A young girl in a white tank top and white shorts takes a one-handed forehand swing with a tennis racquet at a lofted tennis ball on an outdoor tennis court.

Junior Tennis

Life Time is building the next generation of tennis players. SMART℠ tennis was created to give every child interested in tennis a pathway to succeed — on the court and in life.

Stage of development. Maturity level. Athletic development. Repetition and practice. Tournaments. That’s SMART tennis for juniors.

New SMART sessions begin every three months. Winter session starts in January, Spring in March/April, Summer in May/June and Fall starts in August/September. Check with your club for specific dates and times.

SMART Levels of Progressive Training

Illustration of a red tennis ball

Red Ball

For ages 3 to 7, children learn the basic elements of tennis through partner-based activities to develop hand/eye coordination and motor skills. Red balls bounce low and slow, so they’re easier for smaller kids to hit.

Illustration of an orange tennis ball

Orange Ball

For 7-to 10-year-olds starting to refine their technical mechanics, children focus on racquet-head speed, serve and return and transition to net. Basic strategies and tactics for singles and doubles are introduced.

Illustration of a green tennis ball

Green Ball

For 10- to 12-year-old kids who are able to maintain a consistent rally on a full court, players will continue to refine the technical, tactical and physical foundation established in earlier stages.

Advanced Player Progressive Training (Yellow Ball)

Development

For ages 12 to 18, players in the initial levels of Development will work on refining their stroke mechanics. As players advance, a larger array of shots and techniques will be addressed, with a particular focus on match play strategies.

A girl with long blond hair wearing a white t shirt stands on an outdoor tennis court and smiles.
A girl in white tennis shorts stands in the ready position and holds a tennis racquet on an outdoor tennis court.

Performance

Juniors competing at high school, district and/or sectional levels will sharpen their strategic advantages through drills, competitive match play and intense physical training. Identifying and developing a style of play and understanding match flow are reinforced through situational drills. Active tournament play is required. 

Private Lessons

To prepare for a tournament, focus on a particular stroke or work on mental strategies, you can always schedule a private, semi-private or private group lesson for your child with their favorite tennis pro.

A young boy in a white t-shirt and gray shorts holds a tennis racquet and smiles at an adult tennis coach in black tennis shorts who is holding two tennis balls in one hand.

Session Start Dates for Lakeville

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