INTRODUCTION:

Top Seed Tennis Academy uses several systems to determine “internal” rankings amongst players enrolled in our programs.  It is a little complicated only because current USTA & UTR rankings systems are somewhat complicated themselves.  Top Seed has initiated our own ladder rules based on previous and current formats used in our programs.  Please review the following explanations and rules if you have any questions or would like more information on how we rank our juniors in the Top Seed Tennis Academy.  To understand UTR better, click on the following link: https://myutr.com/

 

LADDER RULES

Top Seed Tennis Academy has two junior ladders.  One is determined by UTR (Universal Tennis Rating).  This is our more advanced ladder where all players on this ladder have participated in USTA sanctioned tournaments.  Their rating is derived from results of their sanctioned tournament matches.  Individual challenge matches between players on the Top Seed UTR ladder played during Top Seed programs, like the after school clinics, summer camp, and Junior Challenge Series do not affect ladder rankings on the UTR ladder.

 

Top Seed Tennis Academy also has a Tournament Training ladder.  This internal ladder/ranking system is for players who have not played in any, or enough, USTA sanctioned tournaments, and do not have a UTR rating.  these are typically our youngest, novice and introductory players, juniors who are still playing  sanctioned 10 & Under tennis tournaments, or players who do not participate in sanctioned tournament play.  Challenge matches played between players on this Tournament Training (TT) ladder DO affect ladder position.  Any match completed between these players must be reported to a Top Seed pro or recorded by a Top Seed pro.  Matches must be completed and must be at least a 6 game set.  If a player on the “TT” ladder defeats a player on the UTR ladder, that player is moved up 10 spots on the TT ladder.  If the player is within 10 spots of the top of the TT ladder, then they will be moved to the top of the TT ladder.   That player does not move onto the UTR ladder.  A player can only be on the UTR ladder if he or she has a UTR rating or has been assigned a temporary “UTR” rating by Top Seed.  This might include a player who competes with other UTR players but may only be playing 10 & under tennis tournaments (which, by USTA & UTR rules do not count toward UTR ratings) or has not had a chance to play in sanctioned tournaments yet.

Matches assigned by Top Seed Pros during clinics, camps or other Top Seed organized competition are considered challenge matches. When a player wins a challenge match, (completing the challenge match – at least winning 6 games) he/she is placed directly above the player he/she defeated and the loser moves down one spot, as well as all those players who were ranked between the two players.

 

Challenge match results must be recorded by:

1.)  Junior Challenge Match record sheet available at the front desk

2.) Top Seed pro recording the result on an official challenge record sheet.

3.) Going online to: “Challenge Ladder” then “Submit Score.”

 

• It is the winner’s responsibility to report this score to a Top Seed pro.

 

• Players can challenge as many as 7 spots above them.

 

• The challenged player MUST accept the challenge as his/her commitment to being on the ladder.

 

• Players have one month to schedule a challenge match once it is issued

 

• If a Top Seed pro assigns a challenge match, there is no limit on how far a player can move up.

 

• A player must be given notification and both players must know that they are playing a challenge match.

 

• Challenge matches must be, at least one 6 game, no-ad or regular scoring set.  Matches can also be 8 game pro sets, or 2 out of 3 sets.

 

• If two players on the TT ladder play each other in a sanctioned tournament either at the Calabasas Tennis & Swim Center or another facility during a tournament, it counts as a challenge match.  If the match is played away from the club, the results MUST be reported to a Top Seed pro, otherwise there is no way of knowing the match took place.

 

• 10 & Under players who participate in  a sanctioned “Orange Ball”, Level 7 tournament may not play a complete set in one of these round robin competitions.  Any matches played in one of these types of competitions counts as a challenge match, even though the match was not a full set.  Again, this match must be reported to a Top Seed pro.

 

• During Top Seed Academy programs, sets must be completed to count.  If class time runs out and two players are at 4-2, the match does not count as a win for the player ahead.

 

If you have any questions regarding the ladder contact Jeff Richards, junior ladder coordinator at 818-222-2782 or jeff@topseed.us