Teaching Tennis To Children: 4 Tips For Parents

We all had one favorite sport we wanted to master so bad growing up. Unfortunately, due to a lack of mentorship and motivation from our parents, some of us watched our passion die. If you experience such heartbreak growing up, you probably wouldn't want your child to go through the same.

As a parent, you must ensure that you cater to your kids. It is also your duty to encourage your kids to pursue their passion. Put differently; if your kid is a tennis enthusiast, it is your duty as a parent to ensure that they master tennis skills.

Of course—as one with limited tennis knowledge—the chances of helping them in that regard is low. However, that shouldn’t bother you. We have put together a guide on how to teach tennis to your children.

What equipment do your kids need to play tennis?

If you'd like to teach your kids how to play tennis, you need to get the right tennis racket to master this sport and make the learning process easy and fast.

What if you are often busy?

For the workaholic who wouldn’t have time to teach their kids how to play tennis, you can consider enrolling them into any youth tennis lessons of their choice. There, they'll have the opportunity to hone their skills. Whether you decide to teach your kids the art of tennis or enroll them in a class, you'll need to get them this equipment:

●     Tennis racquet

●     Grips

●     Tennis shoes

●     Tennis clothes

●     Tennis balls

●     Tennis headgear

●     Energy drinks and energy bars

●     Towels

●     Sun cream

●     Sunglasses

●     Wrist band

●     First aid kit

●     Kitbag

After getting the right equipment, it’s time to go out and show your kid how to hit some tennis balls. Here is how to go about that:

Teaching Tennis to your Children 

1. Watch and Learn

Teaching your kids how to play tennis will be easier if they understand the rules of the game. You can help your kids understand various tennis rules by taking them to tennis matches. Kids will be fired up if they know what the game looks like and it's being played.

Alternatively, you can consider introducing them to tennis video games. Common tennis video games like Wii Tennis can help your kids learn the basic rules of tennis, which will come in handy when they hold a racket and a ball. 

2. Start Small

When teaching an adult how to play tennis, you can skip the basics and cut to the chase. In fact, you can begin your first practice on a standard tennis court. However, when it comes to your kids, it is essential that you start small.

Having a kid stand at the baseline and expecting them to hit a serve over the net is like building a castle in the air. Standard tennis courts aren't for kids. They need to play on a court that suits them. For kids eight and under, set up a 36' x 21' court with a 2'9 net. While for kids ten and under, a court size of 60' x21' with the regulation 3' nets will do. 

3. Use the Right Tennis Ball

Are all tennis balls the same? No, they aren't. Tennis balls are different, and knowing the type of tennis ball to use while training your kid can make a huge difference. Here are some important things to note about tennis balls for kids. 

Red Balls:  Red tennis balls are bigger than standard tennis balls and are 75% slower. They allow your kids to learn the right techniques by reducing the game's pace.

Orange Balls: Orange balls are 50% slower than standard tennis balls. They are ideal for smaller courts and effective for long rallies.

Green-Dot Balls: Green-Dot Balls resemble standard balls but have a green dot. They don't bounce high and are perfect for beginners like your kids. 

4. Gear Up

If your kid will play tennis often, they'll need to show up as a standard tennis player. They’ll need to have a racket—the right size—and other important equipment. Ensure your kids play with the right racket. Here is a guide to help you with the right racket for your kid.

●     Under 5 years: 21” racket

●     Ages 6 to 8: 23” racket

●     Ages 8 to 10” 25” racquet

●     Ages 10 to 12: 26” racquet

Conclusion

While providing the necessary medium and tennis equipment for your kids, ensure you don’t forget to empathize with the need for consistency. Tell them how consistency is key to their success. And most importantly, always ensure that you are there to motivate them. They need your unwavering support as their parents.