Red Ball – For children 8 and under who are new to tennis. Red ball tennis is named after the red foam or felt balls that are used at this stage. Red tennis balls bounce lower and move more slowly through the air, giving beginning players a chance to set up and take a good swing at the ball. Courts at this level are 36 feet long and 18 feet wide, with a net that is 2 feet, 9 inches high.
We use fun games to develop the ABC’s of tennis (agility, balance and coordination) while also introducing proper technique that will enable these young players to rally. We provide appropriate sized nets, racquets, and balls to help build self confidence within the game. This program is for beginners, no previous tennis experience is necessary.
Red Ball is 75% slower than the standard yellow ball.
Orange Ball – For players ages 8-10 with little or no experience. Once comfortable at the Red level, players graduate to playing at the Orange level. Orange felt balls bounce higher and move faster than the Red felt or foam balls but lower and slower than the Green ball. They are a step toward the traditional yellow tennis ball while still remaining fun and manageable for players learning the game. Courts at this level are 60 feet by 21 feet for singles and 60 feet by 27 feet for doubles. The net is 3 feet at the center and 3-foot-6 at the net posts.
Players will continue to work on tennis fundamentals in addition to learning to hit with direction, height, and depth. We’ll focus on the fundamentals necessary to serve and rally using a game-based curriculum and continue to develop the athletic skills essential to the sport. Beginners are welcome, no experience is necessary to enroll.
Orange Ball is 50% slower than the standard yellow ball.
Green Ball – Green Ball is the next progression from Orange Ball. It is an introductory program for juniors 11-13 years of age. Players will build athletic fundamentals by learning proper footwork and racquet mechanics. At this level, players will be able to use a full-sized court and a green ball.. Focus is on teaching the basics of rallying, serving, and keeping score.
The Green ball is very similar to the traditional yellow tennis ball but with a slightly lower compression, so it rebounds lower off the court after a bounce. At this level, players will be able to use a full-sized court to build athletic fundamentals by learning proper footwork and racquet mechanics. We’ll focus on teaching the basics of rallying, serving, and keeping score.
Green Ball is 25% slower than the standard yellow ball.
Kirk is one of the foremost authorities in youth coaching. He served as the Department Director for Coach Education at the USTA for 20 years. Kirk is certified by the USTA and the Professional Tennis Registry and is one of 11 people in the world to hold the Master Professional classification from both teaching organizations. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and a Master’s in Exercise Science from Western Michigan University. Prior to joining the RecTennis coaching team, Kirk also developed six online Coach Youth Tennis courses and workshops for 10 and under coaches.
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