Are Kids/Coaches in your Section Skipping 10U?

[topspinrj]

Now that my 3rd girl is playing competitive tennis (8 years old), I find it interesting to see how the girls who played 10U (until almost 11) have faired in 12U division. My daughter's coach recently made the decision to have her skip 10U and slowly integrate her into the 12U tournaments (slowly due to my daughter's maturity at losing). He has been working on patterns and recognizing a girls weakness and attach it. She has a long way to go but I feel the approach will setup her up great for the long term if she continues in tennis.

It is interesting the watch the 10U graduates. These are the kids who drop down to 10U for the Level 2/3 to beat up on lesser kids to get the points. I have seen these kids in the 12U division are barely competing in the Level 4s due to the lack of a game being developed at the younger ages. The 10U matches I see at the lower levels are most of a battle of the consistency versus developing an approach to find the girl's weakness and expose it.

I am wondering how we will judge the effectiveness of 10U down the road, once these kids have been playing the 6-8 years.

 

[barringer97]

I'm in the same boat. It is a little frustrating though. My daughter is in third grade and we are doing the 12 and under's. She got smoked today, but at the same time, played really well.

We are in NorCal and there are no 10 and under's. So we are kind of stuck. Refuse to do Orange, but yet get smashed in 12 and under's?

We've decided to go the 12 and under route and just focus on working on things and not winning.

It's just so weird seeing your daughter playing against girls that have already started to "mature."

 

[rdis10093]

not in particular 10, but any chance they get they play higher up if possible

 

[topspinrj]

Yes my little one is 3rd grade also. She lost last weekend 2 and 1 in the semis against a 11 year old that was 5'5 or so. Her coach said as long as she can take the losing, it is great to get out there competing.

 

[TCF]

topspinrj....they eliminated all points and rankings in Florida for the 10s.

We did some of the 10s green dots. My girl hated them as all week she plays with yellows with her group of mixed aged kids, then had to play green dots on Har Tru at tournaments, which is awful.

All the kids say the same thing....the 10s with green dots get old fast. The tournaments many times are advanced kid vs beginners and the scores are 4-0,4-0. Every now and then there is a decent match up but those are rare.

Playing in the 12s down in SE FL. is brutally competitive. Academy kids, many foreign.....many of the girls are fully developed physically. And socially, she is talking about Sponge Bob and they are talking about which boys they would date. A just turned 9 year old and a 11.5-almost 13 year olds are in vastly different places emotionally and socially.

Anyway, we decided to chill on the USTAs. She has more fun and improves more with a mix of group clinics, hitting with friends, and practice matches.

As far as game development or lack there of, I think it is much more the parent and/or coach's attention to it, rather than the type of ball used or age bracket they play. They can develop their game in the 10s or skipping right to the 12s or not doing many tournaments at all.....it all depends on the coaching.

 

[topspinrj]

TCF I would be very happy with 10U Green Dot here in Georgia. At the 10U level there is only orange ball with modified courts. For 12U, Level 5 & 4 are Green Dot, Level 3 and below regular. I wish I could play 10U green dot. However that isn't a choice. At least with Green Dot they are playing full court and can implement strategies that will work long term.

 

[TCF]

TCF I would be very happy with 10U Green Dot here in Georgia. At the 10U level there is only orange ball with modified courts. For 12U, Level 5 & 4 are Green Dot, Level 3 and below regular. I wish I could play 10U green dot. However that isn't a choice. At least with Green Dot they are playing full court and can implement strategies that will work long term.

Oh wow, I feel for you. I can not even imagine orange balls for any kid over the age of 6. The green dots get old very fast as it is for the serious kids.

Its all relative. Down here with all the academies the kids advance so quickly. So the green dots are mostly for beginners. If you have a serious player at age 8-10, they have to play yellow ball 12s and take their lumps.