USTA

10 and Under and Junior (11-18yrs)

Net Generation Tennis Format

(formerly known as QuickStart Tennis)

 

The USTA Net Generation Tennis format, www.netgeneration.com is about fitting tennis to kids based on age, physical size and skill level.  By using age appropriate court dimensions, equipment (racquets and balls), net heights and scoring systems coupled with a play component, kids will develop better technical and tactical skills.  

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Racquets:  For an adult player to succeed at tennis, racquet control is essential. Same goes for kids. However, since kids are smaller than adults, kids have trouble controlling full-size racquets. They're too long, too heavy and the grips are too large. Kids need racquets that are proportionate in length and weight and have a grip that fits their smaller hands.
           
For 8 & under, the racquet can be 17", 19" or 21"

For 10 & under, the racquet can be 21", 23” or 25”

        

For 11 and older, the racquet can be up to full size, 27-27.5"
 

Balls:  Kids need a ball that is sized and paced to their playing abilities. A yellow tennis ball moves too fast, bounces too high and is too heavy for the smaller racquet. Each age group, therefore, uses a ball better suited to their size and unique playing ability.

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For 10 & under: 

A low compression ORANGE ball moves a little faster and travels farther than the ball used with the younger group, but it still has a lower bounce than a regulation ball.  It has 50% less air then the yellow ball.

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For 11 - 15yrs. (and older): 

A low compression GREEN ball has 25% less air then the yellow ball.  This allows it to travel slower, bounce lower and weigh less then the yellow ball.  As age, size and skills progress, players will continue to develop using the YELLOW ball.

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Scoring:  The Net Generation Tennis scoring system is simple. It helps kids understand the structure of the game and allows them to keep track of the competition as it unfolds. Conveniently, it also gives parents and players a start and finish time.  

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For 10 & under, (the ORANGE group), children play the best of three sets and the first to win four games wins a set. For the third set, the first player to win seven points wins the match.

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For 11-15yrs. (and older), (the GREEN/YELLOW group), players play the best of three sets and the first to win six games wins a set.

 

Courts:  

For 10 & under, children will play on an court that is 60 feet long and 21 feet wide for singles or 60 feet long and 27 feet wide for doubles (the ORANGE court).

 

For 11-15yrs. (and older), players use a court that is 78 feet long and 27 feet wide for singles or 78 feet long and 36 feet wide for doubles (the GREEN/YELLOW court).

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Written and produced by the South Kingstown Parks and Recreation Department with reference to the following information resources:

http://www.tennisplayandstay.com 

The former, http://consumers.quickstarttennis.com 

http://www.mstennis.com/