The Rogers First Set Tour – Rising Stars provides young Canadian tennis players (ages U9 and U10) with an opportunity to play competitive tennis in a fun environment. Rising Stars tournaments are the perfect opportunity for young tennis players to improve their skills and make new friends. The Rogers First Set Tour – Rising Stars is designed to provide a tournament format for kids whereby they take part in multiple meaningful matches.
Getting Started
Rogers First Set Tour – Rising Stars is for:
- Competitors who are looking to enhance their competitive experience
- We strongly recommend players having some competitive tennis playing experience (minimum of 3 events) such as Rogers First Set Tour – Rookie events or club tournaments
How to join & find a tournament
To compete in Rogers First Set Tour – Rising Stars tournaments, players must be a registered member of Tennis Alberta. Once players purchase a Tennis Alberta membership, they must register for a specific tournament on the Tournament Software website. For a complete list of province-wide Rising Stars tournaments, click here.
Step 1: How to register for a Tennis Alberta membership*
To register please click here.
- Click on the Log In/Sign Up button
- Select Tennis Alberta
- Agree to Rules and Regulations
- Create a profile
- Mandatory: At least one parent or guardian must complete the Respect in Sport for Parents course before an event can be entered
- Pay for membership and finalize account
*If players have participated in Rookie tournaments previously, they simply need to upgrade their membership type within the membership section
Step 2: How to register for a tournament
- To register for a tournament, click here
- Click on an event in your province & age category (U9 or U10) to register
- Click button on top-right corner to enter online
Please review the Junior Competitive Structure for Rising Stars entry guidelines.
Please read the Tournament Regulations on Tournament page before entering.
TOURNAMENT CATEGORIES AND FORMAT
The aim of Rogers First Set Tour – Rising Stars tournaments is to provide year-round quality match play opportunities for advanced U9/U10 junior tennis players. Rising Stars tournaments are recommended for players looking to take their first step along the competitive pathway.
U9 Rising Stars (Orange Ball)
- Purpose: Designed for players advancing beyond the U9 Rookie level who want a more competitive structure.
- Eligibility (2026): Open to players born in 2017, 2018, and 2019.
- Court & Racquet: ¾ Court, 23” racquet (depending on child’s size).
- Format: Maximum 16 players. Boys and girls play in the same draw. Round-robin groups leading to an elimination playoff.
- Match Time: Maximum 30 minutes.
U10 Rising Stars (Green-Dot Ball)
- Purpose: Designed for players advancing beyond U9 Rising Stars or U10 Rookie levels.
- Eligibility (2026): Open to players born in 2016, 2017, and 2018.
- Court & Racquet: Full Court, 23-25” racquet (depending on child’s size).
- Format: Maximum 16 players. Boys and girls are in separate draws. Round-robin groups leading to an elimination playoff.
- Match Time: Maximum 45 minutes.
Note: Rising Stars tournaments are open to players younger than the recommended age if they meet the playing level.
Match Format
Rogers First Set Tour – Rising Stars tournaments use modified scoring formats to provide a friendly introduction to competition and have matches completed in a shorter period of time. U9 and U10 events will use the scoring formats outlined below.
Tennis Event Rules
| U9 Events | U10 Events |
|---|---|
| 8-game Pro Set (first to 8 games) or 30-minute timed match*, whichever comes first. | 8-game Pro Set (first to 8 games) or 45-minute timed match*, whichever comes first. |
| At 7–7, a 5-point tiebreak is played. | At 7–7, a 5-point tiebreak is played. |
| Play with no-ad scoring. | Play with no-ad scoring. |
| Players do not call lets. | Players do not call lets. |
*Please note that match times are subject to change depending on registration and court availability, in consultation with the tournament director.
Prizes
Competitors will receive a Rogers First Set Tour – Rising Stars prize when they play in their first event and fifth event throughout the calendar year.
Events will also feature the following awards and items:
- Welcome Package: A RFST package including a card to track tournaments played.
- Playoff Awards: Medals for Winners and Finalists.
- Draw Prizes: Available at events.
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 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 toward opponents, officials, organizers, coaches, parents, and spectators
Resources
- Tennis Canada Rulebook: Rules of the Court – click here.
- Players must adhere to Tennis Alberta’s Player Code of Conduct – click here.
Player and Parent Resources
Parents are asked to be familiar with the information of the Rogers First Set Tour – Rising Stars and tournament regulations before signing up your child to a tournament.
- Mandatory: Respect in Sport for Parents – click here
- Tennis Matchplay 101 – click here
- Rogers First Set Tour – Rising Stars: Player & Parent Checklist – click here
- Tips for Parents – click here
If you would like to provide feedback on the Rogers First Set Tour – Rising Stars, 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 – Rising Stars events are designed to prepare players for entering the U12 junior provincial competitive structure.
- Development Pathway: To view the Whole Player Development Pathway (WPDP), click here.
- Calendar: For a complete overview of province-wide tournaments, consult our tournaments page.
- Competitive Structure: To learn more about the Junior Competitive Structure, click here.
If you have any further questions about the Rogers First Set Tour – Rising Stars, please email info@tennisalberta.com
Resources for Tournament Directors
- Draw Size Guidelines: Rising Stars events generally aim for 16 players, but Tournament Directors may cap events based on capacity.
- Tournament Director Checklist – click here
For more information on hosting a Rogers First Set Tour – Rising Stars tournament at your club, please email info@tennisalberta.com
Rising Stars Leaderboards
To create a healthy and positive competitive environment, the First Set Tour – Rising Stars leaderboards are designed to reward participation as opposed to winning. Points are awarded in different ways:
- Participation Points – Players participating in the First Set Tour – Rising Stars will receive 40 points per tournament played towards their year-end total.
- Bonus Participation Points – A one-time bonus of 200 points for 10 First Set Tour – Rising Stars tournaments played will be given at the end of the year. All bonus points will be awarded in December, following the completion of the tour.
- Tournament Points – 10 points for each match won.
