What are competition grades, and where should my child start?
Rule- Great Britain
- LTA
- LTA Competition Regulations
- LTA Youth
- 8 and under
- 9 and under
- 10 and under
- Red, orange and green ball
- 2026
- Parents
Every LTA sanctioned competition is graded (Regulation 5.1, LTA Competition Regulations 2026):
| Grade | Level |
|---|---|
| 1 and 2 | National |
| 3 | Regional |
| 4 | County |
| 5 | Local |
| 6 | Matchplays |
| 7 | Internal venue (club) competitions |
| Ungraded | Recreational competition |
First steps the LTA offers for young players:
- LTA Youth Matchplay: a first experience of competitive tennis.
- Local Tour: local tournaments where young players can first earn real Recent Form or LTA Ranking points.
- LTA Youth Compete Rewards: a participation scheme for 8U to 10U players that recognises progress.
Grade 4 and above (County Tour, County Cup, Regional Tour, national events) are aimed at improving and advanced players.
What counts: grades 1 to 5 count towards LTA Ranking (11U and up). Grades 6 and 7 don't count towards Ranking, but from the year your child turns 10, results at any grade from 1 to 7 count towards their World Tennis Number.
Grade 6 and 7 events must use one of the LTA's approved scoring formats for the age group.
Updated 21 Oct 2026