WHAT IS 10 AND UNDER TENNIS?
 
10 and Under Tennis follows the same logic as other youth sports like baseball or soccer, which use kid-sized courts and kid-sized equipment. Kids learn to play baseball by first playing T-ball; they use shorter, lighter bats and larger, softer balls. Kids learning basketball shoot baskets with kid-sized balls on lowered backboards and they play soccer on smaller fields with smaller goals.

 

Now with 10 and Under Tennis, balls bounce lower, don't move as fast through the air and are easier to hit. Kids tennis racquets are sized for small hands and courts are smaller and easier to cover.

 

By using this format, the benefits are immediate and within a short time kids are rallying, playing, and excited to keep playing. That means kids will have more fun and less frustration. They're playing real tennis and having real fun—and that’s what is most important.

 
 

 

 
 
WHAT IS DIFFERENT?
 
  • Courts are smaller and easier to cover
  • Balls bounce lower and slower, making them easier to hit.
  • 3 levels of tennis balls for kids 8 and under, 9 to 10 years old and 10 to 12 years old.
  • Racquets sized for small hands that are easier to swing and grip.
  • New scoring rules that allow for more and shorter matches. 

 
BENEFITS FOR KIDS
  • Kids learn tennis faster and can master skills before moving on to the next level.
  • Kids build confidence in their game with balls they can hit and a court they can cover
  • With shorter matches, more kids can play competitively, more often. 
 
 
IDAHO TENNIS ASSOCIATION &
10 AND UNDER TENNIS

IdTA incorporates the 10 and Under Tennis format and philosophy into all of our youth tennis programs. We also provide resources, training and assistance to local facilities, organizers and instructors regarding how to incorporate 10 and Under Tennis into their events and programs. 10 and Under Tennis is an important part of the Idaho Tennis Association's mission to promote and develop the growth of tennis in Idaho. 

Starting on January 1, 2012, the USTA and ITF adopted the 10 and Under Tennis format for sanctioned tournaments. Idaho Tennis Association follows these rules for all sanctioned events in Idaho (click to enlarge):