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Junior National Tennis Rating
Program (NTRP)
General Characteristics of Various
Playing Levels
Each level includes the skills at
the prior levels, and adds additional expectations.
Please note:
Underlined headers have been
added by local Junior Team Tennis program leaders for your
reference.
Beginner - not quite ready for team
tennis EXCEPT for Under 8s
1.0
Player is just starting to play tennis and is
learning the basic skills of serving, backhands, forehands, and
volleys.
Beginner – May be ready for team tennis
depending on EXPERIENCE
1.5
Player needs to coordinate moving when
hitting the ball and is still concentrating on getting the ball
over the net from a stationary position. Player is learning to
serve and to keep score.
Advanced Beginner – Early Intermediate
2.0
Player is beginning to coordinate footwork
when contacting the ball but is not consistent in hitting the
ball over the net. Player can serve to some degree but double
faults frequently. Player understands scoring as well as
correct positions for serving and receiving. Player has limited
success with volleys but has knowledge of court positioning in
both singles and doubles.
Intermediate
2.5
Player is able to judge where the ball is
going. Player can sustain a slow paced rally of several shots
with someone of the same ability using both forehand and
backhand sides, and can volley with moderate success. Player
can keep score unassisted, can call own lines, can serve
overhand from the baseline, and has an understanding of the
basic rules.
Advanced
Recreational Player – Introductory Tournament Player
3.0
Player is getting better at moving to the
ball and is improving court coverage, can sustain a rally with
consistency on slow to moderate-paced shots. Player serves with
fair consistency with few double faults. On groundstrokes,
player needs to improve control of height, depth, direction, and
speed. Player attempts to move opponent from side to side and
to hit to the opponent’s weakness.
Advanced – Level 4 or 5 Tournament Player
– Beginning to work on State Ranking
3.5 Player can sustain a rally
and is beginning to develop directional control and depth of
groundstrokes. Player is starting to
recognize
opportunities to attack short balls by coming to the net.
Player is developing more spin and power on the serve and seldom
double faults. Player is becoming more aggressive and applying
basic strategy in singles and using teamwork in doubles.
Advanced – Level 3 or 4 Tournament Player
– Probably ranked in top 100 in State
4.0
Player has dependable groundstrokes,
including directional control and depth on higher paced shots,
and has good court
coverage.
Player has added variety in shot selection by using lobs,
overheads, volleys and approach shots with some success. Player
is developing a game plan with good consistency and is now
forcing some errors with power and/or spin. Player demonstrates
good teamwork in doubles.
Advanced – EXPERIENCED Level 2 or 1
Tournament Player – May be ranked top 50 in State
4.5
Player has a very dependable game and
executes most shots consistently on higher speed shots. Player’s
court coverage and footwork are sound; has begun to master the
use of power and spin. Player can vary depth of shots and game
plan according to opponents. Player’s first serve may produce
some winners, and second serves are hit with good spin and
placement. Player can be aggressive in both singles and
doubles, and covers weaknesses well. Player is developing an
offensive weapon.
Advanced – EXPERIENCED Sectionally or
Nationally Ranked Player
5.0
Player has good shot anticipation and
frequently has an outstanding shot or weapon around which a game
may be structured. Player can regularly hit winners or force
errors on short balls, and is capable of all shots. Player’s
first serve is an offensive weapon, and often allows rushing the
net after the first or second serve. Volleys and overhead
smashes are typically winning shots. Player is “match-wise” and
uses shots that have a high percentage of success in both
singles and doubles. |
