Red Ball: 6-8 Years Old
36’ Court with Red Ball. Swing techniques and simple scoring are introduced through games and
drills. Children should be independently motivated to try tennis and show at least kindergarten level
listening skills. This class is best suited to children able to bounce and catch a ball.
One responsibility of the player for this age group is their ability to share the learning process in a
group environment. Other important skills are the ability to keep their hands to themselves and
participate in the instructor lead drills. Of course the ability to have good listening skills are always
paramount and the ability to stay focused during the hour long clinic is important as well.
The overall goal of Red Ball is to introduce young players to the game of tennis. The emphasis is on
the fun in (fun)-damentals however this may not always be easily seen. Sometimes the underling
skills or the fundamental aspects of tennis that are being taught through some of our games are not
always visible to the player and parent. In many cases we are looking to build on movement, hand
eye coordination, and help the player to sustain focus during the hour long clinic session.
Orange Ball: 7-9 Years Old
Players in this age range who have never played tennis before may want to start by taking a few Red Ball
classes to learn the basics and get a good foundation to their tennis game. In Orange Ball players are
expected to know how to hit both a forehand & backhand groundstroke, volley, and have the ability to
serve properly. Orange Ball uses a longer court so the focus is on “stroke extension”, adding spin to
their groundstrokes, pace to the serve, and transitioning from baseline to net during points. Players will
play both singles and doubles, learning to cooperate and develop teamwork.
Advanced Orange Ball:
Players at this stage have mastered basic strokes and now focus on “how to build a point” and use
strategy. Players learn more about tactics, ball movement, spin, and footwork. Serving and returning
serve are at a more advanced level. At the Advanced Orange Ball level players should be striving to
participate in match play at Great Bay and/or are looking to participate in USTA Tournaments.
Green Ball: 9-12 Years Old
Players in this age range who have never played tennis before are encouraged to attend some Orange
Ball clinics before jumping into the advanced U-10 stage of Green Ball tennis. Demonstrating the ability
to hit a forehand and backhand groundstroke & volley with direction and pace is vital. Green Ball is
played on a standard tennis court so players should be able to properly serve from the baseline. Players
will play both singles and doubles and should display the ability to anticipate shots, use spin, pace, and
direction on all of their shots. At this level players should be able to choose between playing an
offensive, defensive, or neutral shot displaying their understanding of how to build the point and use
court dimensions in regard to strategy.
AGE IS NOT THE SOLE DETERMINIG FACTOR IN PLACING A PLAYER IN THE RIGHT CLINIC. AGE IS A
GUIDELINE BUT THE PLAYERS ABILITY & SKILL LEVEL IS THE MAJOR DETERMINIG FACTOR FOR
PLACEMENT IN THE RIGHT CLINIC LEVEL.
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