Blue Ball tennis is for pre-school children and introduces them to tennis through games and fun activities. Blue ball classes run for one term at a time and children, parents and coaches will see their achievements through our sticker books that outline the progression through the Hotshots programme.

Children learn the basics of tennis including how to rally using lots of adapted equipment such as big balls and beanbags.

The focus of these sessions is to have loads of fun while building fundamental motor skills, manipulative skills and movement skills such as

• throwing
• striking
• side skipping
• jumping

This class is great for younger siblings of older children already having other lessons at the courts with lessons lasting 30-minutes, making them suitable for the general age and stage of players at a Blue Ball level.

Children, parents and coaches will see their achievements through our sticker books that outline the progression through the Hotshots programme.

As a guide, Red ball is suitable for all 4 – 6 year olds and 6 – 8 year olds that are new to tennis.

This is a programme for beginners using modified equipment and played on a smaller court area. From within a games based framework, the emphasis is on building Tennis fundamental motor skills.

Movement fundamentals

• side skipping
• jumping
• balance
• running (backwards and forwards)
• ball flight recognition
• agility
• striking skills
• basic swing paths
• reception skills
• tracking a ball and attempting to return it over a net

Our Red ball lessons will feature a 6:1 player:coach ratio and are 45-minutes long making them suitable for the general age and stage of players at a Red ball level.

Children, parents and coaches will see their achievements through our sticker books that outline the progression through the Hotshots programme.

Orange Ball is for students who have progressed through the Red Ball phases of Hotshots and our coaching staff will arrange class groups that are appropriate to the students levels and abilities.

From within a games based framework, the technical aspects of the game are introduced in more depth.

• Understanding of and familiarization with grips & Serve swing pattern
• Basic strategies of the game are also taught at this point: Move your opponent, Hit to space, Hit with depth

Orange Ball programme emphasis is on moving the children to the full court and helping them cope with the demands that the increased court area poses.

Orange Ball lessons will feature a 6:1 player:coach ratio and are 1 hour long which is appropriate for their age.

Children, parents and coaches will see their achievements through our sticker books that outline the progression through the Hotshots programme.

Green Ball is for students who have progressed through the Orange Ball phases of Hotshots and our coaching staff will arrange class groups that are appropriate to the students levels and abilities.

From within a games-based framework, the technical aspects of the game are introduced in more depth.

• Understanding of and familiarization with grips & Serve swing pattern
• Basic strategies of the game are also taught at this point: Move your opponent, Hit to space, Hit with depth

Once children reach Green Ball they can rally competently and are able to serve with a degree of consistency. There is a doubles emphasis at this point as well as a focus on the formal side of the game; rules and scoring.

Green Ball lessons will feature a 6:1 player:coach ratio and are 1 hour long which is appropriate for their age.

Children, parents and coaches will see their achievements through our sticker books that outline the progression through the Hotshots programme.

Yellow Ball is aimed at Intermediate or High School students who are new to tennis. Coaching will cover the fundamentals of tennis based on aspects of the Red – Green Ball tennis programmes that are adapted to meet the mental and physical abilities of the older student.

Coaching occurs once a week and students have the option of joining an Interclub team post Christmas if ready.

Yellow Ball is delivered from a  games-based framework, where technical aspects of the game are introduced in more depth based on a

• Understanding of and familiarization with grips & Serve swing pattern
• Basic strategies of the game are also taught at this point: Move your opponent, Hit to space, Hit with depth

Yellow Ball programme emphasis is on moving the children to the full court and helping them cope with the demands that the increased court area poses.

Yellow Ball lessons will feature a 6:1 player:coach ratio and are 1 hour long which is appropriate for their age.

Players in Junior Interclub teams will receive a team coaching session once a week on a day and time that the team agrees to.

Competition games consisting of Singles & Doubles play on a Friday afternoon starting at 4:30pm or Saturday morning at 8:30am or 10:30am and have varying formats depending on age and grade played.

Age cut-offs

• 10 & Under On Or After 1/4/2013
• 12 & Under 1/4/2011 – 31/3/2013
• 14 & under 1/4/2009 – 31//3/2011
• Open 1/4/2005 – 31/3/2009

Grades

• Boys 10’s 1
• Boys 12’s 1,2 and 3
• Boys 14’s 1,2 and 3
• Girls 12
• Girls Open 1 and 2
• Mixed 10’s 1 and 2

It is expected that a player is available to play for their team each week of competition AND attend weekly coaching.

Every effort will be made to allocate players to the team best suited to them