Purpose and Award

The Junior Player Grant aims to back youth (able-bodied and wheelchair), helping them with expenses for USTA tournaments. The assistance’s level of support depends on various factors, including the number of approved players, submitted reimbursement receipts, and our committee’s set budget.

Recipients may be asked to provide accountability of how grant funds were spent. Compliance with accountability requests could affect eligibility for future grant consideration.

Guidelines and Requirements

• Player must have declared themselves to be a full-time resident of South Carolina at least one full year before applying and must be a USTA Member.
• Player must be willing to play on state and sectional teams and promote USTA-SC and SCTPF programs if asked.
• Player must play at least 2 sanctioned tournaments each year; at least 1 of these tournaments must be played in South Carolina.
• Grant funds may be used for any tennis related expenses (equipment, lessons, entry fees, travel expenses, etc.).
• Page one of the parent’s most recent 1040 or 1040A tax return are required.  SCTPF will not share or save this tax return.
• A coach’s statement is required.
• Player’s annual family income must be less than $110,000; if a family is applying for more than one player this is increased to an annual income of $135,000.  
• Applications must be received by November 1 each year. Late applications will be considered only if there are funds remaining in the player grant budget.
• A player may only apply for one grant per calendar year, and must wait at least 10 months before applying the next year. 
• 10U players qualify for the grant, but do not qualify for extra funding based on their standing.
• A maximum of $2,000 will be provided in player grants to one family (brothers and sisters) during a calendar year. 
• Applicant/parent/guardian must exhibit good sportsmanship on and off the court at all times.  The parent/guardian or a player with 4 or more suspension points (code of conduct) is not eligible for aid until such time as those points drop below 4.  Additionally, the player/parent/guardian is not eligible for aid if: a)The player has been suspended during the previous or current calendar year.  b)The parent/guardian has been suspended in the previous or current calendar year.  c)Suspensions apply to state, section and national levels.
• Grant dollars are limited to the amount budgeted by SCTPF each calendar year and a minimum of $2,000 must be provided to players whose ranking/standing is not top 100 in the Southern Section.
• Information submitted by applicants shall be considered confidential and shall be used only by the Player Grants Committee and only for the purpose of evaluating applications.  All aspects of the evaluation of the applications, including the Committee’s deliberations, shall be considered confidential.

Potential Grant Awards

SC Junior Player Grant	Income Greater than $95,000	Income between $75,000-$95,000	Income Under $75,000
Basic Grant	$400	$600	$800
TOP 30 in SC	$600	$800	$1000
TOP 5 in SC or TOP 50 in South	$800	$1,000	$1,200

For example:

• If you have an income between $75,000 and $95,000 and you are Top 30 in SC, you are eligible for up to $800. 

• If you have an income less than $75,000 and you are in the Top 5 in SC, you are eligible for up to $1200

 

Players competing in sectional and national tournaments are encouraged to apply to the Southern Tennis Foundation for additional support. 

Approved by SCTPF Board on September 27, 2011; amended December 11, 2011; amended December 11, 2016; amended June 10, 2017; amended June 9, 2021; amended July 13, 2021; amended January 23, 2023; amended February 5, 2024