PLAYER DEVELOPMENT

Prior to entering ITF events, all players must register for an International Player Identification Number (IPIN) membership. This alpha numeric identification number is a prerequisite to entering an ITF junior event anywhere in the world.

Since the ITF is closed on the weekends and it usually takes 1-3 days to get an IPIN, it is recommended not to wait until the last minute to get an IPIN.  All players, including onsite alternates need an IPIN so if you show up the the tournament site without an IPIN you will be unable to sign-in.

Tournaments on the ITF Junior Circuit are graded according to the strength of player entries, with the most ranking points being awarded for the eight major championships (Group A), which include the four Grand Slam events.

Players will need an ITF Junior Ranking to get into the Main Draw of ITF events.  Players will also usually need an ITF Ranking to get into the qualifying of Grade A, 1, and 2 events.  Players without an ITF ranking are more likely to obtain entry into the qualifying of Grade 3, 4 and 5 events.  

Tournaments are divided into the following grades:

• Group A (Super Series, including four Grand Slams)
• Group B (Regional Championships)
• Group C (International Team Competitions)
• (Groups 1-5) Level 1 events are the strongest and level 5 are the weakest events in this group

ITF Junior World Ranking points are available at all tournaments. In order to get a ranking a player must reach a round where points are available. The number of points available in each round will vary depending on the grading of the tournament and the round reached.

Grade A events offer the most ranking points, these include Junior Grand Slams which also offer bonus points to the winners. Grade 5 events offer the least ranking points and should be used as an introduction to the ITF Junior Circuit.

Players are selected into the Qualifying draw based on the official order of acceptance as written in the current ITF Junior Circuit Regulations. Currently the system of merit is as follows for event in the USA*:

Boys

1. ITF Junior Ranking
2. ATP Ranking of 750 or better-Main Draw Acceptance
3. ATP Ranking of 850 to 751-Qualifying Acceptance
4. All Non Ranked ITF players will be handled as follows:

• 50% from players on the USTA Top 200 National Ranking (If event is held in the USA)
• Players from the Region (North America)
• Players from the Zone (The Americas )

         5.    No ITF ranking-Ordered Randomly (Not by USTA National Ranking )

Girls

1. ITF Junior Ranking
2. WTA Ranking of 400 or better-Main Draw Acceptance
3. WTA Ranking of 500 to 401-Qualifying Acceptance
4. All Non Ranked ITF players will be handled as follows:

• 50% from players on the USTA Top 200 National Ranking (If event is held in the USA)
• Players from the Region (North America)
• Players from the Zone (The Americas )

         5.    No ITF ranking - ordered randomly (not by USTA National Ranking )

* The ITF Easter Bowl is a closed ITF event and the selection procedure can be found by clicking here.

** The Top 200 List can be found by clicking here.  

In 2004, the ITF introduced the Combined Junior Ranking (CJR), replacing the Singles and Doubles Ranking. Currently, the CJR is the sole junior ranking published by the ITF and aims to encourage the doubles game at junior level and subsequently at professional level.

A player's ranking will be calculated using the best six singles results plus one quarter (25%) of the best six doubles results.

For example:
 
Player X's best six singles results = 950
Player X's best six doubles results = 880
One quarter of 880 = 220
950 + 220 = 1170 = Combined Ranking points total
 
Points are counted on a 52-week rollover system.

Tournaments are divided into the following grades:

• Grade A (including four Grand Slams & the Youth Olympic Games)
• Grade B (Regional Championships)
• Grade C (International Team Competitions)
• Grades 1-5

ITF Junior World Ranking points are available at all tournaments. In order to get a ranking a player must reach a round where points are available and must have won a match in the main draw. The number of points available in each round will vary depending on the Grade of the tournament and the round reached. Tournaments shall be classified into Grades, based mainly on an evaluation of previous tournaments while maintaining a geographical balance.

Points Table

• Always check the Fact Sheet. The Fact Sheet will provide you all the information about the event.
• Qualifying sign-in is usually at 6 pm on Friday and Main Draw sign-in usually closes at 6pm on Sunday. Please note 6:01 pm is past the deadline and a player will not be permitted to sign-in. However the deadline day and times can be different at some events, so always check the fact sheet.
• All players accepted into the Main Draw of singles are guaranteed into the doubles event as long as they play with another main draw players (except that wild cards are treated differently). Please check the ITF Jr Rules and Regulations.
• Players must sign-in for doubles on site during main draw registration. Doubles sign-in closes at 12:00 pm on the first day on main draw singles. (Again always check the fact sheet for variations).
• Players who are watching the acceptance list should do so knowing that wild cards are not updated on the ITF list. Thus players on the qualifying list could have moved into the main draw.
• Also you should check the acceptance list and if there are only 46 players in the main draw (for a 64 draw) than that means that two spots are left for SE’s. Thus players who are the top two alternates are guaranteed into the main draw.
• A Special Exempt is a spot provided in the main draw to a player in an ITF Junior event the week before the current event because they are still playing in the main draw of the event the week before. However the event must be the same grade or 1 level above or below. So if I’m playing in the finals of a level 4 event and I’m in the qualifying the next week of a level 1 or 2 then I can’t receive a special exempt.

ITF events are designed to prepare players for the procedures used at entry level professional events. Therefore schedules for most ITF events in the USA use a "followed by" match schedule. Because draws for ITF events use ITF software the match schedule is not easily posted on the website. So check with the tournament information provided on where to obtain match times, because Tennislink is usually not the location for match times. Make sure to ask where you find the schedule during registration.

Please note that some of the rules used by the ITF are different from the USTA rules. Here are a few examples:

There is a Code Violation-Warning in ITF events.

• All singles matches are 2 out of three sets (unless weather causes disruption and any changes of scoring must be approved by the USTA Jr Comp Department and ITF) – So normally no 10-point tiebreakers for the third set.
• All doubles is two our of 3 sets with a 10 point tiebreaker played in lieu of a 3rd set with no-ad scoring.
• There are no back draws at ITF events
• There is no break between the second and third sets, so no coaching is allowed.

The withdrawal deadline for all ITFs is 2 weeks prior to the Monday at 14:00 GMT (which typically is 6 am Pacific and 9 am Eastern) that the main draw begins. Players should withdrawal by logging into their IPIN account. Each player is allowed 3 withdrawals without penalty after the deadline. However it is important that you never No Show at an event. So players should always withdrawal even as an alternate if they know they are not planning to attend an event. This will also allow other players to plan to take a chance to sign-in.

In addition to the withdrawal deadline there is a freeze deadline which occurs at 14:00 GMT on the Wednesday proceeding the tournament week. All withdrawals made after this point must be made using the official withdrawal form and sent to the ITF and Referee before the close of sign-in. The published acceptance lists is not update with any of the withdrawals. This transpires because the Referee takes over managing the withdrawals. Any player who withdraws from a tournament Main Draw or Qualifying Draw after the close of Qualifying sign-in without using the official withdrawal form, sent to the ITF and the ITF Tournament Referee, will receive a No Show penalty.

Find out more answers to your questions by clicking the FAQ Document.

Still searching for answers? For additional information, feel free to consult the ITF Junior Competition homepage.