WHEELCHAIR TENNIS TOURNAMENTS

HOST A PROGRAM

The USTA offers a wide variety of Wheelchair Tennis Tournaments ranging from Level 1 to Level 5 tournaments, at both the national and section/district levels. In 2021, a new Wheelchair Tournament structure was created to promote more play opportunities for wheelchair athletes with larger draw sizes, move to more play friendly formats, and allow tournament directors to run events easily, making them able to retain and attract new tournament providers.

If you are a player looking to participate in a USTA Wheelchair Tennis Tournament click here to learn more.

LEVELS 1-3

Level 1-3 Wheelchair Tournaments offer a more competitive atmosphere for wheelchair players to participate in at the national level. To learn more about the new structure and compare the five different levels of tournaments, click here.

LEVELS 4 & 5

Host a Level 4-5 Wheelchair Tennis Tournament and provide opportunities for all athletes. Whether it’s your first time or you’ve already provided this offering, our resources will familiarize you with all the details and requirements needed. Keep reading for more information on how to get started.

ACCESS TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR MANUALS

Click here to view the USTA Wheelchair Tournament Regulations

Click here to view the Levels 1-3 Wheelchair Tennis Tournament Director Manual

Click here to view the ITF Wheelchair Tennis Tournament Director Guide

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

All level 4 and 5 wheelchair tennis tournaments are sanctioned through your section or district offices.
- Contact your local USTA section or district offices and they will assist you through the sanctioning process.
For Level 1-3 wheelchair tournaments, contact National at wheelchairtournaments@usta.com

Tournament Director - Oversees and conducts all aspects of the event
Tournament Referee
Volunteers

Level 1 events may not exceed four days.
Level 2 events may not exceed three days.
Level 3 events may not exceed three days.
Level 4 events may not exceed three days.
Level 5 events cannot be more than one day.
Level 5 events are recommended to be a partial day (i.e. 3 hours).

Tennis sites should be wheelchair accessible. One should consider courts, restrooms, and other common areas. Accessibility applies to the use of an everyday chair, not sport chairs.
Provide water for players. Consider snacks and light meals for multi-day events.
If necessary, provide a hotel room block near the tournament site.
For events lasting more than one day, a weatherproof storage area for sport wheelchairs is necessary.
A wheelchair repair area with appropriate tools is recommended (air compressor or air pump, wratchet set, Allen wrenches, etc.).
For more information on the recommended tools, refer to the Wheelchair Tournament Director Manual.

DUAL ROLE OPPORTUNITY

BE THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR AND THE REFEREE

The Tournament Director/Referee Dual Role initiative supports USTA tournaments by providing you, as the Tournament Director (TD), the opportunity to serve as both the TD and Referee at Level 7 Adult, Level 7 Junior, and/or Level 5 Wheelchair events after completing a required online course.

KEY BENEFITS OF THE INITIATIVE

Financial Benefit: Allows Tournament Directors to run Level 7 Adult, Level 7 Junior, and/or Level 5 Wheelchair events more cost-effectively and in turn will potentially increase the number of events offered.
Education: Tournament Directors will receive training in areas such as basic rules, scheduling, and conflict resolution to provide the best possible consumer experience.
Exposes Tournament Directors to an Officiating Role: Creates a new pathway into officiating for those who enjoy this experience to go through the formal certification process, increasing the number of Officials available to service events.

HOW TO REGISTER

Access the required Tournament Director/Referee Dual Role course is accessible on the USTA Officiating Online Learning Center. This course includes an overview of the role, scheduling, rules, and procedures, as well as additional topics to assist you in running your event smoothly. Click here for step-by-step registration instructions.