February 2025 Junior Newsletter - USTA Southern California

Junior Sectionals

FEBRUARY 2025 NEWSLETTER

JUNIOR TENNIS  |  USTA SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

FEBRUARY 2025 NEWSLETTER

JUNIOR TENNIS
USTA SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

QUICK LINKS

BRYAN BROS DOUBLES RACE WINNERS  |  DISCOUNTED L7 TOURNAMENTS  |  LA WILDFIRE ASSISTANCE
JUNIOR TEAM TENNIS  |  10U GREEN & YELLOW BALL GRAND PRIX SERIES  |  EARLY DEVELOPMENT CAMPS
ULTIMATE SPORTSMANSHIP CHALLENGE  |  COACHING FUNDAMENTALS WORKSHOPS
OTHER INFORMATION  |  TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

QUICK LINKS

BRYAN BROS DOUBLES RACE WINNERS
DISCOUNTED L7 TOURNAMENTS
LA WILDFIRE ASSISTANCE
JUNIOR TEAM TENNIS
10U GREEN & YELLOW BALL GRAND PRIX SERIES
EARLY DEVELOPMENT CAMPS
ULTIMATE SPORTSMANSHIP CHALLENGE
COACHING FUNDAMENTALS WORKSHOPS
OTHER INFORMATION
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

Junior Doubles Sectionals

BRYAN BROS. DOUBLES RACE WINNERS

Congratulations to this year’s 2024 Bryan Bros. Doubles Race champions! They’ll be honored at a special awards ceremony during the 2025 BNP Paribas Open.

Presented by USTA Southern California and legendary duo Bob and Mike Bryan, the Bryan Bros. Doubles Race shines a spotlight on junior doubles play. Points from Level 3–5 SoCal doubles events (Quarterfinals and beyond) determine year-end winners in each age group. Champions will have their names engraved on the Bryan Bros. perpetual trophy and get the chance to meet the brothers at a special event.

The 2025 race has already begun! —who will rise to the top?

2024 WINNERS

Boys’ 12s – Benjamin Inukai / Matthew Kolomeyer
Boys’ 14s – Andy Wu / Ethan Koesuma
Boys’ 16s – JiHyuk Im / Kotaro Kunimoto
Boys’ 18s – Champion Okey / Winner Okey

Girls’ 12s – Hazel Kol/Nicole Handjono
Girls’ 14s – Madelyne Naslund/Felicity Mason
Girls’ 16s – Cassie Blakey/Ava Min
Girls’ 18s – Carley Chen/Margaret Hui

DISCOUNTED L7 TOURNAMENTS

In an effort to provide play and tournament opportunities focusing on the underserved or underrepresented areas, the USTA Southern California staff has added a number of discounted Level 7 tournaments. These tournaments are nearly free – once players play the tournament to completion, they will receive a refund minus fees (approx. $4.25).

Below is the schedule for 2025 and links to register (if available):

Junior Tennis

LA WILDFIRE ASSISTANCE

For any tennis players in the LA community impacted by the fires, we are providing free gear—racquets, clothing, shoes, bags—to help you through this challenging time. We are working with local businesses, other organizations, and the tennis community to make this possible.

JUNIOR TEAM TENNIS (JTT)

Registration for the Spring Season of Junior Team Tennis (JTT) is now open! This is a fantastic opportunity for young players to sharpen their skills, compete in team matches, and make lasting friendships.

With league play starting in February and the chance to advance to the Sectional Championships, it’s the perfect time to get involved. JTT is designed for players ages 5-18, offering a fun yet competitive environment that helps kids grow both individually and as part of a team. Don’t miss out—register today and let your kids experience the thrill of tennis!

Please contact Jason Cook or your local Junior Team Tennis Area League Coordinator for more information.

– CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE JUNIOR TEAM TENNIS

Junior Tennis

10U GREEN & YELLOW BALL GRAND PRIX SERIES

The USTA Southern California 10U Yellow & Green Ball Grand Prix Series are underway. Top point earners will be invited to join Early Development Camps. 

  • The Winter Grand Prix season will run from December 7, 2024 – February 23rd, 2025
  • The Spring Grand Prix season will run from March 1, 2025 – June 15, 2025
  • The Summer/Fall Grand Prix Season will run from June 21, 2025 – October 19th, 2025

– CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE GRAND PRIX SERIES

EARLY DEVELOPMENT CAMPS

USTA Southern California Early Development Camps are the first step in the USTA Player Development Pathway. Our goal is to bring together SoCal 10 & under players, who currently compete in Junior Circuit tournaments in order to practice and play together. Early Development Camps are developed and designed by the USTA High Performance Player Development and utilize local USTA trained coaches. 

This 2-day camp emphasizes fundamentals and overall athletic development in a fun, educational environment while giving players an opportunity to earn playtracker points through match play. Players with excellent work ethic, commitment, talent, and attitude are encouraged to participate.

The next EDC will be held March 22-23 at the Claremont Club.

– CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT EARLY DEVELOPMENT CAMPS

Junior Tennis
Ultimate Sportsmanship Challenge

ULTIMATE SPORTSMANSHIP CHALLENGE

From May 11, 2024 through February 23, 2025, during the Ultimate Sportsmanship Challenge, USTA Southern California will use Match Tennis App to promote good behavior from players during tournaments. The purpose of this nomination and award system is to reward players who exhibit exemplary sportsmanship, with the ultimate goal of creating a more positive and respectful tournament environment for all participants.

Join in the Ultimate Sportsmanship Challenge and vote for those specific players to earn prizes, including limited edition bag tags, Stanley Tumblers, gift cards, and a chance to win the Grand Prize, a trip for two to the 2025 BNP Paribas Open (two awarded). Don’t wait, sign up today and start sharing examples of awesome sportsmanship!

– LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ULTIMATE SPORTSMANSHIP CHALLENGE

– NOMINATE A PLAYER FOR THE ULTIMATE SPORTSMANSHIP CHALLENGE

COACHING FUNDAMENTALS WORKSHOPS

Ready to step into the world of coaching? The USTA Coaching Fundamentals Workshop is your chance to build the skills you need to coach and teach tennis to beginners and low-intermediate players of all ages. This two-day, on-court workshop is hands-on, interactive, and led by USTA-approved National Coach Developers, ensuring you learn from the best!

The USTA Coaching Fundamentals workshop is open to anyone 18+. Minors 16+ with parent/legal guardian signed waiver can also join.

This workshop is recognized by certifying organizations and is the perfect starting point for those interested in earning a Level 1 Coach Certification. To get the most out of this opportunity, USTA recommends completing an online pre-course before the in-person training. You’ll gain access to the course after completing your registration. Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity to kickstart your coaching journey and make an impact in the tennis community! 

Below is the schedule for 2025 and links to register (if available):

TIU Coaching Clinics
Junior Tennis

OTHER INFORMATION

– SERVE TENNIS has recently changed the layout of tournament websites. Be sure to click on the “show more” button to view all important tournament information!

– USTA PARENT WEBINARS – Did you miss any past webinars? Watch them HERE!

– After every tournament, you should be receiving a tournament survey from Feefo. Please take a moment to fill out the survey(s). It’s very important when it comes time for the staff and Junior Comp Committee to award new bids and it also helps us improve our tournaments. Responses will remain confidential. 

– DOUBLE ENTRIES: Players are not permitted to enter two tournaments at the same time. When entries close, a player shall not be entered in two or more sanctioned tournaments, if any part of the tournament sanction dates overlap (once you have been selected for a tournament, you are committed to finishing out that tournament and you cannot enter another tournament). After a player has been eliminated from a tournament whose schedule of play partially overlaps with that of a second tournament, the player may enter the second tournament.

If you are an alternate for another tournament, you MUST remove yourself from that alternate list once you are accepted into another tournament. Players who violate this rule will be disqualified from both tournaments (applies to SoCal tournaments only) and will receive four (4) suspension points. (USTA Regulations IV.F.). This includes two weekend tournaments – don’t assume you’ll lose in the first weekend! 

– IMPROPER ENTRY OR WITHDRAWAL: Player may be penalized under the Point Penalty Suspension System for improper withdrawals which includes:

  • Failure to pay an entry fee
  • Being entered when entries close in two or more sanctioned tournaments scheduled to overlap
  • Withdrawal from tournament after entries closed for reason other than injury, illness, personal circumstance, or  previously authorized entry into another tournament.

– BECOME AN OFFICIAL: We are looking for more people to become certified officials. If you’re interested, please start HERE.

– Need help paying for entry fees? Please email Ai at USTA SoCal and we’ll try to help you! Player must be free of suspension points and grievances to receive assistance.

– Missed a junior newsletter? View them all HERE.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

CLICK HERE FOR THE FEBRUARY JUNIOR TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE!

 
More tournaments may be added if there is a need for them so please check the USTA website for the most up-to-date information.

Deadlines are staggered by level so please make sure you are not double entering in tournaments.

CLICK HERE TO READ PREVIOUS JUNIOR NEWSLETTERS

Wilson
Wilson Blade