USTA National Point Penalty Suspension System
APPLICATION:
The Suspension Point System shall apply to tournaments listed on the National Junior Tournament Schedule. It applies to conduct:
· During all matches (main draw, consolation, qualifying and doubles)
· During tournament activities
· At tournament facilities; and
· At facilities such as hotels, dormitories, and homes where players stay
POINT PENALTIES:
Will be imposed against a player for unsportsmanlike conduct during a tournament, such as:
· Unreasonable delays after the warm-up period, between points and when changing ends, and otherwise unreasonably delaying a match
· Audible obscenity
· Visible obscenity
· Violently or with anger hitting, kicking or throwing a tennis ball or other equipment
· Verbal or physical abuse of any official, opponent, spectator or other person
· Coaching by a captain or any other accompanying person (see rule 31 of the Rules of Tennis)
POINT PENALTY SYSTEM:
For each violation under the Point Penalty System (USTA Regulation I.P), excluding time violations for delay between points after warm-up, after a 90-second changeover, and after a set break, two points shall be assessed for the following:
Point 2
Game 2
Default-match 2
The following persons are authorized to file a suspension point report with the referee for offenses they personally witness:
Tournament Committee Members; Chief Umpire; Deputy Referee; On-court officials (including roving officials); Court monitors, if specifically authorized by Referee; Club or facility manager; Hotel or dormitory manager; Families housing players; and Player development and high performance staff.
In addition to the suspension points assessed under USTA Regulation II.A.11.i., suspension points shall be assessed for the following:
| Defaults | Suspension Pts. |
For a flagrantly unsportsmanlike act, on or off the court | 8 |
For refusal to play or continue to play for any reason other than illness, injury, or personal emergency | 5 |
For no show | 5 |
For late arrival for a match | 1 |
For disqualification for ineligibility | 3 |
| Withdrawals | Suspension Points |
| Entering two or more tournaments, matches or exhibitions scheduled to take place at the same time, in whole or in part, unless each tournament committee involved approves the multiple entries, in writing | 5 |
| Withdrawal from a tournament (singles or doubles) after entries have closed for other than a bona fide reason | 4 |
| Unsportsmanlike Conduct | Suspension Points |
| Unsportsmanlike conduct or inappropriate conduct off-court at locations such as the tournament site, hotel, or housing | 5 |
| Not using best effort to win | 2 |
| Gross Misconduct | Suspension Points |
| Physical act of violence against another person on or off the court by a player, parent, coach, or other person associated with a player | 10 |
| Illegal use of drugs or possession of illegal drugs | 8 |
| Possession or consumption of alcohol beverages | 8 |
| Gambling activity (as defined in USTA Regulation I.N. 18) | 8 |
| Destruction of property | 8 |
| Playing Under Suspension | Suspension Points |
| Competing in any USTA-sanctioned event while under suspension by the USTA or one of its Sectional Associations | 10 |
| Suspension Points Received At International Events | Suspension Points |
| Each suspension point assessed to a player by the International Tennis Federation at events not on the National Junior Tournament Schedule | 1 |
PLAYER SUSPENSION:The administrator shall suspend players according to the following schedule:
First Suspension: If a player receives 10 suspension points within a 12-month period, the player shall be suspended from competing in USTA-sanctioned events for three months. In the event no Super National Championship falls during the 3-month period, the player shall not be accepted into the Super National Championship event immediately following the 3-month suspension period. Upon suspension, these 10 points shall be cleared from the player's record. All other suspension points shall remain on the player's record and count toward a second suspension.
Note: Refer to the USTA Yearbook or Friend at Court for a complete listing of penalties regarding accumulation of points for second and additional suspensions.