For the past few weeks, I have been communicating with parents and players to organise everyone into appropriate age groups and levels, especially our young players. On behalf of the team of coaches, I just wanted to say a huge thanks to everyone for being so helpful and cooperative. These are just a few steps that I take as the new Tennis Director of Premier Tennis by SIMBR Sports to ensure that your learning activities make for a better learning experience
Why is it important for young players to be in the appropriate age groups?
1. TYPE OF TENNIS BALL
The standard tennis ball bounces between 135 and 147cm, which is higher than the average height of an 8-year-old boy at around 115 cm, making it impossible for them to hit the ball. This can lead to a poor grip on the racket and picking up bad technique.
Low-compression tennis balls come in three types – red, orange, and green, each designed for different age groups. These balls are softer and have a lower bounce than the standard yellow ball, with each type having a different bounce height. It’s important for our players to train with the appropriate ball for their age group so that they can hit the ball between waist and shoulder height. This is crucial for developing proper techniques and skills.
2. Different curriculum and teaching approaches
We employ different curriculum and teaching methods tailored to specific age groups in order to align with their developmental techniques and milestones, thereby making learning more effective.
For the very young players, we focus on making lessons fun, active, and engaging, while emphasising basic techniques and hand-eye coordination exercises. For example, we introduced balloon tennis in the first couple of weeks’ lesson for our indoor red mini tennis players to help develop their gross motor skills and hand-eye coordination. However, this activity is not suitable for older players or outdoor settings, so we will have a different set of drills for them.
For the older teens and adult players, I have taken the time to have individual conversations to assess their skill levels and personal goals. This includes understanding whether they are playing tennis to improve their fitness, enjoy recreational play, or potentially compete at a higher level. I will then plan with my team to deliver more personalised training to each individual even if they are in the same coaching group.
3. Injury and safety concerns
Kids should play with other kids at their appropriate age and level to prevent injuries on the court. For example, a 7-year-old playing with a 14-year-old could lead to accidents due to the difference in hitting speed and strength.
Also, when there are big age differences in play and social interactions, we need to be mindful of safety concerns. Younger kids might be influenced in a negative way by older kids, or they might find it hard to relate with them, which could lead to potential misunderstandings.
Unless a young kid is anxious about playing with other kids, I would recommend they start with private tennis lessons, i.e., family tennis (dad and son/daughter, mother and son/daughter, or with older siblings), and then slowly transition to group lessons with kids of a similar age.
Nevertheless, as a tennis academy, we will ensure compliance with the Child Protection and Safeguarding policy. Our team of coaches is trained in Safeguarding as part of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) training module.
4. Fun, fun and fun
Learning tennis becomes more engaging and effective when it is fun. Kids of the same age often have similar interests and play preferences, which makes it easier for them to form friendships and enjoy social interactions in their lessons.While the kids can still have fun, at Premier Tennis, we place a strong emphasis on discipline, respect, and sportsmanship. Our goal is to develop individuals who excel not only as tennis players but also as admirable characters off the court.
For adults too, you deserve to have fun and share laughter on the tennis courts!
Finally, on behalf of Premier Tennis by SIMBR Sports, again, I would like to thank everyone for your support. I am looking forward to meeting players and parents at all of our locations soon to discuss your tennis development programs in more detail. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me directly at +971 50 198 9982.
