Mini Tennis

[Net Cord]

I'm a coach in Tampa and use sponge balls a lot to get young kids (and often adults) used to rallying without the ball sailing over their head... as happens when we use big boy tennis balls.

Originally I'm from the UK and many years ago there was a whole network of tournements played out on a mini court with sponge balls - it seemed a great intro to tennis.

My question - are there any mini tennis tournements that 6yrs + can play in?
Do other coaches use this approach as I do as the coaches I come into contact don't seem to see the benefits...!

 

[xtremerunnerars]

I can't really see the benefits, especially being a 15 year old. I've played with some 8 and 9 year old kids that were VERY good, and would probably beat me. I'm not scared to say it, it's because they've been playing longer.


I don't expect you to find any mini tennis tournaments, though if you find enough kids why not organize one if you really feel it's beneficial? Go around your area and ask around, or just have a friend set it up under your advice. That way they won't think of it as being just something the coach thought up to get them interested. They'll think it's a big tournament.

I would say get them interested in actual tennis asap, though.

 

[Net Cord]

Mini tennis is not really for advanced players it for beginners / young children!!

For example I was coaching a 13 yr old today - we got a rally of 50 with the sponge ball but couldn't even get to 3 with the proper tennis ball! Not sure how you can argue this this isn't a good intro to the game.

 

[looseswing]

I actually agree that it is a great program for juniors. I think I read in one of the tennis magazines that France had a great minitennis program and produced some strong juniors because of it. At my camp they have the kids play minitennis on minicourts that they have inside the gym. Sometimes we big boys get on those courts and hit the crap out of the ball just for fun.