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2026 Tournament Application Process
2026 Tournament Application Process
*This article details how to apply for a tournament in Serve Tennis
USTA MS Junior Tournament Application Information and TD Handbook
USTA MS Adult Tournament Application Information and TD Handbook
2026 Tournament Sanctioning Updates
2026 Tournament Sanctioning Updates
In 2025 we added two new rules for Sanctioned Tournaments, these rules are still in effect and are also in all the adult and junior rules and regulations documents, but copied here for convenience.
Junior Sanctioned Tournament New Rules:
All sanctioned tournaments must have the referee listed on the tournament, and the referee must have accepted the invitation to work that tournament.
a. If a referee is only listed on the tournament and an invitation has not been sent or accepted, the tournament will not be approved until the
referee has confirmed they are working that tournament.
Tournament Director must attend the annual Tournament Directors’ Workshop during the USTA Mississippi Annual Meeting.
The tournament director may send someone from the tournament committee if the tournament director cannot attend the workshop. Every tournament that is sanctioned must have representation at the workshop.
Any tournaments who fail to have representation at the tournament directors’ workshop will have their tournament hidden and registration closed until the tournament director, or someone from the tournament committee, attends an in person meeting with the Competitive Pathway Director to go over all the topics missed at the workshop.
Adult Sanctioned Tournament New Rules:
All sanctioned tournaments who have a referee must have the referee listed on the tournament, and the referee must have accepted the invitation to work that tournament.
a. If a referee is only listed on the tournament and an invitation has not been sent or accepted, the tournament will not be approved until the
referee has confirmed they are working that tournament.
Level 6 and Level 7 Tournament Directors who have completed the USTA Officiating’s TD/Referee dual role certification are not required to have a referee, but before tournament approval their dual role certification must have been completed.
Tournament Director must attend the annual Tournament Directors’ Workshop during the USTA Mississippi Annual Meeting.
The tournament director may send someone from the tournament committee if the tournament director cannot attend the workshop. Every tournament that is sanctioned must have representation at the workshop.
Any tournaments who fail to have representation at the tournament directors’ workshop will have their tournament hidden and registration closed until the tournament director, or someone from the tournament committee, attends an in person meeting with the Competitive Pathway Director to go over all the topics missed at the workshop.
Current Tournament Director Useful Dates and Information:
October 5 – Priority Deadline for 2026 Sanctioning
Anything submitted after this date will not be given first priority on dates. Tournaments submitted after October 5 will be approved on that date if the current submitted schedule allows for it, otherwise a new date will be requested.
Sanction Fees:
Level 5 and 6 Tournaments - $104.14
Level 7 Tournaments - $52.25
Charity Benefit Tournaments - $0
Junior Circuit and Team Challenge - $0
Unsanctioned Tournaments - $0
*Unsanctioned tournaments previously had a sanction fee. Starting in 2021, there is no longer a sanction fee for these events.
Helpful Links:
Garman Scheduling System for short sets
Compass Draw Explanation Image
Tournament Director General Information
Starting in 2021, Sanctioning Ranked and Non-Ranked Tournaments for Adults and Juniors is all done through Serve Tennis. With the new national tournament structure, there are seven levels of events. Level 1, 2, and 3 Open are National Level Tournaments, approved by the USTA National office. Level 3 Closed, 4, and 5 Open tournaments are Sectional Level Tournaments, approved by the USTA Southern office. Level 5 Closed, 6, and 7 tournaments are District Level Tournaments, approved through USTA Mississippi. *Level 5 Tournaments are a collaboration between the Section and District offices.
All District Events, Levels 6 and 7, are open for sanctioning year round, with a priority deadline of around Oct 1 for the following year. USTA Junior Circuit and Team Challenge events are also open for sanctioning year round, in conjunction with a tournament or as a standalone event. All tournaments must be approved by the Sanctioning and Scheduling Committee after the application has been submitted. All tournament directors must be approved by USTA Mississippi and pass the USTA Safe Play background check process to be eligible to sanction tournaments.
By sanctioning a tournament, you will have the ability to use the Serve Tennis platform and the full featured Tournament Desk software to run your tournament. The USTA MS office will be available for any help you need to run a great event!
If you are interested in sanctioning a new tournament, or for more information, please contact William Foreman at williamf@mstennis.com.
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