What’s on at Highgate Tennis for juniors
Highgate Coaching Ethos – It is the mission of Highgate Tennis to foster a culture of playing sport in the right spirit, within a family orientated and non-discriminatory structure, that delivers opportunities to players of all ages, to participate in tennis activities that span:
- Learning fundamental skills
- Learning to train
- Conditioning for sporting performance
- Training to compete and win
- Game awareness and competitive development
What’s on offer and how do I get my kids involved?
We welcome children from pre-school up to 18 years. The emphasis is on fun within a friendly and supportive environment. For those juniors who want to develop their skills to a higher level we provide the opportunity to join performance squads and take their tennis onto a competitive level. See our performance programme.
Tell me more about mini-tennis
Mini Tennis is a way of introducing children to the sport of tennis in a fun but controlled, progressive way. The court and size of the ball increase in size as the child gets older but the idea is that the sport is still played on a full court relative to their age. There are 4 levels of Mini Tennis:
Tots
Tots tennis is for children aged 3 to 4 years old. It enables them to enjoy the game through a series of fun activities, based on balance, co-ordination, agility, movement and racket and ball skills. Tots play with sponge balls and 19 or 21 inch rackets and the focus is about having as much fun as possible.
Blue Ball
Young kids (4-5 years) are bundles of energy just running around without a care in the world. But the programme is designed to finesse their fine motor skills like balance, agility and coordination. At this stage it’s not about winning or losing but just getting to grips with the basics.
Red ball
Red ball mini tennis is for players aged 8 and under. It is played on smaller courts with shorter rackets and softer balls. It’s just like the real thing and will give you the chance to have long rallies and play different types of shots, which should be lots of fun.
Orange ball
Orange ball mini tennis is for players aged 8 and 9. It is played on slightly larger courts than red ball, with bigger rackets and balls that are not as soft as red balls. It’s the next stage to go through before you start playing on a full sized court and it will help you develop all the different shots, providing fun competition.
Green ball
Green ball is the next step after orange ball mini tennis. It is played on a full tennis court, with bigger rackets and balls that are a little softer than yellow balls. It’s the next stage to go through before you start playing with a yellow ball on a full sized court and it will help you work on and improve all aspects of your game.
Yellow Ball
At the Yellow stage (12+ years), children are now playing on a full size court with the balls the professionals use. Children will continue to explore different game styles and start to find their own. They will evolve through well-rounded motor skills development whilst improving their physical capacities.
Junior pathway
Junior and family news
Junior courses
Mini Tennis is a great introduction to the sport for young children between 4 and 10 years old. It’s just like the real thing, but with smaller courts, nets and rackets and lower-bouncing balls.
For players aged 11-18 we have junior squads available for all levels of play.
What holiday camps does Highgate run?
Highgate has an active programme of holiday camps that runs for juniors of all ages and all levels. Starting in Easter holidays and running during mid-term breaks and summer holidays, these camps are a great way for your kids to make new friends, learn new skills and improve those tennis skills in a safe and fun environment. Find out more about the holiday tennis camps.