Player's Guide to Tennis Canada Junior Competitions Ages 18 and Under 2026

Under Tennis Canada's Code of Conduct (Rules of the Court 2026), the Point Penalty Schedule for code violations in a match is:

1. First offence: warning
2. Second offence: point penalty
3. Third and each subsequent offence: game penalty

After the third code violation the Referee decides whether each further offence is a default. For a serious violation a player may be defaulted immediately without going through the steps.

Other points:

• In doubles the schedule applies to the team, not each player.
• The referee's penalty (warning, point, game or default) under this schedule is final and cannot be appealed.
• A game penalty during a tie-break loses that game. A match tie-break and a final set tie-break count as tie-break games, so a game penalty there loses the match tie-break and therefore the match.
• Violations from one match do not carry over to the next: an earlier day's warning did not count towards a new match's schedule in the Rules' worked example.

Under Tennis Canada's Code of Conduct (Rules of the Court 2026) the time limits are:

• 25 seconds between points, from when the ball goes out of play until the first serve is struck
• 90 seconds on changeovers (play is continuous after the first game of each set and during a tie-break)
• 120 seconds on set breaks

The receiver must play to the reasonable pace of the server. The first violation is a Time Violation warning. Each later, non-consecutive violation costs a server a fault and a receiver a point penalty. Time violations have their own schedule, separate from the Point Penalty Schedule.

If a player is still not ready after a further 25 seconds, the second violation is treated as a Delay of Game Code Violation under the Point Penalty Schedule instead. An emergency toilet break during a game or before the opponent's serve brings consecutive time violations, to a maximum of the game in progress (if serving) plus the opponent's next service game.

Under Tennis Canada's Code of Conduct (Rules of the Court 2026), all players must make correct and honest calls on balls landing on their side of the net. Incorrect Line Call violations are counted across the whole tournament (qualifying and main draw count as one tournament), separately from the match-by-match Point Penalty Schedule:

1. First offence: soft warning
2. Second: warning
3. Third: point penalty
4. Fourth: game penalty
5. Fifth: game penalty
6. Sixth: default

When a referee, assistant referee or roving umpire overrules a clear error, the call is corrected and the corrected player loses the point. A soft warning is issued only once per player per tournament. In a blatantly incorrect call (for example a serve that clearly lands in the service box) the official may skip the warnings and go straight to a point penalty. Four or more incorrect line calls over the past three tournaments would normally be grounds for a point penalty on the first overrule. Incorrect line call violations count towards suspension points.

Tennis Canada's Guidelines for Unofficiated Matches (Rules of the Court 2026) say:

• You make the calls for all shots landing on, or aimed at, your end of the net.
• If you have any doubt, the decision must go in your opponent's favour.
• If any part of the ball touches the line, it is good: "A ball 99% out is still 100% good." Do not call a ball out until it has landed outside the court and you can clearly see a space between the ball and the line.
• A ball you cannot call out with certainty is good. You cannot claim a let or replay because you did not see it.
• Your opponent is entitled to a prompt audible and/or visible "out" call.
• Except for the first serve, call against yourself any ball you clearly see out, even if not asked.
• Treat every point the same, match point included.
• Serving: neither you nor your partner should call a first serve out, but call any second serve you clearly see out.
• Doubles: either partner may call a ball they clearly see. If you and your partner disagree on whether your opponents' ball was out, call it good.
• On clay, if any part of the ball mark touches the line, call it good.

Tennis Canada's Guidelines for Unofficiated Matches (Rules of the Court 2026) say:

• Score disputes: in this order, (1) count the points and games you agree on and replay only the disputed ones, (2) play from a score you both agree on, (3) spin a racquet or toss a coin. Do not spend a long time debating.
• Questioning a call: ask yourself whether you clearly saw the ball land in the court, then ask "Are you sure of your call?". If your opponent says they are uncertain, they lose the point. If they confirm, the call stands and there is no further discussion.
• Asking for help: if you ask your opponent's opinion on a call and get a positive opinion, you must accept it. If neither of you has an opinion, the ball is good. Help is available only on a call that ends a point.
• Calling your own mistake: if you call a ball out and realize it was good, the first time the point is replayed unless it was a point-ending shot (then your opponent wins the point). After that, any other incorrect call loses you the point.
• Prompt calls: make calls promptly, before your return has gone out of play or your opponent has played the return.
• Points played in good faith stand, for example if you find the net was too high only after losing a point.
• Disagreements should not disrupt other courts. Patterns of problem behaviour should be raised with an official or tournament director if present.

Under Tennis Canada's Code of Conduct (Rules of the Court 2026):

• After a tournament, the referee sends an Offences Report to the sanctioning body (Tennis Canada for national events, the player's provincial or territorial association for provincial events) within 3 days, recommending any suspension points (SP). The body decides whether to assess them.
• SP are activated on the player's account no later than 5 days after the tournament ends. It is the player's responsibility to monitor their account; the provincial association is not responsible for notifying them of totals, though it may as a courtesy at 3 points.
• Each SP stays in effect for 12 months after the infraction. Five or more SP in a 12-month period result in a suspension. Points are not erased by the suspension; they expire 12 months after each was received.
• Suggested junior suspension lengths (a guideline provincial associations may modify): 1st suspension 3 months, 2nd 6 months, 3rd 6+ months.
• The provincial association notifies the player by email within 5 business days of the tournament's end, with the length, reason, right to appeal and start date.
• A suspension or its length can be appealed to the player's provincial Disciplinary Committee within 5 business days of written notice.
• Incorrect line call violations also count towards suspension points.

Tennis Canada's Rules of the Court 2026 have a separate Late Withdrawal and Failure to Complete Required Tournament Events (LW/FC) system for junior tennis only:

• Withdrawal after the draw has been made: 1.0 LW/FC penalty point
• Failure to complete all required events at a tournament: 1.0 LW/FC penalty point (for example withdrawing from singles consolation after losing in the first round of a Junior Nationals event, where entered players are expected to play singles, doubles and consolation singles)

Reaching 3 LW/FC penalty points within 12 months means a three-month suspension, and the provincial association should inform Tennis Canada so the suspension applies in all provinces. LW/FC points are separate from Code of Conduct suspension points: 1 SP plus 2 LW/FC points does not add up to a suspension. The failure-to-complete penalty does not apply if a player is forced to leave through injury or illness, but the player must get a Medical Certificate from the Sports Medicine Trainer or other qualified medical personnel designated by the tournament before leaving.

Under Tennis Canada's Tournament Regulations (Rules of the Court 2026):

• Defaults: a player defaulted for misconduct, or who fails to complete a match without a bona fide reason (such as injury, illness or personal emergency), is ineligible to compete in the remaining events of that tournament (for example consolation draw, doubles or other age category events). A player defaulted only for punctuality or proper attire may still compete in the remaining events.
• Late to a match: 5:00 or less late costs the toss plus 1 game; 5:01 to 10:00 costs the toss plus 2 games; 10:01 to 15:00 costs the toss plus 3 games; more than 15:00 late is a default. Ready means checked in at the Tournament Desk, properly dressed and equipped, and heading to the court without delay.
• No show: entering a tournament and then failing to appear without adequate reason and valid notice is a Code of Conduct violation.
• Entering two tournaments in the same period without prior permission of both Tournament Referees is also a violation.

Tennis Canada's rating and ranking page says rankings use results within a given time frame, typically a rolling 52-week period. A ranking is a player's position within a group, such as girls under 12. Players earn points only by winning a match and advancing to the next round, and rankings depend mainly on how many tournaments a player enters and how far they go. For full junior ranking details Tennis Canada points to the National Bank Rankings website (nationalbankrankings.com).

Tennis Newfoundland and Labrador adds that:

• a junior player's total points are based on their five best results in a rolling 52-week period, and juniors can play more events but only the best five count
• only junior-classed tournaments count toward junior totals
• National Bank Rankings use four categories: Junior (age based, 18 and under), Adult (skill based), Masters (age based, 30 and over) and Open (available to anyone)
• provincial events are star rated, and the higher the star value, the more points are awarded
• each tournament's Playing Ops document sets any play-up rules

Sources: tenniscanada.com/compete-perform/rating-ranking-systems and newfoundland.tenniscanada.com/for-players/competitive-juniors. The provincial details come from an Atlantic provincial page and may differ in other provinces.