FAQs regarding kids’ tennis
When should children start playing tennis?
Most kids are ready to start learning tennis between 5-1/2 and 7 years old. There’s no magic number, but I would recommend that you wait to start tennis when your child can discern left and right, see over the net, and pay attention for more than 20 minutes at a time. Also important is that your child demonstrates an independent interest in tennis and/or other sports. If you think your child is ready, start with a 30 or 45-minute private lesson.
Private lessons or group classes?
Some parents are hesitant to seek out 1-on-1 tennis instruction unless their child is passionate and talented. I understand this sentiment completely; weekly private lessons are expensive and could be considered a waste of time and money if your child is never going to compete in tournaments. Group classes are more fun than private lessons, but private instruction will help your child’s technical development.
Ultimately, you want to find a balance that’s appropriate for your child’s ambition and talent level. If your child is passionate and talented, 1-2 weekly tennis lessons are highly advised. If your child views tennis as a side hobby, try one private lesson per month to allow your child to develop a relationship with his/her coach.
When do children compete in tournaments?
Tournaments are organized by age and locality, and the most common ages to start competing are the 10 and unders and the 12 and unders. However, most junior players never compete in tournaments, and that’s okay. If your child doesn’t seem to be on that path to play tournaments, don’t despair. Tennis is very rewarding at any level, and there are other competitive opportunities that your children will enjoy later on such as high school varsity, USTA league matches, and intramural tennis.
What size racquet does my child need?
Kids racquets come in 19,” 21,” 23,” 25,” and 26” varieties. Unless your child is unusually tall or short, 21” is typical for a 6-7 year old, 23” is typical for a 7-8 year old, and 25” is typical for age 9. By 10, many kids are ready to switch to a light adult racquet with a small grip size, but others may elect to use a 26” racquet.
Do you have to start tennis very young to be competitive? I.e. Is my teenager too old to become a competitive player?
Tennis is a great sport at almost any age. Most competitive tennis players start when they’re young - 6 to 9 years - but older children and teens with strong athletic backgrounds can become great players too. With less time to develop, they might not earn a college scholarship or win top tiered tournaments, but they can certainly become good enough to compete in high school, junior team tennis, and/or lower tiered tournaments.
How much will my kid’s tennis hobby cost?
Between private lessons, group clinics, tournaments, practice sets, etc, the price of an hour on a tennis court varies greatly. Ultimately, cost boils down to the type of player. The general rule is the better the kid, the more you’ll pay. For a hobbyist, a few hours of tennis per week costs about $100. For a moderate competitor, 3-6 hours of tennis per week costs $150-300. For high performance competitors, 10+ hours of tennis per week plus tournament travel expenses can cost anywhere from $700-2000.