QuickStart Tennis
Team Witsken employs the QuickStart Tennis program for juniors aged 10 and under. This is a USTA teaching format that has been shown to be the most effective way to introduce this age group to tennis fundamentals. And it's fun!
FAQs about QuickStart Tennis:
- What is QuickStart Tennis?
- Why is QuickStart Tennis referred to as America's plan for 10 and under tennis?
- How is QuickStart Tennis different than what people have been doing for years - using smaller balls and smaller racquets?
- What are the benefits of QuickStart Tennis?
What is QuickStart Tennis?
QuickStart Tennis is an exciting new play format for learning tennis, designed to bring kids into the game by utilizing specialized equipment, shorter court dimensions and modified scoring, all tailored to age and size. It is divided into two different levels-- ages 8 and under and ages 10 and under.
Why is QuickStart Tennis referred to as America's plan for 10 and under tennis?
The USTA, along with industry partners including USPTA, TIA and PTR, have taken steps to bring tennis to children aged 10 & under in a more fun and dynamic way. This collaborative effort has resulted in the development of a new format that will get more kids playing the game, developing better skills and staying longer.
The key goals are as follows:
- Increase the number of beginning players ages 5 to 10
- Increase the retention of players aged 5 to 10 and beyond
- Improve the technical, tactical and physical development of players ages 5 to 10
- Develop future champions
- Improve the wellness of youth playing tennis
How is QuickStart Tennis different than what people have been doing for years - using smaller balls and smaller racquets?
There are two key differences. Coaches and pros have used foam balls and smaller racquets for years. But there were never standardized specifications for the ball, the racquet, the court, the net and scoring based on age. The QuickStart Tennis format uses all of these elements together, the same way, and that makes a huge difference. The other key is that there were very few competitions using scaled-down equipment and courts. Therefore, it was used primarily as a teaching aid and was not considered "real tennis". Since the QuickStart Tennis format will be used in competition, kids and parents both will consider it "real".
Getting kids at this age to play on teams is critical to retention. In addition to USTA Jr. Team Tennis and many sanctioned tournaments using the format in 2008, we know that many professionals and clubs will be using the QuickStart Tennis format for their local team events and competition as well.
What are the benefits of QuickStart Tennis?
The QuickStart Tennis format works by getting kids into the game immediately. Within the first hour of stepping onto the court, they are actually playing the game, rallying with one another, moving around and having fun. Scaling the game down to their size helps make the learning process easier and a lot more fun.
The majority of youth sports have followed this very formula for years. Baseball begins with smaller bats, smaller fields and progresses from tee ball, to coach pitch, to player pitch. Basketball and soccer also employ similar methods, including shortened playing surfaces and appropriate sized equipment. That helps ensure that your kids' first experiences in the sport will leave them overjoyed not overwhelmed.
The shorter and narrower courts give kids the confidence and ability to cover the entire court. Kids have trouble controlling full-sized racquets because they are too long, too heavy and the grips are too large. Jr racquets are proportionate in length and weight and have the grips that fit smaller hands. This makes it easier to control. And balls that bounce at a height equal to kids' playing abilities allows for better and longer rallies and allows them to build all-court games.
By being introduced to this style of play from the start, your kids will gain confidence by seeing their own immediate progress, making them more enthusiastic about continuing to play and improve. QuickStart Tennis enables kids to have more enjoyable experiences early on in the learning process and having fun is always a factor in keeping kids involved.