About

About Us

Parents helping parents on the junior tennis journey. Free tools and plain-English guides for families with a competitive junior player.

Browse the tools Getting started guide

Who it's for

Parents and guardians of junior tennis players, from the first local tournament to the college recruiting years. You don't need to know the jargon. That's what we're here for.

Our story

We're parents just like you. When our kids first picked up a tennis racket and showed promise, we had no idea what we were getting into. The world of competitive junior tennis can be overwhelming: confusing tournament structures, expensive training decisions, conflicting advice, and the constant pressure to do more.

After years of navigating this world, learning from our mistakes, and watching our children grow as players and people, we decided to create the resource we wish we had when we started.

Our mission

My Kids Play Tennis exists to provide honest, practical guidance for parents raising competitive junior tennis players. We believe that:

Every family's journey is different. There's no one-size-fits-all path to college tennis.
Information should be accessible. You shouldn't need an insider connection to understand how junior tennis works.
Balance matters. Tennis is important, but so is your child's overall development, education, and happiness.
Parents need support. This journey can be isolating. We're here to share experiences and build community.

What we offer

Free tools that do the work

Convert ratings, check college fit, track progress, compare strings and keep on top of tournament deadlines. No sign-up needed.

Rating WTN ↔ UTR converter Convert between World Tennis Number and UTR in both directions. Rating NTRP ↔ UTR converter Approximate conversion between USTA NTRP levels and UTR, both directions. Rating Match predictor Win chances for a match from both players' UTR. Rating Rating impact How a win or loss could move your player's UTR. Rating UTR estimator Estimate a UTR from recent match scores and opponent ratings (approximate). College College fit + gap Which divisions fit your player now, and the gap to each target. Track Progress tracker Log ratings over time and see the trend against college targets. Track Tournament deadlines Track the events you plan to play and get a reminder before entry closes. Track USTA age group calculator Which USTA junior division (10U–18U) your player is in on a tournament date. Gear String finder Answer a few questions and get string matches from our database. Gear String log Record string, tension and date. Get a reminder when a restring is due. Gear Racquet size calculator The right junior racquet length from your child's height or age, with ball and court stage. Gear String database Compare strings by power, spin, comfort and price. College UTR by college division UTR ranges, scholarships and programs for D1, D2, D3 and NAIA. College College options by UTR Pick a UTR from 6 to 13 and see every division for men and women. Rating Good UTR by age Approximate UTR benchmarks for boys and girls at each age from 10 to 18, with sources. College Recruiting timeline NCAA and NAIA contact and visit dates for your graduation year. Track Indoor tennis courts Every indoor tennis facility in the cities we cover: courts, prices, junior programs, sources. Track Age the pros started tennis When the ATP and WTA top 100 started, who taught them and what other sports they played, with sources. Gear String comparisons Head-to-heads of strings that play alike: ratings, specs and which to pick.

And guides on

Guide Training & development Age-appropriate practice, finding coaches, physical conditioning, and mental skills. Guide Tournament navigation Understanding USTA, UTR, sectional and national events, and building a competitive record. Guide College recruiting NCAA rules, contacting coaches, official visits, and the commitment process. Guide Financial planning Budgeting for training, travel, equipment, and understanding scholarship realities.

Your data

On your device by default

No account

Your My Player profile, rating log, string log and tournament list are saved in your browser. They are not sent to us.

Optional account

Add an email to sync between devices and get reminders: entry deadlines, restrings and a monthly rating check-in. Sign-in is by emailed link. No passwords.

We never ask for your child's name. Read the privacy policy or manage your account.

A note on expectations

We want to be upfront: playing college tennis at any level is an achievement, and playing at the Division I level is extremely competitive. Our goal isn't to promise your child will get a full-ride scholarship. It's to help you make informed decisions, support your child's development, and enjoy this journey together as a family.

Tennis has taught our kids resilience, discipline, time management, and how to compete with grace. Regardless of where their tennis journey leads, these lessons are invaluable.

How we make money

The tools and guides are free. String pages have a "Find on Amazon" link. Once we join the Amazon Associates program, that link will carry our tracking tag, and as an Amazon Associate we will earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. We are also a Functional Tennis affiliate: we earn a commission on Saber training racquets bought through our links. Links to other retailers are plain links; we earn nothing from them. Commissions never change our string ratings, rankings or advice.

Contact

Questions, corrections or ideas for a new tool? Send us a message.

Start here

Rating WTN ↔ UTR converter Convert between World Tennis Number and UTR in both directions. College College fit + gap Which divisions fit your player now, and the gap to each target. Gear String finder Answer a few questions and get string matches from our database. Track Progress tracker Log ratings over time and see the trend against college targets.