The bar to beat
Find the smallest of the 6 results counting now. That is the bar. A new result below it adds nothing to the ranking, however well the junior played.
A result above it pushes the old sixth out. The ranking goes up by the new result minus the old sixth, not by the new result's full points.
A junior with fewer than 6 results counting has an empty slot, so any points from a new result add to the ranking in full.
An example
Say a junior's 6th-best result is a Level 5 quarterfinal, 105 points. Reaching the semifinals at a Level 5 is worth 150, so it replaces the quarterfinal and the ranking goes up by 45.
Winning a Level 6 is worth up to 95. That's less than 105, so for this junior it would add nothing to the ranking.
When a result drops off
Each result counts for 12 months. When one of the 6 drops out of the window, the next-best result takes its place, so a ranking can fall without the junior losing a match.
A tournament that won't move the ranking can still be worth playing for the matches and the experience.
Common questions
Does every tournament add to a USTA junior ranking?
No. Only the 6 best singles results in the last 12 months count, so a result helps only when it beats the 6th-best one.
How much will a good result raise the ranking?
By the new result minus the 6th-best result it replaces.
What if my junior has played fewer than 6 tournaments?
Then there's an empty slot, and every point from a new result counts in full.
Why did my junior's ranking drop when they didn't play?
A result that is more than 12 months old drops off, and the next-best result takes its place.
Do doubles results raise the ranking?
At 15%. The 6 best doubles results count at 15% toward the National Standings List, the list used to pick fields by ranking.
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