Help! Tips for starting a group lesson for young children

A

AgassiFan12

New User
I am just wondering what steps (besides calling parks are rec. department) I would need to take to start my own tennis class/clinic during the summer. I am moving to a family oriented neighborhood with some really nice courts. I have many years experience playing and a couple coaching.

Any advice any one could give on starting up a clinic??? Any supplies beyond the obvious...balls, foam balls for little ones, cones. This is an idea I just came up with today and am in the very early thought stages. I just want to see if this would even be possible to do. It seems relatively straight forward, but there may be some things I don't know.

Would I need insurance? Or would a waiver signed by parents be the way to go?

Ideas, help, advice, words of wisdom, Ideas, Ideas, pointers oh yeah, Ideas.

Thanks for the help.
 
First, I'm assuming you have some kind of tennis coaching certification. You may want to try contacting a community center that has a tennis court associated with it. They might be able to handle the advertising of your class and giving you permits to use the courts (you will essentially work for them). They should also inform you about the insurance/waiver issue.

Cones are helpful for targets. You may want to bring tape (colored?) to mark certain parts of the court (i. e. where you want the kids to stand). You will definitely need a ball hopper.
 
check your email


anyone interested send me an email

FWIW I ran a tennis program with 400 children
 
Last edited:
www.littletennis.com

great site with lesson plans, tools needed, etc...



Welcome to Little Tennis
The way to create your future tennis stars

Little Tennis is the nation's tennis equivalent to Little League Baseball, soccer or basketball. It is intended to "Bring everyone together" who loves the game of tennis. It also is designed to be totally inclusive and supportive of all other children’s programs, organizations, activities and companies within the tennis industry.

Little Tennis is an extremely powerful toolbox for those who wish to play, promote or teach tennis. It uniquely caters to teachers, parents, kids, and program organizers. It not only helps children learn the game but also their parents and grandparents. The contributions in this Web site come from many great teachers and we encourage everyone with ideas for improving Little Tennis to join the team.

The program has been designed by the United States Professional Tennis Association -- the world's largest and oldest organization of tennis-teaching professionals. It includes a structured program of lessons and play designed to move children ages 3-10 quickly through the transitional stages of graduated equipment to full-court tennis. This Web site also includes many fun games, links and supplemental activities to keep children interested in visiting.

Little Tennis now has over 2,000 participating professionals and sites around the nation and is the fastest growing program for children, families and teachers in the world.
 
Good info listed so I will keep it short.

You should be insured if you are USPTA or PTR certified. I strongly recommend having cert, even developmental coach is simple, cheaper, yet still insures you for 9 million last I checked/remember.

One thing you will find with trying to get group clinic for children clientele is the obvious, winning their parents.

- Times that are good for the age group, and easy for the parents to get to/schedule.
- Displaying good personality, fun, exciting. (youth dev is a bit different, we are talking clinics for very young)
- Repeating schedule where pricing scales with the prospective parents. Don't expect rediculous club rates in a middle class area, etc. Look to do incentives like 4-6 week program for xx money.
- Try free open event days. 30 minute teaser programs for free to get people involved. Have flyers/brochures and signup sheet on hand for paid lessons, clinics.

In regards to actual teaching:
The biggest thing I always stress to youth clinic coaches is to keep it safe, keep it fast, keep it fun.

Keep your teacher to student ratio low. Too often I see 7-10 kids per pro. Half the kids are bored and not paying attention.

Keep the drills moving fast. 3 shot drills, done slowly while you have 6 kids is a recipe for disaster. You have 1 playing, 1 who is next paying attention, and the rest are swing racquets at fences or goofing off or just outright bored. Look to do fast moving drills, 2 line feeds, etc.

Keep it exciting. BE EXCITING. Kids respond so well to energy. Dull slow coaches often result in dull slow kids who are bored and don't care. Show them your excitement and they will usually feed off that energy. Fast drills with good communication and complimenting good strokes or actions. Engage them both mentally and physically. Ask them tennis questions like lines, form, grips, and scoring, etc. Play games like hit the hopper (placement), run between cones, get 3 fast feeds/volleys on 1 bounce, play king of the hill (usually toward end).

Oh I ran on again...

Anyways. Good luck.
 
dakels said:
Good info listed so I will keep it short.

You should be insured if you are USPTA or PTR certified. I strongly recommend having cert, even developmental coach is simple, cheaper, yet still insures you for 9 million last I checked/remember.

One thing you will find with trying to get group clinic for children clientele is the obvious, winning their parents.

- Times that are good for the age group, and easy for the parents to get to/schedule.
- Displaying good personality, fun, exciting. (youth dev is a bit different, we are talking clinics for very young)
- Repeating schedule where pricing scales with the prospective parents. Don't expect rediculous club rates in a middle class area, etc. Look to do incentives like 4-6 week program for xx money.
- Try free open event days. 30 minute teaser programs for free to get people involved. Have flyers/brochures and signup sheet on hand for paid lessons, clinics.

In regards to actual teaching:
The biggest thing I always stress to youth clinic coaches is to keep it safe, keep it fast, keep it fun.

Keep your teacher to student ratio low. Too often I see 7-10 kids per pro. Half the kids are bored and not paying attention.

Keep the drills moving fast. 3 shot drills, done slowly while you have 6 kids is a recipe for disaster. You have 1 playing, 1 who is next paying attention, and the rest are swing racquets at fences or goofing off or just outright bored. Look to do fast moving drills, 2 line feeds, etc.

Keep it exciting. BE EXCITING. Kids respond so well to energy. Dull slow coaches often result in dull slow kids who are bored and don't care. Show them your excitement and they will usually feed off that energy. Fast drills with good communication and complimenting good strokes or actions. Engage them both mentally and physically. Ask them tennis questions like lines, form, grips, and scoring, etc. Play games like hit the hopper (placement), run between cones, get 3 fast feeds/volleys on 1 bounce, play king of the hill (usually toward end).

Oh I ran on again...

Anyways. Good luck.
Click to expand...

This is all excellent advice from someone who I can only assume is a pro with a great amount of experience.
 
dakels said:
Good info listed so I will keep it short.

You should be insured if you are USPTA or PTR certified. I strongly recommend having cert, even developmental coach is simple, cheaper, yet still insures you for 9 million last I checked/remember.

One thing you will find with trying to get group clinic for children clientele is the obvious, winning their parents.

- Times that are good for the age group, and easy for the parents to get to/schedule.
- Displaying good personality, fun, exciting. (youth dev is a bit different, we are talking clinics for very young)
- Repeating schedule where pricing scales with the prospective parents. Don't expect rediculous club rates in a middle class area, etc. Look to do incentives like 4-6 week program for xx money.
- Try free open event days. 30 minute teaser programs for free to get people involved. Have flyers/brochures and signup sheet on hand for paid lessons, clinics.

In regards to actual teaching:
The biggest thing I always stress to youth clinic coaches is to keep it safe, keep it fast, keep it fun.

Keep your teacher to student ratio low. Too often I see 7-10 kids per pro. Half the kids are bored and not paying attention.

Keep the drills moving fast. 3 shot drills, done slowly while you have 6 kids is a recipe for disaster. You have 1 playing, 1 who is next paying attention, and the rest are swing racquets at fences or goofing off or just outright bored. Look to do fast moving drills, 2 line feeds, etc.

Keep it exciting. BE EXCITING. Kids respond so well to energy. Dull slow coaches often result in dull slow kids who are bored and don't care. Show them your excitement and they will usually feed off that energy. Fast drills with good communication and complimenting good strokes or actions. Engage them both mentally and physically. Ask them tennis questions like lines, form, grips, and scoring, etc. Play games like hit the hopper (placement), run between cones, get 3 fast feeds/volleys on 1 bounce, play king of the hill (usually toward end).

Oh I ran on again...

Anyways. Good luck.
Click to expand...

great advice !!!

FYI....I can't get TW email

If anyone is interested in some fun games / drills send me your email. ( they are to long to write out here )
 
Last edited:
hey guys can i get some information too?? i might be just teaching little little kids in my apartment for community service hour for the summer. So i dont have any coaching license or anything and im just in high school. But ya... my e-mail is functionchen@gmail.com

thanks a lot guys
 
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