2014 Tournament Director's Workshop Presentation. This slideshow outlines the duties, responsibilities, and communication necessary to execute a USTA Sanctioned Tournament in South Carolina.

1. TD Workshop
USTA SC Annual Meeting
December 6, 2013

2. Sweet! I am hosting a tournament…
now what?
As the TD, you do the following before the tourney:
•apply for the sanction and appoints the referee,
consulting about # of officials needed
•secure courts needed & re-confirm before event
•determine entry method, match format, and entry fees
•Handle late entries, if accepting (consult referee)

3. Get the WORD out!
When Entries Open:
– Update tournament website with accurate contact
information for all parties
– List scoring format, surface type, seeding criteria,
withdrawal information/instructions, 10U Format &
Scoring, doubles entries, hotel info, alternate sites,
amenities
– USTA SC has RESOURCES—flyers, mailing labels,
postcard templates
– Send info to other facilities in your area

4. So, what’s a referee, and why
do I need one, anyways?
• Referee:
– Assures fair competition, ITF Rules of Tennis & USTA
Regulations are followed
– Has final authority on all questions of tennis law
– Makes decisions on weather delays, continuous play,
and Code of Conduct violations

5. OK. I think I have it…so what else do they do?
Other Referee Responsibilities include…
•Receives withdrawal requests & documentation
•Lists the seeds
•Makes the draws
•Schedules Matches
•Handles substitutions
•Supervises all aspects of play

6. What do the TD and Ref need to talk about?
• Hiring Officials
• Who will handle TDM duties (messages, posting
seeds, scheduling, posting scores)
• Who will run the desk @ main/satellite sites

7. Your Tournament Team: Help them help you!
• Team Meeting before the event
• Officials:
• Review Code of Conduct
• Review Scoring Formats
• Tournament Admin Staff:
• Have directions for alternate sites @ desk(s)
• Have proper admin documents-draw sheets,
match cards DAILY

8. Customer Service: Make or Break your event!
• Be EXCITED about your tournament!
• REMEMBER: Players, parents, coaches are your
CUSTOMERS
• The person running your desk is often the FACE
of your entire tournament. They should be
KNOWLEDGABLE and NICE.

9. Feedback: Facilities
• Facilities available with ice, water, clean
bathrooms,
• Courts in good shape
• Clean throughout
• Shaded area to rest in/watch matches
• Beverages & Snacks available for purchase

10. Feedback: The Not-so-Great
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
No Info on Tournament Website
1st Match Times not posted on time
Draws not posted on time
Officials not in uniform
Tournament Desk Unorganized
Scores not updated in timely fashion
No directions to alternate sites available

11. Inclement Weather Policy
• Referees have the following options—Player safety is the
top priority!
1.) Use no-ad scoring
2.) Tie break in lieu of 3rd set
3.) Cancel consolation of singles and/or doubles
4.) Cancel doubles main draw (only after cons. canceled)
5.) Reschedule the tournament (committee approval req.)
6.) Cancel the tournament (coordinate with USTA SC or STA)
• Use of short sets must be approved by USTA SC
Competition Dept.

12. One Day Tournaments: Adults
•
•
•
•
•
•
Can be sanctioned any time
Smaller draws
Short set scoring
Good intro to tournaments
Easy event-themed tournaments
$25 max entry fee for one event $5 for second
event

13. CHALLENGER Tournaments
• Level 4 SC Tournament
– UPDATE: Top 10 of 12-16s age divisions are eligible but
must play up
– 3 matches minimum suggested (1 dbls, 2 singles)
– Awards must be given for winners and finalists for
Singles and Doubles
– Entry fee capped at $40

14. Junior Tournament Seeding
• Seeding Requirements are in handout
• Seeds should be posted BEFORE draws—at least
72 hours before the tournament begins
• List seeding requirements on tournament website
– Will save you a TON of headache/parent complaints!

15. 10U Tennis Scoring Format-Tournament
• Preferred Scoring Format:
– 10U: 2/3 short sets to 4 games, win by 2; at 4-4, play 7
point tiebreak (win by 2); if players split sets, 7 point
tiebreak (win by 2) is played
• No 3 minute rest/coaching is permitted here
• L1-3 tourneys use regular (ad) scoring; L4-5 use no-ad
• 25” maximum racquet length
– 8U: 2/3 7 point games, win by 1; at game each, a third
game will be played to determine the set.
• 23” maximum racquet length

16. TDM On the Web
• Internet Access REQUIRED to update scores
• Will be accessed online—same place as your
sanction form
• www.sctennis.com/tournamentdirectors for
tennislink account link

17. Important Contact Info
• Jessica Amick:
– amick@sctennis.com
– 803-513-9105 (cell)
• Tennislink:
– linkteam@usta.com
–1-800-603-3138 (TD Hotline)

18. QUESTIONS??