What happens if we have to pull out of a tournament?

It depends when you withdraw and the age group (Appendix Six, LTA Competition Regulations 2026).

Before the withdrawal deadline (shown on the competition fact sheet): no penalty.

After the deadline, players get Withdrawal Points, except in 8U events, where no Withdrawal Points are given:

10 points in a rolling 12 months leads to an automatic two-week suspension from LTA competitions (longer for repeat suspensions in the same period).

No points if your child:

• retires during a match through sickness or injury (provided they didn't arrive sick or injured), or the Referee rules them unfit to continue
• is on the reserve list and you withdraw before being told they're in the draw.

Ill before the deadline? Withdraw before the deadline. Points for withdrawing later because of an illness or injury your child already had before the deadline can't be appealed.

Appeals are only for exceptional circumstances outside your control that arose after the deadline, and must be made within 14 days of the LTA's email, with evidence. For a child, the circumstances must have been outside the reasonable control of the parent or carer as well.