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TTF Levels of Play by Dave Howell (Patent Pending)
 
The first 4 levels are exclusively for junior players:
 
BUMPER BALL: This level of play can not play full court and may utilize modified games using multiple bounces, soft balls, and various racket orientation exercises.
 
LEVEL 1: There are 3 criteria to be level one.  First, you must be able to serve from the baseline.  Second you must be able to return a serve that is hit from the baseline.  And third you must be able to play the ball on one bounce.  Players at this level get along just fine being able to bump the ball over the net and keep a short rally going.  They often have trouble with short fluky balls, and often they stand just inside the baseline and hurt get hurt by balls, which are in their “blind spot”.  It is recommended that this level use 4 games sets.
 
LEVEL 2: The key to being at this level is that you will consistently beat Level 1 players.  Level 2 players do a better job of anticipating the short fluky shot. They also tend to not get stuck just inside the baseline.  It is typical that Level 2’s can sustain long rallies, especially off the forehand side.  Backhands are less well developed, but they seem able to defend well enough off the backhand side.  Serving is reliable, but not powerful. It is recommended that this level use 4 games sets.
 
LEVEL 3: players have no difficulty with 6 game sets, and tiebreakers.  There may be a big range in terms of tennis skills.  Some players may have few skills, but make do with their athleticism.  Others are starting to develop defined strokes.  The Level 3 player now has little trouble beating Level 2 players.
 
LEVEL 4: Young Level 4 players are quite good for their age.  It is not unusual to see Level 4 players with very advanced, well-rounded skills.  Often these players are showing signs of being able to volley and hit overheads, though with little power or decisiveness.  Older Level 4 players are often able to compete despite not having acquired a good balance of well-defined tennis skills.  It is fun to watch a younger more well-rounded and steady player compete with older players who are able to cover the court better and assert their physical superiority.  These matches are often very close.  Once again the final criteria for a Level 4 player is that he or she will beat the Level 3 player without allowing the competitive threshold to be met.
 
Starting with Level 5 there are no age restrictions; adults and juniors will play in the same draws.  As with Levels 1-4, there are no gender distinctions as well.
 
LEVEL 5: As stated above, beginning with Level 5 adults and junior will compete in the same draws.  The adults at this level may be vulnerable in many areas, but will usually be able to do at least one thing fairly well.  This may include a good slice backhand, decent serve, or a drop shot.  Young juniors at the level are very good for their age, but still may have trouble with adults whose games are not at good as theirs.  Many older level 5 juniors will improve and become more consistent if they simple play more tennis.  Often players at this level have problems with technical development in certain areas.  They may have good groundstrokes, but a weird serve.  If they do have a good overall game, consistency and shot selection can be problematic.
 
LEVEL 6: Players at this level may have very advanced skills.  Court coverage and anticipation are well developed.  These players are familiar with a wide variety of strokes and spins.  At this stage players may be able to set points up using their serve.  Level 6 players may often make tactical mistakes and throw away too many points.  When they do rely on consistency, they may often underplay.  While these players may have a lot variety in their games, they often do not possess the confidence to use their shots in close matches.  This is all part of the game.  Consistency still wins.
 
LEVEL 7: players are good and usually have some outstanding characteristic in their game.
While they often have outstanding aspects in their games, they also usually have some part of their game, which does not hold up well under pressure.  For example a player may have good overhead technique, but often has problems executing in match play situations.  They often do well in practice, but fail to perform in competition.
 
LEVEL 8: Players at this level are very accomplished with fully developed games.  They may range in age from 15 to 60 with the players at either extreme being very good for their age.  A Level 8 player under the age of 15 will be a very solid talent.  This will be the kind of player who has potential to play Division 1 NCAA tennis or beyond.  Adult Level 8’s may have reached their peak, which they may maintain for a very long time.  For an Adult Level 8 to move beyond this level often takes a tremendous commitment to fitness, practice and play.  Junior girls who have reached this level will normally have a national ranking and be preparing for Division 1 NCAA tennis.  Players at this level may have technical problems in their games, but they have usually learned how to cope with these problems and compensate successfully in some way.
 
LEVEL 9 and 10: These 2 levels may often be combined because by this stage there are generally fewer players who have reached this level than the levels below.  These players are among the best players in an area.  Junior players at these levels are highly likely to play Division 1 NCAA tennis.  Junior girls will be among the top players nationally.  Adults at this level may maintain this standard into his or her fifties if they are sufficiently motivated.  These are very talented individuals.  Females at this level will be very accomplished.  These players are often motivated by the “love of the game”
 
LEVEL 11 and 12: This is the Championship Level.  At this level all matches will be best of 3 sets, with the 3rd set being played to its conclusion, no match breakers.  Prize money events will motivate these players to continue to take their tennis seriously.  Juniors who reach this level will be highly ranked sectional players and also have significant national rankings.  Most of the players who make up this category are former or current Division 1 NCAA players in their twenties to early thirties.  Only the most motivated and talent players in their thirties will maintain this level.  Females at this level will be extraordinary.  Local players who can exceed this level are either current NCAA Division 1 players or are players who are contemplating playing professional tennis as a career.
 
Summary: The above are descriptions of play at each level, however, the key to each level is that not only do they beat the players below, but often do so without allowing the competitive threshold.  If you are beaten 6-0 6-2 or 6-1,6-2, you are probably 2 levels below the competition; if you lose 2&3 or 3&3, you are one level below.  If you can make the competitive threshold, 3&4, 4&4, 5&2, then even though you lose, you are playing at the right level.