Registration is Now Open for the 2023 "Little Mo" Internationals in Colorado and New Jersey!

We are looking forward to seeing all of our players again this year and welcoming new families for all of the fun, festivities, and memories on and off the tennis court! We are so excited to announce registration is NOW OPEN for our first two international tournaments of the year:

• 10th Annual "Little Mo" Internationals in Colorado Springs, Colorado (June 30 - July 5) - open to any player worldwide (ages 8-16)!

• 12th Annual "Little Mo" Internationals in West Orange, New Jersey (August 20-24) - open to any player worldwide (ages 8-12)!

Registration for all international tournaments will be on a first-come, first-served basis up to the entry limit - we will be accepting the first 30 players in Colorado and the first 14 players in New Jersey). Be sure to register early as the draws typically fill before the registration deadline! We are planning to open registration for our Florida international event in a few months - site and dates are included below under the 2023 "Little Mo" Internationals header.

All yellow ball results from the "Little Mo" tournaments (Regionals, Nationals, Internationals) will count towards your player's Universal Tennis Rating (UTR). All green dot results will also count towards the new Universal Tennis Color Ball Rating (CBR). Also, a friendly reminder that players must register in the proper age division according to their birth year for all "Little Mo" tournaments. This ensures that our players are competing against others who are born in the same calendar year (i.e., 8's play 8's, 9's play 9's). For example, if your player is turning 10 at any time this year (regardless of what age they will be at the time of the tournament), they will need to register in the 10's division.

Come Join Us in Colorado Springs for a Fun Family Vacation, Outstanding Tennis, and the 1st Leg of the "Little Mo" Slam!

Lots of Fun Things to Do in Colorado: Take the cog railway to the top of Pikes Peak, see the beautiful red rock formations at the Garden of the Gods and the waterfalls at Seven Falls, enjoy a spa day or a round of golf at the historic Broadmoor Hotel (a 5 star resort), tour the Air Force Academy, Cadet Chapel and the U.S. Olympic Training Center or visit the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and the Cave of the Winds! Also, Denver is a 1.5 hour drive north of Colorado Springs where you can tour the Colorado State Capitol, the U.S. Mint, the museums, and aquarium or enjoy river rafting and mountain climbing!

10th Annual "Little Mo" Internationals in Colorado

U.S. Air Force Academy

Colorado Springs, Colorado

June 30 - July 5, 2023

Registration Deadline: Friday, June 9 at 11:30pm (Central Time)

The 2nd Leg of the "Little Mo" Slam will be held in West Orange, New Jersey!

Lots of Fun Things to Do nearby in New York: US Open at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Times Square, Central Park, Bronx Zoo, Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, Broadway shows, Intrepid Sea Air & Space Museum, Central Park, Citi Field for a New York Yankees or Mets baseball game, and more!

12th Annual "Little Mo" Internationals in New Jersey

West Orange Tennis Club

West Orange, New Jersey

August 20-24, 2023

Registration Deadline: Friday, July 21 at 11:30pm (Central Time)

2023 "Little Mo" Slam

Win the Tallest Trophy in Junior Tennis (6 Feet Tall)!

Have you ever dreamed of winning the tallest trophy in junior tennis? In 2013, MCB created the ultimate challenge for any player (ages 8-12) to win the "Little Mo" Slam. The Slam was created in honor of Maureen Connolly's Grand Slam win in 1953 - winning all four major championships (Australian, French, Wimbledon, and US Open) in the same calendar year. If a "Little Mo" player can win their yellow ball division at all three Internationals (Colorado, New Jersey, Florida) in the same year, they will receive the tallest trophy ever given in junior tennis (6 feet tall) and the title of "Little Mo" Slam Champion! The Slam continues this year with the 1st leg at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado (June 30 - July 5). The 2nd leg will be held at the West Orange Tennis Club in West Orange, New Jersey (August 20-24). The 3rd and final leg will take place at the Palm Beach Gardens Tennis Center in Palm Beach Gardens Florida (December 1-6). This year, we will also be celebrating a very special milestone - the 70th Anniversary of Maureen Connolly's Grand Slam win in 1953. There have been nine players who have accomplished this magnificent feat in the past ten years.

Who will win the "Little Mo" Slam title in this special anniversary year?

2023 "Little Mo" Internationals

In 2006, MCB created the "Little Mo" Internationals for USA players to experience different styles of play and meet others from various countries and cultures from around the world. This flagship event was first held in Texas and it has evolved over the years into three different events held in Colorado, New Jersey, and Florida. Today, the Internationals attract thousands of talented boys and girls (ages 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12) who travel from across the United States and worldwide to compete against others born in the same year. The "Big Mo" divisions have also been added in Colorado and Florida for ages 13, 14, 15, and 16. These unique tournaments are held at some of the most prominent and historic tennis clubs in the United States, which helps to create an unforgettable experience and enjoyable vacation for the entire family. There are also many fun tourist attractions and sights to see near our three international events such as Pikes Peak, Garden of the Gods, US Open, Times Square, Statue of Liberty, Broadway shows, Disney World, Epcot, and beautiful beaches.

This year, our host sites are the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado (June 30 - July 5), the West Orange Tennis Club in West Orange, New Jersey (August 20-24), and the Palm Beach Gardens Tennis Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida (December 1-6). In Colorado and Florida, yellow (regular) ball divisions will be offered for boys and girls ages 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16 in addition to a green dot option for ages 8, 9, and 10. In New Jersey, yellow (regular) ball divisions will be offered for boys and girls ages 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 in addition to a green dot option for ages 8, 9, and 10. The "Big Mo" divisions (ages 13, 14, 15, and 16) will not be offered due to limited courts in New Jersey. All players have an opportunity to participate in Singles, Doubles, and Mixed Doubles in addition to many exciting and memorable activities such as the Player Clinic, Player Parade, Group Photo, Opening Ceremony, Player Gift Exchange, "Mo" Coins, Player Party, "Little Mo/Big Mo" Booth, and much more. Last year, the "Little Mo" Internationals in Florida featured over 600 players from 60 different countries!

IMPORTANT REGISTRATION INFORMATION:

There is a lot of important information posted on each tournament's UTR homepage (where you will register for the event) including the Player Gift Exchange tradition, Player Referral Program, and much more. This information is located under "Description" on the "Overview" tab, and you will need to click on the "Read More" button in order to see all of the posted information. There is also a very important document uploaded as an attachment to each tournament's UTR homepage that includes our "Little Mo" Rules and Regulations, Code of Conduct, Tournament and COVID-19 Liability Waivers, and Health/Safety guidelines. Please take a moment to read through all of this information carefully before you start the registration process.



10th Annual "Little Mo" Internationals in Colorado

U.S. Air Force Academy

Colorado Springs, Colorado

June 30 - July 5, 2023

Registration Deadline: Friday, June 9 at 11:30pm (Central Time)

12th Annual "Little Mo" Internationals in New Jersey

West Orange Tennis Club

West Orange, New Jersey

August 20-24, 2023

Registration Deadline: Friday, July 21 at 11:30pm (Central Time)

17th Annual "Little Mo" Internationals in Florida

Palm Beach Gardens Tennis Center

Palm Beach Gardens, Florida

December 1-6, 2023

Registration will be open in a few months!

"Little Mo" Internationals (Colorado, New Jersey, Florida)

Rules and Regulations

• Eligibility:  The three "Little Mo" Internationals will be held in Colorado, New Jersey, and Florida. The Internationals are open to any player worldwide (ages 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12). The "Big Mo" divisions have also been added in Colorado and Florida for ages 13, 14, 15, and 16. There are no special qualifications or ranking needed to register for the international tournaments - any player who registers will be accepted into the draw until the entry limit is reached. *Please note that players do not need to compete in one of the "Little Mo" Regionals or the "Little Mo" Nationals in order to participate in one of the "Little Mo" Internationals.

• Entry Limits:  Registration for the "Little Mo" Internationals will be on a first-come, first-served basis up to the entry limit - we will be using several different entry limits based on the tournament (see below). If a division reaches the entry limit before the registration deadline, a WAITING LIST will be established at that time. Be sure to register early as the draws typically fill before the registration deadline! *Please note that once you have received a confirmation email from UTR/Stripe, your player's entry has been accepted into the tournament and you can make your travel arrangements.
• Colorado:  Registration will be limited to the first 30 players in each division with 2 wildcards to be determined by MCB. All divisions will initially be limited to a 32-size draw (maximum), but it may be possible for some divisions to expand into a 64-size draw based on court capacity.
• New Jersey:  Registration will be limited to the first 14 players in each division with 2 wildcards to be determined by MCB. All divisions will initially be limited to a 16-size draw (maximum due to limited courts in New Jersey), but it may be possible for some divisions to expand into a 32-size draw based on court capacity.
• Florida:  Registration will be limited to the first 30 players in each division with 2 wildcards to be determined by MCB. All divisions will initially be limited to a 32-size draw (maximum), but it may be possible for some divisions to expand into a 64-size draw based on court capacity.

• Multiple Tournaments:  Players may compete in any "Little Mo" Internationals regardless of where they are currently living in the United States or worldwide. Players may also compete in as many international tournaments as they would like.

• Events / Guaranteed Matches:  The "Little Mo" Internationals will offer Singles, Doubles, and Mixed Doubles events for all divisions. All players will be guaranteed at least two Singles matches during the international tournaments in addition to one Doubles match and one Mixed Doubles match (only if they are able to find a partner for each event).

• Age Eligibility / Registration by Birth Year:  Players must register in the proper age division according to their birth year. This ensures that our players are competing against others who are born in the same calendar year (i.e., a player born in 2013 must play in the 10's division since they will be turning 10 this year).
• Boys and Girls 16's ("Big Mo") - born in 2007
• Boys and Girls 15's ("Big Mo") - born in 2008
• Boys and Girls 14's ("Big Mo") - born in 2009
• Boys and Girls 13's ("Big Mo") - born in 2010
• Boys and Girls 12's - born in 2011
• Boys and Girls 11's - born in 2012
• Boys and Girls 10's - born in 2013
• Boys and Girls 9's - born in 2014
• Boys and Girls 8's - born in 2015 (Only players who are born in 2015 will be allowed to play in the 8's divisions. Players born in 2016 or 2017 will not be eligible).

• Divisions:  The "Little Mo" Internationals will be offering several different divisions based on the tournament:
• Colorado and Florida:  Yellow (regular) ball divisions will be offered for boys and girls ages 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16 in addition to a green dot option for ages 8, 9, and 10. Players must register for only one division. This means that players competing in the 8's, 9's, and 10's divisions must choose to play with either the yellow (regular) ball or the green dot ball for their age group. Players in the 11's and 12's must play with the yellow (regular) ball. All divisions will be played on a full 78' tennis court with either the yellow (regular) ball or green dot ball.
• New Jersey:  Yellow (regular) ball divisions will be offered for boys and girls ages 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 in addition to a green dot option for ages 8, 9, and 10. The "Big Mo" divisions (ages 13, 14, 15, and 16) will not be offered due to limited courts in New Jersey. Players must register for only one division. This means that players competing in the 8's, 9's, and 10's divisions must choose to play with either the yellow (regular) ball or the green dot ball for their age group. Players in the 11's and 12's must play with the yellow (regular) ball. All divisions will be played on a full 78' tennis court with either the yellow (regular) ball or green dot ball.

• Draw Formats:  The "Little Mo" Internationals will be using several different draw formats based on the event type and draw size:
• Singles:  
• 32-size draw, 16-size draw or 8-size draw:  A First Match Losers Consolation format with a 3rd/4th Place playoff will be used. This means that any player who loses their first match in the First Round (Main Draw) will move into the Consolation bracket. Any player who has a bye in the First Round (Main Draw) and loses their first match in the Second Round (Main Draw) will also move into the Consolation bracket. The losers of the Semifinal Round (Main Draw) will move into a 3rd/4th Place playoff.
• 5 or less players:  A Round Robin format will be used.
• Doubles and Mixed Doubles:  A Single Elimination format will be used for all divisions regardless of draw size.

• Scoring Formats:  The "Little Mo" Internationals will be using several different scoring formats based on the event type:
• Singles:  All Singles matches (Main Draw and Consolation) will consist of two tiebreak sets (first to 6 games). At 6 games all, a 7-point set tiebreak (first to 7, win by 2) will be played. If players split sets, a 10-point match tiebreak (first to 10, win by 2) will be played in lieu of a third set. Regular scoring (with ad) will be used for all Main Draw matches and a 5-minute warm-up will be given before each match. *NEW IN 2023: No-ad scoring will be used for all Consolation matches in addition to the 3rd/4th Place playoff. *NEW IN 2023: A 2-minute rest period will be given between the first and second sets, and a 3-minute rest period will be given between the second set and match tiebreak. No coaching is allowed at any time. *Shortened scoring may be used in the case of rain. 
• Doubles and Mixed Doubles:  All Doubles and Mixed Doubles matches will consist of an 8-game pro set (first to 8 games). At 8 games all, a 7-point match tiebreak (first to 7, win by 2) will be played. Regular scoring (with ad) will be used for all matches and a 5-minute warm-up will be given before each match. No coaching is allowed at any time. *Shortened scoring may be used in the case of rain.

• Universal Tennis Rating (UTR):  All yellow ball results from the "Little Mo" Internationals (Colorado, New Jersey, Florida) will count towards your player's Universal Tennis Rating (UTR). *NEW IN 2023: All green dot results will also count towards the new Universal Tennis Color Ball Rating (CBR).

Travel Grants will be awarded to players who win their age division (yellow ball only) at all "Little Mo" Internationals!

We hope you will join us for one or more of our international tournaments this year! Any "Little Mo" or "Big Mo" player who wins their yellow ball division will receive a special travel grant during the tournament - more details to be announced at the tournament!

These travel grants are sponsored by the Tennis Competitors of Dallas (TCD) and we are so thankful for their support of junior tennis!

26th Annual

"Road to the Little Mo Nationals"

There is still time to register for our South Regionals tournament!

Deadline This Friday, May 12 at 11:30pm CT

We hope you and your family will also plan on joining us from May 27-29 for our second regional tournament of the year - open to any USA player (ages 8-12)! The deadline to register is this Friday, May 12 at 11:30pm (Central Time). It will not only be a fun, competitive tournament but a great vacation destination for the family with many sights to see: Six Flags, Dallas Zoo, Reunion Tower, Klyde Warren Park, Perot Museum of Nature & Science, Winspear Opera House, Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Garden, George W. Bush Presidential Library, Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, and more are all nearby!

Player Referral Program!

Matias Moran helps promote the "Little Mo" by handing out flyers at tennis clubs!

We hope you will tell all of your friends about the "Little Mo" tournaments! As a special incentive for helping us spread the word, we would like to offer you an opportunity to receive $20 (per referral) from MCB if you are able to encourage a friend(s) to sign up. A custom question has been added to the tournament registration process whereby the referred player can type in your name on their entry form as having referred them. 

For every player you refer, you will receive $20 at the tournament. Only the names entered during the online registration process will count towards earning this prize. Also, any player who withdraws from the tournament will not count towards this prize.

In order to claim your referral prize, please stop by the "Little Mo/Big Mo" Booth during any "Little Mo" tournament this year. Referral prizes will only be awarded at the tournament and they may only be redeemed in the year they are earned. The more players you refer, the more you can earn! If you have any other questions about this special offer, or if you would like to help promote the "Little Mo" tournaments by distributing flyers to clubs in your area, please send an email to: carol@mcbtennis.org.

Would you like to be a Sponsor of the "Little Mo" Tournaments?

We are actively looking for sponsors for the 2023 "Little Mo" tournaments. If you are interested or you know someone who works for a company that would be interested in being a sponsor of our "Road to the Little Mo Nationals" circuit and/or the three "Little Mo" Internationals (Colorado, New Jersey, Florida), please send an email to: carol@mcbtennis.org. We will be happy to send a customized PowerPoint sponsorship proposal, which would include branding opportunities such as placing banners at various sites across the country, advertising in the player program and booklet, having your logo on the tournament t-shirts, and promoting your product(s) to our players, parents, and their families.

A Special Thank You To Our Sponsors:

The "Little Mo" tournaments are hosted by MCB in memory of its tennis champion namesake, Maureen "Little Mo" Connolly Brinker. Born in San Diego, Maureen became the first woman to achieve the Grand Slam of tennis in 1953 by winning all four major championships (Australian, French, Wimbledon, and US Open) in the same year. She was well known for her powerful groundstrokes from the baseline, which earned her the famous nickname "Little Mo" - a comparison to the explosive firepower of the battleship USS Missouri, also known as "Big Mo". Only five players in the history of tennis have won the calendar Grand Slam, and Maureen is still the only American woman and the youngest at age 18 to have accomplished this magnificent feat. She won an amazing nine consecutive championship titles (three US, three Wimbledon, two French, one Australian) - undefeated in 50 matches.

Unfortunately, her spectacular career would be short-lived due to a horseback riding accident in 1954. While she could no longer compete at an elite level, Maureen's legacy as a legendary tennis star would continue through the Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation (MCB). Founded in 1968 with her dear friend Nancy Jeffett, MCB's mission would be the promotion and support of junior tennis development worldwide. That same year, she was inducted into the prestigious International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island. Sadly, Maureen lost her valiant battle with cancer the following year and passed away at the young age of 34. Although her tennis career only spanned three years, many premier sportswriters consider Maureen Connolly to be the finest of all female players for her achievements on and off the court. In 2019, she was honored by the United States Postal Service with her very own "Little Mo" Commemorative Forever Stamp.

Today, MCB continues to support the growth of junior tennis by organizing numerous "Little Mo" tournaments throughout the United States annually for talented boys and girls (ages 8-16). These events are designed to provide outstanding competition at the regional, national, and international level while also encouraging players to develop new friendships, learn good sportsmanship, and most of all, have fun. The "Little Mo" tournaments are also unique in that young players have the opportunity to gauge their ability against others born in the same year from around the world (i.e., 8's play 8's, 9's play 9's). MCB strives to empower young athletes by giving travel grants, "Mo" Coins for prizes, and also Sportsmanship and Kindness awards to deserving individuals in honor of Maureen's legacy. The Foundation also contributes financially to many notable programs including the National Junior Tennis League for inner-city youth and Invest In A Child for deaf and wheelchair tennis.

Over the years, many well-known collegiate players and famous tennis professionals have participated in the "Little Mo" tournaments including Andy Roddick, Taylor Fritz, Sebastian Korda, Emma Raducanu, Leylah Fernandez, Dominic Thiem, Belinda Bencic, Jenson Brooksby, Madison Keys, Tommy Paul, Brandon Nakashima, Vasek Pospisil, Borna Coric, Coco Gauff, Mackie McDonald, Ryan Harrison, Taylor Townsend, Donald Young, Steve Johnson, Sofia Kenin, Denis Kudla, CiCi Bellis, and Ana Konjuh among many others. Roddick won the "Little Mo" in 1992 (age 10) and he said, "the 'Little Mo' was my first big win!" Gauff won the "Little Mo" in 2012 (age 8) and she said, "the 'Little Mo' is where the belief began." This is all wonderful news for junior tennis and we are so proud that the "Little Mo" continues to be one of the most popular events for young players around the world.

MCB has promoted the development of junior tennis for over 55 years and continues to benefit countless numbers of young players worldwide. It is our mission to provide a special and meaningful experience at all of our events while also inspiring outstanding attributes at a young age such as fair play, good character, integrity, sportsmanship, kindness, giving back, and an "attitude of gratitude". Thousands of players compete in the "Little Mo" tournaments annually and we hope to see even more youngsters play this wonderful "sport for a lifetime". We would also very much appreciate your help in spreading the word about the "Little Mo" so we can continue to impact future generations of young players. The MCB Tennis Foundation is led by its directors: Cindy Brinker Simmons (President), Brenda Brinker Bottum (Vice President), and Elizabeth Jeffett (Vice President). Carol Weyman (Executive Vice President), Matthew Cody (Tournament Operations Manager), and Tiffany Hollebeck (Tournament Operations Coordinator) organize the "Little Mo" tournaments. Thank you so much for your support of the "Little Mo" tournaments and the legacy of Maureen Connolly Brinker. For more information about the "Little Mo", please visit our website at: www.mcbtennis.org and click on "Tournaments". Play "Mo" Tennis!