The ITA office will administer a host site application process in late Fall of the prior year. Once the host application deadline has passed, all applications will be reviewed by the ITA for final selections. The ITA office will notify applicants of acceptance in December with a public announcement to come in Spring. To be considered for an ITA Summer Points Race Series event, an ITA member school must place a bid under the following guidelines:

• Applications must be submitted by an ITA member coach

• Hosts must be able to accommodate a minimum of 48 men and 48 women

• The host facility must be utilized by a member team

• Private or public facilities interested in hosting must partner with a member coach

Colleges and Universities: Colleges and universities whose administrations will permit them to host an ITA Summer Points Race Series event on campus should also check with their compliance office to confirm that there are no conflicts with NCAA bylaws that will prevent them from hosting an event - i.e. recruiting quiet or dead periods, whether or not a coaching staff member may serve as tournament director or be involved in the event, etc. If colleges and universities plan on hosting an event on campus, registration for the event must be open to all in order to satisfy the NCAA’s Division I “Tryout Exceptions” (see below). Even though the event is open, the tournament may still conduct selections based on an objective measure such as WTN.

NCAA Bylaw 13.11.3 Tryout Exceptions. (from 2024-25 NCAA Division I Manual)
13.11.3.1 Open Events. Participation by a prospective student-athlete in open events conducted by or held on an institution’s campus shall not be considered tryouts. Competition shall be considered open if the competitive event itself is not classified by age group or level of educational institution represented, and the selection of participants is not limited except by number, by geographical area or on the basis of some objective standard of performance (see Bylaws 13.11.1.8 and 13.11.1.9)

Divisions and Flights

All 2025 Summer Points Race Series tournaments must offer singles play and have the option to provide doubles play for an additional entry fee. All tournaments must offer both men's and women's divisions. All ITA Summer Points Race Series tournaments will be "open", meaning there are no age or level restrictions placed on entry. However, once the entry deadline passes, selections into the tournament will be made according to player WTNs. Singles WTNs will be used for singles selections and doubles WTNs will be used for doubles. WTN will be used to determine which flight a player is in and will be used to seed each flight.

Tournament Length

All ITA Summer Points Race Series tournaments must be limited to two or three-day events. Two-day events must be Saturday-Sunday while three-day events may be Friday-Sunday or Saturday-Monday. For events that begin on Friday, it is recommended that play starts in the afternoon or early evening so players may travel on the same day. Tournaments that wish to deviate from this structure must indicate this on the host site application form and receive express approval from the ITA Office.

ITA Summer Points Race

The ITA Points Race will be administered throughout the summer by ITA staff.  This results-based point system will be utilized to track outstanding performers and a “points race standings” will be published each week on the ITA website.  At the conclusion of the Summer Points Race Series, the top 3 men and the top 3 women in the standings will receive automatic entry into the main draw of the ITA National Summer Championships as well as a travel reimbursement to be used towards the expense of attending the ITA National Summer Championships. 

Pre-Tournament Training Calls

The tournament director must attend two pre-tournament planning calls with the ITA office to review tournament logistics including the tournament creation and submission and selections, alternate, and seeding process.

Serve Tennis Tournament Management Platform

All ITA Summer Points Race Series events will be administered using the Serve Tennis tournament management platform. Once you are confirmed as tournament host, ITA staff will provide instructions on how to set up your tournament page. The ITA will also make available online webinar training and video tutorials that will assist in finalizing your tournament homepage and administering your tournament.  

The Serve Tennis tournament management platform utilizes the Stripe financial platform to process entry fees and this is the only way to receive entry fees. 

Awards

All tournaments must give awards to winners and finalists of singles and doubles in each draw or flight. 

Prize Money

Host sites may make their event a prize money tournament and must indicate this on their application. The ITA will provide a minimum of $1,000 in matching prize money grants to up to 15 tournaments this summer. Prize money-designated tournaments may acquire a sponsor (subject to ITA approval) to assist with this expense. The prize money must be distributed evenly across both genders and prize money events will be specifically identified on both the ITA website and your tournament home page.

Event Insurance

All ITA Summer Points Race Series hosts shall obtain appropriate policies of comprehensive general liability insurance covering bodily injury, death, and property damage liability with limits of no less than two million dollars. The ITA shall be named as additional insured on such policy or policies and shall be provided with a certificate of such insurance by May 1, 2025. A host site that is unable to add the ITA as an additional insured to their existing policy will need to purchase general liability insurance coverage in an amount of no less than two million dollars from a provider of their choosing. K&K Insurance through Nationwide can accomplish this need.  

Tennis Balls

Dunlop is the official ball of the ITA and Dunlop Grand Prix Extra Duty tennis balls are highly preferred for ITA Summer Points Race Series events. Clubs and facilities with pre-existing contracts that prevent the use of Dunlop tennis balls should contact the ITA office for further guidance. Should current supply chain circumstances require the use of a different brand or type (regular duty, etc.) of tennis ball, that ball must be USTA/ITF approved and proper notification should be listed on the tournament page.

ITA-Certified Officials

It is mandatory that each tournament provide a minimum of one ITA-certified official per site, with one serving as the tournament referee. For sites with more than 6 courts, the ITA recommends utilizing two ITA-certified officials.  Court configuration may impact this decision. Use good judgment in order to maintain the integrity of the event. 

Report on Disciplinary Issues: If a tournament experiences a problem with a player, parent, coach, or spectator (such as a significant sportsmanship issue, the default of a player, etc.), the tournament director along with the tournament referee, should report the incident in writing to the ITA office within 24 hours of the incident.

Event Promotion & ITA Media Toolkit

The 2025 ITA Summer Points Race Series Tournaments will be heavily promoted by the ITA communication and marketing teams via web advertising, social media promotion, and email and newsletter distribution.  Tournament directors should also make every effort to promote their Summer Points Race Series events to any who they feel might benefit from this type of event. Please utilize your individual ITA Media Toolkit to help with branding and promotion of your event. 

ITA Summer Points Race Series Logo

The ITA office will distribute the ITA Summer Points Race Series Powered by WTN logo for use on promotional items for your event, including website and social media graphics, posters/flyers, player gifts, etc. The logo must be used in its original format and any modifications must be approved by ITA Digital Media Manager, Zach Pohlmann (zpohlmann@itatennis.com).

Sponsorship

The ITA supports any tournament using local sponsors that don’t conflict with existing ITA agreements.  A designated prize money event could also acquire a “presenting sponsor” (subject to ITA approval) to assist with the prize money expense. If you have questions regarding sponsorship, please contact the ITA office. For a current list of ITA Partners, please click here.

Budget & Profit Estimates

After reviewing this tournament manual, we encourage all prospective tournament directors to establish a projected event budget {ESTIMATED PROFIT = (entry fees - ITA/USTA fees + sponsorship*) - (ITA Membership + Officials + Balls + Court Fees + Insurance + Awards) *Sponsorship acquired by host site}.  Tournament profits will vary from site to site based on expenses and field sizes. 

Post-Event Budget Report

Each Tournament Director will be responsible for submitting a post-event budget within two weeks of the completion of their event.

Player Entry

Any player who wishes to compete in a Summer Series event must have an active 2025 ITA Player Membership, a completed ITA Player Waiver, and a paid entry fee. A player who does not satisfy all three of these fields is not allowed to compete in any 2025 ITA Summer Series tournament.

ITA Player Membership

All participants must have a 2025 ITA Player Membership or they will not be able to register for and participate in an ITA Summer Points Race Series event. ITA Player memberships expire at the end of each calendar year so participants must purchase/renew their membership each summer. Memberships can be purchased/renewed through the ITA website (wearecollegetennis.com). After purchasing, participants will receive a confirmation email and will then be able to successfully register for a Summer Points Race Series event. Player Memberships are $35 and are valid for a calendar year (January-December).

Registration & Entry Fees

Tournament registration will take place on your tournament homepage through the USTA’s Serve Tennis platform. Players have to create a free USTA account to register.  All ITA Summer Points Race Series events will offer men’s and women’s divisions and be considered “open” events in which can enter. There are no age or level restrictions.  However, once the tournament entry deadline passes, selections into the event will be made according to player WTNs. Singles WTNs will be used for singles selections and doubles WTNs will be used for doubles. WTN will also determine which flight a player is in if the event contains multiple flights and will be used for seeding.  

Entry fees for all 2025 ITA Summer Points Race Series events are as follows. Payments shall be collected through the Serve Tennis platform. Cash or checks may not be accepted directly from participants.

 
Singles only: $70

Doubles only: $70 

Singles and doubles: $85

The Serve Tennis platform use fee is 3.5% per entry plus 50 cents per transaction. The ITA admin fee is $5.50 per player. These fees will be deducted automatically upon player selection and hosts will receive the remainder of the fees. Additional payment processing fees may occur.

ITA Waiver

All participants must submit an ITA Waiver before they are permitted to practice or compete. The ITA will upload a digital waiver to the tournament homepage that each player must complete. Please ensure you've received a waiver from each player prior to competition beginning. 

Refund & Withdrawal Policy

Players will not be charged entry fees until they are selected into the tournament. At the time selections are made, the players' card on file will automatically be charged. Due to this, players will be able to withdraw from the tournament up until the time that selections are made. Per ITA policy, players who withdraw after selections are made will forfeit their entry fee. This withdrawal policy is agreed to by all entrants during the online registration process.

The Serve Tennis event platform allows refunds of the entry fee less processing and transaction fees directly back to the credit card used to pay for entry. 

Registration Deadline

Tournaments should establish an entry deadline of the preceding Tuesday at 11:59 pm local time. Players may only be added after the registration deadline has passed in extenuating circumstances.

Pre-Tournament Timeline

• Registration closes: Tuesday prior to tournament at 11:59 pm local time

• Selections published: Wednesday prior to tournament

• Draws published: Thursday/Firday prior to tournament

Wild Cards

Host sites have the option to award one wild card entry for every 16 players in a draw or flight. For collegiate programs hosting an event, please communicate with your compliance office, so as not to violate NCAA recruiting rules.

Waived Entry Fees for Select Collegiate Players

Players have many options each summer for tournament play and are looking for the most competitive opportunities they can find. We have found that the level of play of early registrants often dictates the overall level of your event. To that extent, we encourage you to include as many of your players as possible in your event and on your applicant list. To help facilitate this, the ITA will permit you to waive entry fees to players currently on your team’s roster(s). These are the only entrants that may have entry fees waived. These players are still required to have a current 2025 ITA Player Membership. Most importantly, you should confirm with your compliance office that this is permissible under the bylaws of your governing body.

Alternates

Prior to registration opening, each tournament director will need to identify the number of players that will actually participate in the event, minus any potential wild cards. This should be based on court availability and what a reasonable schedule of play will allow.  Those events that exceed that capacity during registration will make selections into their event based on player WTNs. Singles WTNs will be used for singles selections and doubles WTNs will be used for doubles. Selections will automatically be posted to each tournament page. Players who do not gain entry into the event based on their WTN will automatically be placed on an alternate list ordered by numeric WTN.  Alternates may be moved into the draw up until the time that play begins. 

Seeding

• Tournament directors should seed 25% of the draw/flight, never exceeding a 1 seed per 3 player ratio. Players will be seeded according to WTN.

  • 24-32 players, you will seed 8 players

  • 16-23 players, you will seed no more than 4 players

The ITA feels strongly that “flighted” play according to the guidelines above will decrease the number of non-competitive matches, encourage greater participation in the consolation draw, and ultimately improve the experience of our participants.  We also believe capping flight size at 32 participants will assist tournament directors with the goal of completing these events in 2-3 days as originally intended, with the bulk of play occurring on Saturdays and Sundays. Further details on the procedure for seeding and constructing singles flights within the tournament management system will be provided.

Selections

While ITA Summer Points Race Series tournaments are “open” events meaning anyone can enter, these tournaments will be administered in a “level-based play” format. Our ultimate goal is to keep the number of competitive matches as high as possible. Therefore, all events will use “flighted” play during the tournaments. Once the registration deadline passes and selections based on WTN have been made, tournament directors will divide up their competitor fields into flights based on player WTNs and the guidelines below. Numeric WTN (not confidence level) will be used when making selections. 

Draws

Tournaments may use a traditional draw format with a first-match loser consolation or a compass draw format.  

Regardless of that decision, the ITA strongly recommends that tournament directors look to provide participants with 3 guaranteed singles matches.

• Singles draws (flights) should never exceed 32 players and never be smaller than a full 16 draw.

  • For 2-day events, singles draws (flights) should not exceed 16 players (may have multiple flights)

  • For 3-day events, singles draws (flights) should not exceed 32 players (may have multiple flights)

• Tournament directors should utilize the WTN range of their participant fields to help determine draw (flight) size

  • Example #1:  40 men’s singles participants– This could end up being anywhere between a 16 A draw/24 B draw or a 24 A draw/16 B draw. Ultimately this should be decided based on the WTN range among your participant field.  

  • Example #2:  64 men’s singles participants– This could end up being a 32 A draw/32 B draw or any combination of 32/16/16 if the WTN range varies greatly. 

Score Format 

Singles matches will play 2 out of 3 sets with a 10-point match tiebreak, using no-ad scoring. Doubles matches will play an 8-game pro set with a tiebreaker at 7 games all with no-ad scoring. 

Consolation

All events must provide a guarantee of 2 singles matches to all participants. We strongly encourage you to consider draw or scheduling options that might provide three guaranteed singles matches (compass draw, feed-in consolation, voluntary sign-up for matchplay, etc.; keeping in mind reasonable scheduling practices and player welfare). 

Warm-Up, Start Time, and Lateness Penalties

Players shall have a maximum of five minutes for warm-up before a match. All players should be ready promptly at the specified starting time.  If a court is available, the referee may penalize the late player one game for every five minutes of lateness.  That player also loses the toss.  The referee, after consultation with the tournament director, may default a player for being 15 minutes late from the starting time of the match (assuming a court is available).

Match Schedule & Rest Periods

The ITA Summer Points Race Series policy for the maximum number of matches permitted in one day for play utilizing a 3rd set match tiebreak in singles is two singles matches in one day. Extenuating circumstances such as weather delays may require deviation from this plan.  There should be a minimum of 1 hour of rest given between singles matches.  During extreme heat situations, this rest period must be increased to 2 hours.

Coaching

Under no circumstances is coaching of any kind allowed while a match is in progress.

No Service Let Rule

All draws will use the collegiate tennis no service let rule.

Medical Timeouts

Players and officials shall follow the ITA Men’s and Women’s Division I rule for medical timeouts (pages 17-19 of 2024-25 ITA Rule Book):  

K. Timeouts, Bathroom Visits, and Equipment Adjustment 

1. Medical timeout. The USTA regulation on medical timeouts applies with the following exceptions (these ITA Medical and Bleeding Time Out procedures are also summarized in the back of the book in ITA Table 6 – Medical and Bleeding Timeouts): 

a. Treatment on changeover or set break. In all divisions, a player may be treated on any changeover or set break. This treatment is not considered a medical timeout. Direct treatment by a trainer at any other time is only allowed if a bleeding or medical timeout is being taken or if a player is bleeding from the same area for the second time. (Revised August 2023)

b. Bleeding timeouts. In all divisions, bleeding timeouts follow the USTA Regulation for bleeding timeouts with the exception that players may utilize the ITA PPS should the player begin bleeding from the same area again later in the match. The PPS may not be utilized immediately following a Bleeding Timeout. A Medical Timeout shall NOT be taken to deal with bleeding. A player who receives treatment for bleeding solely within a changeover or set break shall not be charged with a Bleeding Timeout. (Revised August 2020) 

c. Medical Timeouts – All divisions. In all divisions, a player may have only one medical timeout. This includes receiving treatment for asthma, diabetes, and/or a foreign object in the eye at times other than at changeovers or set breaks. A player who needs an additional medical timeout shall be retired. Once the trainer starts talking to the player or touches the player, the trainer has a maximum of five minutes for the medical timeout. There shall be no differentiation between diagnosis and treatment time. Multiple injuries/issues may be addressed during the one MTO if necessary. (Revised August 2023)

If a player takes a medical timeout, the player shall be assessed one point. This assessed point is not part of the Point Penalty System. (Revised August 2024)

Bathroom Breaks

Players and officials shall follow the ITA Division I and II rule for bathroom breaks (page 19 of 2024-25 ITA Rule Book):

2. Bathroom Breaks. In all divisions, a player must ask an Official to use the bathroom. The Official may refuse this request if the official determines that the player is resorting to gamesmanship. 

a. Bathroom break. Players in all divisions are allowed one bathroom break during a match. The bathroom break may only occur on a set break and may include up to three (3) minutes additional time for a total of up to five (5) minutes. The Referee will determine the additional time pre-match and notify both head coaches during the pre-match meeting. There shall be no additional “travel time” added to the bathroom break. (Revised August 2024)

b. Changeover and set break. Players in all divisions may use the bathroom during any 90 second changeover or two (2) minute set break with the permission of an Official. Players will only have the specific increment of time for that bathroom visit — no additional time for travel shall be added (Revised August 2024)

c. Other times. If a player in any division wishes to use the bathroom during any other time, this is treated as the player’s one Medical Timeout (if the player has not already taken their Medical Timeout). The time given for the medical timeout for bathroom usage shall match the total time given for the Bathroom Break (not to exceed 5 minutes). There shall be no additional “travel time” added to this Medical Timeout. (Revised August 2024)

d. Late return. Late return from the bathroom in any division for any of the above scenarios will result in Bathroom Break, Time Violation penalties until the player is ready to play. Bathroom Break, Time Violations accrued from lateness when returning from a bathroom break or bathroom visit are separate from Time Violations accrued during play. (Revised August 2024)

General Rules

For all other rules, officials, players, and tournament directors should follow ITA rules as laid out in the “Individual Competition” section of the 2024-25 ITA Rulebook.  This includes the ITA point penalty system, defaults, and unintentional time violation section.  If not specified by ITA rules, officials should default to USTA rules.

Facility & Court Requirements

The ITA recommends a minimum ratio of 8 courts per 64 participants. This will allow for all players to play twice in one full day and once during a half day.  The required number of courts will increase with corresponding increases in anticipated participants.  Additional sites may be used for larger participant fields. Please consult the Garman scheduling tables for further help regarding court ratios and scheduling.  Host sites should make their best effort to provide practice courts before and during the event. Practice courts may be located at the host site or at sites other than those where the tournament matches are being played.  Practice courts must be available each day at the tournament site(s) one hour before matches begin.   

Emergency Medical Plan & Athletic Trainers

The ITA no longer requires but recommends, if your budget allows, that a certified athletic trainer be on site (or at the main site if multiple sites are used) at least one-half hour before play begins each day and during all hours of play. If athletic training services will not be available, host sites must inform participants prior to the event. 

It is required that tournament directors have a plan in place for medical emergencies.

Stringing

Stringing services should also be provided to participants.  If stringing services will not be available, host sites should inform participants prior to the event. 

Ice & Water

The ITA requires tournament directors to provide ice and water at all facilities being used during the event.  It is preferable that ice and water would be placed on the court but in the event that this is not possible, water and ice should be placed off the court in an easily identifiable and accessible location and be free to participants.

Bathrooms/Locker Rooms/Maintenance

Host sites must make available bathroom and/or locker room facilities to all participants during the course of the event as well as provide appropriate facility maintenance as needed.