SCTA Junior Development Programs

SCTA Junior Development Programs

COMPETITION TRAINING CENTERS (CTC)
There are currently seven USTA Competition Training Centers in Southern California.  CTCs offer low cost, high level training to the 20 best players (ages 10-13) within a geographic area. This is supplemental training, and is not designed to replace the player’s existing coach. The CTC program is held from February through June, and includes a mixture of competition, team matches, fitness drills, sports science information, and skill and strategy development. The program includes a season-ending team cup championship. Players are invited based on their SCTA ranking.

COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
For more than twenty years, the Southern California Tennis Association’s College & University Scholarship Program has held annual seminars that provide youngsters, along with their parents and coaches, tips on how to go about earning a tennis scholarship.  Due to the scope and complexity of the issues involved in the process, presentations are held at a variety of locations across the section. The gatherings (which are free to those attending) offer information on earning a tennis scholarship, preparing a player's resume, NCAA rules (including any recent changes in regulations), and a variety of other related topics. The ultimate goal of the program is to facilitate obtaining a tennis scholarship. For more details, contact Mark Winters at (310) 208-3838 ext. 231.

USTA SCHOOL TENNIS
USTA School Tennis brings the lifelong benefit of tennis to schoolchildren as part of their regular school activities. The SCTA has joined forces with school administrators and teachers, local tennis leaders, and directors of parks and recreation programs to provide meaningful tennis instruction to schoolchildren, without placing any financial burden on the schools. A successful program combines the resources, expertise, and materials available from the USTA, with the support and backing of the SCTA and our clinicians. If you are interested in trying to get your school involved, or in becoming a clinician, contact Tiffany Geller Reed at 310-208-3838, ext. 235 or Geller@SCTA.usta.com.

AAF SCTA NJTL
The primary purpose of the AAF NJTL Program is to provide an atmosphere in which juniors can gain tennis expertise and personal growth. In the summer of 2004, the NJTL program will be held at 140 sites, with 7,000 youngsters participating throughout Southern California, primarily in economically disadvantaged areas. For a nominal registration fee, each participant receives 24 hours of tennis instruction during a six-week period, a tennis racquet if needed, a T-shirt, a certificate of participation and a chance to participate in a variety of special activities. The program culminates with a Sportsmanship Day and Championship Tournaments. A year-round AAF NJTL program is in place at twenty-eight sites, with 2,100 juniors participating. There are three sessions starting in the fall, winter, and spring. The Amateur Athletic Foundation of Los Angeles has been a major sponsor for the last nineteen years. For information and sites near you, contact Melanie Bischoff at 310-208-3838, ext. 239 or Bischoff@SCTA.usta.com

USTA JR. TEAM TENNIS
USTA Jr. Team Tennis for Youth is a recreational program for juniors of all skill levels, from beginners to highly competitive players trying to gain more match experience. Juniors are matched with other players of the same age and ability to form a team. Players are divided into teams in three age divisions - 12 & Under, 14 & Under, or 18 & Under. Teams in each age group are placed in one of three skill divisions – Ralleyball (Supernovice), Stars (Novice), and Stripes (Intermediate). The teams play a round robin schedule in a local league against teams of the same ability and age level. League champions earn the right to advance to the Sectional Championships at UCLA to determine the Southern California Champions. From the Sectional Championships, teams can qualify for a variety of events - State Championships, Regional Championships, National Championships, or the AAU - Junior Olympics. USA Team Tennis is designed to provide tennis competition and fun in a team environment for juniors of all ages and playing levels. To find out how you can get involved, either as a player or as a coach, please contact Jeff Benito at 310-208-3838, ext. 226 or JeffB@SCTA.usta.com.
 
SCTA JUNIOR HIGH PERFORMANCE PROGRAM
The Southern California Tennis Association High Performance Program conducts the following competitive junior activities: 

SCTA TOURNAMENTS
The SCTA has three levels of junior tournaments; Novice, Satellite and Open.  Novice tournaments are for players just getting started in competition. Satellite level tournaments are for players who have advanced beyond the entry level and are at an intermediate skill level. Open tournaments are for players seeking tougher levels of competition. 

GRAND PRIX CIRCUITS
The SCTA offers various grand prix circuits throughout the year. See below for information on each:
K-SWISS/SCTA SUMMER GRAND PRIX
The K-Swiss/SCTA Summer Grand Prix program is a series of sanctioned junior open tournaments held each summer during June, July and August. Players accumulate points for singles matches won. Players earn points from the round of 16 through the finals of each tournament. The top eight point winners in each age division are invited to participate in the prestigious K-Swiss/SCTA Masters Tournament. Trophies are awarded to the champions and finalists in Girls and Boys 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18 divisions.

PRINCE DOUBLES GRAND PRIX
The Prince Doubles Grand Prix program is a series of sanctioned junior open doubles tournaments held throughout the year. Players earn points for doubles matches won. Players earn points from the round of 16 through the finals of each tournament. Each junior open tournament that offers doubles is included in the circuit. The top four point earners in each age division are invited to participate in the Prince Doubles Masters Tournament.

SCTA CENTRAL COAST GRAND PRIX
The SCTA Central Coast Grand Prix program is a series of sanctioned junior tournaments held each year from January through August in the Central Coast region of our section. Players amass points for singles matches won. Players earn points from the round of 16 through the finals of each tournament. The top eight point winners in each age division are invited to participate in the Central Coast Grand Prix Masters Tournament.

SCTA DESERT CITIES COAST GRAND PRIX
The SCTA Desert Cities Grand Prix program is a series of sanctioned junior tournaments held each year from November through April in the Desert/ Coachella Valley region of our section. Players amass points for singles matches won. Players earn points from the round of 16 through the finals of each tournament. The top eight point winners in each age division are invited to participate in the Desert Cities Grand Prix Masters Tournament.

TEAM COMPETITIONS

MAZE CUP
The Maze Cup, named for George Maze, Sr., is an annual team competition between the USTA/Northern California and USTA/Southern California Section’s top junior tennis players. The event, which employs a Davis Cup/Federation Cup format, includes boys and girls in the 18 and 16 and Under age divisions. The team consists of three boys and three girls from the 16s and two boys and two girls from the 18s. The competition site rotates between Northern and Southern California. Selection is made by the High Performance Selection Committee and the Maze Cup Captain, and is based on playing record.

BOYS & GIRLS 18 NATIONAL TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS
These championships are a team competition with separate boys’ and girls’ teams competing against other USTA sections. The SCTA provides team fees, room and board, airfare, and a team coach. Selection is based on playing record, and is made by the High Performance Selection Committee with Junior Tennis Council approval.

BOYS & GIRLS 16 INTERSECTIONAL TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS
The 16 Intersectional Championships are team competitions in which a coed team competes against 16 other USTA sections. The SCTA provides team fees, room and board, airfare and a team coach. Selection is based on playing record, and is made by the High Performance Selection Committee with Junior Tennis Council approval.

ZONE TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS (ZONALS)
This is a team event in which players from Southern California compete against players from all over the United States. The SCTA organizes 12, 14, and 16 & Under teams, which travel to compete during the summer. Players must meet endorsement requirements in order to be selected for this event.