The Blue Stage of the Tennis Hot Shots program is designed for children aged 3 to 5 years, providing an engaging introduction to tennis through play-based learning. This foundational stage emphasises the development of fundamental and perceptual motor skills, including agility, balance, coordination, and spatial awareness. Activities are designed to enhance skills such as throwing, catching, striking, and tracking, which are crucial for young children's overall physical development.
Utilising modified equipment—such as 19–21 inch racquets, low-compression red balls, and smaller courts—the program ensures that the tennis environment is appropriately scaled to the children's size and abilities.
The Red Stage of the Tennis Hot Shots program is designed for children aged 5 to 9* years and is split into two categories. RED ROCKETS is for ages 5-7, and RED RALLIERS for ages 7-9 years.
To simplify it, most red players who are in their first year out of BLUE STARS will be in RED ROCKETS until they begin to rally more confidently and independently.
Key Features of the Red Stages
Modified Equipment: Children use red balls, which are larger and have 25% compression compared to standard balls, resulting in a slower bounce that's easier to hit. Rackets are appropriately sized (19–23 inches) for small hands, and courts are scaled down to a quarter size with lower nets.
Skill Development: The program emphasises fundamental motor skills, including agility, balance, coordination, and speed. Through activities such as throwing, catching, and striking, children enhance their perceptual motor skills, laying the groundwork for tennis-specific movements.
Game-Based Learning: Sessions are designed to be fun and interactive, using games to teach basic tennis techniques such as tracking the ball, adjusting impact points, and developing swing shapes. This approach fosters a love for the game while building essential skills.
Social and Cognitive Growth: Beyond physical skills, the program supports children's social development by encouraging teamwork, communication, and understanding of rules and boundaries. It also promotes problem-solving and creativity.
By participating in the Red Stage, children gain confidence and foundational skills that prepare them for progression to more advanced stages of the Tennis Hot Shots program.
ORANGE SOCIAL - ORANGE ASPIRING
The Orange Stage of our Tennis Hot Shots program is designed for children aged 8 to 11 years.
Both Orange Social and Orange Aspiring build on the red-stage foundation by using larger courts and modified balls. Orange Social emphasises playful development, confidence, and social interaction—perfect for casual and fun engagement. Orange Aspiring steps it up, prepping kids for real match play with deeper technical work, tactical thinking, and competition readiness.
| Factor | Orange Social | Orange Aspiring |
|---|---|---|
| Age Group | 8–11 years | 8–11 years (match-ready kids) |
| Court & Equipment | ¾ court, 50% ball, 23–25″ racquet | Same |
| Technical Focus | Stroke consistency, full swing | Spin, serve types, shot variation |
| Tactical Training | Basic shot placement, cooperative drills | Court positioning, point construction |
| Competition Style | Informal games, introduction to scoring | Simulated matches, formal scoring rules |
| Mindset & Growth | Social, fun, inclusive | Performance, resilience, sportsmanship |
The Green Stage of our Tennis Hot Shots program is designed for children aged 10 to 14 years.
The Green Machine stage serves as the bridge to traditional tennis, designed for children around 9–12 years old who have mastered the Orange level and are ready for a full-court experience.
| Feature | Green Machine (9–12+ yrs) |
|---|---|
| Court & Ball | Full court, green ball (75% comp), 25–27″ racquet |
| Skill Focus | Serve, spin, shot precision, point-building tactics |
| Play Format | Match simulations, scoring, singles/doubles play |
| Development Goals | Technical refinement, tactical awareness, physical fitness, competition readiness |
Enquiries should be directed to Coach Kari.
Email: thurgoonatenniscoaching@gmail.com or Phone/text: 0431 897 151.
Join the fun! Book Online here. We accept Active Kids Vouchers – but please contact us BEFORE booking online if you plan to use these. Please text Coach Kari OR email us.