ACT performance pathway

The ACT region’s performance pathway integrates national programs and championships, giving young players the opportunity to develop and excel in their game. Below is an overview of what the pathway could look like from the beginning.

Super 10s is a national program that brings together promising young tennis players aged 10 and under. Players participate in exciting team-based competitions – a nurturing space to compete, learn and build friendships with other standout players in their state.

For players aged 12 and under, Tennis ACT runs the Super 12s program.

Find more details, including event information and who can participate. 

The National Development Squads (NDS) offer high-performance training for players aged nine to 18 years of age. Designed to be complementary to an athlete’s regular sessions with their private coach, this program provides an opportunity for accelerated growth and exposure to ACT’s top junior players.

See the NDS criteria specific to ACT players:

Tennis Australia’s National Development Program (NDP) is designed to provide comprehensive support to young Australian tennis players from 11 to 18 years of age, prioritising both their athletic and personal development journeys. 

To be selected for the NDP, players need to fulfil certain criteria as outlined below:

Throughout each year there are many representative opportunities for ACT players to strive towards. These opportunities provide our leading athletes with the chance to test themselves against the best players in Australia.

The 10U Green Ball Nationals provides a world-class tournament experience for Australia’s best young players – helping to shape their love of the sport through positive early competition.

The ACT has two positions for boys and two for girls to participate in this national event. In order to win one of these two positions, players will need to be part of the ACT Green Ball Points Race held across the calendar year.

The Australian Open Super 10s National Camp is a developmental experience that combines unique AO experiences with meaningful training and competitive play opportunities, inspiring young athletes to grow, connect and strive to be the best version of themselves every day.

The ACT has up to two positions for boys and two for girls to participate in this national event. Players can also qualify for the camp by making the quarter finals or better at the 10U Green Ball National Championships.

Selection criteria

• Participated in Super 10s & 12s over the past 12 months
• Is born in the relevant birth year for the upcoming camp (eg. the 2026 Camp was for players in the 2015 birth year)
• Is a player appropriately developing their weapons (skill, power, movement, competitiveness) to align with the TA Player Development Matrix
• Does the athlete demonstrate effort to develop and implement the following character traits: effort over outcome, humility and respect, self-regulation and perspective, honesty and ownership, and act with courage.
• Is the player's current UTR and/or Colour Ball Rating at a national level.

National tours and camps provide unique and exceptional experiences, giving young ACT players the chance to test themselves nationally and internationally.

They are run yearly for each birth year, and are designed for athletes aged 11 to 16.

Opportunities are generally offered to players ranked in the top two – 10 nationally in their birth year.

Each year the best players in Australia have two opportunities (clay and grass) to come together and compete for the Australian National Championships.

There are two streams available to players who wish to participate – direct entry and state qualifying.

Direct entry: The top 24 players in Australia on UTR for the respective age group will be accepted into the draw. This list will be made when entries close.

State qualifying: Each state/territory will run a qualifying event where the winner will receive a wildcard into the National Championship draw. In the ACT, for players to be eligible for the state qualifying event they must:

1. Enter directly into the Nationals event
2. Meet the minimum UTR requirement: 
   • 12U Boys: 4.5 
   • 12U Girls: 3.5
   • 14U Boys: 7.0
   • 14U Girls: 5.0.

All players meeting the above two requirements will be placed into the ACT qualifying event draw automatically.

The De Minaur Junior Tour provides an exciting, age-specific tour where players have the chance to qualify and compete in the national tour finals.

Find more details, including selection criteria, on the De Minaur Junior Tour.

Each year the best players in Australia will have the opportunity to come together and compete for the Australian National Championships. 

To participate, players need to be eligible for the main draw and the qualifying draw.

• Main Draw: 16 players are accepted into the main draw. This list is made up of 10 players being accepted directly into the draw based on UTR (at close of entries), two players being given a national wildcard by selectors, and four players who win their way through the qualifying draw.
• Qualifying Draw: 16 players are accepted into the qualifying draw. This list is made up of 14 players being accepted directly into the draw based on UTR (at close of entries), and two players being given a national wildcard by selectors.

The Australian State Teams Championships is the most prestigious event that 11U, 13U and 15U ACT athletes can be selected for. The event involves teams from all states and territories around Australia, as well as international teams from New Zealand and Pacific Oceania.

The ACT is fortunate to have an invitation each year to the 10U, 12U and 14U NSW State Teams Championships. These events provide a great team-based opportunity for to compete against the some of the best NSW players from each of their state regions.

Teams within each age group consist of four players, and are selected based of the following:

• National Rankings
• UTR
• Commitment to training and competitive play
• Behavioural conduct
• Player head-to-head results over the past six months.

These events provide all ACT primary and secondary school children with an opportunity to represent the ACT at the National School Sport Championship.

Attendance at trial events is mandatory for selection in teams. This process is organised and run by School Sport ACT.

If you have any questions or need more information about the ACT performance pathway, contact our Talent Development team.