Each year the USTA sanctions many national junior tournaments including the USTA National Championships, USTA National Opens, Regional Tournaments and USTA National Team Championships. These tournaments are primarily for players who have experienced success at the Sectional Championships, Excellence and Championship tournaments in their sections.

It is important for players who want to play national tournaments to plan their schedules carefully because acceptance at some tournaments will rely on their national standings while others will rely on sectional rankings. Keep in mind that while players earn national ranking points in the national tournaments, they can also earn national points and sectional points by playing in the Sectional Championships and Excellence and Championship Tournaments held here in Northern California.

To obtain a copy of the National Junior Tournament Schedule for 2007, contact:

                    USTA NorCal
                    1350 South Loop Road, Suite 100
                    Alameda, CA 94502

                    Email: verhoeven@norcal.usta.com

CLICK HERE for the most current information about USTA National Tournaments, entry information and selection procedures.

On dates that shall be determined and published by USTA NorCal, Endorsement Lists shall be generated for the purpose of endorsing players in to the USTA National Championships, the USTA Zone Team Championships, the USTA Intersectional Team Championships, the USTA B18 National Team Championships, and the USTA G18 National Team Championships. Endorsement Lists shall include all players who are age eligible for play in the tournament for which the list is published.

National Standings Lists are lists of the top ranked players in the country. National Standings Lists are used to select players for Regional Tournaments, USTA National Opens and USTA National Championships. The lists are published weekly and include all age-eligible players who have accumulated at least 1 national ranking point during the computation period. For information on the national points per round ranking system, refer to the National Junior Tournament Schedule.

Each year and in each age division, the USTA holds four USTA National Championships which is the highest level of competition for junior players. While there are some exemptions to endorsement, most players are accepted in a USTA National Championship as part of their section's quota or because they are highly ranked on the National Standings List and appear on their sectional Endorsement List.

Each of the 17 sections of the USTA is guaranteed an exact quota for the USTA National Championships. In 2007, the minimum number of USTA NorCal players allowed to enter each USTA National Championship is expected to be four for a draw size of 192 and two for a draw size of 128. As these numbers may change, please review the USTA NorCal website for updated information.

In USTA NorCal, our Endorsement Lists for USTA National Championships is the same as our sectional Final Ranking Lists, subject to the minimum endorsement requirements. Specific dates for publishing sectional Endorsement Lists for USTA National Championships will be announced on the website.

Each year the USTA holds four concurrent USTA National Opens and many regional tournaments. Selection for these tournaments is based on National Standings Lists. For more information on these tournaments, refer to the National Junior Tournament Schedule and the USTA website.

Each summer, USTA NorCal sends teams comprised of our "All-Star" Players to compete in various USTA National Team Championships against teams from other USTA sections. The names of these tournaments are:

• USTA Boys' and Girls' 16, 14 and 12 Zone Team Championships

• USTA Boys' and Girls' 16 Intersectional Team Championships

• USTA B18 National Team Championships

• USTA G18 National Team Championships

For more detailed information on each of these tournaments, see below.

Generally, NorCal sends its strongest players who meet the minimum endorsement requirements listed below, but specific endorsement procedures will be published on the website. If you are interested in being on a team, contact Summer Verhoeven via email at verhoeven@norcal.usta.com for information concerning entries. Be sure to let her know your current mailing address, phone number and email address as team event information and entry forms will be mailed directly to you.

NOTE: Players who have accepted an endorsement to a team event is obligated to inform USTA NorCal in writing immediately if they decide not to participate. All unacceptable or untimely withdrawals will be referred to the Sportsmanship Committee for appropriate action.

• USTA B18 National Team Championships and
  USTA G18 National Team Championships
  (National Ranking Weight - Level 1)

  The USTA B18 National Team Championships and USTA G18 National Team Championships are team matches played between teams from the 17 sections of the USTA. NorCal sends six players to both the USTA B18 National Team Championships and USTA G18 National Team Championships. The Junior Tennis Council pays for team fees, rooms, some meals and the coaches' expenses. All players are responsible for their own airfare and a coaching fee. Match results count towards a national ranking. Only Northern California residents may participate. Players are notified by phone and mail.

• USTA Boys' and Girls' 16 Intersectional Team Championships
  (National Ranking Weight - Level 1)

  The Intersectional team matches are played between teams from the 17 sections of the USTA. NorCal sends a team of four boys and four girls. The Junior Tennis Council pays for some meals, team fees, rooms, and coaches' expenses. All players are responsible for their own airfare and a coaching fee. Match results count towards a national ranking. Only Northern California residents may participate.

• USTA Boys' and Girls' 16 Zone Team Championships
  (National Ranking Weight - Level 2)

  The USTA sanctions four Zone Team Championships for 16-and-under boys and girls. The four zones are Mid-South, South, North and Southwest. Each Zone Team Championship is run concurrently and hosts 12 boys teams of five players each and 12 girls teams of five players each; everyone participates in a non-elimination format. This is a four-day event and is held on a hard court surface. The total number of players is determined by the USTA and may be subject to change yearly. Entry is by sectional endorsement. Players' parents are responsible for their expenses and a coaching fee. Sections are responsible for their coaches' expenses.

• USTA Boys' and Girls' 14 Zone Team Championships
  (National Ranking Weight - Level 2)

  The USTA sanctions four Zone Team Championships for 14-and-under boys and girls. The four zones are Mid-South, South, North and Southwest. Each Zone Team Championship is run concurrently and hosts 12 boys teams of five players each and 12 girls teams of five players each; everyone participate in a non-elimination format. This is a four-day event and is held on a clay surface. The total number of players is determined by the USTA and may be subject to change yearly. Entry is by sectional endorsement. Players' parents are responsible for their expenses and a coaching fee. Sections are responsible for their coaches' expenses.

• USTA Boys' and Girls' 12 Zone Team Championships
  (National Ranking Weight - Level 2)

  The USTA sanctions four Zone Team Championships for 12-and-under boys and girls. The four zones are Northeast, Southeast, Central, and Pacific. Each zone team championship is run concurrently hosts 16 boys teams of five players each and 16 girls teams of five players each; everyone participate in a non-elimination format. four-day. The total number of players is determined by the USTA and may be subject to change yearly. Entry is by sectional endorsement. Players' parents are responsible for expenses of players, a coaching fee. Sections are responsible for their coaches' expenses.

On dates to be determined by the Director of Junior Tennis, NorCal Team Selection Lists for each of the following national team tournaments will be published to the USTA NorCal junior website:

• USTA Boys' and Girls' 16, 14, and 12 Zone Team Championships

• USTA Boys' and Girls' 16 Intersectional Team Championships

• USTA Boys' 18 and Girls' 18 National Team Championships

All players who applied for each team will be included on each NorCal Team Selection List and the Lists will indicate the total number of players selected for the event.

The most recently published Singles Sectional Final Ranking Lists in the division of the tournament shall be used as a starting point for the NorCal Team Selection List. Each player shall have 100 points added to their singles point total if the player has played three doubles events to completion that count for USTA NorCal doubles rankings between January 1 and the date of publication of NorCal Team Selection List. In order for a player to play a doubles event "to completion" they may not have withdrawn from the doubles event for any reason including default, injury, illness, or personal emergency.

Singles playing order in the team line-up for the USTA Boys' and Girls' 16, 14, and 12 Zone Team Championships will be determined by the order the players' names appear on the NorCal Team Selection List.

Singles playing order in the team line-up for the USTA Boys' and Girls' 16 Intersectional Team Championships and USTA Boys' 18 and Girls' 18 National Team Championships will be determined by the most recently published National Standings List.