The Rogers First Set Tour – Rookie is a national program designed to bridge the gap between entry-level tennis and the provincial competitive junior circuit. Originally launched in 2009, the tour has reached thousands of juniors each year at tennis clubs and community venues throughout the country. Last year over 6,000 boys and girls across the country competed in over 450 events. The Rogers First Set Tour – Rookie encourages players to continue through the tennis pathway to transition to sanctioned competition or enjoy tennis for life.
Boys and girls up to the age of 18 are eligible to play in Rogers First Set Tour – Rookie events. All Rookie events are non-elimination tournaments. These events offer beginner competitors a fun and exciting experience with multiple opportunities to play. Each player is guaranteed a minimum of three matches.
Getting Started
Rogers First Set Tour – Rookie is for:
- beginner-to-intermediate players up to the age of 18 who wish to compete for the first time
- players who wish to compete at an introductory level
- players who have not participated in any sanctioned provincial tournaments
How to join & find a tournament
To be a part of the Rogers First Set Tour – Rookie, players must be registered as a RECREATIONAL MEMBER of Tennis Newfoundland & Labrador. Players must then register for a specific Rogers First Set Tour – Rookie tournament.
Please visit the Tournaments Calendar to find a Rookie tournament near you.
Step 1: How to register for a TNL membership
A Recreational Membership is FREE!
- Click on the Log In/Sign Up button
- Select Tennis Newfoundland & Labrador
- Agree to Rules and Regulations
- Create a profile
- For membership type, select RECREATIONAL in the drop-down menu
- Finalize account
**Signing up for a Recreational Membership does not mean you have registered for a tournament**
STEP 2: How to register for a tournament
- To Register for a tournament, click here.
- Click on an event in Newfoundland and Labrador & in your age category (U8, U10, U12, U14, U16 or U18) to register
- Click button on the top-right hand corner to enter online
What to Expect?
Tournament Format
It’s a lot to ask beginner players to jump from entry-level tennis to the provincial competitive junior circuit. The Rogers First Set Tour – Rookie makes that jump more of a step, allowing junior players to play competitive tennis at an introductory level suitable for their age. Depending on the age category, matches are played with progressive balls and on smaller courts:
- Ages 7-8 – red ball; 1/2 court
- Ages 8-10 – orange ball; 3/4 court
- Ages 9-11 – green dot ball; full court
- Ages 10-18 – yellow/regular ball; full court
Draw Format
All Rookie events are non-elimination tournaments. Each player is guaranteed a minimum of three matches. Events could be combined boys and girls depending on the number of entries.
Match Format
Rogers First Set Tour – Rookie tournaments use modified scoring formats to provide a friendly introduction to competition and have matches completed in a shorter period of time. Rookie events will use the scoring formats outlined below.
15-minute timed match
Short set to 4
Best 2 of 3 short sets, match tiebreak to 7 for 3rd set
Best 2 of 3 short sets, match tiebreak to 7 for 3rd set
Prizing
Players receive a prize at each Rogers First Set Tour – Rookie event. Players can compete in multiple events to collect all available prizes.
FAIR PLAY
Providing a competitive environment in which all matches are contested fairly is essential to ensuring a positive experience for all players. Everyone must work together to make this happen including Tennis Canada, Provincial and Territorial Associations, players, parents, and officials.
Players are expected to follow these key Fair Play elements:
- Following the rules of the game
- Treating opponents, officials, organizers, coaches, parents, and spectators with respect
- Embracing both victory and defeat with dignity
- Displaying appreciation for a good performance
- Exercising self-control
- Playing a part in creating a safe and inclusive tennis environment by not engaging in any form of maltreatment or verbal, physical or online abuse towards opponents, officials, organizers, coaches, parents, and spectators
Player & Parent ResourceS
- Tennis Matchplay 101 – click here
- Rogers First Set Tour – Rookie: Player & Parent Checklist – click here
- Tips for Parents – click here
If you would like to provide feedback on the Rogers First Set Tour – Rookie, please take the time out to complete our survey. This short survey will take approximately five minutes to complete.
What’s the Next Step?
Rogers First Set Tour – Rookie events act as a bridge between Community tennis programs and competition. The program reaches thousands of players each year, encouraging them to continue along the tennis pathway whether their aspirations lean towards professional competition or a lifelong passion for tennis.
To view the Whole Player Development Pathway (WPDP) click here.
We recommend that U9 and U10 players participate in a minimum of 3 Rogers First Set Tour – Rookie events before progressing to the Rogers First Set Tour – Rising Stars.
Please note that to participate in the Rogers First Set Tour – Rising Stars or provincial sanctioned tournaments, players will have to upgrade their TNL membership on their Tournament Software website account.
To learn more, visit the Rogers First Set Tour – Rising Stars page.
If you have any further questions about the Rogers First Set Tour – Rookie, please email tennis@sportnl.ca
Resources for Tournament Directors
- Tournament Director Checklist – click here
For more information on hosting a Rogers First Set Tour – Rookie tournament at your club, please email tennis@sportnl.ca