Mini Tennis for Children
Red ball, 8yrs & under – smaller court – numerical scoring 1,2,3 etc
Orange ball, 9yrs & under ” ” ” ” ”
Green ball, 10yrs & under use whole court & conventional scoring 15, 30, 40 etc
Foam balls for indoors. Heavier felt balls for outdoors.
Mini tennis is a great introduction to the sport for young children between 4 and 10 years old. It’s just like the real thing, but with a smaller court, lower net and lower bouncing balls.

Levels of mini tennis
There are three levels of mini tennis – Red, Orange and Green, each with its own court size and type of ball. This tailored approach, based on age and physical maturity enable players to develop vital skills and techniques at an early age.
The low-compression balls used in mini-tennis are now being used in many countries to introduce adult beginners to the sport. The slower and lower bouncing balls make it far easier to learn the game.
Once a young player starts playing in tournaments their results go towards increasing their mini-tennis rating. This is used to determine a player’s level and assists with entry into higher levels of competition as a player improve.
RED BALL – 8 years and under
Red ball is a great way for players to start out in tennis and is for players aged 8 and under. It is played on a smaller court with a shorter racket and softer balls. It is just like the real game and gives players the opportunity to have long rallies and play different types of shots.
What age is red ball mini tennis aimed at?
Red ball mini tennis is for players aged 8 and under.
What ball is used?
A red sponge ball is used indoors and a red felt ball is used outdoors.
What size court is red ball played on?
A court with dimensions 11m X 5.5m.
A badminton court is also suitable.
What height is the net?
The net is 80cm (31”) at the center.
What racket is best to use?
A shorter racket – 43cm – 58cm (17”- 23”)
ORANGE BALL – 9 years and under
Orange ball is a great way for younger players to continue their progress from the red ball and is for players aged 9 years and under.
It is played on a slightly larger court than red ball, with a bigger racket and balls that are not as soft as red balls. It’s the next stage to go through before you start playing on a full-sized court and it will help players develop all the different shots, providing fun competition.
What age is orange ball mini tennis aimed at?
Orange ball mini tennis is for players aged 9 and under.
What ball is used?
An orange ball is used. It has a low compression that makes it bounce lower – this gives the player better control at an important stage of their development.
What size court is orange ball played on?
Orange ball is played on a singles court 18m X 6.5m and a doubles court
18m X 8.23m (the full width of a singles court).
What height is the net?
The net is 80cm (31”) at the center.
What racket is best to use?
A racket 58cm – 63cm (23” – 25”).
GREEN BALL – 10 years and under.
Green ball is a great way for players to continue their progress from orange ball mini tennis. It is played on a full-size tennis court, with bigger rackets and balls that are a little softer than yellow balls.
It is the next stage to go through before you start playing with a full-compression yellow ball on a full-size court and it will help players work on and improve all aspects of their game.
What age is green ball mini tennis aimed at?
Green ball mini tennis is for players aged 10 and under.
What ball is used?
A green ball is used, which is ideal for players moving from the orange ball.
What size court is a green ball played on?
The green ball is played on a full-size tennis court for singles and doubles.
What height is the net?
The net is at full height – 91cm (36”).
What racket is best to use?
A bigger racket 63cm – 66cm (25” – 26”).
Recommended Products for Mini-tennis Champions!
https://amzn.to/3YbzrtQ – The best quality mini-tennis net that will weather all storms and has been the most durable one I have tested yet.