LEAGUE CRITERIA

USTA League Tennis provides fun and competitive matches for thousands of tennis players nationwide. It also gives players the opportunity to experience team camaraderie, to improve their tennis skills, to meet and compete against new players and to participate in competition beyond local league play.

There are four divisions in USTA League Tennis: Adult, Senior, Super Senior and Mixed Doubles. The following is a brief description of each.

Adult Division

The match format for USTA League Tennis is two singles and three doubles, except the 2.5 and 5.0 levels, which are one singles and two doubles. Teams consist of either all women or all men. Play progresses through local, area and section competition and culminates at a national championship.

Requirements for participation in the USTA League Tennis program are:

• Participants must be 19 years or older

• USTA membership is required

• Players must accurately self-rate themselves and submit background history form received from their local coordinators.

• Levels of play are 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5 and 5.0

Senior Division

In 1991, the USTA introduced a senior division of the USTA League Tennis program. The senior division has the same rules and regulations as the adult division with the exception of match format, which is three doubles. Play progresses through local, area and section competition and culminates at a national championship.

Requirements for participation in the senior division are:

• Participants must be 50 years or older

• USTA membership is required

• Players must accurately self-rate themselves and submit background history form received from their local coordinators.

• Levels of play are 3.0, 3.5, 4.0 and 4.5

Super Senior Division

The Super Senior League consists of at least 6 players per team starting at the 3.0 NTRP level and up to the 4.5 NTRP level. A team match consists of three doubles matches only. Play progresses through local, area and section competition and culminates at a national invitational championship.

Requirements for participation in the Super Senior division are:

• Participants must be 60 years or older

• USTA membership is required

• Players must accurately self-rate themselves and submit background history form received from their local coordinators.

• Sections determine level of play – either a combined NTRP (6.0, 7.0, 8.0, 9.0, 10.0; 6.5,7.5,8.5,9.5,10.5) or straight NTRP (3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5 or 5.0).

Mixed Doubles Division

In 1999, the USTA League Tennis program was expanded to include mixed doubles championships. The mixed doubles division has the same rules and regulations as the senior division, including the match format of three doubles. Play progresses through local, area, and section competitions and culminates at regional championships.

Requirements for participation in the mixed doubles division are:

• Participants must be 19 years or older

• USTA membership is required

• Sections determine level of play – either a combined NTRP (6.0, 7.0, 8.0, 9.0, 10.0; 6.5,7.5,8.5,9.5,10.5) or straight NTRP (3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5 or 5.0).

Interesting Facts

2007 marks the 27th anniversary of the USTA League Tennis program.

Established in 1980, it has grown from 13,000 participants in a few parts of the country in its first year, to over 650,000 players across the nation today, making it the world’s largest recreations tennis program.

Penn Racquet Sports, the world’s largest manufacturer of tennis balls, serves their 19th year as the official ball of the USTA League Tennis program.

USTA Southwest Section Areas

The USTA Southwest Section is currently divided into seven areas for USTA League tennis competition. They are:

• Greater El Paso

• Northern Arizona

• Northern New Mexico

• Phoenix Area

• Southern Arizona

• Southeastern Arizona

• Southern New Mexico

If you are new to the area and are looking to either join or start a team, please contact the Local League Coordinator in your area for more information.