Whether you are a youth player yourself or a parent of a youth player, use this step-by-step guide to learn where and how to start playing tennis, and how to progress from one level to the next!

Kids’ Tennis is used as a developmental tool to allow young children to improve their overall tennis skills faster so they can transition to the regular court with more ease. Kids’ Tennis allows youngsters to train and compete with courts and equipment that are better suited for their size.

Kids Tennis

A mini-revolution is brewing in North America. The approach is called “Kids’ Tennis.” It is imported from European countries such as France and Belgium where it was used to successfully develop players like Justine Henin-Hardenne and Olivier Rochus. Kids’ Tennis uses a systematic progression of court sizes, balls, and racquets, to scale the game down to an appropriate level for 5 to 10 years old.

Modified racquets and balls are not new. The equipment has been around for a while, as has the ‘graduated length’ concept. Coaches have used bits and pieces for years seeing the advantage from the perspective of success, fun, and safety. The difference this time is that all these elements have been brought together in a much more systematic way than ever before. Tennis companies now carry the full line of half-court and three-quarter-court progressive equipment including graduated balls, racquets, lay-down lines, and nets.

The power of the Kids’ Tennis system is that it allows players to play quickly and successfully. In Kids’ Tennis, the philosophy is that tennis is a great and fun game to play, and the quicker and more skillfully a player can play, the more fun it is. Each stage not only has specific equipment to aid success, but particular skills to develop as well. It is recommended a Game-Based Approach be used. The coach’s job is to get them to play and help them learn to play better.

Simply put, “Kids’ Tennis” is used as a developmental tool to allow young children to improve their overall tennis skills faster so they can transition to the regular court with more ease.

See below for the Progressive Stages of Kids’ Tennis

Progressive Tennis 8 and under

Half-Court tennis is the first step in Kids’ Tennis. The transition to successful half-court tennis will require a period of skill development where basic coordination and cooperative activities will lead to the development of the basic strokes and fundamentals. Hence, Half-Court programs will often need to be broken into two programs: one for experienced kids who have some basic exchanging ability who will be able to begin competing and training at half court, and the other for kids who are just starting the game.

  • Court Dimensions (there are two options):
    • service line to service line using the service lines as baselines (42 ft, 12.8 meters), and existing sideline and centre line as sidelines (18 ft or 5.50 meters); the existing court net height is reduced to 80 cm (31.5 inches)
    • doubles sideline to doubles sideline using the width of the court and the double sidelines as the baseline (36 ft, 11 meters); 16’5” mini nets are required to make each court; lay-down lines are also required to establish boundaries of court

Note: Either length is fine for competition or training, although using the width of the court is more conducive for larger numbers as you can have six practice courts and four competition courts. The service-court option provides only two competition courts and practice courts.

Please see PDF for PRACTICE and COMPETITION court diagrams.

  • Ball: an oversize, high-density foam (or red) ball which is easier to visually track, receive, and control since it travels slower and bounces lower.
  • Racquet: A 19”-21” racquet is recommended.
  • Rules: Games to 11, 15, or 21 are generally recommended. The server has two chances to put the ball in play. The first chance is overhead and the second can be underhand. The serve can land anywhere in the opponent’s court.
Orange Stage: 3/4 Court Tennis; 7-9 Year Olds

The Three-quarter Court stage is the most important stage of this progressive development. As the court dimensions are adjusted to be smaller but with a similar ratio to the full court. This step helps ensure the development of an all-court game style with net play. The key is to develop the same tactics as full-court tennis along with the associated techniques.

Players will move to Three-quarter Court once they have a full repertoire of skills at the half court. For most players who have gone through the half court program, this transition will take place at seven years of age. There will also be some late starters or less coordinated players who will make this transition at eight to nine years of age.

  • Court Dimensions: in the Three-quarter Court, the ratio of length to width is basically the same as a full-sized court is to an adult. Three-quarter Court tennis is played on a 18 (60 feet) x 6.5 meter (21 feet) court. The net height is 80 cm (31.5 inches).

Please see PDF for Three-quarter Court Tennis diagram.

  • Ball: low-compression balls (orange) that facilitate longer exchanges as these balls are easier to control and don’t bounce as high as a regular ball. They also assist development of good biomechanics.
  • Racquet: 23” (depending on child’s size).
  • Three-quarter Court Competition is played with full-court tennis rules. Scoring can vary, i.e. two short sets to four with a five-point tiebreak at four all; or eight game pro sets
Green Stage: Full Court Tennis; 9-10 Year Olds

Players will move to full court once they have a full repertoire of skills at the three-quarter court. For some very highly skilled players, this will be at eight years of age, however, for most players who have gone through the half- and three-quarter-court programs, this transition will take place at nine years of age. There will also be some late starters or less athletic players who will make this transition at 10 years of age.

This transition to full-court tennis will take place in a two-step process. The first step will be with a transition ball which provides a more lively bounce than the low-compression ball but not as much of a bounce as the regular ball (this will help promote the continued development of proper technique). This will help ensure longer points. The final step will be using the regular ball.

  • Court Dimensions: regular court dimensions.
  • Ball: low-compression balls (i.e. Wilson “Easy Play”) that facilitate longer exchanges as these balls are easier to control and do not have as lively a bounce as a regular ball. They also assist development of good biomechanics.
  • Racquet: 23-25” (depending on child’s size).
  • Full-Court Competition is played with regular, full-court tennis rules. Scoring can vary, i.e. two short sets to four with a five-point tiebreak at four all; eight-game pro sets; 10-game pro sets, etct.
Yellow Ball Full Court 11+

The Yellow Ball stage is for players 11 plus. It is played on a full-size court with full sized-rackets and full-compression yellow tennis balls. It is the final stage in the progressive kids’ tennis model.

Burnaby Tennis ClubPublichttps://www.burnabytennis.ca/tennis-lessons/
Comox Valley Tennis ClubPublichttps://comoxvalleytennis.org/Juniors
Coquitlam Tennis ClubPublichttps://www.coquitlamtennisclub.org/?page_id=16
The Tennis Centre – CoquitlamPublichttps://globaltennis.ca/event-category/recreational-programs/
South Cowichan Lawn Tennis ClubPublichttps://lawntennis.ca/learn-to-play
Newton Tennis ClubPublichttps://newtontennisclub.ca/
Sunshine Hills Tennis ClubPublichttps://shtc.club/index.php/programs-2/programs
Kamloops Tennis AssociationPublichttps://www.kamloopstennis.com/?page_id=121
Okanagan Mission Tennis ClubPublichttps://www.okmissiontennis.org/lessonscamps.html
Maple Ridge Tennis ClubPublichttps://www.mapleridgetennis.com/junior-programs/
Mill Bay Community TennisPublichttps://millbaytennis.com/tennis-activities/tennis-instruction/
New Westminster Tennis ClubPublichttps://www.nwtennis.com/about/junior-program
Capilano Tennis ClubPublichttps://capilanotennisclub.com/clubPro.php
North Shore Winter ClubPrivatehttps://www.nswc.ca/page/show/1047367-private-lessons-
North Vancouver Tennis CentrePublichttps://www.nvrc.ca/programs-memberships/program-directory/tennis/junior-tennis
Arrowsmith Tennis ClubPublichttps://www.arrowsmithtennis.ca/#juniors
Port Coquitlam Tennis ClubPublichttps://www.portcoquitlam.ca/Recreation_and_Culture/Facilities___Amenities/Tennis_Courts.htm
Richmond Tennis ClubPublichttps://www.richmondtennisclub.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4&Itemid=5
Vancouver International Tennis AcademyPublichttps://vancouvertennisacademy.com/
Chilliwack Tennis SocietyPublichttps://chilliwacktennissociety.webs.com/lessons.htm
Cedar Hill Recreation CentrePublichttps://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/parks-recreation-culture/facilities-schedules-fees/schedules/racquet-sports.html
Salmon Arm Tennis ClubPublichttps://www.salmonarmtennis.org/juniors.html
Salt Spring Tennis AssociationPublichttps://www.saltspringtennis.ca/juniors.htm
Suncoast Racquet ClubPublichttps://www.srctennis.ca/training/youth-tennis-programs/
Lakeshore Racquets ClubPublichttps://www.lakeshoreracquetsclub.com/youth-tennis-program
Hazelmere Golf and Tennis ClubPublichttps://wcgg.ca/haz_tennis_instruction/
The Tennis Centre – SurreyPublichttps://www.surreytenniscentre.com/surrey/home/reportView.do?id=173&camptypeid=20
White Rock Tennis ClubPublichttps://wrtc.ca/membership/
Tsawwassen Tennis ClubPublichttps://www.tsawwassentennis.club/#/JuniorProgram
BC Wheelchair Sports AssociationPublichttps://www.bcwheelchairsports.com/sports/wheelchair-tennis/programs
Jericho Tennis ClubPrivatehttps://jerichotennisclub.com/Activities/Tennis.aspx
Shaughnessy Golf and County ClubPrivatehttps://www.shaughnessy.org/juniors-tennis
Stanley Park Tennis ClubPublichttps://www3.telus.net/tennisinstanleypark/lessons.html
The Arbutus ClubPrivatehttps://www.arbutusclub.com/Services/Recreation.aspx
UBC Tennis CentrePublichttps://www.recreation.ubc.ca/tennis/junior-programs/fall/
Vancouver Lawn Tennis & Badminton ClubPrivatehttps://www.vanlawn.com/Default.aspx?p=DynamicModule&pageid=354842&ssid=261346&vnf=1
Vernon Tennis AssociationPublichttps://www3.telus.net/s0ylent/programs.html
Langford Tennis ClubPublichttps://www.langfordtennisclub.com/abouttheclub2/junior-program
Oak Bay Tennis Club (Children)Publichttps://www.oakbay.ca/parks-recreation/programs/tennis-lessons-children
Great West Fitness & Tennis ClubPublichttps://www.greatwestfitness.ca/tennis
Lakeview Heights Tennis ClubPublichttps://lakeviewheightstennis.ca/juniors-program
Hollyburn Country ClubPrivatehttps://www.hollyburn.org/tennis
West Vancouver Tennis ClubPublichttps://www.wvtc.info/junior-tennis-programs/
Tennis YukonPublichttps://yukon.tenniscanada.com/lessons-camps.html

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