Eligibility, Entry & Sportsmanship

The 12U, 14U, 16U & 18U Palmetto Championships are open to all boys and girls who meet the age requirements and whose residence is in the state of South Carolina.  The 10U Palmetto Championships is open to all boys and girls who live in one of the 9 USTA Southern Section states.  Players are limited to one singles and one doubles event and must play doubles in the same age division as singles.  Players must enter online and pay with a credit card (Note:  Your credit card will not be charged until the player is selected for the tournament).  Players who wish to enter doubles must have a partner.  The entry deadline is 5:59 pm on Wednesday, May 15.

Sportsmanship

The Palmetto encourages good sportsmanship from all players, parents, coaches and spectators and abides by USTA's slogan:  "Great Sports Make A Sport Great!"  The tournaments follows the USTA Sportsmanship Policy which was adopted March 3, 2022 as listed below.

USTA SPORTSMANSHIP POLICY

Sportsmanship is the foundation of tennis.  It is essential to tennis as a welcoming, open, and inclusive sport.  Sports intergrity follows a boundless set of core values and attributes that enrich the lives of all who participate.  These attributes include, but are not limited to:

• Understanding and following the rules
• Being fair
• Acting with character
• Respecting others
• Winning with humility and losing with grace
• Maintaining composure
• Being accountable for one's own actions
• Giving others the benefit of the doubt

Tennis is more fun when players are good sports, and when persons associated with the players and the sport reinforce the ideals of good sport conduct.  It entices people to stay involved with the sport their entire lives.

Being a good sport is its own reward--both on and off the tennis court.  Sportsmanship builds trust, generates mutual respect, and promotes friendship among all people.

As we grow and develop the game, we do so with the highest commitment to sports intergrity.

The Palmetto Championships presents 3 major sportsmanship awards each year:

• Malloy Evans Memorial Sportsmanship Award-Generally goes to a boy or girl in the older age divisions and is named in memory of Malloy Evans, one of the founders of the Belton Tennis Association.
• Kimberly Hampton Memorial Sportsmanship Award-Goes to a girl in the 12U division and is named in memory of Captain Kimberly Hampton, a former Palmetto player who was killed in Iraq when her helicopter was shot down.
• Matthew Strange Memorial Sportsmanship Award-Goes to a boy in tthe 12U division and is named in memory of Matthew Strange, a top junior player who was killed in an accident in 2001 at age 12.