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Tennis pathway · for parents
Six stages, each answering five things: where you are, what you are probably worried about, what to watch for, what you may have to choose, and what to do now.
About Tennis
Tennis is an individual Olympic sport that develops fitness, coordination, agility, discipline and the ability to make decisions independently.
It can be enjoyed as a lifelong recreational sport or pursued through a competitive pathway, from local tournaments to national and international competition.
For committed players, tennis can also open doors to college tennis, international opportunities and potentially a professional career.
Is tennis right for my child?
Typical age
Age 4–7
What this stage means and what matters in it.
Your child is getting to know tennis and deciding whether they enjoy it. The focus is on having fun, learning basic tennis and movement skills, and building a positive experience without pressure to perform.
The answers parents ask for most at this stage.
Tennis can be a good fit if your child enjoys active play, is happy to try simple challenges and responds positively to learning through games. At this age, the goal is to develop basic movement and coordination while building a love for the sport.
Start with a red ball on a 36-foot court, using a 19–21-inch junior racket. As your child develops, progress to orange balls on a 60-foot court, typically using a 23–25-inch racket.
Focus on familiarity, basic movement, coordination, racket skills and enjoyment. Don't worry about performance at this stage.
Start with 3-4 sessions a week, depending on your child’s age, interest and schedule. At this stage, regular and enjoyable practice is more important than intensive training.
Start with a properly sized junior racket ((typically 19–21" at ages 4–6), non-marking tennis shoes, comfortable sportswear and low-compression balls designed for beginners. The racket size and ball type should match your child’s age and playing level. Avoid buying expensive equipment initially.
A good coach should keep your child actively engaged, adapt activities to their age and ability, teach fundamental movement and tennis skills, and provide positive, constructive feedback in a supportive environment.
Look for whether your child looks forward to tennis, wants to play, enjoys learning and keeps trying when things are difficult.
Yes. At 5–7, children can benefit from exploring multiple sports. Tennis doesn't have to be the only sport; the goal is to discover what your child enjoys and where they want to develop.
In your child, the coach and the environment.
The child should look forward to playing and willingly return to the next session. Enjoyment is one of the strongest early signals that tennis may be a good fit.
Look for improvements in balance, coordination, agility, hand-eye coordination and basic racket skills. At this stage, improvement matters more than technical perfection.
The child should feel comfortable with the coach and enjoy the training environment. A patient, encouraging and age-appropriate approach is more important than intensity at this stage.
Notice whether the child wants to pick up a racket, play with family or friends, practise skills or watch tennis outside formal sessions. Self-driven interest is a strong signal of emerging engagement.
Look for willingness to try again after missing a shot or making a mistake. Learning to accept mistakes, stay engaged and try again is more important than winning at this stage.
Choices this stage may put in front of you.
Choose a coach and academy that are appropriate for the child's age and beginner level, with a safe, positive and engaging environment. At this stage, the quality of the child's experience matters more than the reputation of the academy.
Introduce competition gradually when the child understands the basics, enjoys playing and can handle simple wins, losses and mistakes. Start with fun, low-pressure formats before moving towards formal competitive tennis.
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Ask it in the community. Parents who have been through this stage answer there.
6 stages
From First Racket to What Comes After
5 questions
Answered the Same Way at Every Stage
Built with coaches
Written with Experts and Sports Parents
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Once your child starts competing, someone else's rules decide what they can enter and when. These are the organisations that set them: age categories, registration order, and the official calendar the season is built from.
The All India Tennis Association (AITA) is the national governing body for tennis in India, recognised by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and the Olympic Committee of India. Founded in 1920, AITA administers all competitive tennis in India — from junior grassroots tournaments to the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup national teams. All competitive players must be registered with their state tennis association, which is affiliated to AITA, before they can participate in any AITA-sanctioned event.
The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) is the governing body for men's professional tennis, founded in 1972. It administers the ATP Tour (Grand Slams, ATP Masters 1000, ATP 500, ATP 250) and the ATP Challenger Tour — the second tier of men's professional tennis, one level below the ATP Tour. The ATP Challenger Tour is the most direct development pathway for players ranked ~100–500 ATP to earn points toward breaking into the ATP Top 100 and competing on the main Tour.
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) is the world governing body for tennis, founded in 1913. It administers the Davis Cup (men's national team competition), the Billie Jean King Cup (women's), the ITF Junior Circuit (Grade 5 through Grade A), the ITF World Tennis Tour (professional development circuit with M15/M25/W15/W25 categories), and tennis at the Olympic and Paralympic Games. India is represented in the ITF through AITA, which is the ITF member association for India.
Universal Tennis (UTR) is a technology company founded in 2008 that operates the Universal Tennis Rating (UTR) system — an algorithmic, dynamic rating (scale 1.00–16.50) calculated from any match result, regardless of tournament type. UTR also operates the UTR Pro Tennis Series, a global network of prize-money events open to all players. In India, UTR events provide an accessible, ranking-free pathway to competitive tennis and a globally comparable skill benchmark.