Player's Guide to USTA League Adult Tennis (18+) 2026

To play, you must (Reg. 1.04E):

• Be 18 or older, or turn 18 during the calendar year in which you play your first local league match. For older age groups, you must reach the minimum age before or during the calendar year you register and play your first match.
• Be a current USTA member in good standing through the local season and each championship stage you reach. You may only have one USTA membership account.
• Live within the boundaries of a USTA section, or take part through a Direct Member Club or Organization.
• Have a valid NTRP rating, or self-rate, and play at your rating level or higher.
• Not appear on the USTA Safe Play Disciplinary List (Reg. 1.02F).

By playing, you agree to follow the USTA League Regulations and Friend at Court, including The Code.

If you don't have a valid NTRP rating in TennisLink, you self-rate when you register for a team (Reg. 1.04F(1)f):

• Self-rate honestly using the General & Experienced Player Guidelines (a supplement to the NTRP Guidelines), including your full tennis history.
• If you're unsure between two levels, USTA says to choose the higher one.
• If you expect to improve a lot through lessons and practice, enter at a higher level from the start to avoid being dynamically disqualified mid-season.
• You're responsible for your self-rating even if someone else filled it in for you. An inaccurate or inappropriate self-rating leads to disqualification, and penalties under the League Suspension Point System can also apply to captains or others who helped.

Mixed-exclusive (M), tournament-exclusive (T) and automatic-appeal (A) rated players must self-rate to join the Adult Division unless they have a valid self (S) rating (Reg. 1.04F(1)). A self-rate appeal goes to your section's Self-Rate Appeals Committee.

For the 2026 league year (2026 Valid NTRP Computer Ratings table):

• Self-ratings are valid for 2 years from the date issued, or until replaced by a dynamic or computer rating (Reg. 1.04F(1)g).
• Expired ratings are removed automatically, and you'll need to self-rate. You can't self-rate below your last valid NTRP level, but you may file a self-rate appeal of the level you're assigned (Reg. 1.04F(1)h).
• Players with a valid rating must enter at that level or higher.
• In 2026, Adult 18 and Adult 40 & Over players at Sectional or National Championships can't appeal their NTRP level down.

• Playing up: you may play up to one NTRP level higher than your current level (Reg. 1.04G(5)). You can never play below your valid rating.
• Same level, same age group, same local league: only one team per season. Where levels are split into flights, you can't play in more than one flight (Reg. 1.04G(2)).
• Same level and age group in separate local leagues: allowed if your section approves (Reg. 1.04G(3)).
• More than one level in the same age group and local league: only if your section authorizes it (Reg. 1.04G(4)).
• Adult and Mixed: you may play in both divisions in the same season (Reg. 1.04G(1)).

If you play on multiple teams, you automatically waive the minimum rest between matches, though the Recovery Rule still applies (Reg. 2.03A(2)a). Your section may set stricter rules.

During the season, USTA calculates dynamic ratings for all players at regular intervals and at the end of local league and championship play (2026 NTRP section, item 8). Some players can be bumped up if their dynamic rating shows they're above their level.

M, T and A automatic-appeal players who self-rate to enter the Adult Division become S-rated and are then subject to dynamic disqualification.

A player who is promoted must immediately play at the new level in all USTA League programs. There are no dynamic disqualifications at National Championships. To avoid this, USTA advises players who expect to improve a lot to enter at a higher level from the start.

The recommended format is best of three tiebreak sets, with a match tiebreak in place of the third set. The match tiebreak counts as one set and one game (Reg. 2.01C(4)). The USTA's standard match tiebreak is first to 10, win by 2 (Friend at Court, Reg. I.E.1.b).

For play at or below the sectional level, a section may authorize other formats compatible with the NTRP rating system, including:

• Best of three tiebreak sets, with a set tiebreak at 6-all
• Pro sets
• A single set with a set or match tiebreak at 6-all
• Timed matches
• No-Ad scoring with any of these

Defaults and disqualifications are scored 6-0, 6-0. How team-match points and standings are awarded locally is set by the local league, as long as it's compatible with the NTRP rating system.

• Captains exchange lineups simultaneously before the team match starts (Reg. 2.01C(6)).
• After lineups are exchanged, a substitution in an individual match is allowed only for injury, illness or disqualification of a player before that match starts, or other circumstances your section authorizes.
• A substitute who comes in during the warm-up gets a 5-minute warm-up.
• Sections can't require lineups to be in order of strength (Reg. 2.01C(7)).
• A player may play only one individual match in each team match (Reg. 1.04G(8)).

Many sections add their own lineup rules, such as where missing players must be placed, so check your local league regulations.

Coaching is not permitted in USTA League. The only exception is the 10-minute rest period, when the format is best of three tiebreak sets and a 10-minute rest is provided between the second and third sets (Reg. 2.01D).

On court, you're bound by Friend at Court, including the ITF Rules of Tennis and The Code, unless the league regulations modify them (Reg. 1.04E(4)). In practice that means:

• You call the lines on your side; a ball touching any part of the line is good, and opponents get the benefit of the doubt.
• Spectators never make calls.
• The server announces the score before each point.
• Points played in good faith stand.

All players also agree to standards of good conduct, fair play and sportsmanship.

Each team must have enough players available to play the majority of individual matches in a team match (Reg. 2.01C(3)):

• If one team is short, the opponent gets a total team default and wins every individual match 6-0, 6-0.
• If neither team has enough, it's a double team default and neither team gets a win.
• Individual matches actually played in a team default count only for NTRP ratings and eligibility to advance, not for standings.

When both teams have the minimum but their combined individual defaults would leave most matches unplayed, teams follow the procedures their section sets; if the section has none, it's a double team default.

Scores for an individual default or disqualification are recorded 6-0, 6-0 (Reg. 2.01C(4)).

From the 2026 national regulations (Reg. 2.03A and the "Matches Required to Advance" table):

• Sections may require self-rated and appealed-down players to play up to 4 matches to reach championships below Nationals, and may decide whether a default counts for them.
• Retired matches count for all players.
• You also have to be otherwise eligible, including being a current USTA member through each championship stage (Reg. 1.04E(2)).

Your section may add its own rules, so check your local league regulations too.