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2009-2010 Season

About the Circuit

The Gateway Junior Grand Prix is a circuit of tennis tournaments geared towards the recreational player.  The circuit consists of a series of single-night round robin tournaments. The tournaments will be held at nine different indoor clubs throughout the St. Louis Area. Players accumulate points at each tournament, and the player’s standings are updated on the Internet during the season.  The circuit begins in September and culminates with the Masters Championships in the spring. 

Player Eligibility

Players who have received a USTA District ranking in the top ten are disqualified from playing the circuit. However, these top ten players may play two age divisions higher if one exists. Boys who have received a USTA District ranking of #11 thru #20 can play, but must play one age division higher.  A girl who has earned a USTA District ranking from #11 thru #20 can play in their normal age division.

Tournament Format

In each round-robin tournament, the participants will play four different opponents. During these four rounds, a total of five games will be played, each time using no-ad scoring.  However, the Boys 16’s and Boys 18’s will play six game rounds.  After the four rounds have been played, the top four finishers will then go into the playoffs.  In the playoffs, a full set will be played.  However, a tiebreaker will be played in the set if the game score reaches 5 - 5, instead of the usual 6 - 6. The third place match will simply involve the playing of a tiebreaker.  In the 10 and under divisions, a shorter playoff format will be used.  Each age division will take about three hours to complete.  Players can be defaulted if they are twenty or more minutes late to a tournament. 

Age Group Eligibility & Point System
        1.      Boys 10 and under : Must be born on or after April 26, 1999
        2.      Girls 10 and under:  Must be born on or after April 12, 1999
        3.      Boys 12 and under : Must be born on or after April 12, 1997
        4.      Girls 12 and under: Must be born on or after April 26, 1997
        5.      Boys 14 and under : Born on or after April 26, 1995
        6.   Boys 16 and under : Born on or after February 15, 1993
        7.   Boys 18 and under : Born on or after February 15, 1991
        8.       Girls 15 and under : Born on or after April 12, 1994
        9.       Girls 18 and under : Born on or after April 26, 1991

Points will be awarded to the participants as follows:
      Participation – 10 points
      Each game won in four rounds – 5 points
      First place – 40 points
      Second place – 30 points
      Third place – 20 points
      Fourth place – 10 points

Only a player’s top five tournament results will count toward a player’s point total. 

The Masters Championships

After all of the tournaments have been completed, the top sixteen ranked players in each age division will be invited to play in The Masters Championship.  For the 10 and under age divisions, only the top eight will be invited. The Masters Championship will be a conventional tournament played over a weekend. All participants will be guaranteed to play at least two rounds.  The Masters will cost $40 per player. The club that is hosting the Masters will contact all of the players who have qualified to participate.   Please be sure that you have qualified to play in the Masters before you send in your check and entry form.

Fees

In order to participate in the Gateway Junior Grand Prix, a $35.00 Administrative Fee will need to be paid by each player.  The check should be made payable to:  Craigwell, Inc., and mailed along with the Player Registration Form to:  Craig Tidwell, 725 Jacobs Crossing, St. Charles, MO  63304.  Any questions may be answered by contacting Craig at (636) 448-2443, or through email at:craigwell@charter.net.  Players who paid their Administrative Fee to Terry Ward in the summer are already covered through the indoor season.  

All of the tournaments, whether singles or doubles nights, will cost $25 per player.   Make the checks payable to the host club, and then mail them with the entry forms to the host clubs. Entry fees must accompany the entry forms, and they must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on the Wednesday before the event. If you wish to enter more than one tournament at the same club, please submit a separate check and entry form for each event.  Please be aware that space is limited, and that tournaments can sell out. 

Each player will receive a complimentary circuit t-shirt once their Administrative Fee has been received.  The shirt is to be picked up at either Racket Man pro shop location – Creve Coeur or Chesterfield Valley.  

Doubles Nights:

One Doubles Night will be offered for each age division this season.  These will just be fun practice nights.  No scores will be recorded, and no trophies will be awarded.  Each participant will be awarded 50 points.  A player does not have to play in a Doubles Night in order to be eligible to play in The Masters.  A player may play up in an older age division in the Doubles if they wish, but once you have played in one Doubles Night, that player will not be awarded any additional points.  Each round will last for about twenty-five minutes, and the players will be assigned a different partner each round.  Players are to sign-up individually for the Doubles Nights.  If a player would like to play one round with a certain person, this may be requested on the entry form that is mailed in.  The fee for these Doubles Nights will also be $25.  Please be aware that participants may play rounds with players of different age groups and genders.  All players need to report to the host club at 5:45 PM for these Doubles Nights.  These events will end at 8:30 pm.

QuickStart Tournaments:

Two QuickStart Tournaments are being offered this season.  These events will be played on a court that is smaller than a regular tennis court, and a shorter scoring system will be used.  Instead of a tennis ball, a slower ball will be used.  These events are designed for children ages ten and under, and the emphasis will be on having fun.  These events will typically last only two hours in duration.  No internet standings or Masters Tournaments will take place for this division.  In addition, players who are only going to play in the QuickStart events do not have to pay the $35 annual Administrative Fee.   Only the $25 entry fee is required.

Table Tennis Tournament:

This year’s Table Tennis Tournament will again be held at the Performance Arena at Lindenwood University.  The event will be held on Sunday December 6, 2009 from 3:00 to 6:00 pm.  The entry fee is $25, and checks should be made payable to: St. Peters Table Tennis Club.  Please mail a completed entry form and payment to: Randy Kendle 154 Mill Run Lane St. Peters, MO 63376-7106.  Please include what age you will be on the day of the event, as well as your email address and home and cell. phone numbers.  If you have questions about this event, please email Randy at: randy_kendle@yahoo.com.