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Answers for tennis parents

Does playing up an age group help a USTA junior ranking?

Yes. Points earned in an older age division count in full toward a junior's own division, as long as they have played at least one ranking tournament in their own division and the result is among their 6 best. Points only move up at 20%.

Playing up

A 14-and-under player who plays a 16s tournament carries the full points back to their 14s list, if the result is among their 6 best and they have played at least one ranking tournament in the 14s. Playing up can only add to the younger list.

For example, reaching the semifinals of a 16s Level 5 is worth 150 points, and all 150 count on the junior's 14s list.

Points moving up

Going the other way, 20% of the points from a younger division count toward the next-older one, if among the 6 best. No tournament in the older division is needed for that.

So winning a 14s Level 5, worth 300, counts 60 on the 16s list.

Aging up

That 20% is why a junior's standing looks like it collapses when they move up an age group: the points they earned in the younger division count at only a fifth on the older list, even though nothing about their tennis changed. It rebuilds as they play in the new division.

Results a junior already has in the older division, from playing up, count there in full.

Which tournament should your junior play next?

Type your junior's USTA ID. See where they'll likely get in and the points on the line. Then Coach Ace picks one. Free to start.

No USTA ID yet? Start here

Common questions

Do points from playing up count?

Yes, at 100% toward the junior's own division, if the result is among their 6 best and they have played at least one ranking tournament in their own division.

Does my junior need to play in their own division too?

Yes. Points from an older division count toward their own division only once they have played at least one ranking tournament in it.

Do younger-division points count in the older division?

At 20%, if the result is among the 6 best there. No tournament in the older division is needed for that.

Can playing up hurt a ranking?

Not the junior's own list: older-division points can only add to it, and only the 6 best results count.

Why did my junior's ranking drop when they aged up?

Points from the younger division count only 20% toward the older one, so most of what they built counts at a fifth. It rebuilds as they play in the new division.

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