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Interested in more information about QuickStart tennis, or setting up an event?
Contact your local tennis service representative for more.
QuickStart Tennis is an exciting new play format for learning tennis, designed to bring kids into the game by utilizing specialized equipment, shorter court dimensions and modified scoring, all tailored to age and size. It is divided into two different levels-- ages 8 and under and ages 10 and under.
It's the fast, fun way to get kids into tennis-- and keep them playing.
Get Started 101
Equipment
Just as kids need a court that suits their size, they also need the right size equipment. That's why both the racquet and ball are different from the equipment adults use.
The Racquet
For an adult player to succeed at tennis, racquet control is essential. Same goes for kids. But since kids are smaller than adults, kids have trouble controlling full-size racquets. They're too long, they're 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 should be 19", 21" or 23".
For 10 & under, the racquet should be 23" or 25".
The Ball
Kids need a ball that's sized and paced to their playing abilities. A regulation tennis ball moves too fast, bounces too high and is too heavy for their smaller racquet. Each age group, therefore, uses a ball better suited to their size and unique playing ability.
For 8 & under, a foam ball or a low-compression ball moves slower, bounces lower and travels less distance.
For 10 & under, a low compression ball moves a little faster and travels farther than the ball used with the younger group, but it still has a lower bounce than the original.
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| The court sizes have been changed for 8-and-under and 10-and-under players to make it easier to play and learn the game of tennis quickly. |
Court Dimensions
QuickStart Tennis uses equipment that is scaled to the size and ability level of young children. Eight-and-under children will play on a court that is 36 feet long and 18 feet wide.
The net is 18 feet long and 2-foot, 9-inches in height. Portable nets and support systems are available from many manufacturers, or temporary nets can be constructed using tape or caution tape tied to existing nets, fences or even chairs.
A regulation net is used on the 60-foot court for youngsters 10 and under. If you are not using an existing court and net, the net height for the 60-foot court is three feet.
QuickStart Tennis uses equipment that is scaled to the size and ability level of young children. Eight-and-under children will play on a court that is 36 feet long and 18 feet wide.The net is 18 feet long and 2-foot, 9-inches in height. Portable nets and support systems are available from many manufacturers, or temporary nets can be constructed using tape or caution tape tied to existing nets, fences or even chairs.A regulation net is used on the 60-foot court for youngsters 10 and under. If you are not using an existing court and net, the net height for the 60-foot court is three feet.
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| Kathleen Adriano, a seven year old from Leawood, Kan., takes part in QuickStart Tennis at pilot program at Midtown Tennis Club in Overland Park, Kan. |
8-and-Under (36-foot court)
For the five to eight-year-olds, the court dimensions are 36' long and 18' wide. Children play across the width of a normal tennis court, with a portable net or tape dividing the court in half. The length of the court stretches between the doubles sidelines. The width spans from the baseline to the service line. Temporary lines (e.g., throw-down lines, tape or chalk) can be used to mark the boundaries. Since the dimensions are smaller, as many as four courts can be set up across one full-size tennis court. For this age group, the net height is 2' 9".
10-and-Under (60-foot court)
Since nine and ten-year-olds are typically taller and stronger, their court needs to be bigger. For this group, the court dimensions are 60' long and 21' wide. By using temporary lines (throw-down lines, tape or chalk) as baselines, the length of the court can be shortened by 9' at both ends to make it a 60' length. The singles sidelines are used to determine the width of the court. Again, temporary lines can be placed 3' inside the singles sidelines creating a 21' singles court and 27' doubles court. For this age group, the standard tennis net height can be used. Just as kids need a court that suits their size, they also need the right size equipment. That's why both the racquet and ball are different from the equipment adults use. Scoring
For players who are 8 and under, there are only seven points in a game, so match play is short and sweet. Kids play the best of three games; the first to score seven points wins the game. The first to win two games wins the match. The longest the match will last is approximately 20 minutes.
Players who are 10 and under should play the best-of-three sets; the first to win four games wins a set. For the third set, the first player to win seven points wins the match.
For more information contact your district Tennis Service Representative.
Note: The Rules of Tennis do allow USTA National/Sectional/District events or tournaments to be played on courts with additional lines, such as those used for the QuickStart Tennis format.
However, the rules prohibit play on courts with additional lines for ITF (International Tennis Federation) and ITA (Intercollegiate Tennis Association) events or tournaments.