The International Tennis Federation has published its annual key rule changes and updates for 2024.
Most noteworthy in the key updates and rules are the increase of Players IPIN Fees from $45 to $55 for the year.
ITF Sanction fees have also been increased significantly. J30 and J60 sanction fees have increased from $180 to $350. J100 is now $350. Also, all players are to complete the new safeguarding course by
24th January to maintain access to IPIN and WTT Juniors tournaments.
All players with a registered IPIN wishing to compete on the ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors must complete mandatory ITF Academy courses, as communicated to players, to gain entry into the IPIN online system, and participate on the ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors. Courses must be completed on the ITF Academy educational website (https://www.itfacademy.com/). A player may be suspended from accessing the IPIN system until they have completed the relevant modules. Below are some updates and key rule changes for World Tennis Tour Juniors:
Main Draw and Qualifying Sign-in removed for accepted players at the time of the Freeze Deadline – Players appearing on the alternate list must sign-in to be considered for inclusion in the qualifying draw. Players are required to pay their entry fees upon arrival at the tournament venue.
Special Exempts: Players on the Qualifying Acceptance List at the Freeze Deadline who apply for and receive exemption from the Qualifying event because they are still competing in singles or doubles at a “Qualified Tournament” on the day the Qualifying event is scheduled to begin. For a tournament to count as a “Qualified Tournament”, the next week’s tournament can be the same grade, no more than one grade lower, or no more than one grade higher. The two tournaments must be within the same region (or bordering countries not in the same region for J30, J60, J100, J200 and J300 tournaments. There is no geographical restriction to special exempt positions at J500 and Junior Grand Slams. If there are not sufficient Special Exempt places in the Main Draw for all applicants, the players shall be selected as follows: a) players still competing in the singles draw in order of ranking b) players still competing in the doubles draw in order of ranking The ranking used will be that of the Monday seven (7) days before the tournament week
TOILET/CHANGE OF ATTIRE BREAK A player is allowed to request permission to leave the court for a reasonable time for a toilet break / change of attire break (girls’ matches). Toilet breaks / change of attire breaks must be taken on a set break. In girls’ singles and boys’ singles events, a player is entitled to one (1) break during a match. In a doubles match, and in any singles matches played with a reduced format of two tiebreak sets and a match tiebreak, a toilet break/change of attire break is permitted before the match tie break.
Sign-in a) Qualifying The Qualifying Sign-In Deadline is at 18:00 hours local time on the day before the scheduled start of the Qualifying event unless specified otherwise on the published Fact Sheet. Players accepted into the Singles Qualifying Draw are not required to Sign-In with the ITF Supervisor. Players must be on-site and available to play their first-round match as scheduled. Each Player must provide a contact telephone number so the ITF Supervisor may contact the Player during the Tournament. Any alternate player may be signed in for the Qualifying Draw by the Supervisor of an ITF or Regional Association sanctioned tournament, or a national competition (if requested by the relevant National Association and approved by the ITF at least two weeks in advance), in the previous week, if such player has completed that tournament in the two days preceding the start of the Qualifying competition.
This player must be on site and play his/her first match by the end of the first round of Qualifying. Players travelling as part of a team under one coach may be signed in by the Supervisor of an ITF or Regional Association sanctioned tournament in the previous week, if any other member of that team is still competing in that tournament in the two days preceding the start of the Qualifying competition. Entered Alternate players (who wish to compete), must Sign-In prior to the singles qualifying signing deadline by contacting the on-site ITF Supervisor, either in person or by an alternative method outlined on the Tournament Fact Sheet. Entered Alternates that do not Sign-In either in person or by telephone will not be considered for inclusion in the draw. Except as otherwise stated herein, alternate players who fail to sign in shall not be. Except as otherwise stated herein, alternate players who fail to sign in shall not be considered for inclusion in the Qualifying Draw.