Classes Offered

HCCTA offers classes for all ages (pre-K to Adult) and abilities. We offer Pre-K to K, Red Ball (Grades 1-3), Orange Ball (Grades 4-6), Real Ball (Grades 6-12), and Adult Classes. Class grade levels are suggestive only. Some kids that have been playing for a while have moved up to the next grade level class. If your child is new to the sport or has not been playing for over a year your child should play in the suggested class for their grade. Pre-K, Red, and Orange ball classes use lower compression balls and smaller sized courts per USTA standards. Real Ball and Adult classes use full size courts and regular tennis balls.

When you register you will need to know (1) the class you want to register for (see class descriptions) and (2) you or your child’s playing ability (see playing ability description).

CLASS DESCRIPTIONS

Pre-K to K: 30 minute classes, half court & red lower compression balls. Some kindergartners may be better suited for the one hour red ball class. The determining factor is if your child can focus and follow directions for an hour. Pre-k to K is all beginner players.

Red and Orange Ball classes have all level of players: beginner, intermediate, and advanced players. When you register you will select your child’s playing ability based on the description that your child fits (playing ability descriptions are given in the registration form). with other kids with similar playing ability.

  • Red Ball (Grades 1-3): Hour long classes, half court & red lower compression balls. Typically for grades 1-3, if your child is in Kindergarten and can handle an hour of instruction and follow directions they are welcome to play in this class.
  • Orange Ball (Grades 4-6): hour long class, three-fourths of the court & orange lower compression balls.

Real Ball Classes

  • Real Ball Beginner (Grades 6/7-12): For first time players or players that are new to the sport. Kids in this class will learn and refine the fundamentals. When players are ready, rallying and point play will be introduced. Lower compression balls may be used in Beginner Real Ball classes.
  • Real Ball Intermediate (Grades 6/7-12): Players know all their strokes and have proper form. If your child does not know all their strokes and still needs work on their form, they are beginner level. Players understand the concept of rallying and playing points.
  • Real Ball Advanced Level (Grades 6/7-12): For players that know all the fundamentals, and have started to play out points. Players in this class are expected to be able to rally back and forth 3-5 times (ground strokes and volleys) and get 50% of their serves in. Point play (with serves and coaches feeding) will be the focus of this class.
  • Real Ball Competitive Level (Grades 6/7-12): For players that play competitive tennis regularly. Players know and have mastered all the fundamentals, can hit 10-20 balls in consistently (ground strokes and volleys) and get 75% of their serves in. Strategy for match play will be the focus of this class. Most of the class is point and match play. Kids in Grades 5-6 are welcome to play in this class if they meet the above description and get approval from Maggie Petersen – hcctatennis@gmail.com.

Adult Classes: Any adult wanting to learn to play tennis. We have beginners to 4.5 players.

    • Instruction Clinic: Class will focus on learning the proper fundamentals: forehands, backhands, volleys, overheads and serves. Players will learn how to properly move to the ball. Clinic will focus on coach fed drills and when players are ready point play will be incorporated to improve upon skills learned.
    • Point Play Clinic 3.0 & Below Players: Point play (coach fed) drills. If you do not meet the 3.5 to 4.5 player requirements or are looking for slower paced drills, then you should play in the 3.0 & Below class.
    • Point Play Clinic 3.5 to 4.5 Players: Fast-paced point play (coach fed) drills. Players in this class can successfully hit all tennis strokes, sustain a 15 point rally, control the direction of the ball on all strokes, knows proper court positioning and recovery, and can anticipate speed, depth/location of shots.

PLAYING ABILITY DESCRIPTIONS

Beginner – Has taken 0–5 tennis classes. Cannot rally back and forth. Does not know how to start in ready position and determine if they should hit a forehand or backhand. Still needs work on their form and hand position on their racquet. Cannot run to the ball and consistently hit it over the net.
NOTE: Even if your child has taken a few clinics, they may still be at the beginner level.

Intermediate – Knows their forehands and backhand ground strokes and volleys, and has proper swings without help from an instructor. Places hands properly on the racquet (dominant hand on the bottom). Knows how to start in ready position and can determine if they are supposed to hit a forehand or backhand. Has been working on running to the ball but still needs more work on this. Has started to learn serving but still needs to work on it, and cannot hit their serves in consistently. Has started to learn how to rally back and forth but is unable to hit the ball consistently over the net.

Advanced – Can hit the ball consistently back and forth. Can maintain a 5 to 10 ball rally. Can rally and play matches using one bounce. Knows volleys, groundstrokes and serves and can hit all of them consistently. Knows how to serve consistently. Can keep score using love, 15, 30, and 40.

Competitive – Have been playing singles and doubles matches regularly for more than 2 years. Plays varsity on their junior high team or plays on their high school team. Are able to rally back and forth 20 times or more. If your child plays on their school team but is not able to rally back and forth 20 times or more they should remain at the advanced level.

Hamilton County Community Tennis Association