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 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.
PLAYTRACKER POINTS
Play Points
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.
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.
ORANGE CONVERSION L2 (7 & 8)
Stars & trophies |
PlayTracker |
0 |
0 |
1 |
5 |
2 |
10 |
3 |
15 |
4 |
20 |
5 |
25 |
6 |
30 |
7 |
35 |
8 |
40 |
9 |
45 |
10 |
50 |
11 |
55 |
12 |
60 |
13 |
65 |
14 |
70 |
15 |
75 |
16 |
80 |
17 |
85 |
18 |
90 |
19 |
95 |
20 |
100 |
ORANGE CONVERSION L1 (7 & 8)
Stars & trophies |
PlayTracker |
0 |
0 |
1 |
100 |
2 |
200 |
3 |
300 |
4 |
400 |
5 |
500 |
6 |
600 |
7 |
700 |
8 |
800 |
9 |
900 |
10 |
1000 |
11 |
1100 |
12 |
1200 |
13 |
1300 |
14 |
1400 |
15 |
Green (0 pts) |
16 |
Green (0 pts) |
17 |
Green (0 pts) |
18 |
Green (0 pts) |
19 |
Green (0 pts) |
20 |
Green (0 pts) |
GREEN CONVERSION
Stars |
Trophies |
PlayTracker (Play) |
PlayTracker (Wins) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
100 |
100 |
2 |
2 |
200 |
200 |
3 |
3 |
300 |
300 |
4 |
4 |
400 |
400 |
5 |
5 |
500 |
500 |
6 |
6 |
600 |
600 |
7 |
7 |
700 |
700 |
8 |
8 |
800 |
800 |
9 |
9 |
900 |
900 |
10 |
10 |
1000 |
1000 |
11 |
11 |
1100 |
1100 |
12 |
12 |
1200 |
1200 |
13 |
13 |
1300 |
1300 |
14 |
14 |
1400 |
1400 |
15 |
15 |
Yellow |
Yellow |
16 |
16 |
Yellow |
Yellow |
17 |
17 |
Yellow |
Yellow |
18 |
18 |
Yellow |
Yellow |
19 |
19 |
Yellow |
Yellow |
20 |
20 |
Yellow |
Yellow |