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What is
Quick Start?
Quick Start
Tennis is a new format for young tennis players ages 10 and
under. There are two different variations, one for children ages
6-8, and another for children ages 9-10.
USTA is
committing to a new way to introduce young children to the sport
of tennis. European and South American countries have been using
a “short court” for years to introduce players to the game,
modifying not only the court size but also the size of the
racquets and type of balls used to fit the player’s
developmental type. Just as baseball ( or soccer or football or
softball or practically any other youth sport you can think of)
transitions from one stage to another (from t-ball to
coach-pitch to kid-pitch to Little League), so too will tennis
transition in a similar fashion. In the past, we’ve asked our
beginner 8 year olds players to use the same ball and racquet
and to play on the same court using the same scoring and formats
of play as… Roger Federer or Serena Williams! Crazy!
If you’d like
to learn more about Quick Start, follow this link to the USTA’S
pages about the program:
http://consumers.quickstarttennis.com/.
The following
humorous link shows Martina Navratilova and Mary Joe Fernandez
demonstrating the logic for kid-sized courts:
htt://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_-rAEHQmbc&feature=related.
What’s the
format for 8-under players? These youngest players, who have
completed a basic instructional program already, will use a
36-foot court with a lower net, a smaller racquet (no more than
23 inches) and a foam ball. The court formed by setting up four
new courts sideways on one regulation court. Really. It works
beautifully, and set up in just moments
. 
What about
10-under players? Nine and ten year olds will use a 60-foot
court with the regulation net, a smaller racquet (no more than
27 inches), and a low compression ball. The baseline is moved in
9 feet, and the sidelines are also moved in several feet,
creating a smaller court. The lines are down with painters tape
and take about 15 minutes to prepare for play.
How young
can my child start? Six years olds are ready for Quick
Start. If your child is only five but is well-coordinated for
his/her age, contact the JTT Coordinator, Bonnie Smith, to
discuss your individual situation.
Why change
the court size? Players are able to control the equipment
and to enjoy playing tennis almost immediately. Very young
players with little experience can quickly learn to serve, to
rally, to volley, to construct points – instead of chasing balls
that they’ve hit out of the court all lesson long. No longer do
we LEARN TO PLAY tennis - we PLAY TO LEARN the game! Fun!!
What do we
need from parents? We need parents to serve as captains and
others to help keep score, to help set up the courts (lines),
and to keep them focused. Imagine running a t-ball game without
a 3rd base coach, a 1st base coach, a
dugout coach, at least one coach in the outfield – it would be
chaos and no one would learn. Same for this new game – they’re
playing (not taking instruction), so they need some parental
supervision on court.
You will be
amazed by how quickly these very young players are able to rally
and play real tennis – you’ll want a short court for your
driveway, your neighborhood or school soon!
Will these
Quick Start competitors play at State, too? The 10-unders
who are playing on the 60-foot courts WILL be able to compete at
the State tournaments in 2008. the youngsters on the 36-foot
courts will play locally in the spring and fall
I’ve heard
about Quick Start tournaments – is this true? Yes! USTA is
sanctioning one-day tournaments throughout the state of Georgia
for 8-under and 10-under players on these modified courts. Email
Bonnie Smith at
bonnies412@gamil.com for information on how to find these
tournaments. |
