Green | FIT Tenis

Green level

Players of age 10-12, play with softer green balls, a great way to progress from the Orange level. This level has two sub-levels called Green 1 and Green 2.

Program in numbers

10-12

That's the recommended age for this stage.

3

3 main parts:

Warm-up, Racket skills+tennis drills, and games.

4

A coach should be able to handle up to 4-6 kids.

In green level 2, it should not be more than 4 kids per court.

60-90

The class duration should be 60-90 minutes.

GREEN 1

Learning to play

The objective for this level is to keep focusing on developing fundamental movement while improving tennis skills. It includes receiving and tracking skills of the player, introduction of different kinds of grips and spins, and how and when to use them. Kids are taught footwork, overhead 1st and 2nd serve, and complete tennis rules, including correct counting and some values necessary to enjoy the game of tennis. By playing a lot of tennis drills and tennis games they will work on consistency (keeping the ball in play) and on tactics (how and where to place the ball).

Criteria

basic coordination and movement skills already developed

basic understanding of topspin forehand, backhand

basic understanding of serve and volley

be able to rally with the coach up to 20 times over the net

some understanding of footwork patterns

good behavior - respect for the coach and the other players, appreciation for own material stuff and material provided by the tennis club

tennis equipment - tennis shoes, tennis clothing, racket, beverage

Material

Same as in programs Active start, Red level, and Orange level, we still recommend using as varied equipment as possible. The material should include equipment used for the development of technique and tennis skills but also of coordination, agility, speed, strength, and flexibility. The pressure should not be put too much on competition, rather on fun and games. Since at this level the children might have different tennis skills, it is important to adapt the size of the material to the player’s abilities.

We recommend using low pressured green balls, agility ladder, cones, lines, circles, mini net, targets, and more.

Structure of the lesson

We recommend splitting the lesson into 4 different parts so players can work on all important aspects of the game in every lesson. In this age group, there should be included some fitness exercises during the drilling part of the lesson, in order to improve footwork, agility, and coordination. It is also important precaution against possible future sport-related medical conditions.

Each lesson should consist of:

WARM-UP - active and passive movements with the involvement of all body parts, in order to prevent injury
FUNDAMENTAL MOVEMENT SKILLS
- Locomotor skills - running, jumping, hopping, galloping, rolling, leaping and dodging, horizontal jump, slide.
- Manipulative skills - throwing, catching, kicking, striking and trapping, dribble, overhand throw, and underhand roll
- Stability skills - balance, twisting, turning, and bending
RACKET SKILLS AND DRILLS
- Ball eye coordination exercises, racket and ball exercises
- Volley, smash, forehand, and backhand drills
- Overhead serve 1st and 2nd
- Basic fitness exercises
TENNIS AND GAMES
- Focus on consistency, rules, and points
- Variations of games while having FUN

Example of time split of the lesson:

What will kids learn?

The positioning of the body to receive-tracking
Increase range, consistency, control, and accuracy of sports skills
To use a range of skills with increasing control
Improvement of speed and direction changing
Range of techniques when passing a ball
Continental grip and how to use it
Overhead serve crosscourt
2 different grips
Simple tactics and strategies
Complete rules of tennis
Ability to participate in tournaments of their age category
To start understanding these values:

Our recommendation!

QUANTITY OVER QUALITY

Practice on your own outside of the organized training. Great improvement can also be achieved through private lessons, where the player receives individual attention so there is more time for a more detailed explanation of proper technique and correction of possible mistakes. In order to advance the mental strength and gain the needed experience, we suggest participating in under 8 local tournaments. In short, play as much as possible and do not put too much pressure on perfect technique.

GREEN 2

Learning to compete

At this level, the player keeps developing fundamental sport skills and learn to be dynamic, attentive, and alert. The special emphasis is placed on performing those skills under a variety of competitive conditions during training. We work on technical parts like a separation of the upper body and lower body, according to the stance used. The technical training is focused on learning to position the racket lower, in order to spin and produce a bigger acceleration, by arm and wrist action. Further, the children develop a good understanding of the difference between 1st and 2nd serve and how to use them, follow through according to the spin applied and tactical objective. This green tennis program includes tennis fitness, where the players work on their strength, agility, flexibility, and speed necessary for further tennis development. We also present strategies and tactics of double.

Criteria

dedication

discipline

determination

responsibility

developed movement and sport skills

good understanding of topspin forehand, backhand, and slice

good understanding of serve and volley

be able to rally with the coach over 100+ times over the net

understanding of footwork patterns, stances

participate in club and local tournaments and national tournaments

playing on their own

good behavior - respect for the coach and the other players, appreciation for own material stuff and material provided by the tennis club

tennis equipment - tennis shoes, tennis clothing, racket, beverage

Material

The material should include equipment used for the development of technique and tennis skills but also for the development of coordination, agility, speed, strength, and flexibility. We recommend using less equipment when the focus is on proper technique, but a larger variety of material when focusing on placement of the ball.

We suggest using low pressured green dot balls, agility ladder, cones, gym material, targets, lines, circles, and more.

Structure of the lesson

The lesson should consist of 3 main parts:

Players of this level should practice 4-6 hours a week, fitness included. We recommend focusing on one particular goal (e. g. forehand topspin, volley approach, baseline consistency) every lesson.

WARM-UP - active and passive movements with the involvement of all body parts, in order to prevent injury
MOVEMENT SKILLS, DRILLS, AND TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENT
- Locomotor skills - running, jumping, hopping, galloping, rolling, leaping and dodging, horizontal jump, slide.
- Stability skills - balance, twisting, turning, and bending
- Volley, smash, forehand, and backhand drills including footwork and different types of stance
- Flat, slice, topspin with accuracy
- Serve and return practice focusing on correct technique and the difference between the 1st and 2nd serve
TENNIS, GAMES AND STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT
- Tennis games – consistency and points

Example of time split of the lesson:

What will kids learn?

Good understanding of footwork
Open, semi-open, and closed stance
Consistency and accuracy
Different kinds of serves like flat, topspin and slice
Different kinds of strokes and spin
Improvement of speed, power, agility and flexibility
Different strategies and tactics
Complete rules of tennis
The ability to participate on different regional, national and international tournaments of their age
To understand the values needed to succeed:

Our recommendation!

Players on this level should be interested in tennis not only on the court but also outside of it. Therefore, they should follow ATP/WTA tour or older tennis players. The coach should provide exercises for daily home workouts (stretching, fitness, footwork). Private lessons and participation in tournaments are necessary. One thing to be careful of, less is sometimes more. Which means too many tennis trainings might be contra productive. The children at this level should do also other sports beside tennis. We cannot forget about socialization too, so group practice is very important.