Gloucestershire Tennis | Starting Tennis

Get into tennis with the LTA Youth Programme

Never held a racket? No problem, our specially trained LTA Youth coaches will adapt to each individual, to help bring out their best in a safe, secure environment. All kids need to bring is their creative energy, because the programme is designed to grow as they do. Smaller courts and softer balls develop into the real deal as they pick up all the skills and know-how they need.

We run courses for children aged 4-18, packed full of fun games and dynamic training. We want kids to bring all their energy to tennis; no 'quiet please' needed here.

LTA Youth Start

Who's ready to Level Up? LTA Youth Start is for kids aged 4-11 years who are new to tennis. We'll help teach kids new life skills, developing them as both players and people.

This is a modern approach to tennis training. Forget standing around waiting for your turn to hit a forehand. Think dynamic sessions catered for all abilities.

We want to encourage children to play tennis throughout their lives – and be active too. So, if your child is aged 4-11, why not give it a try?

£29.99 (+£5 P&P) gets you:

Six top-class tennis sessions with specially trained coaches
A tennis racket and set of balls
A branded t-shirt
Activity cards, a lanyard, stickers and a certificate (provided by the coach)

Click the below image to be directed to the LTA site where you can search and book a course near you!

LTA Youth Programme

Specialist coaches will make sure every child has the best start to their tennis journey in a safe and inclusive environment. Sessions cater to all abilities, so no one gets left behind. Explore the different Youth stages below.

Key points:

Although we've assigned ages to each stage, this is just a guide
We understand kids want to play in groups and with their friends, so whatever stage they start at, all kids will see progression
In every LTA Youth stage, kids will be active, having fun and developing skills!

Blue Stage (Age 4-6) - Learn the basics

This is an introduction to tennis. Here, we’ll help kids improve their balance, agility and co-ordination while teaching them about the sport we love. At this stage it’s not about winning or losing, it’s just getting to grips with the basics.

Red Stage (Age 6-8) - Serve, rally and score

This will look a bit more like the tennis you know. You’ll see overarm serves, rallies and volleys. Coaches will help children to further develop their co-ordination, balance and speed. We’ll introduce relaxed competition here too.

Orange Stage (Age 8-9) - Develop a rounded game

Time to throw in some tactics, problem-solving, and guides to sportsmanship and leadership. At this stage children will know all of the rules and will be serving and returning in matches.

Green Stage (Age 9-10) - Test your skills

This is the big one. It’s time for kids to play on full size courts. Now it’s all about growing their game by ﬁne tuning and reﬁning the techniques they’ve learned so far.

Yellow Stage (Age 10+) - Take your skills further

Time to find your game. Playing on a full size court with the same size balls the pros use, kids will continue to explore different styles on the court, and start to choose their own.