The first class
Kids arrive, drop the coat, and go straight into warm-up games - running, catching, throwing. Then one skill for the day, taught in short bursts rather than a lecture. Then live rallying and games built on that skill, and a two-minute debrief at the end so parents know what happened.
No lines, no standing around. If your child is hitting a ball inside the first ten minutes, the class is being run correctly.
How beginners are grouped
Age 4: balance, coordination, catching and throwing, short swings with soft low-compression balls on a small court. Tennis-shaped play more than tennis.
Ages 5-6: real rallies with a slower ball, forehand and backhand shape, serving motion, and simple point play.
Ages 7-9: full stroke development, volleys, serves, and competitive games. Ability splits inside the group keep first-timers with first-timers.
Age-specific detail lives on the kids tennis pages.
What ten weeks actually changes
By week three, most beginners can rally a few balls in a row. By week six, they have a serve motion they recognize as their own. By week ten, they are playing points and asking to keep going. That arc only happens if the weeks are consecutive, which is precisely why indoor winter works better than a weather-dependent outdoor season.
What to bring
- Clean non-marking sneakers - boots stay in the bag.
- Layers, not a winter coat. The courts are heated.
- A water bottle.
- A racquet only if you already own one. Loaners are provided otherwise.
Session dates and the weekly timetable are on the winter lessons page.