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NJRS

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NATIONAL JUNIOR RANKING SYSTEM (NJRS)

The USTA believes it is imperative to have a system that our players can readily comprehend and that encourages them to structure their schedules to address the key elements of player development.

After considerable research, the High Performance Division and the Youth Competition and Training Committee have concluded that a version of a points-based ranking system best addresses the specific objectives identified above and the overall goal of helping players reach their potential. By using tiered levels of importance we can weigh our events, assign regulations that help our juniors to compete often, and put the emphasis on advancing through the draw. The simple concept of having a player capable of categorizing an event, determining its level, and understanding the ranking impact of success in that event allows the player to understand what needs to be done. This is an invaluable asset in developing tangible and measurable goals that also help the player’s preparation and motivation.

The details of the NJRS are outlined below, including ranking tables and point assignments. Doubles rankings have not been addressed in these tables, but a comparable ranking approach to team rankings will be developed and implemented in 2004.

Points Per Round NJRS. Included in the new ranking proposal is the plan to discontinue the Monthly Singles Rankings as produced today and move to year-end national singles rankings. The national singles rankings based on a calendar year will be consistent with the current practice used for national junior doubles rankings. Annual rankings will provide players, coaches and parents a clear vision to evaluate their development as well as progress toward meeting performance and outcome goals. We will continue to produce and publish National Standings Lists, formerly identified as National Selection and Seeding Lists, on a monthly basis as is done today, but the lists will be calculated using the new points-based ranking logic utilizing the past 12 months of player results. We also will use the points-based ranking logic to generate the National Championship Selection List (formerly the Super National Selection List) three times a year.

Each player’s annual ranking will be based on the accumulation of points for winning rounds (“Points Per Round”) and having wins over “top 100” players (“Bonus Points”) at National Ranking Tournaments during the calendar year. The total number of points a player earns during the year is determined as follows:

Points Earned at 8 Best National Ranking Tournaments ** + Bonus Points Earned at BG 18 ITF Events on the National Junior Tournament Schedule =\| Total Ranking Points	** Points earned include points per round from the points ranking tables below PLUS any bonus points earned at the tournament. These bonus points are "attached" to the event at which they are earned. If a tournament is not among a player's best eight tournaments, neither the points per round nor the bonus points for that event will count toward the player's ranking point total.
Players must accumulate at least 200 ranking points during the calendar year in order to earn a year-end ranking.

A list of the National Ranking Tournaments is in the table under "National Ranking Tournaments and Tournament Levels" below. Because 12 sectional events are designated National Ranking Tournaments, it is possible for a player to earn a national ranking by playing only in sectional events.

Specifics of the Points Per Round NJRS include:

• A player must win a round to receive any points for the tournament. The points tables that appear below are based on draws as large as 256 players. In draws smaller than 256 players, players do not receive any points until they have won a round. Byes do not qualify as wins.

• Withdrawals and walkovers qualify as wins for the advancing player and earn Points Per Round, but do not earn Bonus Points.

• Retirements qualify as wins for the advancing player and earn Points Per Round and, if eligible, Bonus Points.

• A player who advances because of a default that takes place before the commencement of the first point in the match or because the opponent is disqualified shall receive Points Per Round for advancing, but shall not receive any Bonus Points.

• A player who advances because of a default that takes place after the commencement of the first point in the match shall receive Points Per Round for advancing and, if eligible, Bonus Points.

• A player who is defaulted from a tournament for code violations under the Point Penalty System or misconduct forfeits any points accumulated during the tournament, including both Points Per Round and Bonus Points. Players defaulted in singles only lose points accumulated for play in the singles main and feed-in championship draws.

• National Standings Lists will be limited to players who remain age eligible for play in the division. The National Standings Lists will include all age eligible players having accumulated at least 100 points during the computation period. Points earned in a higher age division tournament count towards a player’s standing in the player’s natural age division, as well as in the age division of the tournament itself. The computation period includes the previous 12 months of matches from National Ranking Tournaments.

•     Tiebreak Rules for National Standings Lists:
a.   A player whose best event has the highest number of points, second best, third best, etc. through eight events.
b.   Total Bonus Points earned in all events played during the computation period.
c.   Best random draw number

• The final rankings for a junior age division shall include all players who have been age eligible for play in the division at any time during the year and who have accumulated at least 200 points in the division. Only points earned in the division will count towards ranking in that division. Players may be ranked in more than one age division if they have been age eligible in more than one division during the year and have met the minimum point requirement for each age division.

National Ranking Tournaments and Tournament Levels. The Youth Competition and Training Committee and the High Performance Division will determine the appropriate levels of the tournaments considered for national singles rankings. Below are the leveling of tournaments for 2004.

Level	National Ranking Tournament
Level 1	USTA National Championship Tournaments (currently named USTA Super National Championships)
Level 2	USTA National Open Tournaments USTA Boys’ 18 Junior Davis Cup Championships USTA Girls’ 18 Junior Fed Cup Championships USTA BG 16 Intersectional Team Championships USTA BG 16, 14, and 12 Zone Team Championships
Level 3	USTA BG 18 Interscholastic Championships (East/West) BG 16, 14, and 12 ITF Events on the National Junior Tournament Schedule (Note: The BG 16, 14, and 12 Orange Bowl, Eddie Herr and International Winter Championships are the only tournaments currently in this category.) Other non-ITF events on the National Junior Tournament Schedule
Level 4	Sectional Championships –4 designated by each Sectional Association
Level 5	Other Sectional Tournaments - 8 designated by each Sectional Association
Bonus Point Only Events	BG 18 ITF Events on the National Junior Tournament Schedule, including the BG 18 International Junior Hard Court Championships, BG 18 International Junior Grass Court Championships, US Open, Wimbledon, French Open, and Australian Open

Relative Weights of Tournament Levels. The Youth Competition and Training Committee and the High Performance Division will determine the relative weights of rounds won at each of the National Ranking Tournaments. On the following pages are the point tables for 2004.

Main Draw with a Feed-in Championship through Quarterfinals Points Per Round

(Draw in which losers through the quarterfinals are fed into the Feed-in Championship – for example, this table will be used for BG 18, 16, and 14 USTA National Championship Tournaments. The Feed-in Championship is considered part of the tournament with which it is connected. Points earned by players losing through the quarterfinals in the Main Draw are determined by the round they reach in the Feed-in Championship.)

Player Result		Level 1 (30 x Level 5)	Level 2 (15 x Level 5)	Level 3 (10 x Level 5)	Level 4 (5 x Level 5)	Level 5
Champion	1	660	330	220	110	22
2nd Place	2	540	270	180	90	18
3rd Place	3	480	240	160	80	16
4th Place/SF**	4	420	210	140	70	14
FIC Champion	5	390	195	130	65	13
FIC Finalist	6	360	180	120	60	12
FIC SF	7-8	330	165	110	55	11
FIC QF (players are fed into this round from the QF of the MD)	9-12	300	150	100	50	10
FIC QF Qualifying	13-16	270	135	90	45	9
FIC R16 (players are fed into this round from the R16 of the MD)	17-24	240	120	80	40	8
FIC R16 Qualifying	25-32	210	105	70	35	7
FIC R32 (players are fed into this round from the R32 of the MD)	33-48	180	90	60	30	6
FIC R32 Qualifying	49-64	150	75	50	25	5
FIC R64 (players are fed into this round from the R64 of the MD)	65-96	120	60	40	20	4
FIC R64 Qualifying	97-128	90	45	30	15	3
FIC R128 (players are fed into this round from the R128 of the MD)	129-192	60	30	20	10	2
FIC R128 Qualifying	193-256	0	0	0	0	0
FICR256 (players are fed into this round from the R256 of the MD)		0	0	0	0	0

** If there is no playoff for 3rd and 4th place, the semifinalists will receive points in this row.

Main Draw with a Feed-in Championship through Semifinals Points Per Round

(Draw in which losers through the semifinals are fed into the Feed-in Championship. For example, this table will be used for the USTA National Open Tournaments in 2004** The Feed-in Championship is considered part of the tournament with which it is connected. Points earned by players losing through the semifinals in the Main Draw are determined by the round they reach in the Feed-in Championship.)

Player Result		Level 1 (30 x Level 5)	Level 2 (15 x Level 5)	Level 3 (10 x Level 5)	Level 4 (5 x Level 5)	Level 5
Champion	1	660	330	220	110	22
2nd Place	2	540	270	180	90	18
FIC Champion	3	480	240	160	80	16
FIC Finalist	4	420	210	140	70	14
FIC SF (players are fed into this round from the SF of the MD)	5-6	360	180	120	60	12
FIC SF Qualifying	7-8	330	165	110	55	11
FIC QF (players are fed into this round from the QF of the MD)	9-12	300	150	100	50	10
FIC QF Qualifying	13-16	270	135	90	45	9
FIC R16 (players are fed into this round from the R16 of the MD)	17-24	240	120	80	40	8
FIC R16 Qualifying	25-32	210	105	70	35	7
FIC R32 (players are fed into this round from the R32 of the MD)	33-48	180	90	60	30	6
FIC R32 Qualifying	49-64	150	75	50	25	5
FIC R64 (players are fed into this round from the R64 of the MD)	65-96	120	60	40	20	4
FIC R64 Qualifying	97-128	90	45	30	15	3
FIC R128 (players are fed into this round from the R128 of the MD)	129-192	60	30	20	10	2
FIC R128 Qualifying	193-256	0	0	0	0	0
FIC R256 (players are fed into this round from the R256 of the MD)		0	0	0	0	0

** The USTA has amended is regulations to reduce the number of players that will qualify from each USTA National Open Tournament in to the following USTA National Championship Tournament. Beginning in 2004, the number of players that will qualify from each USTA National Open Tournament will be three, for a total of 12 players qualifying from all four of the immediately preceding USTA National Open Tournaments.

Main Draw with Modified Consolation Tournament Points Per Round, Including
First Match Losers Consolation, First Round Losers Consolation, and Compass Draw ††

(This table will be used, for example, in BG 12 USTA National Championship Tournaments.)

Player Result ††		Level 1 (30 x Level 5)	Level 2 (15 x Level 5)	Level 3 (10 x Level 5)	Level 4 (5 x Level 5)	Level 5
Champion	1	660	330	220	110	22
2nd Place	2	540	270	180	90	18
3rd Place	3	480	240	160	80	16
4th Place/SF**	4	420	210	140	70	14
Quarterfinalist	5-8	300	150	100	50	10
Reached R16	9-16	240	120	80	40	8
Reached R32	17-32	180	90	60	30	6
Reached R64	33-64	120	60	40	20	4
Reached R128	65-128	60	30	20	10	2
Reached R256	129-256	0	0	0	0	0
Points Per Round Earned for Each Consolation Round Won ††		30	15	10	5	1

** If there is no playoff for 3rd and 4th place, the semifinalists will receive points in this row.

†† In Compass Draw events only, the East Draw earns main draw Points Per Round; all other directions and Gold Draw earn consolation Points Per Round.

Main Draw with No Consolation Points Per Round

(Note: There are currently no Level 1 or Level 2 tournaments that will use this point table.)

Player Result		Level 1 (30 x Level 5)	Level 2 (15 x Level 5)	Level 3 (10 x Level 5)	Level 4 (5 x Level 5)	Level 5
Champion	1	660	330	220	110	22
2nd Place	2	540	270	180	90	18
3rd Place	3	480	240	160	80	16
4th Place/SF	4	420	210	140	70	14
Quarterfinalist	5-8	300	150	100	50	10
Reached R16	9-16	240	120	80	40	8
Reached R32	17-32	180	90	60	30	6
Reached R64	33-64	120	60	40	20	4
Reached R128	65-128	60	30	20	10	2
Reached R256	129-256	0	0	0	0	0

** If there is no playoff for 3rd and 4th place, the semifinalists will receive points in this row.

Team Events with Round Robins Points Per Round

(This table is used, for example, at the following Level 2 tournaments: Zonals, Intersectionals, Junior Fed Cup and Junior Davis Cup. There is no Level 1 or Level 3 tournament that will use this point table.)

Player Position on Team	Level 2 (10 x Level 5)	Level 4 (4 x Level 5)	Level 5
Position #1	50	20	5
Position #2	40	16	4
Position #3	30	12	3
Position #4	20	8	2
Position #5	10	4	1
Maximum number of points that can be earned at event (points earned by winning up to 5 rounds plus Bonus Points)	250 + Bonus Points	100 + Bonus Points	25 + Bonus Points

Players in each of the positions receive the number of points per win that appear in this table. For example, if Position #1 player on the team has four wins at a Level 2 tournament, the player will earn 200 points (50 points x 4 wins). Players also can earn Bonus Points according to the Bonus Point table below.

Tournaments with Qualifying Rounds Covered in a Single Sanction

No Points Per Round will be earned in the qualifying rounds of tournaments when the qualifying draw and main draw are covered in a single sanction. However, in Level 1 through 5 tournaments, Bonus Points will accumulate for the tournament and will be attached to the tournament at which they are earned. Additionally, American juniors winning matches against other American juniors in qualifying rounds at ITF 18-and-under events will receive Bonus Points that will be added to the player's total points earned at the player’s best eight tournaments. See "Bonus Points - Rewards for Significant Wins" below.

Bonus Points – Rewards for Significant Wins. Bonus Points are earned at National Ranking Tournaments for significant wins according to the table below. Bonus Points are earned for wins in both main draw and qualifying draw matches. At Level 1 through 5 tournaments, Bonus Points are “attached” to the tournament at which they are earned. If a tournament total is not among a player’s best eight tournaments, neither the Points Per Round nor the Bonus Points will count toward the player’s ranking point total.

Additionally, American juniors winning matches against other American juniors in the main draw and qualifying rounds at ITF 18-and-under events on the National Junior Tournament Schedule (including the US Open, Wimbledon, French Open, and Australian Open) will receive Bonus Points in the 18s division according to the Bonus Points table below. These Bonus Points will be awarded independently of the best eight tournaments and will be added to the player’s total points earned in the player’s best eight tournaments. This applies for both the National Standings List and year-end rankings.

Standing of Player Defeated **	Bonus Points Earned for Significant Win
Top 10	75
#11 through #20	50
#21 through #50	25
#51 through #75	10
#76 through #100	5

** Player standings are determined by the National Standings List published on the 15th day of each month and apply to tournaments starting on or after that publication date and prior to the 15th of the following month.

The following examples illustrate how Bonus Points are calculated and applied to a player’s point total:

Player #1 defeats Players #15, #24, and #30: Player #1 receives 125 total Bonus Points and points are added to Player #1’s total points for the tournament (50 points + 50points + 25 points = 125 Bonus Points). The total ranking points earned at this tournament are only included in Player #5’s year-end total if the event is one of Player #5’s best eight tournaments.

Player #100 defeats Players #19 and #48: Player #100 receives 75 Bonus Points and points are added to Player #100’s total points for the tournament (50 points + 25 points = 75 Bonus Points). The total ranking points earned at this event are only included in Player #100’s year-end total if the tournament is one of Player #100’s best eight tournaments.

Player #5 defeats Player #1 at an ITF 18-and-under event: Player #5 receives 75 Bonus Points. The Bonus Points are added to Player #5’s total points for the ranking year.

TIMELINE FOR IMPLEMENTATION

Below is a timeline for implementation of the NJRS. Because the NJRS was approved on April 15, 2003, and implementation begins on January 1, 2004, only eight months of data will be collected for use when the NJRS goes into effect. As noted on the timeline below, the first National Championship Selection List and the first National Standings Lists will use player results from May 1, 2003, forward.

April 15, 2003	Approval of Proposals by USTA Executive Committee
April 23, 2003	Release communiqué to Players on new National Junior Ranking System Ongoing communication plans to educate players, parents, and coaches will be implemented throughout the remainder of 2003
April 16 to May 30, 2003	Build National Junior Ranking System (NJRS) Logic Computer Program
May 30 to Oct. 1, 2003	Test Points-Based Ranking System
Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, 2003	Finalize detailed procedures manual for NJRS
Dec. 31, 2003	Discontinue usage of STAR algorithm at national level
Jan. 15, 2004	Publish first National Championship Selection List for USTA Spring National Championships utilizing eight months of player results (May 1, 2003 to January 15, 2004)
Jan. 15, 2004	Begin publishing monthly National Standings List (utilizing player results from May 1, 2003, forward)
Dec. 31, 2004	Publish first NJRS Annual Singles and Doubles Rankings