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Getting recruited is challenging enough, so UTR Sports is setting out to make the process easier on teenagers, parents, and coaches alike. Introducing the Junior National Pathway, with Regional tournaments beginning this September.
Universal Tennis has already created more playing opportunities for players of all ages. Still, with the launch of the Junior National Pathway, juniors will have even more chances to get noticed by college coaches.
The inaugural Junior National Pathway will consist of eight Regional events taking place in September, October, and November all over the United States in girl’s and boy’s 13U, 15U, and 17U categories. Winners of the 15U and 17U Regionals will advance to the first-ever Universal Tennis Junior National Championship at the Darling Tennis Center in Las Vegas in December.
Entrance to Regionals is granted by UTR Rating, the gold standard rating for level-based play and college recruiting. Any 18-year-olds not already committed to a college program are also eligible to apply for a wild card.
All 15U and 17U Regional and National matches will be live-streamed for coaches to watch, further increasing exposure for players. Still, nothing beats seeing players compete in real life.
Nationals will be held at the same time as the Las Vegas Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) College Coaches Convention with a two-day College Showcase (December 3-4) and a four-day National Championships tournament (Dec 5-8). Players in Las Vegas will have even more opportunities to compete in front of the hundreds of coaches expected to attend. Further expanding the pathway for top juniors, the 17U National Championship winners, finalists, and semifinalists with an eligible UTR rating will receive main draw wild cards into 2022 UTR Pro Tennis Tour events.
In true UTR Sport fashion, the structure ensures multiple matches, guaranteeing a rewarding experience for each player. The format for Regionals and Nationals will be a round-robin followed by a knock-out playoff, meaning players will compete in at least three matches.
The new initiative by UTR Sport creates a literal pathway for juniors to help them land on a college roster and makes scouting even more convenient for college coaches.
For more on Junior National Pathway eligibility, scheduling, registration, and rules, click here.