What is 10 and Under Tennis?

10 and Under Tennis is a revolutionary change in the way kids learn and play tennis, as well as compete. Following the example of other major sports, play rules, kids tennis equipment and courts are adapted to a child’s size and age, so they get rallying, develop skills and have fun right from the start. 


The rules of tennis have changed.

Effective January 1, 2012, all USTA-sanctioned tournaments and USTA Jr. Team Tennis leagues for kids 10 and under will utilize the rules and regulations of 10 and Under Tennis.

What’s Different?

• Courts are smaller and easier to cover.
• Balls bounce lower and slower, making them easier to hit.
• 3 levels of tennis balls for kids 8 and under, 9 to 10 years old, and 10 to 12 years old.
• Racquets sized for small hands that are easier to grip and swing.
• New scoring rules that allow for more and shorter matches.

Benefits for Kids

• Frustration is cut way down when equipment and rules match kids’ development level.
• Kids learn tennis faster and can master skills before moving on to the next level.
• They’re playing real tennis and having a lot of fun at the same time.
• Kids build confidence in their game with balls they can hit and a court they can cover.
• With shorter matches, more kids can play competitively more often.
• Kids are more likely to keep playing and improve their tennis game when they’re having fun.

Benefits for your Program

• Grants and assistance are available from the USTA for updating courts and facilities.
• Happy kids keep coming back, increasing tennis program retention and creating life players.
• When kids love tennis they tell their friends, resulting in new students for clubs and pros.
• Multiple court configurations allow for up to six courts in the space of a standard single court.
• It’s much more rewarding to teach kids who are having fun and loving the game of tennis.

Find out how to start a 10 and Under tennis program in your community.

 

Playing the game like it's meant to be played. Only smaller.

Make no mistake about it, 10 and Under Tennis is real tennis. It's easier to master and more fun for kids to learn. When kids are rewarded with a sense of success, they are far more likely to stick with the game. And since tennis is a "life sport", that means you have a real opportunity to make an impact on more than individual players, but on the sport itself. And that's a game where everyone wins.