The ITF recommend that players aged 10 and under do not train or play competition with a regular yellow ball on a full court, but instead train and compete with a Red,  Orange or Green ball on the appropriate sized court.

Using these slower balls will help players to develop the most efficient technique, and to implement advanced tactics, that in most cases could not be performed using the yellow ball on the full court.

Tennis 10s is part of the ITF’s ‘Tennis…Play and Stay’ campaign, visit tennisplayandstay.com

Formats and Scoring Systems

The following scoring systems are included in the Rules of Tennis, to tailor competitions to the needs of 10 and under players:

-1 match tiebreak to 7 or 10

-Best of 3 match tiebreaks to 7

-1 short set (1st to 4 games)  

-Best of 3 short sets (1st to 4 games)

-Tiebreak instead of a 3rd set

-No ad scoring (play 1 game point at deuce)

-A combination of these

Instead of using single elimination formats, multi-match formats and ‘tennis festivals’ are recommended, which involve all players playing more than one match (e.g. round robin, compass draw), to ensure that all children play the same number of matches. Timed matches can help with effective organisation and rotation.

Team based matches are strongly recommended for 10 and under players, especially at Red and Orange.

Download free competition formats at tennisplayandstay.com/competitions

Tennis Ireland Policy for U8, U9 and U10 Competitions

From January of 2008 Tennis Ireland have implemented the following policies in regards to the running of Under 8, Under 9 and Under 10 competitions.

All Under 8, Under 9 and Uder 10 competitions are to be played:

1). On a modified court - Mini for Under 8’s, Midi for Under 9’s & Full Court for Under 10’s. For Competitions organized in 2011, children need to be born 2003 for Under 8, 2002 for Under 9 and 2001 for Under 10.

2). With modified rackets appropriate to the height of the child.

3). With modified ball density - Red spot for Mini - Orange spot for Midi – Green spot for Under 10s full court.

4). With a competition format that allows multi matches – Round Robin – World Cup – Feed in and Play back draws etc.

5). With a modified scoring system – Best of 3 tie breaks for Mini Tennis (each tie break up to 10 points). Short sets commencing at 2 games all and first to six games, first point after deuce, Tie Breaker in the 3^rd set for Midi and Full Court Tennis. (Modified scoring systems are now part of the ITFs ammended rules of tennis)

 

Please note: Due to time constraints Competition Organizers may feel the need to reduce the games played further. For example in the early stages of a Round Robin event, the organizers may decide to play one short set with first to six games starting from two games all and first point after deuce to decide a match result.