Red ball
Red ball tennis drills and games for kids
Red ball is the first stage of tennis, for children up to about 8. The ball is big and 75% slower than a yellow ball, on a court about 11 metres long, so young players can serve, rally and score from the start. The best red ball games build a rally: catching after a bounce, short rallies over a low net, aiming and an overarm serve.
What is red ball tennis?
Red is the first of the three stages the ITF uses for children aged 10 and under, before orange and green. It is mainly for children up to 8, and older beginners can start here too. Everything is scaled down so the bounce stays at a height children can hit:
| Part | At red |
|---|---|
| Ball | Big and 75% slower than a yellow ball. Foam for indoors, felt for outdoors. |
| Court | 11 to 12 metres long and 5 to 6 metres wide, often set up across a full-size court |
| Net | 80 cm high |
| Racket | Up to 23 inches. Many 5 to 7 year olds suit 19 or 21 inches. |
The ITF's aim for this stage is simple: children should serve, rally and score from their first lessons. Coaches start with building a rally, then add serving, aiming and keeping score.
What you need
- Red balls. Foam ones work indoors; felt ones bounce a little more and suit a garden or driveway.
- A racket that fits. See what size tennis racket does my child need?
- A low net. A rope or skipping rope tied between two chairs, or a chalk line on the ground.
- Markers and a target, such as shoes, cones, a hoop or a towel.
- A grown-up to feed, tossing the ball underarm.
For games your child can play alone in a small space, see 10 tennis drills kids can do at home.
Catching games
Catching after a bounce teaches the timing every rally needs, so it is a good place to start.
- Lobster trap. Toss the ball gently to your child. They let it bounce once, then trap it on the strings with their other hand on top, like a claw. Ten clean traps in a row is a good goal.
- Make them move. Toss the ball a little to the left or right. Your child moves with small side steps, lets it bounce once and catches it, then comes back to the middle. Mix the sides so they cannot guess.
Rally games
- Hoop hits. Put a hoop or towel on the ground a few steps away. Your child drops the ball, lets it bounce and hits it gently so it lands on the target. Count the hits that land and try to beat the score.
- Roll the dice. Stand either side of the rope. Roll a dice, then try to rally that many hits in a row. A six is a real achievement at red.
- Grade school. One hit over the rope passes grade one, two in a row passes grade two, and so on. Your child moves up a grade each time they manage it, and keeps their best grade for next time.
- Left or right. Put a marker on each side of your end. Call "left" or "right" as you feed, and your child aims for that side. The ITF calls this creating space on the court, and it is one of the skills it looks for at red.
Serve games
At red, the ITF suggests serving with a simple overarm throwing action into the service box.
- Target throws. Before any racket, your child throws the ball overarm at a hoop or towel a few metres away. A good throw is the start of a good serve.
- Serve and catch. Your child serves overarm over the rope. You catch it after one bounce and serve back. Count how many serves in a row land, and keep it friendly: this is a rally game, not a contest.
How to run a session
USTA red ball lessons follow a simple shape: a warm-up, a few skill games, then a fun challenge. At home that means three or four games: one catching game, one or two rally games and one serve game. Keep scores and records, start with games where you work together, and add a little competition once rallies come easily. End on the game your child likes best. For how often to play, see how much should a young child practise tennis?
What comes after red?
Orange ball. The ITF suggests most children move from red to orange at about 8 or 9. Before that, it looks for players who can:
- serve consistently into the right service box
- return a second serve into play
- rally consistently and move the ball left and right
- keep score
- play with confidence and enjoyment, and want to move up
Your child's coach will usually make the call. See orange ball tennis drills and games for what comes next, and red, orange and green ball tennis explained for the whole pathway.
Staying safe
- Clear the space and move anything breakable, especially indoors.
- Keep anyone feeding or waiting out of swinging range.
- Use foam balls indoors, and play outdoors away from roads and cars.
More guides
Sources
- ITF Tennis10s: 10 and under tennis manual (the red stage, ball, court and racket sizes, and competencies for moving to orange)
- USTA Net Generation: Red Ball practice plan
This guide is general information for parents, not medical advice. Check with your child's coach or doctor about their own situation.