It’s time once again for developing junior tennis players age 10 and under to take to full-size courts for tournaments on the USTA Florida Green Ball circuit, with a goal of qualifying for the season-ending championships in 2020.
16 qualifying tournaments from Jan.-Sept. 2020 will make up the Green Ball circuit, all leading up to the Bobby Curtis Green Ball Sectional Championships, to be held Sept. 26-27 at the USTA National Campus. Players can qualify for the season-ending tournament by being the winner or finalist in one of the designated Green Level 1 regional qualifiers. If less than 32 players are eligible for the Green Ball championships, alternate players who have the most match wins between Jan.-Sept. will be invited.
USTA Florida introduced the 10 & Under Youth Progression Pathway in 2015, giving promising young players the opportunity to engage in online tracking of results with game-play elements to engage players, such as earning online “stars” and “trophies” as they progress.
2020 Green Ball Qualifier Tournaments Schedule (additional sites will be determined by February 2020):
| Date | Name | ID# | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2/15/2020 | Amelia Island Spring Smash Level 6 (10 & Under Green Ball Qualifier) | 150010620 | 2 |
| 3/13/2020 | RSTC Spring L8+ 10U Green Ball Qualifier | 150096220 | 1 |
| 3/14/2020 | Friends of Miami Tennis Green (Qualifier) and Orange Ball | 150015920 | 8 |
| 3/21/2020 | Lake Cane March Madness Level 6 (10 & Under Green Ball Qualifier) | 150087320 | 4 |
| 3/21/2020 | Joe Dimaggio Children’s at PBG “Welcome” Level 6 + Green Ball Qualifier | 150044520 | 6 |
| 4/4/2020 | Star Island Resort’s Green Ball Qualifier with EDC | 150037820 | 4 |
| 5/9/2020 | ProWorld Green Ball Qualifier | 150062320 | 6 |
| 6/13/2020 | Lee Country CTA June Standalone 10U Green Ball Qualifier at Three Oaks Parks (Ft. Myers) | 150044820 | 7 |
| 6/20/2020 | Broward Summer Level 6 Championships (10 & Under Green Ball Qualifier) | 150045020 | 8 |
| 7/4/2020 | Naples Drop Shot Junior Classic Level 6 (10 & Under Green Ball Qualifier) | 150017320 | 7 |
| 7/11/2020 | Coral Gables Green Ball Qualifier with EDC | 150086520 | 8 |
| 7/25/2020 | Inspiration Level 6 (Green Ball Qualifier) | 150017920 | 5 |
| 8/8/2020 | Jonesville Championships Level 6 10U Green Ball Qualifier | 150072220 | 2 |
| 9/5/2020 | Coleman Junior Level 6 (10U Green Ball Qualifier) | 151456820 | 4 |
| TBD | TBD | TBD | 3 |
| TBD | TBD | TBD | 3 |
Early Development Camps, or EDCs, will also continue in 2020. EDCs are held prior to several Green Ball tournaments to help assess players and maximize their level proficiency. The camps are the beginning of the TEAM USA Pathway designed to provide additional training opportunities for tennis players ages 7-10 in each USTA section, while also emphasizing fundamentals and overall athletic development in a fun way. The camps are geared toward players already competing in USTA-sanctioned tournaments and/or Junior Team Tennis.
“Having these camps before the tournament has been incredibly beneficial for the players,” said Christina Lucas, USTA Florida Youth Play Coordinator. “Oftentimes we find the players feel more comfortable during match play after participating in an EDC.”
Each camp will take about 2 hours to complete. All players who participate will receive an evaluation from their coach at the end of the camp about how his or her competencies match with the ball color they use. The assessments will also be shared with parents.
For additional information on EDC Camps or junior tennis in Florida, visit www.ustaflorida.com/youth-tennis.
For questions, contact Christina Lucas at lucas@ustaflorida.com or (407) 917-9827.
