New team-based competition gives junior players a low-barrier pathway into match play this fall
ORLANDO, FLA., October 2, 2026 — USTA Florida is launching USTA Florida Team Play Fall Ball, statewide youth team play pilots bringing team-based tennis competition to junior players through two distinct tracks: Facility Hubs and school-based programs.
The project is designed to meet a simple need. Many juniors want to compete but are not ready for the commitment, cost or travel that tournament play requires. USTA Florida Team Play Fall Ball offers a team environment close to home, various formats, local matches and fun built for all youth players.
“Team play is about giving every junior player an opportunity to play in a fun and social environment,” said Kaite Bivolan, USTA Florida Youth Team Play Project Lead. “Through our fall pilots, we want to build stronger connections with facilities and schools across the state so we can offer team play opportunities to a broader group of players. Many kids don’t have an outlet once their school season ends, and this is our chance to make sure they have somewhere to play.”
Proyectos piloto del centro de instalaciones
Five Florida facilities are piloting Facility Hub programs this fall, each designed around the needs of its local community, with three of them being USTA Florida operated or managed.
Centro de tenis de Crandon Park in Key Biscayne will run a six to eight weekend season beginning October 17, culminating in a Championship Weekend on December 12. The program features gender-neutral teams of four to six players across five divisions, from 10U Orange through 16U and 18U Yellow, with each match consisting of two singles and two doubles lines.
Campus Nacional de la USTA in Orlando kicks off October 4 with an information session and on-court play, followed by four match days across October and November. Co-ed teams of four to six players are led by a parent captain and compete in divisions from 10U Orange through 18U Yellow. Registration is handled through TennisLink and requires an active free USTA Junior Membership.
City of Treasure Island/Treasure Bay opens registration October 1 for a season running through playoffs on December 6, with five divisions and a 60-player target.
Centro de tenis de Fort Walton Beach is taking a different approach with two single-day introductory events. Yellow ball players compete Saturday, October 24, followed by Orange and Green ball divisions on Saturday, October 31. Racquets are available to borrow and teams are formed on site, giving families a no-commitment first look at team play.
Club de raquetas de Cocoa Beach is running a pilot built around weekly team matches across two divisions, Advanced and Intermediate, for players ages 11 to 17. The season opens October 1 with a kickoff event featuring league information and a coach-run hitting session. Friday evening matches are spread across three facilities in Cocoa Beach, Kiwi and DeSoto, and the club is backing teams with a two-hour weekly training session for each division. The season closes with a party featuring games, prizes and a Parent-Player Round Robin.
School-Based Pilots
Alongside the facility hubs, USTA Florida is piloting school-based team play to reach students where they already are.
Escuela Secundaria Viera will host Thursday evening sessions at Viera Regional Park beginning October 22 and running through November 19. The program targets both high school and middle school students in the Space Coast area.
Condado de Lee will run a four-week program at Rutenberg Park from October 16 through November 6, open to intermediate and advanced players ages 12 to 18. Teams compete in a format of two singles lines and one doubles line, and the program is free to participants.
To register for any of these pilots, haga clic aquí.
“After more than 20 years of running junior team tennis, I can tell you that some of my greatest satisfaction comes from seeing those kids, now adults, still playing and still loving this game,” said Phil Girardi, USTA Florida Board Member and Director of Tennis at Treasure Bay. “Team play gives families a reason to be at your facility every single week and feel like they belong to something, and that connection turns casual participants into lifers. This is a ground-floor opportunity to reshape how we grow the game at the community level, and facilities that get in early will feel that impact for decades.”
What Comes Next
Each pilot will be evaluated at the close of the fall season, with findings shaping how USTA Florida expands team play across the state in 2027. The organization is tracking participation, retention and family feedback at every site.
For more information on Youth Team Play or to find a program near you, visit ustaflorida.com/youth-team-play.
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