Tri-Level National Invitational Fact Sheet
2023 Tri-Level League National Invitational
Tournament Director: Maria Goldberg: goldberg@scta.usta.com
USTA National Staff representative: Adam Hutchinson: adam.hutchinson@usta.com Brandon Buksbaum: brandon.buksbaum@usta.com
Location: San Diego, CA
Dates: March 17-19
Tennislink: All teams must be set up in the 2022 Championship year, we are not able to move teams in from previous years or pull teams in from the 2023 Championship year. If you are hosting a sectional in early 2023 please make sure that you set it up in the 2022 Championship year.
Website: Information for this event will be posted up on our website as it becomes available. Registration: More information coming soon. Format: Each team will play 4 unflighted matches, the top 4 teams based on Tennislink Standings will move on to the semifinals on Sunday.
Team Selection: It is up to the discretion of each individual section as to how their team is selected but all players must be current USTA members, have a valid “C” or “A” computer-generated NTRP rating after the 2022 year-end ratings are published and be on the official TennisLink roster to participate in the National Invitational for 2023. Please reach out to your section office for more information about Tri-Level play and advancement in your area. The USTA National Staff Representative will verify all player ratings and eligibility prior to the start of the Invitational once rosters have been received from the respective section offices.
Roster Sizes and Requirements: For each team, there will be a minimum requirement of six (6) players, providing for one doubles team, in the 3.5, 4.0 and 4.5 ability levels, to a maximum of 12 players per team. This can be any combination of NTRP levels as long as the total number of players on a roster is 12 or less, and there are at least two players on-site and available for the entire weekend at each NTRP level of 3.5, 4.0 and 4.5. For example, a team could have three 3.5, five 4.0 and four 4.5 players. As this Invitational is intended to provide level-based play, players should not play up NTRP levels unless there is an on-site injury or extenuating circumstances that require a team to play a player up a level to avoid defaulting a court.
Non-Playing Captain: We will allow for one non-playing captain to attend and not be counted towards the 12 allowed roster players. This captain must be the same captain that is listed in TennisLink.
Minimum Match Requirement/Player Eligibility: A player is eligible to advance to the USTA Tri-Level National Invitational if that player has played on that same team in at least two (2) matches through section championships with one default received that may count for advancing. A retired match shall count for all players involved. All individual team members must be from the appropriate level of play in accordance with the NTRP system, players will play at the NTRP level that they were assigned/ played the 2022 Championship year at. Captains will receive a roster email for their team prior to their event with the NTRP ratings that each of the players are eligible to play at.
Individual Eligibility Waiver Requests: Individual Eligibility Waivers will not be accepted for the 2023 Tri Level National Invitational. Players that do not meet the match requirements will not be eligible to participate in the National Invitational. Ratings The USTA National Staff Representative will verify all player ratings and eligibility prior to the start of the Invitational once rosters have been received from the respective Section offices. Computer “C” Rated Players: Players must have a valid “C” rating after the 2022 year-end ratings have been published in order to participate in the Tri-Level National Invitational in 2022.
Question: If a “”C” computer-generated player who competes in 2022 gets bumped up when year-end ratings are released, can they still participate at the NTRP level they played at in 2021? Example: 3.5 “C” computer-rated player gets bumped up to 4.0 “C”. Can they still play in the invitational at 3.5 “C”? Answer: Yes, as a “C” computer-generated player, this player MAY play in the Tri-Level National Invitational held in 2023 at the NTRP level they played at in 2022. Example: 3.5 “C” computer-rated player gets bumped up to 4.0 “C”. They are eligible to play in the invitational at 3.5 “C”. Should a player move up TWO LEVELS at year-end, they must play at their NEW HIGHEST LEVEL, instead of their original rostered level. Example: If a 3.5 “C” computer-rated player gets bumped up to 4.5 “C” - they must play at the 4.5 level.
Question: If a “C” rated player appeals their 2022 year-end rating down and is now showing as an “A” appealed player, are they able to play at their lower appealed rating? Answer: Yes. If a player earned a “C” year-end rating in 2022 and they appealed their rating down through TennisLink Auto Appeal and now have a verifiable “A” rating, they will be allowed to play at the “C” rating level they had throughout 2022. For example, if a player played the 2022 season with a 3.5 “C” rating and earned a 4.0 "C" 2022-year end rating and they appeal their rating down to a 3.5 "A," they may play at the Tri-Level invitational as a 3.5-rated player. “S” Self-Rated, “M” Mixed, or “T” Tournament “S” Self rated, “M” Mixed, or “T” Tournament players may only play if they earn a “C” computer year-end rating when the 2022 year-end ratings are published, and they must play at the “C” rating level that they earned with the 2022 year-end ratings.
Question: If a “S” self-rated, “M” mixed, or “T” tournament player who competed in 2022 gets bumped up in the 2022 year-end ratings, can they still participate at the NTRP level they played at in 2021? Example: A 3.5 “S” self-rated, “M” mixed, or “T” tournament player gets bumped up to 4.0 “C”. Can they still play in the 2022 event at the 3.5 level? Answer: No. An “S” self-rated, “M” mixed, or “T” tournament player may ONLY play if they earned a "C' year-end rating in 2022 and they MUST play at the "C" computer rating that they earned in the 2022 year-end ratings. Example: An 3.5 “S” self-rated, “M” mixed, or “T” tournament player gets bumped up to 4.0 “C” they must play at the 4.0 NTRP level at the Tri Level Invitational held in 2023. Note that a 4.5 “S” self-rated, “M” mixed, or “T” tournament who got bumped up to 5.0 “C” WOULD NOT be eligible to play in the event held in 2023.
FINAL RATING ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATIONS WILL BE MADE BY THE TOURNAMENT COMMITTEE.