Awarded to 1 player ranked 4.0 or below, and 1 player ranked 4.5 or above

Adult Players of the Year award will be awarded to adult players who participate in USTA League tennis or USTA tournaments on a regular basis. 

Awarded to 1 female and 1 male

High Performance Junior Player(s) of the Year award is awarded to players with high performance results at sanctioned tournaments, sportsmanship, and a demonstration of raising the game to its highest level.

Awarded to 1 female and 1 male

Recognition of a junior player who participates in USTA Team Challenges, USTA Junior Team Tennis or other events, such as USTA Junior Circuit, on a regular basis. 

This award is made annually to the family who in recent years has done the most to promote amateur tennis primarily on a volunteer basis. Ideally, all nominated members of the family should participate in some way, either as players or by running programs or tournaments or in junior development activities. Criteria: The family must be active in volunteering in some or all of the following:

1. Serving as a volunteer in fostering tennis at any level of the USTA such as national, section, district and/or local board or committee, tournaments, and adult and/or junior programs
2. Developing and/or sustaining junior and adult programs
3. Holding office(s) at any level of the USTA
4. Volunteer coaching
5. Competing in tennis, including any youth program or tournament, high school, Tennis on Campus or college varsity, tournaments, League or other organized play, including social/recreational
6. Enriching the game of tennis in other related activities

Recognition will be awarded to one outstanding tennis facility under the jurisdiction of a parks and recreation department, educational institution, nonprofit, or private/commercial ownership.

Consider facilities with quality court areas and surfaces, court enclosures and lighting, overall layout and adaptation, amenities, evidence of good and green maintenance, current USTA Organization Member status, Quality Net Generation tennis guidelines met, completed Serve Tennis registration.

Recognition to one outstanding tennis member organization based on its: 

1. Service and impact to the community
2. Service to organization’s members which demonstrates support of the USTA Mission
3. General service to the game of tennis

A USTA Community Tennis Association (CTA) is defined as: “Any incorporated, geographically defined, not-for-profit, volunteer-based tennis organization that supports or provides programs which promote and develop the growth of tennis.” The organization must be an incorporated, tax-exempt association.

The award is given to an individual who is providing a full-service Net Generation tennis program. Criteria to consider:

1. Individual is registered and Safe Play approved
2. Programs are registered on PlayTennis.usta.com
3. Individual promotes USTA Junior Competitive Pathway within their program
4. Individual organizes Junior Circuit events
5. Individual organizes Team Challenges
6. Individual organizes USTA Junior Team Tennis teams or programs
7. Individual partners with schools for in-school/after-school tennis
8. Must be a current USTA member
9. Bonus factor: Registered Net Generation School Partner

This person has done the most to advance High Performance programs. He/she has assisted in searching for new talented junior players and involvement with Team USA camp. Junior successes to be considered include:

• Players with high national rank
• Players making it to the Quarters and beyond in national USTA tournaments and ITF tournaments
• Players are top finishers in top section events (Level 3 USTA Missouri Valley)
• Players who earn sportsmanship awards
• Players who are invited to regional and national camps

Bonus factors:

• Certified by a USTA-accredited teaching organization (USTA or PTR)
• Safe Play approved
• Completed a USTA High Performance program
• Give back by coaching section or National Team Events, or volunteering time at community events

This person has made significant contributions to the USTA League Tennis program as a volunteer in multiple aspects of leagues. He/she has participated on teams, assisted in the promotion of the program, assisted in the administration of the leagues and/or volunteered at section championships. Must not be anyone who receives a stipend or monetary remuneration.

An outstanding sanctioned adult/senior tournament will include most of the following criteria:

1. Excellent tournament organization
2. Fair and proper seeding
3. Fair and equitable scheduling
4. Adequate staffing for tournaments (referees and umpires, monitors, desk staff, and other volunteers) 
5. Information dissemination, the use of technology to improve tournament
6. Good site conditions with adequate indoor backup if needed
7. Multiple matches and/or creative formats (e.g., 1-day tournaments)
8. Rules and regulations followed as outlined in Friend at Court
9. Effort to promote and reward good sportsmanship

This award will not be given to a section-level event that is run by USTA Missouri Valley staff.

An outstanding sanctioned junior tournament will include most of the following criteria and must not be a section-level (L3 or L4) event:

1. Excellent tournament organization
2. Fair and proper seeding
3. Fair and equitable scheduling
4. Adequate staffing for tournaments (referees and umpires, monitors, desk staff, and other volunteers) 
5. Information dissemination, the use of technology to improve tournament
6. Good site conditions with adequate indoor backup if needed
7. Multiple matches and/or creative formats (e.g., 1-day tournaments)
8. Rules and regulations followed as outlined in Friend at Court
9. Effort to promote and reward good sportsmanship

This award will not be given to a section-level event that is run by USTA Missouri Valley staff.

This award recognizes dedication, service, responsiveness, and technical proficiency. It shall be based upon a reputation for a high standard of officiating and providing appropriate leadership, on and off the court, in the pursuit of umpiring. The umpire shall have worked substantially at section/amateur USTA events, be a positive role model, and be supportive and involved in grassroots programs and events. 

Recognition of a high school coach for his/her body of work during the 2023-2024 season as a coach who meets the following criteria:

1. Supports and promotes USTA programs;
2. Teams had a record of success in win-loss and/or in improvement of players;
3. Develops players’ physical, mental and emotional abilities and promotes development;
4. Maintains high ethical and sportsmanship standards;
5. Promotes a passion for tennis in the team, school and community.

Given to an outstanding program leader, athlete, organization or administrator for success in providing outreach to the diverse tennis community. Through hard work, persistence, and unwavering dedication, the nominee has helped to expand the image of tennis to be inclusive of diverse populations.

Distinguished Service Award recognizes outstanding, long-time performance, dedication and accomplishment of an individual’s effort in district level service to Omaha and USTA Nebraska. 

Presented annually to an individual or media outlet in recognition of outstanding contributions to the coverage of tennis. Part-time or full-time anchor, reporter, writer, editor, photojournalist, videographer, or other member of the media or freelancers who provide extensive media support for the sport of tennis and its related activities.

Junior Sportsmanship award is given to a male and female junior player in each age group, boys and girls 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18’s, who best exemplifies the finest qualities of sportsmanship in competitive play, including tournaments, USTA Junior Team Tennis, and USTA Junior Circuit events. Good sportsmanship is an essential element of all junior sports and junior development.