Tennis Training for Kids

Tennis appears to be an easy sport to learn, but it takes many years of training to become an accomplished player. With the support of parents, children who start learning at a young age, get involved in tennis programs, take lessons, join teams and play in tournaments will have opportunities for scholarships and, possibly, a career in tennis.

  1. Pre-School Age

    • Tennis can be introduced to children as early as age 3 or 4. At this age, it is all about having fun, getting to know the equipment, learning how to throw, catch, how to move and getting familiar with the court. Games are the key to success, especially hand-eye coordination games. Children should use a racket that is an appropriate length for their age and height. Shorter tennis rackets, 19 inches in length, should be used, and sometimes a small racquetball racket will work. Low pressure and foam balls are best to use at this age.

    Ages 5 to 7

    • At this age, learning how to hold the racket correctly, how to swing the racket, parts of the court and introducing rules should be stressed. Shorter rackets, 21 inches in length, should be used as well as low pressure or foam balls and nets that are shorter, not 36 inches high. The main focus at this age should be learning the basic forehand and backhand groundstokes. Playing fun games that require the repetitive use of these strokes is important for muscle memory learning. Children at this age who show interest should be enrolled in an organized tennis program.

    Ages 8 to 10

    • Children at this age should know the basics to hitting a forehand and a backhand stroke. This is a good age to teach children how to hit a serve and an overhead stroke. Regular balls can be used as well as training on a regular size tennis court. Tennis rackets size 23 to 25 inches should be used. Children should start to learn how to score and how a tennis match is played and basic strategies and tactics can be introduced. If USTA Junior Team Tennis programs are offered locally, this is a good age to get them into competition to learn good sportsmanship and fair play. Many junior tournaments will have a division for this age, and children who are advanced and show interest should be introduced to tournament play. Parents can visit the USTA website to locate local programs and tournaments.

    School Teams

    • Juniors at the middle school and high school level should be encouraged to join their school's tennis team. Weekly practices will continue to groove their strokes, teach them how to be a team player, how to support each other and will instill in them a sense of pride for their school. Many colleges offer scholarships to graduating seniors that excel not only in academics but also in sports.

    Private Lessons

    • Although private lessons are expensive, there is not substitute for a one-on-one lesson. An experienced pro can pick out flaws in strokes and give corrective techniques to help students advance. They can mentor a young player and formulate a plan or schedule to help a student achieve his goals. The USPTA website can help you locate certified professionals in your area who offer lessons and programs for children.

    Tennis Camps

    • Enrolling children in weeklong tennis camps where they get repetitive, day-to-day reminders of stroke mechanics, rules, strategies, conditioning and strength training is a great way to have a child improve quickly in a short amount of time.