Parents ask me one question more than any other: is my child ready to move up? Our pathway answers it with observable skills, not birthdays — four color stages, each with its own court, ball, and definition of success.
Red (ages 6–8): fall in love
Small courts, big soft balls, and games that secretly teach grips and tracking. Success at red means rallying 10 balls with a coach and knowing the lines of the court. Move-up sign: consistent contact and asking when the next session is.
Orange (ages 8–10): build the strokes
Three-quarter courts and lower-bouncing balls let real swing shapes develop. Forehand, backhand, and the first serves appear here, plus scoring in short sets. Move-up sign: rallying 20 balls and serving whole games.
“Never rush a stage to chase an age group. A confident orange-ball player beats a lost green-ball player every single time.”
Green (ages 10–12): learn to compete
Full courts with a slightly softer ball. Tactics enter: hitting to space, approaching the net, holding serve under the mild pressure of in-house ladders. Move-up sign: winning matches, not just rallies.
Yellow (ages 12–17): play real tennis
Standard balls, full rules, tournament draws. Training splits into technique maintenance, physical development, and match craft — with video review and a pathway toward academy squads and college tennis.
Find your child's stage
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