The PlayTracker will help parents and players navigate their development progress. Players will collect points on an engaging PlayTracker after playing in USTA Team Challenges, USTA Junior Team Tennis, and USTA Junior Circuit programs. The PlayTracker is for players 5-10 years of age and their parents to track progress at USTA competitive events, all in one place. Using the American Development Model (ADM) framework, players and parents will learn more about the recommended development pathway and earn digital incentives along the way.
Below are some frequently asked questions and answers about the new system. Click here to access FAQs about the new system in relation to Junior Team Tennis (JTT). For more details on the PlayTracker program click here.
Q: What is the minimum age to start the PlayTracker?
Players must be at least 5 years old to play in a USTA competitive program and will graduate from the PlayTracker at the age of 11, on the first day of their birthday month.
Q: What are all of the ball colors?
Red, orange, green, yellow. There are no 10&U yellow ball events. If a player is yellow ball eligible and 11 years old or older, they will need to register for the 12&U division. If a player is yellow ball eligible and 10 years old or younger, they can register for 10&U events.
Q: What is the competition level?
This is the computed ball color that you are eligible to register for based on your PlayTracker progress and/or coach-assigned skill level. This signifies which ball color events you are eligible for.
Q: How can a player view their competition level?
Players that are 10 years old or younger and their parents can access their competition level within their parent's usta.com account profile, by clicking "View Profile" in the Family tab.
Q: How does a child advance from Orange to Green?
- When a player turns 9 (first day of their birthday month) they will automatically become green ball eligible.
- Players that are 7 and 8 years old that want to unlock green need to be assessed by a coach on the Net Generation app or reach 1,000 play points in orange ball.
- Players under 7 are required to stay in red and orange ball.
Q: What significance do points in red and orange ball have?
Players are recommended to reach 1,000 play points in red & orange ball. 7 and 8 year old orange ball players can now unlock green ball by reaching 1,000 play points in orange ball as an alternative option to a coach's assessment. Play points are the only type of points players can collect in red and orange ball.
Q: How does a child advance from Green to Yellow?
Players in green ball will be required to meet 1,500 total points on the PlayTracker in order to play in yellow ball events. At least 1,000 of these points must come from win points. At age 11 players will age out of the PlayTracker system and move into yellow ball.
Q: What options are available for a coach to assess a player?
Players that are 7 & 8 years old can be assessed by a certified coach to move from orange to green ball. Assessment and skill level changes for all of the ball colors within the app, except for the yellow ball. This assessment is done on the Net Generation app. This is the only assessment available to move a player from one ball color to another. For more information, about the assessment process please reference the Coach Assessment Guide.
Q: How long does it take for a player’s profile to be updated after they are assessed by a coach?
This happens immediately. If you don't see the update, please sign out, open a new browser window and sign in again. If the problem persists, please confirm your coach has completed the assessment. If the information is still not current, please have the coach contact USTA Customer Care for assistance.
Q: What do players earn points for?
Players can earn ‘Play Points’ and ‘Win Points’ for Junior Circuit, Junior Team Tennis and Team Challenge events.
They will receive 100 participation-based play points for playing in all red, orange and green ball USTA programs. Any program series will count as one event. For example, an 8-week JTT season will count as one event. Any player that plays in at least one match during that season would earn 100 play points total.
Players will receive results-based win points for winning singles (100 points) and doubles (50 points) matches in green ball Junior Team Tennis and Junior Circuit events only.
Please note:
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Scores must be entered by the Provider for the player to earn win points.
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A default in a green ball competitive program will count as a win and that player will receive those win points.
- PlayTracker points are earned for 8U Red/Orange Ball events, 10U Orange/Green Ball events, and 12U Green Ball (Junior Team Tennis and Junior Circuit) events.
- Level 7 Green Ball tournaments DO NOT count towards PlayTracker, but instead count for Ranking Points in National Standing List (NSL)
Q: How many points can a player earn at an event?
Players can receive a maximum of 500 points (400 win points and 100 play points) at any particular event.
Q: How does a player see how many points they’ve earned from an event?
Players that are 10 years old or younger and their parents can access their PlayTracker points within their parent's usta.com account profile, by clicking "View Profile" in the Family tab.
Q: Will a player earn points if they play in an event outside of their USTA Section?
Yes. Players can now participate in events outside of their USTA Section and still earn PlayTracker Points.
Q: Can a player participate in events from previous levels they have already completed?
Yes. Players who are 10U are welcome to play back down in any ball color event. The PlayTracker is not meant to be a linear path for players. Instead, players who are 10U can freely go back and forth across the different levels.
Examples:
- A green ball player can participate in an orange ball event.
- A yellow ball player who is 10U can participate in a green ball event.
Q. If a player moves/relocates to a different USTA Section, will they be able to keep their points?
Yes. Should a player move Sections, PlayTracker points will carry over to the new Section. Players that move Sections will need to update their address from the Settings tab of their USTA profile before playing in their new home Section. Points and programs will be consistent throughout the country.