AITA TOURNAMENT STRUCTURE FOR JUNIORS AND THE RULES COVERING THE AITA JUNIOR CIRCUIT Effective from 01 January 202
Singles Main Draw - Best of 3 Tie Break sets.
Doubles Draw – All double matches, should be of three sets, with two (2) tie-break sets, and one match tiebreak game (10 points) if the score becomes one set all to decide the match. No ad scoring will be used.
Doubles
- Size of the Draw will be of 16 pairs.
- Acceptance List will be made from the AITA Rankings by adding the Ranking of each of the players in the pair. The sign-in for doubles shall close on Monday at 12:00 noon
- NO LET rule in service will be in place. It means if the service hits the top of the net and falls in the correct service box the point will continue.
Super Series / National Series / Nationals
Singles Qualifying Draw - All Qualifying matches should be of three sets, with two (2) tie-break sets, and one match tiebreak game (10 points) if the score becomes 1 set all to decide the match. Normal scoring format to be used after deuces.
Singles Main Draw - Best of 3 Tie Break sets.
Doubles Draw – All double matches, should be of three sets, with two (2) tie-break sets, and one match tiebreak game (10 points) if the score becomes one set all to decide the match. No ad scoring will be used.
Doubles
- Size of Draw will be of 16 pairs.
- Sign-in for doubles shall close on Monday at 12:00 noon.
- NO LET rule in service will be in place. It means if the service hits the top of the net and falls in the correct service box the point will continue.
- Any change in the format of matches can happen only with the written approval of AITA, which has to be displayed on the notice board at the tournament premises. Acceptance for Doubles
- Direct Acceptance for Doubles
- Following acceptance priority will be used for selecting the direct acceptance of teams in doubles.
Priority -1
- If both the players of a doubles team are singles main draw players (as direct acceptance, special exempt, qualifier or lucky loser). The selection of teams under this priority will be done as follows:-
- First - If both the players have ranking, then the combined ranking will determine the order.
- Second- If only 1 player has ranking, then the ranking of this one player will be used to decide the order.
- Third- if both the players are unranked, then by lots.
- The lucky loser/ qualifying status of the singles players will be as determined at the time of closing of doubles sign in. Singles main draw wild cards will not be considered for this priority.
Priority-2
- If one player of a doubles team is a singles main draw player (as direct acceptance, special exempt, qualifier or lucky loser). The selection of teams under this priority will be done as follows:-
- First - If both the players have ranking, then the combined ranking will determine the order.
- Second- If only 1 player has ranking, then the ranking of this one player will be used to decide the order.
- Third- if both the players are unranked, then by lots.
Priority-3
- If both the players of a doubles team are not singles main draw players (as direct acceptance, special exempt, qualifier or lucky) as considered for the above 2 priorities. The selection of the teams under this priority will be done as follows:-
- First - If both the players have ranking, then the combined ranking will determine the order.
- Second- If only 1 player has ranking, then the ranking of this one player will be used to decide the order.
Third- if both the players are unranked, then by lots.
In circumstances which are beyond the control of the organizer, like, rain, strike or any other natural calamity, the number of matches to be played on a day may be changed, to complete the tournament. However, AITA’s permission must be obtained for this change.
** POINTS SYSTEM FOR AITA CIRCUIT:
Round Of R64 R32 R16 Q SF F W
TALENT SERIES (7 Days) - 2 6 8 10 12 15
CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES (3 Days) - 1 3 4 6 8 10
CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES (7 Days) - 4 8 10 15 20 25
SUPER SERIES - 5 10 20 30 40 50
NATIONAL SERIES 5 10 20 30 40 50 75
NATIONALS 20 40 60 80 100 150 200
- It is mandatory for all players to participate in the Nationals, for selection to Junior Teams.
- If the Singles (Main Draw in the case of TS or CS (7 Day’s) /SS / NS / Nationals) has less than 16 players or the Doubles (Main Draw in the case of CS (7 Day’s) / SS / NS / Nationals) has less than 8 pairs.
- The tournament may continue. However, no ranking points will be awarded. In the case of three day tournaments if the draw is of less than eight players the tournament may continue but no ranking points will be awarded.
- However, to encourage the North East Sector points will be awarded to all players taking part in any NE Sector Talent Series tournament having a minimum of eight players in Main Draw.
- Qualifying points for the National Series and Nationals are 6-4-2 and for TS / CS (7 Days) / Super Series 1 point is awarded to players who qualify.
** Ranking System takes into consideration, tournaments played during the last 52 weeks:
- From 2025, the results of the best 8 tournaments will be considered for ranking.
- Under ‐18 Category ‐ Rankings are prepared on the basis of best 8(eight) tournament results, played in India, of singles along with 25% of the best 8(Eight) tournament points from doubles. The points earned in ITF Juniors (points used to calculate the ITF Junior ranking only) will be doubled (ie points X 2) and added to the above AITA under 18 points. Plus the points earned from AITA Men/ Women tournaments (points used to calculate the AITA Men's/Women's ranking)
- Under ‐16 Category - Rankings are prepared on the basis of best 8 (eight) tournaments results, played in India, of singles along with 25% of the best 8(eight) tournaments points from doubles plus 25% of the points of the best 3 results from Asian ‐ U16 tournaments played in India, plus points earned from best 8 AITA U‐18 will be added.
- Under ‐14 Category ‐ Rankings are prepared on the basis of best 8(eight) tournament results, played in India, of singles along with the 25% of the best 8 (eight) tournament points from doubles plus 25% of the points of the best 3 results from Asian ‐ U14 tournaments played in India, plus the points earned from best 8 AITA U‐16 will be added.
- Under ‐12 Category ‐ Rankings are prepared on the basis of best 8 (eight) tournament results, played
in India, of singles along with the 25% of the best 8 (eight) tournament points from doubles plus the points earned from best 8 AITA U‐14. Plus the 25% of points earned in best 3 of Asian U14 tournaments played in India.
Main Draw Sizes
Singles Main Draw Size Singles Main Draw (Boys) Singles Main Draw (Girls)
TS (7 Days) 32 32
CS (3 Days) 48 48
CS (7 Days) 32 32
Super Series 32 32
National Series 64 48
Nationals 64 48
In all other tournaments, the maximum draw size for doubles would be 16.
Qualifying Draw Sizes
Singles Qualifying Draw Size Singles Qualifying Draw
(Boys)
Singles Qualifying Draw
(Girls)
TS (7 Days) Open Open
CS (7 Days) Open Open
Super Series 48 32
National Series 48 32
Nationals 64 48
- There will be no qualifying for Doubles.
- There is no qualifying draw for CS (3 Days) tournaments.
SIGN IN REQUIREMENTS
CS (3 Days)
- There will be no requirement to send entries.
- Sign in will be a day before the start of the tournament between 1200 & 1400 Hrs at the venue.
- Draw to be made and displayed before 18:00 Hrs on the sign day itself.
- WhatsApp / Email may be used for Sign-in. However, if a player has done a sign in and does not appear for his match he/she will be fined Rs 1,000 + 180 (18% GST) = ₹1,180.
- Entry fees will not be refunded if the player does not show up for the match. TS and CS (7 Days)
- WhatsApp / Email may be used for Sign-in. However, if a player has done a sign in and does not appear for his match he/she will be fined Rs 1500 + 270 (18% GST) = ₹1,770.
- Entry fees will not be refunded back if the player does not show up for the match. SS/NS/Nationals
- Physical sign in for qualifying is compulsory.
- Qualifying sign in
o The sign in for qualifying will be uniform for all tournaments to be held on Friday between 12:00-14:00.
o The Singles Qualifying draw is to be made latest by 18:00 and displayed prominently as required.
- Main Draw sign-in is required only at TS7/ CS7, where the main draw sign-in shall take place on Sunday between 12:00-14:00.
- The Singles main draw shall be made before 18:00 and displayed prominently as required.
- There will be No Main Draw Sign-in for SS/NS/Nationals. Making the Draw
- All draws should be made immediately after the respective sign-in has closed preferably in the Referee room or decided by the tournament director at the venue.
- All draws shall be made by the Referee (in public) in front of the players and the draw shall be video recorded and shared with the AITA office.
- The draw should be signed by two players preferably these players should be from different States to that of the host State.
- No hand written draws will be permitted.
Composition of the Draws:
Open Main
Draw
Main Draw size- 32
Main Draw Size- 48
Main Draw Size- 64
Direct-On ranking ALL 23 39 55
Qualifiers NONE 8 8 8
Special Exempt NONE 1 1 1
Wildcards NONE NONENONENONE
Qualifying Draw-32 Qualifying Draw -48 Qualifying Draw-64
Direct-on ranking 28 44 60
Wild cards 4 4 4
- For Doubles – draw of 16, all teams to be selected as per the rules defined earlier.
- There will no Wild cards, Special Exempt or qualifying for doubles events in any tournament.
** Entry Regulations:
- The Acceptance List for Talent Series/ Championship (7 Days) / SS / NS / Nationals will be made, taking into account the latest Rankings available on the website.
- Whilst making the Acceptance List, no player without a ranking will be put in the Main Draw. In case there are vacancies in the Main Draw, these spots shall be filled in by Lucky Losers.
- Players with no rankings will remain in the alternates till the time the number of vacancies in the qualifying is equal to the number of unranked players in the alternates.
- If two or more players have the same ranking at the time of making the Acceptance List then the best eight Singles points will be the criteria for placing on the Acceptance List. If the singles points are also the same then there will be a draw of lots.
** Entries
- Entries for Talent Series, Championship Series (7 Days), Super Series, National Series & Nationals
- No Fax OK slip or confirmation by phone is acceptable. Link of online entry system will be available on the tournament factsheet.
- Due to an administrative mistake, if a player’s entry is missed out the name will be added as No 1 in the qualifying (if the player should have been in the Main Draw) or No 1 in the alternates (if the player should have been in the Qualifying). As and when there is a Withdrawal the player will be moved into his correct place on the acceptance list.
**Withdrawals
- Withdrawals from Talent Series, Championship Series (7 Days), Super Series, National Series & Nationals will be taken online. No withdrawals will be accepted through e-mail before the freeze deadline of the tournament. The player should send late withdrawal to the tournament referee whose contact details are available on the tournament factsheet after the freeze deadline to avoid a no-show.
- If a player whose name is there on the acceptance list neither withdraws nor does the sign-in then it
will be treated as No Show.
o Withdrawal - Till Withdrawal Deadline - Via AITA Login.
o Late Withdrawal - After the Withdrawal Deadline till the Freeze Deadline - Via AITA Login.
o Late Withdrawal - After the freeze deadline till the Qualifying Sign In - Via Email to the Tournament Referee whose email address is mentioned on the fact Sheet and copy to entries@aitatennis.com
- Note: After the Qualifying Sign-in deadline, if any player sends a withdrawal from Qualifying Acceptance or Main Draw Acceptance, it will be considered a No-Show.
- For any technical query on any particular tournament, the player must get in touch with the Referee only via email, whose email id will be available on the Fact Sheet and copy to AITA Entries System (entires@aitatennis.com).
- Tournament Directors are requested to refrain from taking decisions and/or request's related to technical and should be communicated/forwarded to the Tournament Referee immediately. Email sent to any other than Tournament Referee / AITA email address will not be considered.
- If a player withdraws before the withdrawal deadline due to any reason, can play the tournament signing in as onsite alternate but if the player withdraws from the tournament after the withdrawal deadline, then he will not be allowed to play and it will be considered as Late Withdrawal.
Ball Rule
Super Series, National Series, and Nationals
Balls: ITF-approved balls should be used. In Qualifying events, there shall be a minimum of three new balls for each new match. In Main Draw matches, 03 new Balls are to be provided for each match. For the semi-finals and finals, 03 new balls must be provided before the start of the 3rd set.
Practice balls - a minimum of 3 once used balls of playable condition must be provided to the players against a refundable deposit.
Talent Series and Championship Series
Balls: ITF-approved balls should be used. It is suggested that new balls should be given for every Main Draw match (3 Balls).
Qualifying matches should be played with new balls as far as possible.
Extensive Heat Conditions
For the safety of the players and officials, it is recommended to implement a heat rule in case of extreme heat conditions. The referee is responsible for implementing the heat rule. In case, the heat rule is implemented, there would be a break of 10 minutes before the start of the 3rd set. The heat rule is applicable for the Singles matches only.
During the 10 minutes heat break, players are allowed to leave the court and use the toilets. No coaching, medical treatment, interaction with parents/ coaches/ friends will be allowed.
** Daily Allowance:
- Daily allowance as per the following, has to be paid by the tournament to all the main draw players in Championship Series (3 Days or 7 Days)/ SS/NS/ Nationals.
- There will be NO Daily Allowance payable for Talent Series tournaments.
- The Daily allowance for the CS (3) will be payable to players from the round of 32.
- PLAYERS are entitled to the daily allowance from 1st day of the main draw (or from the day of round of 32 in case of CS3) till the day he is eliminated (both singles & doubles) from the tournament.
The Daily allowance is payable even if the matches cannot start due to weather conditions, or does not take place on any day due to any reason.
Daily Allowance for Main Draw players (Singles & Doubles)
- Nationals: ₹ 1000/day
- National Series: ₹ 800/day
- Super Series: ₹ 600/day
- Championship Series (7 Day): ₹ 400/day
- Championship Series (3 Day): ₹ 300/day
- DA to be paid for days the player is in the Singles/Doubles Main Draw.
- If a match has to be completed the next day then DA will be given for the day the match is completed.
- In CS (7 day’s) / SS / NS / Nationals a Player receives DA from the Monday of the tournament until the day of elimination from the tournament, even if the player’s first match is on Tuesday.
** Entry Deadlines for Tournaments:
- The entry deadline for TS & CS (7 days), Super Series, National Series, and Nationals would be 3 Mondays prior to commencement of the Tournament.
- Acceptance list for TS & CS (7 day’s), Super Series, National Series and Nationals would be announced at least, 10 Days prior to commencement of Main Draw. The Acceptance list will be available on the website.
** Seedings:
- Seeding’s for the qualifying & Main Draw of TS & CS (7 days), Super Series, National Series, and Nationals will be made taking into account the Rankings available on the AITA website on the Tuesday of the previous week of the tournament. However, if the rankings are updated before the Draw is made it is left to the referee to follow the updated rankings or not. In case two players have the same ranking, then the player with the higher (Best eight) Singles points will be seeded higher.
- In the case of CS (3 Day) tournaments, the seeding will be dependent on the number of players who have signed in (eight for a draw of 32 and 16 for a draw of more than 32). Seedings will be made taking into account the Rankings available on the AITA website.
** Special Exempt:
- Special Exempt position is given to players on the Qualifying Acceptance List (entered players only) who have applied for and received an exemption from the Qualifying event because he/she is still competing at a “Qualified Tournament” on the day the Qualifying event is scheduled to begin. A “Qualified Tournament” is the singles event of another AITA tournament of the same or higher grade, in the preceding week. Any unused Special Exempt place will be filled by an entered player who has signed in for Qualifying and is to be selected in accordance with his/her position on the Acceptance List. (No 1 position on the qualifying acceptance list after sign in)
- No Special exempt is to be given for any other reason as defined above.
** Lucky Losers:
- Any vacancies arising in the first round, (or in the 2nd round in case of byes in the first round) of the Main Draw, after the completion of the final qualifying round, shall be filled in by Lucky losers as follows: -
o 1st Preference – To all ranked players losing in the final qualifying round picked up by lots
o 2nd Preference – To all unranked players losing in the final qualifying round picked up by lots
- If additional lucky losers are needed the losers of the previous round of qualifying shall be selected in the same manner.
- The tournament referee shall conduct a Lucky Loser sign-in at an appropriate time to decide the Lucky Loser spots in the Main Draw. The Lucky Loser sign in time must be put on the tournament notice board well in time but not less than six hours before the sign in time. Lucky Looser sign in will be done every day in case the first round is delayed and not completed on the first or second day of the main draw.
** Tournament Days:
- Championship Series (3 Days) will be conducted for 3 Days. It can start from Monday to Wednesday or Friday to Sunday.
Sign In:
Tournament commencing on Monday, then sign in will be Sunday between 1200 Hrs – 1400 Hrs.
Tournament commencing on Friday, then sign in will be Thursday between 1200 Hrs – 1400 Hrs.
- Talent/ Championship Series (7 days) / Super Series / National Series / Nationals:
- Main Draw will be from Monday to Friday / Saturday.
- Qualifying: Saturday, Sunday & Monday if required.
- Qualifying Sign In will be on Friday 12:00 -2:00 pm. Main Draw Sign in for TS7 & CS7 will be 1200 Hrs to 1400 Hrs on Sunday. There will be no Main Draw Sign in for SS/NS/Nationals.
- Onsite Alternates: - All players who are in qualifying list, alternate list or any onsite alternate should sign in along with the qualifying sign in on Friday.
- After the sign in closes, a list is to be complied of the players who signed in but did not get into the qualifying draw. These players will need to sign in again on the day qualifying matches start as per the time notified by the referee to take up the spots created in qualifying by any no shows.
Sign In for Doubles
- Talent Series / Championship Series / Super Series / National Series / Nationals: Monday by 1200 Hrs.
** Penalty Points:
- Super Series / National Series / Nationals – Irrespective of the reason.
- Late Withdrawal – Third late withdrawal, in a calendar year, will lead to minus 15 points. Thereafter, on every late withdrawal 15 points will be deducted.
- In case of No Show (Main Draw or Qualifying). Points will be deducted as follows:-
- Talent Series (7 Days) – 5
- Championship Series (7 Days) – 5
- Super Series – 5
- National Series – 10
- Nationals – 15
If a tournament has two age groups and a player is a no-show for the qualifying of one age group, he will not be permitted to take part in the Qualifying/Main Draw of the other age group.
** Tournament Entry Fees:
- The entry fees for all tournaments will be as follows.
Juniors Singles Doubles (for each pair)
Talent Series (7 Days) ₹ 400 ₹ 400
Championship Series (3 Days) ₹ 400 NA
Championship Series (7 Days) ₹ 600 ₹ 700
Super Series ₹ 700 ₹ 900
National Series ₹ 900 ₹ 1100
Nationals ₹ 1100 ₹ 1300
- The State Association will be charged the following on application for each age group (in case the tournament is for two age groups it will be double):-
S. No. Description Amount GST (18%) Total (₹)
1 Talent Series (7 Days) 5,000 900 5,900
2 Championship Series (3 Days) 3,500 630 4,130
3 Championship Series (7 Days) 5,000 900 5,900
4 Super Series 7,500 1,350 8,850
5 National Series 10,000 1,800 11,800
6 Nationals 12,500 2,250 14,750
Notes:
- Players, their coaches, and relatives, accompanying them on-site, shall behave professionally at all times. They
a) Shall not use an audible obscenity within the precinct of the tournament site.
b) Shall not make obscene gestures of any kind within the precincts of the tournament site.
c) Shall not at any time directly or indirectly verbally abuse any official, opponent, sponsor, spectator or other person within the precincts of the tournament site.
d) Shall not violently, dangerously or with anger hit, kick or throw a tennis ball or Racquet, within the precincts of the tournament site.
e) Shall not receive coaching during a match. Communications of any kind, audible or visible, between a player and a coach/parent/relatives, may be construed as coaching.
- If such a violation occurs during a match, the player shall be penalized in accordance with the point penalty schedule of ITF rules and regulations.
- In circumstances that are flagrant and particularly injurious to the success of a tournament, or singularly egregious, a single violation of this section shall constitute a major offense, and a player may be defaulted from the tournament.
- Players, their coaches, and relatives accompanying the players, shall not at any time physically abuse any official, opponent, or another person within the precincts of the site, shall not issue, authorize or endorse any public statement within the precincts of the tournament site having, or designed to have, an effect prejudicial or detrimental to the best interest of the tournament and or of the officiating thereof. If such a violation occurs during a match or during tournament week, the violation shall be considered a major offense and the player may be defaulted from the tournament.
- The decision of the immediate default of the player shall be decided by the supervisor, in consultation with the tournament director and/or with the state Secretary. Further action may be initiated by AITA against the players/coaches/parents as deemed fit by the tournament committee/code of conduct committee of AITA The points, rules and regulations which are not covered in the above stated guidelines, the ITF rules and regulations will prevail.
