A DISCUSSION DRAFT

(Draft #3 August 16, 2011) A PROPOSED USTA NATIONAL JUNIOR TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE BEGINNING 2013
The following document has evolved over the past eight months, from a process that attempted to be as inclusiveas possible. Thiscomprehensive undertaking has included, but not been limited to, the following: an initial Junior Competition Committee (JCC) Conference Call in January; multiple presentations regarding the proposed planning process made at the January 2011 USTA Leadership Meeting; a January Meeting with national USTA Player Development Leadership in Boca Raton; anApril 1stmeeting in Naples, FL with Section Player Development Managers (with another meeting in NYC to come with this group); JCC April Meetings in Naples, FL at the USTA 2011 Annual Meeting; hard work of JCC Sub-Committees; meetings at the NCAADivision I Championships with ITA Coaches at their Membership Meeting (as well as individual meetings with coaches such as Dick Gould); conversations with USPTA and PTR professionals; studies of other sports (especially diving and golf); countless phone calls and conversations including with other USTA committees, USTA task forces (e.g., U10, Ratings), USTAstaff (Patrick McEnroe, Jose Higueras, Paul Lubbers, Ph.D., Kurt Kamperman) and world renowned experts on the acquisition of expertise (e.g., K. Anders Ericcson, Ph.D. andRobert Pangrazi, Ph.D.); JCC July Working Meeting in Atlanta; JCC August Conference Call, etc. Please know that to date no formal vote has been taken by the national Junior Competition Committee regarding this work in progress. In addition to reading the remainder of this document, please carefully read the additional accompanying white paperentitled USTA National Junior Competition: 2013 and Beyond: A Unified Progressive Model for A Tournament Structure, Rankings, Ratings, Education, and Marketing. This white paper serves to articulate the top down guiding principles which have shaped the collective thinking of the Junior Competition Committee. Please know that we certainly recognize that many details still need to be worked out! We respectfully request that you first work to understand the big picture facing American tennis and our Association. From here please focus on the overall arch and major initiatives of the updated direction of the proposed new structure; and, then (and only then), begin to attend to the details. This is how the JCC has been working, and we respectfully request that you do the same. We are seeking your feedback. To that end we have established a Comment Period, asking that you provide us your thoughts by Monday, October 10th. Send to Timothy.Russell@asu.edu . Please know that there will be a JCC ad hoc Tournament Structure Sub-Committee working this Fall to finalize this proposal. Their work will be followed by a full-committee vetting of that final proposal and a vote by the JCC.

Note: The first part of this document is a preliminary Calendar for the new structure. See the end of this document for more complete descriptions of each event. It is very important to note that the proposal is built, in part, upon a new periodization schedule which allows for players to truly develop their games through the calendar year and competitive season. The proposed schedule also attempts to more clearly unify the player progression from Sectional play through the various levels of national competition including multiple progressive events scheduled on the same weekends as is the casewith the Pro Circuits. January (MLK Weekend) TEAM AMERICA CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND To launch the calendar year and competitive season, the USTA will present a new series of championship events coupled with important sectional events, so that all serious competitive juniors players from around the country are competing on the same weekend. Tour and Training Championships for the countrys top 16 players (Level 1a) 3.5 day event[one and a half days of training (Friday p.m. and Saturday) plus two days of competition 16-player compass draws]; 14s, 16s, and 18s only These players qualify for the April National Clay Court Championships Ten Regional Challenger Championships (Level III); see pages 10 and 11 for Sectional/Regional breakdown and tournament entry distribution each 32 draws (thus 320 players) The top four players from each region qualify to the April National Clay Court Championships) these mirror ITA collegiate tennis progression Sectional Events for other players (Level TBD)

February(Presidents Day Weekend) Three 32-drawPresidents Day Championships (Level 2) +Ten(10) regional Sweet Sixteen Futures compass draw events (Level 3) + Local/Sectional events for other players (Level TBD) Presidents Day Indoor Championship (32 draw) Presidents Day Outdoor Clay Court Championship (32 draw) Presidents Day Outdoor Hard Court Championship (32 draw) Ten (10) RegionalSweet Sixteen Futures = 160 players Local/Sectional Events for other players (Level TBD)

Notes: The three Presidents Day Championships will primarily use the National Standings List (NSL) for entry and will serve the top 96 players in the country; on the same weekend the ten(10) regionally distributed Sweet Sixteen Futures events will serve another160 playersthroughout the nation; thus, the total number of players competing in these concurrent nationallysanctioned events on that weekend = 256. The three Presidents Day Championship events allow players choices as to where they compete. These are true developmental events, as players do not have to worry particularly about their ranking implications for entry into the 2

next National Championship; thus, they can try out things in competition that they have been working on in practice. As with January, the intent is to coordinate appropriate Local/Sectional events on the same weekend for other players (still TBD). March Training and Local/Sectional play (Level TBD) April National Spring Clay Court Grand Slam Championships 128 players in two (2) flights of 64 for 14s, 16s, and 18s o Top 64 (Gold Ball Flight Level 1) o Second 64 (Silver Flight Level 1a) o 64 Team Doubles Draw with all players in the same draw 64 Draw for 12s (Level 1 Gold Ball) Sectional Events for other players (Level TBD)

May(Memorial Day Weekend) Tour and Training Championships for the countrys top 16 players (Level 1a) 3.5 day event [one and a half days of training (Friday p.m. and Saturday) plus two days of competition 16-player compass draws]; 14s, 16s, and 18s only These players qualify for the August National Hard Court Championships Ten Regional Challenger Championships (Level III); see pages 10 and 11 for Sectional/Regional breakdown and tournament entry distribution each 32 draws (thus 320 players) The top four players from each region qualify to the August National Hard Court Championships) these mirror ITA collegiate tennis progression Sectional Events for other players (Level TBD)

June Sectional Championships (Level 3) Sectional Champions receive automatic spots in the August National Hardcourt Championships (like the NCAA)

July Team Events only Occurring all across the country, all on the same week (Team America Plays Team Tennis); adding a new 14s Intersectional event August 128 Draw Hard Court Grand Slam National Championships (Level 1 Gold Ball) Doubles-Only Championship toward end of month in either Cincinnati or New Haven (Gold Ball) September(Labor Day Weekend) (Major) Sectional Events (Level TBD) October new Top 25/Sweet 16 progressive Grand Masters" (special points TBD like ATP) 3

November (Thanksgiving weekend) Eddie Herr + Three 32-draw Fall Championships (Level 2) + Ten (10) regionally distributed Sweet Sixteen Futures compass draw events (Level 3) + Sectional Events for other players (Level TBD) Fall Indoor Championship (32 draw) Fall Outdoor Clay Court Championship (32 draw) Fall Outdoor Hard Court Championship (32 draw) Ten (10) Sweet Sixteen Futures = 160 players Sectional Events for the next level of remaining players

Notes: The three Fall Championships will primarily use the National Standings List (NSL) for entry and will serve 96 players; on the same weekend the ten (10) regionally distributed Sweet Sixteen Futures events will serve another 160 players through the nation; thus, the total number of players competing in these concurrent events on that weekend = 256. The three Fall Championship events will allow players choices as to where they compete. As the proposal does throughout the calendar, the intent is to coordinate appropriate Sectional events on the same weekend for other players. December Orange Bowl Ends December 12th Winter Team America Team Championships; December 26 31 (Level 1 - Gold Ball) Plus, a Winter Grand Slam Championship (Level 1a); December 26-31 with 64 draws Plus, appropriate Local/ Sectional Events (Level TBD)

Tournament Descriptions
EVENTS WHICH COUNT FOR NATIONAL RANKING POINTS (from top down)

(New) Grand Masters exact level of points still TBD

Top 25/Sweet 16 end-of-year Grand Masters progressive tournament October o Consider making this a hospitality event (with a corporate sponsor) o 25 top American junior players compete in an ultimate Sweet 16 Grand Masters o Day one = Four (4) 14 year olds play a round robin or compass draw (the winner advances); the other three players stay to train o Day two = the winning 14 year old and seven (7) 16 year olds play two rounds the two (2) finalists advance (the rest stay to train) o Day three and Four = the two winners of day two + fourteen (14) 18 year olds play a Sweet 16 compass draw; the remaining eight players from days one and two train with national coaches

National Grand Slam Championships Level 1/1a (Gold Ball = Level 1)

o April Spring Claycourts (pre French open) 128 players in two (2) flights of 64 for 14s, 16s and 18s Top 64 (Gold Ball Flight Level 1) Second 64 (Silver Flight Level 1a) 64 Team Doubles Draw with all players in the same draw 64 Draw for 12s (Level 1 Gold Ball)

Total Pool Entry process still TBD One option could be: 16 Tour Training Players 40 from Regions in January 64 from Sectional Quota based on strength and size of Section (still TBD) 8 wildcards How the players will be placed into the two flightsalso still TBD. o POSSIBLY ADD TRAINING COMPONENT FOR 12s (and 14s) per Martin Blackman

August Summer Hardcourts; 128 draws for 14s, 16s, and 18s (Gold Ball); draw of 64 for 12s (compass draw) Total Pool Entry process still TBD One Option might be: 16 Tour Training Players 40 from Regions in May 17 Sectional Champions 47 from Sectional Quota based on strength and size of Section (still TBD) 8 wildcards Other Options could include NSL. 12s Entry also still TBD December Winter Championship (Level 1a) 64 Draw event between Christmas and New Years Run concurrently with new Team America Team Championships

Entry process into Winter Championship still TBD e.g., Section Quota, NSL, etc.

(NEW) Tour and Training Championships Level 1a

16 Draws age divisions = 14s, 16s, and 18s o January (MLK Weekend) o May (Memorial Day Weekend) Entry 1) c. top 14 players from each age division (NSL) 2) two (2) wildcards; a player cannot be given more than one (1) wildcard per year 3) To be eligible, a player must have played at least one (1) sectional event prior to selection

Rationale Introduce this model with the 14s, 16s and 18s only; 12s to focus locally, sectionally, and regionally Value added training component (with USTA National Coaches and selected Regional Coaches); provides opportunity for regular on-going Sports Science testing of top players Three and one-half-day events o Day one p.m. = arrive; training and education (i.e., Sports Science testing + oncourt training as well as classroom, re: college, mental toughness, nutrition, etc.) o Day two = training o Days three and four = compass draw tournament (All players MUST stay to completion for their points); win no matches get no points Notes: (1) Winners in 18s (and possibly 16s) will receive wild cards into the appropriately chosen pro events to be determined by national PD staff (2) Everyone will know the exact tournament/event length; you know the exact schedule for travel planning! (3) All American junior players will use this level of tournament as an aspirational goal. (4) Builds upon the new RTC model for integrating national and regional coaches (5) Consider the very positive long-term implications of many juniors competing in three of these events a year for six years (e.g., from ages 13 -18) and what the long-term developmental growth will be for them individually and American tennis collectively! (6) Have all of these events in one location so as to facilitate cross training amongst different age groups. (7) Players accepted into these events will receive automatic acceptance into the national championship which follows on the calendar (8) Possibly have the winner of previous national championship receives an automatic entry (9) Marketing Invoke the Junior Davis Cup training model from past generations 7

PRESIDENTS DAY AND FALL CHAMPIONSHIPS (Level 2)

o February Winter Championships (Presidents Day Weekend) ; 3 day event o November Fall Championships (Thanksgiving Weekend); 3 day Indoor Championship (32 draw) Outdoor Clay Court Championship (32 draw) Outdoor Hard Court Championship (32 draw) Notes: These Championships will primarily use the National Standings List (NSL) for entry and will serve 96 players. These events allow players choices as to where they wish to compete. These are true developmental events, as players do not have to worry particularly about their ranking implications for entry into the next National Championship; thus, they can try out things in competition that they have been working on. NOTES: (1) Pro Tours have multiple events occurring on the same weeks; (2) Addresses those who still want some choice component to the system; (3) put multiple age groups in same town Possibly ADD TRAINING COMPONENT FOR 12s and 14s per Martin Blackman

REGIONAL CHALLENGER CHAMPIONSHIPS (Level 3)

Introductory Note: Marketing is important; by calling these events Championships, players can say they made it to the regional championship and/or were the regional champion and not simply viewing the event as only a qualifier. 32 players in each of ten (10) regions; thus, 320 players nationally! o January (MLK Weekend) qualifies for April Clay Court Grand Slam national championships o May(Memorial Day) qualifies for August Summer Harcourt Grand Slam national championships Important note(s): Players must play in their own regions only! 32 draws = the size of current national opens. Secure great new prizes for Regional Championships!

Ten (10) regionally distributed Sweet Sixteen Futures compass draw events (Level 3)
Played on the same weekends as the Presidents Day and Fall Championship these ten (10) regionally distributed Sweet Sixteen Futures events will serve the next highest ranked 160 players in the nation; thus, the total number of players competing in all events on those weekends = 256. Short, intense events, giving players all competitive matches Good introduction to national level competition

TEAM EVENTS
Current Summer Zonal and Intersectional events continue o Add a 14s Intersectional for the top 14s o All Summer Team events played during the same week in July Team America Plays Team Tennis New December Team America Team Championship Level 1 (Gold Ball)

16 teams comprised of two (2) each of 14s, 16s, 18s o Top 32 players per division in America o Teams created by waterfall o Combination of top RTC and collegiate varsity coaches (selected by national PD staff) o Two (2) days of training and education o Four (days) of college format matches in compass draw 8 teams for U12s six players per team; thus, top 48 players in America o Two (2) days of training and education o Three (3) days of college (or World Team Tennis) format matches

2013 Ten Regions

REGION Southern Midwest Eastern + New England Nor Cal + PNW + H-P MS + Mid-At + Caribbean So Cal Florida Texas Missouri Valley + Northern Intermountain + Southwest

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2013 Initial Regional Entry to

32 player per Region draws based upon 2011 50% Size and 50% Strength of Section

SECTION to REGION calculated using 50% SIZE and 50% STRENGTH of Section

Southern all from Southern Midwest all from Midwest Eastern (14,060 total players/132 top 22) + New England (8,417 total players/64 top 200) 21 from Eastern (63% size and 67% strength) 11 from New England (37% size and 33% strength) Nor Cal (10,997 total players/93 top 200) + PNW (5,353 total players/43 top 200) + HawaiiPacific (1,535 total players/35 top 200) 19 from Nor Cal (61% size/55% strength) 9 from PNW (30% size/25% strength) 4 from Hawaii-Pacific (9% size/20% strength) Mid-Atlantic (9045 total player/ 90 top 200) + Middle States (8497 total players/ 71 top 200) + Caribbean (1392 total players/33 top 200) 15 from Mid Atlantic (48% size/46% strength) 13 from Middle States (45% size/37% strength) 4 from Caribbean (7% size/17% strength) Texas all from Texas So Cal all from So Cal Florida all from Florida Mo Valley (7,411 total players/60 top 200) + Northern (4,586 total players/46 top 200) 19 from Mo Valley (62% size/57% strength) 13 from Northern (38% size/43% strength) Intermountain (7759 total juniors/52 top 200) + Southwest (3247 total juniors/76 top 200) 18 from Intermountain (70% size and 40 % strength) 14 from SW (30% size and 60% strength)

08/16/2011 (Draft 3) TR 11