Hot Shots
Tennis
Tennis Australia #1 program for children aged 3-9+ years old.
What you’ll get out of it
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Develop fundamental skills for a sound tennis foundation
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Enjoy active playing and learn tennis while having fun with others
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Progressively develop until ready for full-scale tennis activities
3 - 5
Court Size
Players per group maximum
Lesson duration
No official court size
Age range
Red Balls
17” - 23”
75% slower than yellow balls
Recommended racquet size
30 Mins
5
The Blue Launch Pad stage is a gentle, fun introduction to tennis that lays the athletic foundation for everything that follows. The primary focus is on developing fundamental movement and perceptual motor skills — agility, balance, coordination and speed (ABC’S) — through activities like throwing, catching, striking and moving in multiple directions. These skills cross over naturally into other sports, giving children a head start in their broader athletic development. We suggest enrolling you child as soon as they begin Kindergarten.
After two terms, you can expect a marked improvement in your child's movement and ability to hit the ball. More experienced Blue Launch Pad players will begin hitting on the move and learning the basics of a serve. Above all, children will love every step of the journey, developing confidence, social skills, creativity and a natural love of the game.
5
45 Mins
Players per group maximum
Lesson duration
¼ Court
5 - 7
Played sideways across the court
Age range
Red Balls
21” - 23”
75% slower than yellow balls
Recommended racquet size
The Red stage is an introduction to tennis designed to give children their first taste of the game. While still developing fundamental movement and perceptual motor skills, the focus is on fun, foundational growth and getting children playing as quickly as possible.
Children learn to track the ball, adapt their impact point when moving, link their arms and body on groundstrokes, develop swing shapes, serve with an overhead throwing action, and direct the ball. During this stage low compression, oversized foam balls that are softer and slower than a standard tennis ball are used. This gives children the chance to experience real rallies and point play from day one. A written theme program runs throughout each session, tailored to the age, experience and standard of each group.
5
45 Mins
Players per group maximum
Lesson duration
¾ Court
7 - 9
Shortened baseline at each end
Age range
Orange Balls
23” - 25”
50% slower than yellow balls
Recommended racquet size
The Orange stage marks an important step in a player's development, the transition toward full court tennis. Having progressed from Red stage, players can now rally with a partner and are ready to develop a complete repertoire of shots, tactics and technique on a ¾ sized court using lower compression balls at 50% the speed of a standard ball.
The key focus at this stage is developing the same tactical understanding as full court tennis while continuing to build solid biomechanics and technique. Full tennis rules apply, giving players a genuine competition experience as they work toward graduation to the Green stage. This transition typically occurs between 9 and 10 years of age, though every player develops at their own pace. Some highly skilled players may move up at 8, while others make the transition at 11. Players graduate to Green stage once they have a full range of skills at the ¾ court.
5
45 Mins
Players per group maximum
Lesson duration
Full Court
9 +
Standard court size
Age range
Green Balls
25” - 27”
25% slower than yellow balls
Recommended racquet size
The Green stage is the final step in the modified tennis program and the critical bridge into full court tennis. Players have progressed from Orange stage and are now ready to develop all aspects of their game on a full sized court using transitional balls at 75% the speed of a standard ball, designed to enhance consistency, control and the continued development of proper technique.
The focus at this stage is building a complete skill and knowledge base that prepares players for the transition to regular tennis. For less experienced players, the emphasis remains on solid foundational technique, while more advanced players progress into topspin, and contending with different ball manipulations — spin, height, depth and pace. Fun remains an important part of the program, but the primary aim is readiness for the next stage.
Graduation to full court tennis with regular balls typically occurs at around 11 years of age for players who have progressed through the full modified system, though highly skilled players may make the transition as early as 9 to 10. Ages are guidelines only, the modified program is flexible enough to move children through progressions faster or slower based purely on ability and what suits each individual player.
What comes Next?
The natural next step in the WCTA journey is junior group lessons. Full court, regular balls, and the complete game awaits.
World Class Tennis Academy is an official provider of the Tennis Australia Hot Shots Program, which has incorporated the modified tennis system into its national framework.