i9 Sports® is rolling out youth tennis programs in select locations for Spring 2023. Tennis is soaring in popularity for both adults and kids, and we look forward to making it more accessible to young players.
“I am thrilled to see the phenomenal growth the sport has experienced over the last three years,” said Craig Morris, United States Tennis Association’s (USTA) Chief Executive of Community Tennis.
Tennis offers so much to children beyond just the physical benefits of exercise. It expands to coordination and mental benefits like focus and discipline as well.
“Research has shown that playing tennis can have numerous health benefits, such as improving cardiovascular fitness, increasing muscle strength and flexibility, and reducing stress,” Morris continued. “In addition, tennis has been found to positively impact longevity, with studies showing that regular tennis players have a lower risk of death from all causes compared to non-players.”
Just like our other sports programs, our tennis leagues are based on fun age-appropriate instruction. Modeled after the USTA’s Net Generation program that introduces players to the sport with age-appropriate techniques and equipment, we provide three different levels of play.
Though different color tennis balls make the sport a bit more fun, that’s not their only purpose. The red balls are actually smaller than a regulation tennis ball. They bounce lower and move slower in the air, making them perfect for beginners of any age. The orange balls bounce a bit higher and move a bit faster, but are the same size as regulation tennis balls. And lastly, the green balls are the closest you can get to the well-known yellow tennis ball with the only difference being a slight reduction in bounce. These different levels are meant to aid in a smooth transition from beginner all the way to regulation play.
Find a tennis program near you today! Don’t see tennis in your area yet? Sign up to become a member of your local i9 Sports® league so you are the first to know when it’s available in your location.