday.

This has created the need for other changes. The following sites will be used in the Belton, Anderson and Greenville:
-Belton Tennis Center (BTC) 5 courts
-Leda Poore Park (LEDA) 6 courts
-Anderson University-Anderson (AU) 8 courts
-Cardinal Racket Club-Anderson (CARD) 4 courts
-Kroc Center-Greenville (KROC) 8 courts

All 14U Boys will play in Anderson Saturday and Sunday
16U Girls will play in Anderson and Belton Saturday and Sunday
All 16U Boys will play at the Kroc Center in Greenville Saturday and Sunday
Most 18U Girls and 18U Boys will play in Belton Saturday and Sunday, but Anderson sites will be required for some matches
We are currently reviewing the schedule. Hopefully all matches will be played in Belton Monday, but there may be a need to play some consolation matches in Anderson that morning.

Specific sites will be released with the "First Match Report" at 6:00 Wednesday.

2020 Palmetto Championships
Tournament Operations Safety Plan Pertaining to Covid 19

The state of South Carolina and the host cities (Belton and Florence) and counties (Anderson and Florence) are in the approved phase and meet reopening criteria where youth sporting events can take place. All requirements, recommendations, policies and guidelines from these governments, local health organizations, USTA, USTA Southern and USTA South Carolina (as outlined) will be followed (and are not repeated in this document).

Players will check in and receive court assignments via Match Tennis App. At the conclusion of the match the players should report their score as soon as possible using Match Tennis App. Tournament desks will be located outside at all facilities if needed and be taped off to insure social distancing of at least 6 feet. T-shirts, bag tags and meal gift cards will be provided each player on court before/during their first match. A five minute warm up will be allowed prior to every match. The tournament website and a rain app will be used in case of inclement weather.

Masks but be worn at all times in all restrooms and other indoor tournament facilities. Masks must be worn outside on any tournament grounds in situations where someone is within 6 feet of another individual.

Scheduling will be done on 2 hour increments (1 hour and 20 minutes for 10U). Players will be advised to come no sooner than 10 minutes before their match times and must leave within 10 minutes of their match conclusion.

Per guidelines, each match will be played with two cans of tennis balls, one an even number and the other an odd number. Tennis balls will be arranged in cases by the number and two cases (one with even numbers and one with odd numbers) will be placed on court. Players will be responsible for taking their balls from the case and opening the can. At the conclusion of the match they will take their balls and their can with them. We will not collect used balls.

The tournament will be played at multiple facilities and all common touch points at each site will be disinfected with MonoFoil using a pump sprayer. MonoFoil is an eco-clean formula that is safe and non-toxic and kills microbes (including Coronavirus) for four to six weeks. Guidelines for each facility follow, although all sites may not be used depending on entries and matches required.

Belton Tennis Center (5 courts):
· Entrance to the courts will be only from the side and the gates will remain open
· Restrooms will be cleaned multiple times each day and touch free soap and paper towel dispensers will be used and no more than two people will be allowed in each restroom at one time
· Hand sanitizer stations will be at the entrance of the upstairs lounge and at the tournament desk
· The tournament desk under the gazebo will be taped off so everyone will be at least six feet from staff and no more than three people will be allowed under the gazebo or the officials’ tent at one time and no congregating will be allowed
· A separate tent will host an athletic trainer, close contact and touching will be necessary and no more than three people (including the athletic trainer) will be allowed under the tent at one time
· Hand sanitizer will be available on every court
· The upstairs lounge will be open as a rest area, but no more than 6 people will be allowed in this area at one time
· People must enter the front of the building and exit the back to insure one-way traffic and social distancing
· Multiple touch free trash and recycle containers will be available
· Bleachers and approximately 20 chairs spaced out along the outside top deck of the tennis center will be used for spectators and appropriate signage will be in place to insure social distancing
· Rackets can be restrung and will be sanitized prior to pick up

Leda Poore Park (6 courts):
· Entrance to all but one court will be from the side and the gates will remain open
· One court will require the use of a back gate which must remain closed during play and whenever possible a staff member will open and close the gate
· Restrooms will be cleaned multiple times each day and no more than two people will be allowed in each restroom at one time
· A hand sanitizer station will be located near the tournament desk
· The tournament desk under the center shelter will be taped off so everyone will be at least six feet from staff and no congregating will be allowed
· No more than two people can be at the tournament desk at one time
· Multiple touch free trash and recycle containers will be available
· No more than 16 people will be allowed under the shelter at one time, chairs will be spaced and signage placed to insure social distancing
· Bleachers will be available for spectators and appropriate signage will be in place to insure social distancing

Belton-Honea Path High School (6 courts):
· Entrance to all courts will be from the side and the gates will remain open
· Restrooms will be cleaned multiple times each day and no more than six people will be allowed in each restroom at one time
· A hand sanitizer station will be located near the tournament desk
· The tournament desk under the gazebo will be taped off so everyone will be at least six feet from staff and no congregating will be allowed
· No more than two people may be at the tournament desk at one time
· Multiple touch free trash cans will be available
· A pop up tent for officials will be placed in a common area between the courts and no more than two people will be allowed under this tent at one time
· Bleachers will be available for spectators and appropriate signage will be in place to insure social distancing

Anderson University (8 courts):
· Entrance to all courts are through back gates which must remain closed during play and whenever possible a staff member will open and close the gate
· Restrooms will be cleaned multiple times each day and no more than four people will be allowed in each restroom at one time
· The office and lounge will remain closed
· The tournament desk will be located in an open area under the building and will be taped off so everyone will be at least six feet from staff and no congregating will be allowed
· No more than two people may be at the tournament desk at one time
· Multiple touch free trash cans will be available
· Bleachers will be available for spectators and appropriate signage will be in place to insure social distancing

Cardinal Racket Club (4 courts):
· Entrance to all courts will be through side gates which will remain open
· Restrooms will be cleaned multiple times each day and no more than four people will be allowed in each restroom at one time
· The office will remain and lounges will remain closed
· The tournament desk will be located on the porch of the tennis center and be taped off so everyone will be at least six feet from staff and no congregating will be allowed
· No more than two people may be at the tournament desk at one time
· Multiple touch free trash cans will be available

Player Recommendations
· Follow state/local and facility guidelines for social distancing.
· Do not enter facility until 10 minutes prior to your match time.
· Please leave facility within 10 minutes of the completion of your match to help reduce gatherings.
· Eliminate the ‘handshake’ at the end of the match.
· Use headbands, hats and/or wristbands to avoid touching their faces while playing.
· If warmups are allowed at a facility
o Limit number of players on a court to 2
o Limit warm up to 30 minutes if others are waiting
· Do not touch your opponent’s tennis balls or the balls that may come from adjacent court.
· Come prepared with your own:
o Hand sanitizer
o Sharpie black or brown (this will be used to initial/mark your odd or even balls during your match)
o Water and ice
o Chair
o Umbrella for shade during changeovers:
§ If possible, players should take change overs breaks on opposite sides of the court. If this is not possible, chairs should be set at a minimum of 6 feet off the net creating 12 feet of distance. Players should not have their bags/chairs between 2 courts.
§ No shade structures should be occupied if players cannot be socially distanced.

Spectator Guidelines
-Follow state/local and facility guidelines for social distancing.
-Do not enter facility until 10 minutes prior to your player’s scheduled match time, and leave the facility within 10 minutes after the match is concluded.

-Use commons sense and avoid bringing a large number of people to the matches, and always social distance....and wear a mask if you cannot!

USTA Southern Requirements for Southern Level 1, 1A and 2 Events
Effective through July 30, 2020
· Each state, city and county where Southern Level 1, 1A and 2 events are hosted must be in an approved phase or meet reopening criteria where youth sporting events can take place.
· The host organization must comply with local health guidelines for the administration of youth sporting events.
o The host organization may implement stricter guidelines than the local health department guidelines.
o The host organization must post guidelines on the tournament homepage
Tournament Play
o Tournaments will be limited to singles competition. No doubles.
o Tournaments should schedule matches using the following criteria:
§ Matches must use a scheduling interval with a minimum 2-hour match duration and 4-hour time between first match and second match start time.
§ Tournament site must have 6 courts per 32 draw or for every two 16 draws.
o Each match will be played with 2 cans of balls; one odd numbered and one even numbered for each player to use.
§ Players may mark their balls with a black or brown sharpie to better identify their balls.
§ Players should use their specific cans of balls during service games.
§ Players should take change sides on opposite sides of the court or be spaced 6 feet away from the net (creating 12 feet between players). Players should not have their bags/chairs between 2 courts.
§ Players should not touch the balls during the games their opponents are serving.
§ No handshake at the completion of the match.

USTA South Carolina and Southern are requiring the following guidelines for junior tournaments:
· Masks are required of all staff, participants (pre-match and post-match only) and spectators when in restrooms or any indoor tournament facilities. Masks are required outside in situations where someone cannot social distance and is within 6 feet of another individual.
· Social distancing is required.
· Limitations will be posted on the number of people who may be in certain areas, including bathrooms.
· Sanitizer stations will be available at key sites and hand sanitizer will be available on every court.
Players should arrive no sooner than 10 minutes prior to their math start time and leave the facility within 10 minutes of their match
completion.
Score tenders will not be used. It is important that the server clearly calls the score prior to each point.
· Each match will be played with 2 cans of new tennis balls; one odd numbered and one even numbered for each player to use. Players are encouraged to mark their tennis balls with a Sharpie.
· Players will serve only with their assigned tennis balls and should not touch their opponent’s tennis balls or any tennis balls from another court with their hands.
· Players, not officials, will retrieve errant tennis balls. If a ball is not retrievable, a new ball will be thrown in. No like-wear tennis balls will be used.
· If possible, seating will be provided on separate sides of the court. Players are encouraged to go around opposite sides of the net on change overs.
· Use a racket touch or thumbs up sign at the conclusion of your match. Do not shake hands.
· Do not share any equipment or other items with other players.
· Players must provide their own ice and water or drink.
· All side gates to the courts will remain open. Back gates will be closed during play. Whenever possible a staff member will open and close the back gates.
· Common touch areas will be disinfected with MonoFoil, which is eco-clean, safe and non-toxic and kills microbes (including Coronavirus) for 4 to 6 weeks.

No refunds will be provided for any reason after the draws are made at noon on Monday, July 6. A $5 credit card and handling fee will be deducted from any refunds.

Crawford Latham, a graduate of Spring Valley High School, has been selected to receive the 2020 Dunlop Scholarship. The $2,000 scholarship has been presented by Dunlop and the Palmetto Championships since 1992. Crawford was a top student at Spring Valley where she was a member of the Science and Latin Nation Honors Society, President of Future Business Leaders of America and participated in the Spring Valley Chamber Music Festival. She volunteered at the S. C. Department of Mental Health, Meals on Wheels and Special Olympics. Latham played six years of varsity tennis at Spring Valley, all at #1 singles and doubles. She was the team MVP and All-Region all 6 years, All-State 4 years, as well as team captain and Region Player of the Year in 2019. She was ranked #8 in the state in the Girl's 18U singles last year. Crawford had this to say in her essay about Tennis in My Life: "Through tournaments I have forged friendships that will last a lifetime. The competition and the experience of being alone on court matured me personally and as a player. My greatest lesson from tennis continues to be accepting the losses as well as the wins. My mantra is I never lose a match; I either win, or I learn." Crawford will be attending the University of South Carolina Honors College this fall.

The Palmetto Championships works with the following hotels to provide attractive rates:
-The Standpipe Inn, On the Square, Belton, SC-Features guest suits for 4 to 11 people. Email envirots@gmail.com for rates and availability.
-Holiday Inn Express, 410 Alliance Parkway, Anderson, SC-$82 with free breakfast. Call 864-231-0231 and ask for the Palmetto Championships rate
-Hampton Inn North, 411 Alliance Parkway, Anderson, SC-$95 with free breakfast. Call 864-760-1000
-Hampton Inn, 120 Interstate BLVD, Anderson, SC-$100 with free breakfast. Call 864-375-1999
-Holiday Inn, 3509 Clemson BLVD, Anderson, SC-$100. Full restaurant and bar service. Call 864-226-1000.
-Country Inn & Suites, 116 Interstate BLVD, Anderson, SC-$90 with free breakfast. Call 864-622-2200

The Palmetto Championships encourages good sportsmanship from players, parents and coaches and abides by the USTA slogan: "Great Sports Make A Sport Great!" The tournament presents 3 sportsmanship awards each year.

The 14U Boys and 18U Girls will play a 32 draw with a feed-in consolation thru the round of 16, The 16U Girls and 18U Boys divisions will play a 64 draw with a feed-in consolation thru the round of 16. The 16U Boys will play a 64 draw with a Curtis Consolation. Regular scoring. Regular sets with a 7-point tiebreaker to be played if games reach 6-all. A 10-point tiebreaker will be played in lieu of a third set.


Players should expect 2 singles matches per day. All age divisions will play out in 3 days, weather permitting.


The Tournament Referee may change the scoring formats if there are scheduling or weather issues.

A 5-minute warm up is allowed for every match.


The USTA Rules and The Code govern play...refer to Friend At Court. The USTA Point Penalty System will be in effect and enforced. All infractions will be reported and result in suspension points.


USTA Certified officials will be at all sites.


Players who start the tournament are expected to complete all scheduled matches (including consolation and playoff) unless they are injured, ill or have a family emergency.


No coaching or interference from parents or coaches. Misbehavior or the demonstration of poor sportsmanship will not be tolerated and may result in disqualification.


Athletic trainers will be available during the tournament.


Please respect the facilities. Plase trash in containers and return chairs, etc. to their original location. If you see a problem with any facility (courts, restroom, grounds, etc.) please report it to the official there.


Dress Code: Proper (modest) tennis attire is required.


Cell Phones: Players' cell phones must be turned off prior to warm up. Talking on cell phones is not allowed on court except during breaks after the 2nd set. The ringer on cell phones belonging to parents and coaches must be turned off when in close proximity to the courts. Move away from the court when talking on a cell phone to avoid distracting the players or other spectators..

Because the Palmetto Championships is a Southern Level 2 tournament, the USTA Southern standings will be the primary consideration used. The USTA Southern Seeding Criteria is as follows:


Seeding will be based primarily on the most recently published USTA Southern Combined Standings List (used for selections prior to the date of seeding the tournament) of the division in the order in which players appear on the list. In addition to the list, other criteria to consider includes:
-Players who have a standing in a younger age division may be seeded in any group of seeds if they are in the top 10 in the most recently published USTA Southern Combined Standings Lists of any younger age division.
-Players with current top 50 USTA National standing, top 100 ITF ranking, top 1000 ATP or WTA ranking should be considered for seeded.


There will be approximately 1 seed for every 4 players in the draw. Seeds 5-8 and 9-16 (if necessary) will be alphabetical.

South Carolina Tournament Level 1

Please take the time to fill out our tournament survey.

Sportsmanship Responsibilities: All parents are encouraged complete the "Parenting My Champion" sportsmanship video before their player participates in this level tournament.

Please be aware that this tournament is a 10U Youth Tennis Progression event. This means that in order to play in the 10U division offered you must be in the corresponding level. If you are not able to register for 10U singles that means you are not eligible for that level of 10U. To find out more information call (803) 781-2574.

Boys and Girls 10's Green Ball Divisions
Boy's and Girl's 10's GREEN BALL divisions will be played on a 78' court using low compression green ball. Draw format will be determined by the number of participants. Scoring format as follows: 2 out of 3 short sets using NO AD scoring, first to 4 games (win by 2). A 7 point tiebreak is played if players reach 4 all. If players split sets then a 7 point tiebreak is played for the 3rd set (win by 2). THERE IS NO COACHING BETWEEN THE 2nd AND 3rd SET BREAK IN THE 10 & UNDER DIVISIONS. Doubles will be a 6 game pro set using NO AD scoring