TENNIS HOTSHOTS
Tennis Hot Shots is the national starter tennis programme for New Zealand children. With hundreds of venues nationwide, it’s easy to start playing!
Tennis Hot Shots is just for kids. Smaller courts, shorter racquets and softer balls mean that kids can play a proper game of tennis from the moment they step on court.
Tennis is all about serving, rallying and scoring. Tennis Hot Shots helps make this easier for kids because of the smaller courts, slower balls and shorter racquets. Sessions are made up of tactical, technical, fun and social elements which create developmental readiness in children.
PROGRAMMES
5-8 YEARS — 45 MINUTES — 1/2 COURT
Hot Shots Red is a beginner level tennis programme for 5-8-year-old children. Children play with larger, low compression balls and a modified court to allow them to develop their tennis skills properly. The focus is on fun and learning so they have all the tools they need to keep playing and enjoying tennis in the future. During the programme players will learn:
- Movement in different directions, stopping and balancing
- Proper contact and simple control of the ball
- Rally skills learnt through throwing, hitting, and catching
- Basic stroke shapes – forehand, backhand, volley, with control of the ball
- Group structure and game-based learning
- Co-ordinated running, jumping, and hopping
- Simple grips and contact points
- Introduction of the serve
- Rallying over a short distance
- How to win a point and where to stand
Court size: 3 m × 8.23 or 6 m × 10.97 m
Tennis ball: red ball (25% compression)
Recommended racquet size: 21–23 inches
8-10 YEARS — 45 MINUTES — 3/4 COURT
Hot Shots Orange is a beginner-intermediate level tennis programme for children aged 8-10-years-old. Children play with medium compression tennis balls, bouncing lower and move slower to allow them to have longer rallies. Children learn a variety of skills:
- Quick and efficient movement
- Co-ordinated rotation and use of both arms
- Effective swing shapes including the use of spin
- Rallying from the baseline, including cross court
- Serving on balance with a consistent act on and higher contact point
- Specific and adapted footwork patterns
- Refined stroke shapes including the use of spin
- Changing the stroke to direct the ball and hit to different areas of the court
- Better throwing action and grip on the serve
- Tactical awareness of the opponent
Court size: 6.4 m × 18.29 m
Tennis ball: orange ball (50% compression)
9-11 YEARS — 60 MINUTES — FULL COURT
Hot Shots Green is an intermediate-advanced level tennis programme for children aged 9-11-years-old. Children focus on developing the following skills:
- Basic to excellent movement to, from and around the ball
- Coordinated use of all parts of the body
- Basic to adapted stances
- Basic full-court strategy and tactics
- Consistency in strokes and rally
- Refining serve technique including the introduction of the 2nd serve
- Strokes based upon intended shot and changing the flight, spin, and speed of the ball
Court size: 10.97 m × 23.78 m (full court)
Tennis ball: green ball (75% compression)
Recommended racquet size: 25–27 inches
YELLOW
12+ YEARS — 60 MINUTES — FULL COURT
Super Shots is the next step up from the Hot Shots programme, using the standard yellow ball it is an intermediate-advanced tennis programme for children aged 12+. Players are exposed to a full range of technical and tactical possibilities while encouraged to develop their own play style and game plan. Everything is relevant to match play situations and gives them a setting to push the limits of what they can do. Players will refine their skills with the focus on:
- Excellent movement to, from and around the ball
- Coordinated use of all parts of the body
- All strokes covered – forehand, backhand, volley, serve
- Game etiquette with basic singles and doubles strategy
- Game based point play and working in teams or partner activity
Court size: 10.97 m × 23.78 m (full court)
Tennis ball: yellow ball (100% compression)
Recommended racquet size: 27 inches