Tennis school ŽLTC – children up to 9 years

Our tennis school is attended by over 150 children from the age of 4. They are coached by 5 full-time professional coaches (not students, as is often the case elsewhere). We train according to the official methodology of the Czech Tennis Association.

Children aged 4–7 train on a smaller, so-called mini-tennis court (see picture) with small rackets (recommended length 48–62 cm) and lightweight balls. Mini-tennis is essentially "scaled-down tennis" that allows small children to play and train similarly to how adults play on a standard court. Because the court and equipment are fully adapted to children, they learn tennis skills very quickly and are able to play training exercises and mini-tennis matches with their peers after just a few months of training, which they enjoy much more than hitting balls fed by a coach over a "big" net. Moreover, they gradually begin to acquire basic tactical habits. Children thus practise virtually all strokes and game situations just like adults.

The mini-tennis net height is approximately 85 cm.

In their first year, children typically train once a week, learning both individual tennis strokes and developing their general athletic level (various ball games, basic athletic preparation, speed and coordination training, ball reaction drills). Everything is done in a playful manner with an emphasis on making it fun and enjoyable for the children. Groups have a maximum of four players. After completing this one-year "preparatory course", children begin training twice a week. Tennis skills continue to be reinforced and expanded, and children start trying their first mini-tennis matches during training. Everything is done through games and competitions to keep children motivated and engaged. At the age of 6 and 7, children compete for our mini-tennis teams in the team competition organised by the South Moravian Tennis Association. They also begin participating in their first individual tournaments.

Between the ages of 7 and 8, children transition to a standard court and move into the baby tennis category. This methodically follows on from mini-tennis, but special baby tennis balls and rackets of 64–67 cm are used. It takes roughly half a year before children can play fully on a full-size court. Training takes place 2–3 times a week, and once a week children also undergo essential fitness preparation. The focus remains on group training (2–3 children per group), optionally supplemented by individual training. In this category, we again have several baby tennis teams, and children play an average of 10 tournaments per year. Doubles also become part of both training and competitive matches.

In the year a child turns 10, most children are ready to start competing for national ranking points in the younger cadets category and transition to the Junior Tennis Centre ŽLTC.