The USTA is working hard to make 10 & under tennis a successful tool for growing the game of tennis in the United States. Tennis programs throughout the area have started 10 & Under programs and are promoting them.
What’s 10 and under tennis?
It’s a chance for kids to learn real tennis and have real fun doing it. 10 and Under Tennis follows almost every other youth sport and uses racquets, balls and courts that are sized right for kids so that they enjoy the game right from the start.
10 and Under Tennis using the QuickStart Tennis play format takes a new and better approach to introducing kids to the game. Balls are lower in compression; they bounce lower and don’t move as fast so they are easier to hit. This allows kids time to get to the ball and helps them develop optimal swing patterns. Racquets are sized for small hands, and the courts are smaller and easier to cover. All that equals more fun and less frustration. Full sized courts can be reconfigured to accommodate up to six 36-foot courts, so instead of waiting in line, kids can spend their time playing.
Kids learn to play baseball by first playing t-ball; they use shorter, lighter bats and larger, softer balls. Kids learning basketball shoot baskets with kid-sized balls and lowered backboards; they play soccer on smaller fields with smaller goals. But when it comes to learning tennis, we still make children play on adult-sized courts with yellow balls and adult-sized racquets. This is asking a lot of a kid who could be 2/3 the size of an adult.
10 and Under Tennis follows the same logic as other youth sports like baseball or soccer: kid-sized courts and kid-sized equipment. The benefits are immediate. Within an hour kids are rallying, having fun and psyched for more. They’re playing real tennis and having real fun. And isn’t that the point?
There are many ways to get your kids involved in a 10 and Under Tennis program. By clicking on the Parents link on the right you can find valuable tips and information in our Parents’ Guide, learn about Community Programs near you, find organizers and facilities teaching 10 and Under Tennis, find programs and leagues – even information on becoming a coach yourself.
The basic philosophy behind 10 and Under Tennis, using the QuickStart Tennis play format, is for kids to have fun learning and playing tennis. Besides being introduced to the sport through tennis programs, there are three ways for kids to get into and enjoy the game.
The first is spontaneous play. This can be as simple as hitting off a wall outside, and practicing hand-eye coordination and getting a feel for the ball and racquet. Courts can be set up at home in driveways or backyards – no different than the way kids play catch or shoot baskets.
Second is some kind of supervised play with parents or organizers getting a group of young players at local courts just as they would any other youth sport.
Lastly is structured play within an organized 10 and Under Tennis program.
The common theme with each of these types of play? Play. Get kids playing with the right racquets and low compression balls, and let them have fun.
The Northern Region has several 10 & Under Tennis Programs. Some have been started at indoor & private clubs; some have been started at schools; some have been started by Parks Departments and some have been started by parents and coaches. Below is a list, provided to us by the region, of these programs. If you know someone who has a cild that might be interested in tennis, we encourage you to help them get into one the these programs. Help grow tennis in the Northern Region.
Clifton Park Youth Tennis (518) 828-7213
Spartan Tennis (Burnt Hills Ballston Lake) (518) 366-8017
Essex County Youth Bureau (518) 873-3630
Columbia County Youth Bureau (518) 828-7213
15 Love (518) 438-2039
Greater Amsterdam Tennis Association (518) 774-9679
Lighthouse Loft (315) 272-9338
Tennis Everyone (Fleischmann’s) (845) 254-4400
City of Rome Parks & Recreation Department (315) 339-7656
City of Oneonta Parks & Recreation Department (607)432-6450
Glens Falls Tennis & Swim Club (518) 792-5512
Sportime Schenectady (518) 356-0100
Tri City Fitness (518) 785-4311
Capital Region (518) 436-3556
Town of Queensbury Parks & Rec. (518) 761-8216