THE NET GENERATION PLAYTRACKER

At this time, due to a number of factors including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, access to individual player profiles and points awarded to participants are not available at this time.  We recognize this is not an ideal situation and are working to have these profiles available soon. All points earned since January 1, 2021 will be retroactively added when these are launched.

In the interim, players and parents can find out which ball color events they should be registering for by looking at their child's competition level in the USTA.com player profile found on the family tab.  Players can also contact their respective sections for more information.

The new Net Generation PlayTracker will help parents and players navigate their development progress, replacing the current stars and trophies system. Now, players will collect points on an engaging PlayTracker after playing in USTA Team Challenges, USTA Junior Team Tennis, and USTA Junior Circuit tournaments. 

The Net Generation PlayTracker is for players aged 5-10 and their parents to track progress at USTA competitive events, all in one place. Using the American Development Model (ADM) framework, players and parents will learn more about the recommended development pathway and earn digital incentives along the way.

BALL COLOR & AGE REQUIREMENTS

Players must be at least 5 years old to play in a USTA competitive program, and will graduate from the Net Generation PlayTracker at the age of 11, on the first day of their birthday month. 

• Players aged 5-7 years old are recommended to play in red ball programs.
• Players aged 7-9 years old are recommended to play in orange ball programs.
• Players aged 9-11 years old are recommended to play in green ball programs. 

Players 7 and 8 years old may get approved for green ball competition after receiving an assessment by their primary Safe Play approved certified coach. The assessment must be sent using the Net Generation mobile app. Learn how to use the assessment tool here (or see more details below).

All players in green ball will be required to meet 1500 points on the Net Generation PlayTracker in order to play in yellow ball events. At least 1000 of these points must come from win points. At age 11 players will age out of the PlayTracker system. 

ELIGIBLE PLAY OPPORTUNITIES

Players will receive points from red, orange and green ball USTA Team Challenges, USTA Junior Team Tennis, and USTA Junior Circuit programs.

• USTA Team Challenge - Low pressure introduction to competition (1-2 hours)
• USTA Junior Team Tennis - Season of local team-based match play (4-8 weeks)
• USTA Junior Circuit - Series of non-elimination tournaments (2-4 hours)

PLAYTRACKER POINTS

Play Points

• Players receive 100 participation-based play points for playing in all red, orange, and green ball USTA programs
• Any program series will count as one event. For example, an 8-week JTT season will count as one event. Any player that plays in at least one match during that season would earn 100 play points total. 

Win Points

• Players will receive results-based win points for winning singles (100 points) and doubles (50 points) matches in green ball Junior Team Tennis and Junior Circuit events only. 
• Coaches must check-in players to Team Challenges in order to earn play points
• Scores must be entered by the provider for the player to earn win points.
• A default in a green ball competitive program will count as a win and that player will receive those win points.

Players are recommended to reach at least 1,000 points in red and 1,000 points in orange before progressing to green ball. They are then required to collect at least 1,500 points in green ball to advance to yellow ball competitive events.

• Players are awarded 100 play points in green ball after reaching 1000 play points in red and orange ball.
• Players are capped at 500 play points per event in green ball
• Players can receive a maximum of 500 points (400 win points and 100 play points) at any particular event. 

COACH ASSESSMENT FOR PLAYERS 

Coaches are now able to control whether their players can compete in green ball competition. Coaches can change a player's skill level from the Net Generation mobile app using the assessment tool. In order to use the assessment tool in the Net Generation mobile app coaches must be Safe Play approved and be USPTA or PTR approved in their usta.com coach profile. 

Once a player (player must send the connection request) and their primary coach are connected on the mobile app then the coach can send a progress report with an assessment and skill level change. Coaches must watch a training video on how to complete the assessment.  If a player aged 7 and over has been given Orange Level 1 or Green Level 2 or Green Level 1 by their coach it will be sent to USTA’s data platform and will convert the player’s competition level to green ball. Players aged 6 and under are not eligible to be given the green competition level.

To learn more on how to assess a player's skill level on the Net Generation mobile app click here.

PLAYING OUTSIDE OF HOME USTA SECTION

Players will have the ability to play out of their USTA Section and still earn Net Generation PlayTracker points. Additionally, should a player move sections, PlayTracker points will carry over to the new section. Players that move sections will need to update their address in their USTA profile  before playing in their new home section. Points and programs will be consistent throughout the country.

ACCESSING THE PLAYTRACKER

Players can view the competition level they are eligible to compete in on their Player Profile in the family tab. Coming soon parents will be able to view their child's PlayTracker progress on the player profile in the family tab on usta.com. 

PARENT EDUCATION VIDEOS

All parents or guardians registering a player for the first time in a ball color are required to watch a 2-minute video on the skills required to play in a USTA competitive product at that ball color. There will be a separate video for red, orange, and green ball. These videos will also be accessible on the Net Generation mobile app and USTA.com Player Profile. 

LEGACY POINTS

Players will be transitioned into the new system starting on January 1, 2021, carrying over legacy points based on their star and trophy totals on December 15, 2020. Those stars and trophies will be converted into play and win points on the PlayTracker. All 9 and 10 year olds, no matter where they currently are, will be moved to green ball. See conversion tables below for players under 9 in Orange Level 2, Orange Level 1, and Green Level 1. 

GREEN CONVERSION