Net Generation - USTA Southern California

Net Generation

NET GENERATION

JUNIOR TENNIS  |  USTA SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

NET GENERATION

JUNIOR TENNIS
USTA SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

FIRST SERVE.

Tennis is a powerful youth sport. According to a recent study, youth who play tennis get better grades, have college aspirations, are better behaved, are community-minded, and are more prone to healthy behaviors.

Tennis helps strengthen executive function, focus, and related skills, all of which translate directly to success off the courts.

Net Generation

WELCOME TO TENNIS

Net Generation is the USTA youth platform that promotes early entry into the sport of tennis. Easy to learn and tailored for all ages and abilities, tennis offers kids a game that will help them stay active, build friendships, and develop life skills in a positive environment.

Through Net Generation initiatives based on the American Development Model (ADM), parents and their young players can track their development across three main stages of growth – introductory Team Challenges, intermediate Junior Team Tennis, and Junior Circuit tournament play.

Most importantly, Net Generation brings players to the court, providing countless opportunities to learn, grow, and excel not just in tennis, but in everyday life. With a full slate of unique and innovative activities, there’s never been a better time to join the Net Generation.

NET GEN JUNIOR PATHWAY

For players who are just starting in the game to those competing at the highest levels, USTA Southern California and our dedicated providers offer a pathway of opportunities to help young players succeed and grow in the game.

Through the USTA American Development Model (ADM) framework, players can learn to compete at their own age level and ability. All of these programs offer different levels, formats, and schedules to accommodate growth and development of junior players. 

Tennis development begins with a program often referred to as Red/Orange/Green (R/O/G). R/O/G uses low-compression balls, smaller racquets and smaller courts that allow the beginning player to be successful right away on the court and to develop the best habits for the game long-term. 

Age Divisions

– Players aged 5-7 years old are recommended to play in red ball programs.
– Players aged 7-9 years old are recommended to play in orange ball programs.
– Players aged 9-11 years old are recommended to play in green ball programs.

Note that 10U players can participate in the following USTA programs:

Team Challenges (R/O/G)
– Junior Team Tennis (O/G)
– Junior Circuit Round Robin Events (O/G)

Once a player has completed the Net Generation PlayTracker journey to yellow ball (or the player ages up to 12 years old), he/she may advance to USTA Southern California sanctioned tournaments and accrue a ranking.

The Net Generation PlayTracker is for players aged 5-11 and their parents to track progress at USTA competitive events, all in one place. Using the USTA’s American Development Model (ADM) framework, players and parents will learn more about the recommended development pathway while earning digital accolades for their achievements along their tennis journey.

Benefits of Play Tracker

The new Net Generation PlayTracker will help parents and players navigate their development progress, replacing the previous stars and trophies system.

Benefits of this new system include:

– More control and flexibility for parents and coaches.
– More USTA program options, designed to suit players’ age and skill level.
– Clean and focused profiles to visualize a player’s journey.
– Earned advancement.
– More consistency no matter where a player lives, allowing players to travel or move to a new section with ease.
– Players can earn points for both playing and winning, collecting points in PlayTracker after participating in USTA Team Challenges, USTA Junior Team Tennis, and USTA Junior Circuit programs.

Junior Tennis
Junior Tennis

STEP 1  |  TEAM CHALLENGE

A fun and social introduction to tennis that allows players to learn the game within their age group and skill level, USTA Team Challenge programs are single or multi-day events with short sessions focused on play and skill development, rather than competition. 

USTA Team Challenge is a low-pressure team environment for children of all ages to develop their skills through level-based play, without an emphasis on instruction or results. This experience is for red, orange, and green ball players. Participants are expected to at least drop hit serve from the service line over the net or sustain a modified rally (rolling, trapping, bumping, or hitting).

Find a Team Challenge event near you by using the USTA.com search engine. Click the filter “Team Challenge” to narrow your results. 

STEP 2  |  JUNIOR TEAM TENNIS

Who says tennis isn’t a team sport? It sure is! Youngsters compete on co-ed teams in Junior Team Tennis, playing singles, doubles, and mixed doubles matches with other JTT squads.

Seasonal sessions over one to two months focus on developing individual skills along with the team concept. A great way to learn the game (red/orange/green ball play) and make a lot of new friends in the process!

Junior Tennis

STEP 3  |  JUNIOR CIRCUIT

For players looking to get started with individual match play, the USTA recommends starting in the USTA Junior Circuit events. These are non-ranking events that allow players to gain match experience in a tournament setting while still focusing on having fun.

No USTA ranking points are awarded at Junior Circuit events, but PlayTracker points are earned for players ages 10 & under. Events are one-day and last two to four hours, with non-elimination round robin play. They’re open to all players ages 7-18 who are able to serve, maintain a rally, and keep score.

Once players achieve success at a USTA Junior Circuit, the USTA recommends Level 7 USTA Junior Tournaments in order to start earning national ranking points.

The 2023 Green Ball Grand Prix Circuit is designed for 10U players.

Top 10U Grand Prix point earners from the Green Ball Grand Prix will be invited to participate in an end of the season Early Development Camp.

All players will be on the USTA Net Generation Junior Pathway advancing to yellow ball, and all will receive Net Generation PlayTracker points.

Events coming up soon include:

March 26 – San Diego
March 26 – Woodland Hills

April 1 – Tarzana
April 8 – Long Beach
April 8 – Fountain Valley
April 9 – San Diego
April 9 – Irvine
April 15 – Fountain Valley
April 15 – South El Monte
April 15 – San Diego
April 16 – Santa Ana
April 16 – Los Angeles
April 22 – El Cajon
April 23 – Seal Beach
April 23 – Tarzana
April 23 – Irvine
April 23 – Santa Monica
April 29 – Glendale
April 29 – Costa Mesa
April 30 – Mission Viejo
April 30 – Woodland Hills

Boys’ Standings – Top 25
Last Updated: March 21, 2023

1.Mathias Simon312
2.Airen Lai216
3.Maxwell Bravo200
4.Jayden Jung192
5.Imangali Kanat168
6.Nathan Park144
7.Alvin Chen120
8.Lleyton Bruneau120
9.Charles Wang112
10.Ahren Rafiq104
11.Rolando Aramburo Gosset96
12.Jiajun Han88
13.Pierson Ross88
14.Ethan Lo72
15.Lucas Riego De Dios72
16.Truman Moua72
17.Daniel Marangozyan72
18.Yuyang Xu72
19.Dragon Chang72
20.Damian Kasralikar64
21.Shubh Saxena64
22.Ronin Choy64
23.Alvin Li64
24.Brayden Kramer64
25.Finnegan Blanchard64

Girls’ Standings – Top 25
Last Updated: March 21, 2023

1.Riley Yu248
2.Aleksandra Abaunza-Shen200
3.Supriya Constance104
4.Aila Sagerian-Becker80
5.Joanna Lerong Yao80
6.Harper Mckee64
7.Amber Simpson64
8.Alessandra Margolis64
9.Leah Johnson64
10.Maria Paula Montano64
11.Anya Moorjani64
12.Maya Chun64
13.Grace Malhotra56
14.Annabelle Rietz56
15.Valeria Sandoval56
16.Rohita Dhanekula56
17.Serena Patel56
18.Eva Hu48
19.Alivia Liu48
20.Ivanka Lishyk48
21.Olivia Harris48
22.Anaya Chandler48
23.Junyi Teng48
24.Sophia Ghaznavi40
25.Sherri Jones40

In 2023, USTA Southern California will pilot the 10U Yellow Ball Grand Prix Junior Circuit as a supplemental pathway for 10U players who have met the required play tracker points to advance to yellow ball play. 10U players now have the option of playing within their age group using yellow balls before they advance to 12U yellow ball events.

10U Yellow Ball Junior Circuit competitors will accumulate Grand Prix points. 10U Yellow Ball competitors do not collect Net Generation Play Tracker Points or National ranking points.

The top 10 & Under Grand Prix point earners from the Yellow Ball Grand Prix will be invited to participate in an end of the season Early Development Camp.

10U Yellow Ball Grand Prix Circuit points will be displayed on the Match Tennis App. Match Tennis App will publish the Grand Prix standings bi-weekly.

In order to play in the Yellow Ball Junior Circuit, a player must have met the required 1500 PlayTracker points from playing 10U Green Ball Tournaments. At least 1000 of those points must come from win points.

Grand Prix Circuit Season

The Yellow Ball Grand Prix Winter/ Spring season will run from January 29, 2023 – June 11, 2023. The end of the season camp will be held on Aug 4-5. Site is TBD. The last Grand Prix Tournament date that will count towards the points race for the 10U Early Development Camp will be June 4th. Invites to go out by June 22, 2023.

The Summer/Fall Grand Prix season will run from June 24, 2023 – November with the end of the season camp held on December 2-3, 2023. Site is TBD. The last Grand Prix Tournament date that will count towards the points race for the 10U Early Education Camp will be Nov 5, 2023. Invites to go out by Nov 10th, 2023.

Upcoming events include:

April 1 – Irvine
April 9 – Tarzana
April 15 – South El Monte
April 15 – San Diego
April 30 – Woodland Hills

May 14 – Glendale
May 21 – Seal Beach
May 27 – Fountain Valley

June 4 – Irvine

Selection for the 10U Yellow Early Development Camp

Players will be invited by their point standing in the Grand Prix race. Eight girls and eight boys will be invited to each EDC. No wildcards will be awarded to players for selection into this camp. This two day camp will include an introduction to the training curriculums and the second portion focuses on match play.

Boys’ Standings – Top 10
Last Updated: March 21, 2023

1.Timothy Kolomeyer48
2.Imangali Kanat40
3.Anthony Gallo32
4.Kade Glover24
5.Zining Zhang24
6.Edison Suryoutomo16
7.Grant Novak16
8.Shailen Natarajan16
9.Harvey Baek8
10.Alvin Chen8


Girls’ Standings – Top 10
Last Updated: March 21, 2023

1.Taliya Temraz96
2.Grace Lei80
3.Phoebe Uy56
4.Sofia Pizarro40
5.Anusha Goregaoker32
6.Selene Yang32
7.Jenna Omamogho16
8.Hattie Pfanschmidt16
9.Isabella Ball16
10.Naomi Prieve16

EARLY DEVELOPMENT CAMPS

USTA Southern California Early Development Camps are the first step in the USTA Player Development Pathway. Our goal is to bring together 10 & Under players across SoCal, who currently compete in Junior Circuit tournaments in order to practice and play together.

Early Development Camps are developed and designed by the USTA High Performance Player Development and utilize local USTA trained coaches. This two-day camp emphasizes fundamentals and overall athletic development in a fun, educational environment while giving players an opportunity to earn PlayTracker points through match play. Players with excellent work ethic, commitment, talent, and attitude are encouraged to participate.

The next Early Development Camp will take place March 25-26 at the Claremont Club in Claremont. Click here to register.

Campers are required to attend both days, which includes a USTA Sanctioned Tournament on the final day where players can earn PlayTracker points.

Orange Ball – Must be 7-10 years old.

Green Ball – Must be 7-10 years old. Players 7 and 8 years old that reach 1,000 play points in orange ball are eligible for green ball.

Orange ball competencies expected for attendance:

– Are able to sustain a 20-ball rally with coach at slow pace.
– Are able to sustain a 10-ball rally with player of similar level.
– Are working on forehand and backhand slice with continental grip.
– Have started using continental grip on volleys, overheads and serves.
– Have started working on closed, open and semi-open stances to maintain contact points between hip and shoulder.

Green ball competencies expected for attendance:

– Are able to sustain a 20 ball rally with coach at medium pace
– Are able to sustain a 10-ball rally with player of similar level at medium pace with contact points between hip and shoulder.
– Are able to sustain a rally using slice off of both sides with the continental grip.
– Using continental grip on volley, overheads and serves.
– Have a fundamental understanding of footwork patterns for closed, open and semi-open stances and when to use them.

Each camp includes:

– Camp Shirt
– Athletic/Technical Skills
– Teachable Moments
– Parent Information
– Orange Ball/Green Ball Junior Circuit Tournament

Early Development Camp