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 2024 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. USTA Junior Circuits don’t grant National ranking points.

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

To join the Green Ball Junior Circuit, players must be either:

  • Nine years old.
  • Have earned 1,000 orange ball play points.
  • OR – at least seven years of age and successfully assessed by a Safe Play approved USPTA or PTR* certified coach that has completed the Net Generation assessment training. Learn how to use the assessment tool here.

GRAND PRIX CIRCUIT SEASON

The Winter Green Ball Grand Prix season will run from December 1, 2023 – February 25, 2024 with the end of the season camp held on March 16-17, 2024 at Costa Mesa Tennis Center. The last Grand Prix Tournament date that will count towards the points race for the 10U Early Development Camp will be February 25, 2024. Invites will go out by March 1, 2024.

The Spring/Summer Green Ball Grand Prix season will run from March 2 – June 16, 2024 with the end of the season camp held on July 13-14, 2024. The site of this will be announced later this year. The last Grand Prix Tournament date that will count towards the points race for the 10U Early Development Camp will be June 16, 2024. Invites will go out by June 21, 2024.

The Fall Green Ball Grand Prix season will run from June 17, 2024 -October 20, 2024 with the end of the season camp held on November 9-10, 2024. The site of this will be announced later this year. The last Grand Prix Tournament date that will count towards the points race for the 10U Early Development Camp will be October 20, 2024. Invites will go out by October 25, 2024.

SELECTION FOR 10U GREEN BALL DEVELOPMENT CAMP

Players will be invited by their point standing in the Grand Prix race. Twelve girls and twelve boys will be invited to each Early Development Camp. 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.

If there is a tie in the standings, it will be broken by World Tennis Number (WTN).

2024 GREEN BALL JUNIOR CIRCUIT SCHEDULE

The schedule for the 2024 10U Green Ball Grand Prix Junior Circuit can be found under the Upcoming Events tab below.

How to search for a tournament: Visit PlayTennis here. Please type in the CITY and STATE into the appropriate search fields.

How to register for the tournament: Please see this Customer Care article for more steps.

How to withdraw from a tournament: Please see this Customer Care article for more steps.

Boys’ Standings – Top 10
Last Updated: February 22, 2024

1.Micah Redmond424
2.Micah Chang408
3.Daniel Marangozyan352
4.Vivaan Gowda264
5.Bradley Zhao264
6.Airen Lai248
7.Matthew Johnson248
8.Liam Belhumeur248
9.Tudor Tepelus232
10.Rolando Aramburo Gosset232


Girls’ Standings – Top 10
Last Updated: February 22, 2024

1.Venice Johnson152
2.Emi Kato104
3.Veronika Poslova104
4.Emma Moore96
5.Christina Cui88
6.Chloe Wu88
7.Waverly Stark88
8.Madeleine Lavoie88
9.Ellen Hu80
10.Colette Lee80

These are 10U Green Ball events that count towards the Net Generation Play Tracker. Dates and events are subject to change. All Green Ball events are part of the 10U Green Ball Grand Prix.

MARCH 2024

March 2 – Del Norte
March 2 – Santa Monica High School
March 2 – RDD Elite – Lakewood Tennis Center
March 3 – Fountain Valley Tennis Center
March 9 – Braemar Country Club
March 9 – Patel Tennis
March 10 – Glendale Tennis Academy
March 10 – Max Performance Tennis Academy
March 16-17 – Braemar Country Club
March 16 – La Jolla Country Day School
March 16 – Seal Beach Tennis & Pickleball Center
March 17 – Mountain View Tennis Center
March 17 – Valter Paiva Tennis Academy
March 17 – Max Performance Tennis Academy
March 23 – Laguna Beach Tennis Academy
March 23 – California Tennis Association
March 24 – Match Tough Tennis Academy
March 30-31 – Braemar Country Club
March 30 – Chira Tennis Academy
March 31 – RDD Elite – CSU LA

APRIL 2024

April 6 – Patel Tennis
April 7 – Max Performance Tennis
April 13 – Del Norte High School
April 14 – Max Performance Tennis
April 14 – California Tennis Association
April 20 – Chira Tennis Academy
April 21 – Match Point Tennis Academy
April 21 – Mountain View Sports & Racquet Club
April 21 – Seal Beach Tennis & Pickleball Center
April 21 – Braemar Country Club
April 28 – Warner Tennis Center

MAY 2024

May 5 – Westlake Athletic Club
May 5 – Max Performance Tennis
May 11 – Patel Tennis
May 12 – Glendale Tennis Academy
May 18-19 – Braemar Country Club
May 19 – Match Point Tennis Academy
May 19 – Seal Beach Tennis Center

The 10U Yellow Ball Grand Prix Junior Circuit is a supplemental pathway for 10U players who have met the required play tracker points to advance to yellow ball play. 10U players can now play 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.

This Grand Prix Race is restricted to players residing in Southern California.

GRAND PRIX CIRCUIT SEASON

The Winter Yellow Ball Grand Prix season will run from December 1, 2023 – February 25, 2024 with the end of the season camp held on March 16-17 at Costa Mesa Tennis Center. The last Grand Prix Tournament date that will count towards the points race for the 10U Early Development Camp will be February 25, 2024. Invites will go out by March 1, 2024.

The Spring/Summer Yellow Ball Grand Prix season will run from March 2, 2024 – June 16, 2024 with the end of the season camp held on July 13-14, 2024. The site of this will be announced later this year. The last Grand Prix Tournament date that will count towards the points race for the 10U Early Development Camp will be June 16, 2024. Invites will go out by June 21, 2024.

The Fall Yellow Ball Grand Prix season will run from June 16, 2024 – October 20, 2024 with the end of the season camp held on November 9-10, 2024. The site of this will be announced later this year. The last Grand Prix Tournament date that will count towards the points race for the 10U Early Development Camp will be October 20, 2024. Invites will go out by October 25, 2024.

SELECTION FOR 10U YELLOW BALL 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 Early Development Camp. 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.

If there is a tie in the standings, it will be broken by World Tennis Number (WTN).

2024 YELLOW BALL JUNIOR CIRCUIT SCHEDULE

The schedule for the 2024 10U Yellow Ball Grand Prix Junior Circuit can be found under the Upcoming Events tab below.

How to search for a tournament: Visit PlayTennis here. Please type in the CITY and STATE into the appropriate search fields.

How to register for the tournament: Please see this Customer Care article for more steps.

How to withdraw from a tournament: Please see this Customer Care article for more steps.

Boys’ Standings – Top 10
Last Updated: February 22, 2024

1.Theodore Chatmajian184
2.Adrian Cai152
3.Ishan Adluri136
4.Clayton Chan128
5.Nicola Marini112
6.Enrique Luna de la Madrid104
7.Grham Carretta104
8.Noah Feigenbaum96
9.Liam Wong96
10.Liam Kim96

Girls’ Standings – Top 10
Last Updated: February 25, 2024

1.Paris Quynh40
2.Jesenia Cardona32
3.Sabine Klausmeyer32
4.Katherine Ma32
5.Kira Elliott32
6.Maya Sokhikyan32
7.Giuliana Oliveros24
8.Evelyn Kan24
9.Abby Yen16
10.Hannah Hong8

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.

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