United States Tennis Association (USTA) Player Development announced the release of 10 and Under Tennis Competency video resources to provide coaches, players and parents with a source on fundamental guidelines and skill proficiencies that young players, ages 10 and younger, should learn prior to progressing from one play format to the next.
The videos can be found on the following link,
Competency Video Link, and show players, ages 7-10 years old playing on the appropriate courts, with the appropriate equipment. These videos feature young children who are very proficient and have developed their fundamental tennis skills to a point where they are ready to move from one format to the next.
The videos are broken down by three formats, strokes and competency. The three formats are: 36 foot court with red balls; 60 foot court with orange balls; and 78 foot (full size) court with the green ball. The strokes are: forehand and backhand volleys, overhead, serve and return. The competencies are: technique, footwork, play and advanced play. In order for players to develop properly, they should display the correct technique, footwork and playing skills before progressing.
In addition, group teaching videos serve as a second resource that is very important to show how to teach on the three formats with varied skilled players and numbers of players.
According to the General Manager of USTA Player Development, Patrick McEnroe, development is a long-term process that requires that young players develop mastery before progressing. "Long-term development starts the first time a young child walks on the tennis court," said McEnroe. "These two new Player Development Video Resources focus on what to teach and how to teach children ages 10 and under. They break down the best instructional methods for the Red, Orange and Green formats and, just as importantly, they help prepare kids to transition easily and successfully to a full-sized court and the yellow tennis ball. We strongly believe that incorporating these teaching methods will contribute to the development of the next generation of world-class American tennis players."
These videos were developed for coaches and parents of kids playing in the 10 and Under Tennis environment and will change your perspective on how to work with young children using 10 and Under Tennis.