**TENNIS PARENT ALERT**

J unior tennis should be a fun and rewarding experience for our children. Character building lessons such as hard
work, discipline, sportsmanship, and handling adversity are regularly on display. Parents of junior players should
also enjoy the time spent with their children and watching them develop not just into better tennis players, but into
good citizens.

Regrettably, USTA Southern and USTA NC have encountered a disturbing trend over the past few years involving
parents of junior players. Verbal abuse by some parents directed at tournament referees, officials, and even other
junior players and their parents is becoming more commonplace. These incidents adversely impact the players' and
parents' tournament experience and create a negative and distressing atmosphere for all participants, parents and
officials. Such abusive and improper conduct by a few is in violation of the governing rules and shall not be
tolerated.

In response to the actions of a few, USTA Southern and USTA NC have instituted this alert to remind parents and
players that abuse of players, referees, or officials by a parent, relative, coach or other person associated with a
player is prohibited by the governing rules, and any such abuse may result in the issuance of directives for
that person to leave the tournament area and/or the imposition of point penalties and other sanctions
authorized by applicable regulations. Abusive behavior in any form shall not be tolerated. Tournament officials
and referees will report all instances of such misconduct, and the consequences of such misconduct will be fully
enforced. Parents and players are governed by, and should become familiar with the Friend at Court and
particularly, Part 3 USTA Regulations, Section IV.C. which addresses Standards of Conduct. An excerpt of that
Section is provided for reference on the back of this form and a full copy of Friend at Court is available online at no
charge at http://www.usta.com.

USTA Southern and USTA NC are confident that strict enforcement of the applicable regulations will reduce or
eliminate these instances of misconduct and enhance everyone's tournament experience.


ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RULES/SANCTIONS REGARDING
ABUSIVE BEHAVIOR

I HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I HAVE FAMILIARIZED MYSELF WITH THE APPLICABLE
RULES AND REGULATIONS REGARDING STANDARDS OF CONDUCT BY PARENTS AND/OR
PLAYERS AS SET FORTH IN "FRIEND AT COURT." I FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE
TO HONOR MY OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE RULES AND THE SANCTIONS SET FORTH
THEREIN.


______________________________ ________________________________
Signature of Entrant Signature of Parent or Guardian.

______________________________ ________________________________
Date Date

Friend at Court IV.C

IV.C Standards of Conduct

IV.C.1. General. Players, persons who appear to be associated with a player (including, but not limited to, parents and coaches),
officials, and organizers of any tournament are under a duty to encourage and maintain high standards of proper conduct, fair play, and
good sportsmanship. They are under an obligation to avoid acts which may be considered detrimental to the game of tennis. Such
detrimental acts include, but are not limited to, the acts set forth in USTA Regulation IV.C.

IV.C.10. No abuse of players or officials
a. No person shall abuse an official or player. The Chair Umpire, Referee, and any other official responsible for ensuring
that a match is played under conditions which are fair to all players shall make certain that no parent, relative, coach, or
other person associated with a player abuses an official or player.
b. Official may request abusive person to desist or leave tournament area. A player who enters a sanctioned tournament or
match consents to being penalized under the Point Penalty System for abusive conduct by a person who appears to be
associated with the player. If the official observes the conduct, the official shall suspend play and request that the person
to leave the tournament area. In a flagrant case the official may immediately direct the person to leave without requesting
the person to desist.
c. Point Penalty System applies to abuse. If the person refuses to follow the instructions to leave, then the official may
penalize the player associated with the person under the Point Penalty System. (USTA Regulation IV.D.8. outlines the
right to appeal)
___________________________________________________________________________________________

USTA SOUTHERN and USTA/NC JUNIOR TOURNAMENTS
USTA Southern Section and USTA/NC & Medical Release
Please complete this USTA Southern Section/NC & Medical Release, sign it, have your parent or guardian sign it, and take the signed
form with you to the USTA NC tournament you are entering. This form, signed by your parent or guardian and you, must be presented
at on-site registration in order to participate in the event. Please use black ink and print clearly.
NAME _____________________________________________________
AGE DIVISION: ______________________________________________
NAME OF Tournament:___________________________________________
ADDRESS: __________________________________________________
(street) (city) (state) (zip)
PHONE (home):______________________ PHONE______________________ (parent office/cell):
USTA MEMBERSHIP NUMBER:_______________(exp.date)_________
USTA SOUTHERN/NC SECTION RELEASE: The USTA Southern Section requires a signed release covering all entrants in
USTA Southern Section/NC events. The release must be signed by the entrant and parent or guardian of any entrant who is a minor.
Acceptance of my entry in these events is without assumption or responsibility of any kind by the USTA Southern Section/NC, its
sectional associates, committee or the management of any event in which I may be entered or may participate. In consideration of the
acceptance of my entry, I do hereby for and on behalf of myself, and my heirs and my legal representatives release and forever
discharge the USTA Southern Section/NC, its officers, committees, and representatives and their successors and assigns, of and from
any and all claims and damages, losses or injuries which may be suffered or sustained by me in connection with my activities during
the period for which such permission is granted and any period traveling to and from the events described, and all claims are hereby
waived and released, and I covenant not to sue therefore.
__________________________________________________________
Signature of Entrant Signature of Parent or Guardian Date
______________________________________________________________ Street City State Zip
MEDICAL RELEASE: I hereby consent to the rendering of emergency first aid and other medical procedures, which at the time of
injury or illness seems reasonably advisable. I further understand that I will be responsible for payment of any such medical
procedures. In consideration of the acceptance of my entry, I hereby agree to abide by all applicable rules and regulations and codes of
the USTA Southern Section, USTA North Carolina and/or the same as may be adopted by the USTA Southern Section for this USTA
Southern Section/NC tournament, and hereby consent to be tested for drugs pursuant to the provisions Thereof.
_________________________________________________________
Signature of Entrant Signature of Parent or Guardian Date
______________________________________________________________
Street City State Zip