If your child starts tennis at a club, you may hear coaches talk about red, orange and green balls. These stages come from an approach used in many countries: children learn with slower balls on smaller courts, so they can rally and play points sooner.
The three stages
- Red: the softest, slowest ball on a short, narrow court. Usually for the youngest players, often up to about age eight.
- Orange: a little faster, on a longer court. Often for children of about eight to ten.
- Green: close to a normal ball but slower, played on a full-size court. Often for children of about nine and over before they move to the yellow ball.
Ages are only a guide. Coaches move children up when they can rally, serve and keep score comfortably at their current stage.
Why it helps
A slower ball bounces lower and gives children more time, so they can use proper swings instead of hitting the ball above their heads. Smaller courts mean shorter distances to run and more points in a session.
Questions to ask the club
- Which stage is right for my child to start?
- How are groups arranged, and how many children are in each?
- Can my child try a session before signing up for a term?
- Where do parents wait, and when should we arrive?