JUNIOR TENNIS
Sandycove Tennis Club is committed to developing junior players to become the best that they can be. Our junior tennis programme runs all year round, with three main coaching terms aligned with school terms, as well as Easter, Summer & Halloween camps and a junior Christmas party, combining tennis activities and fun, offering something for everyone.
Our ethos is based on inclusivity & sportsmanship where we want everyone to enjoy their tennis, gradually improve to the level they aspire, whether that be purely recreational, playing for league teams and participating in external competitions right up to becoming an elite player.
Our juniors compete in the Leinster and DLTC Junior Leagues and also Stars and Stripes Leagues.
JUNIOR COACHING
Our coaching programme is built around red ball, orange ball and green ball methodologies. We also run fun club afternoons with a competitive element for those that want it through monthly box league mini-tournaments and when they’re ready we encourage our juniors to participate in external Open tournaments.
RED BALL: Girls and Boys aged 6-8yrs
ORANGE BALL: Girls and Boys aged 8-10yrs
GREEN BALL: Girls and Boys aged 9-10-11yrs
YELLOW BALL: Girls and Boys aged 11-18yrs
Our coaches offer continuous motivation to our juniors as well as providing regular feedback to parents to guide them on the right path through the coaching classes, ensuring they are progressing as expected.
In addition to the group coaching and squad sessions additional developmental programmes are in place for the advanced players involving more frequent, intense and personalised training & development.
COACHING PRINCIPLES
A junior tennis training schedule should be age-appropriate, balanced, and fun. For younger kids (9-11), 3-4 hours a week of tennis practice, with a focus on fun and developing basic skills, is recommended. Older juniors (12-14) can gradually increase to 2-3 hours a day, 4-5 times a week, incorporating fitness and more structured training.
- Age-appropriate:
Adjust the intensity and duration of training based on the child’s age and physical development.
- Balance:
Incorporate other sports and activities to prevent burnout and promote overall athleticism.
- Fun:
Make training enjoyable to maintain motivation and foster a love for the sport.
- Consistency:
Regular practice is key for skill development and improvement.
- Rest and Recovery:
Adequate sleep, proper nutrition, and stretching are crucial for muscle growth and injury prevention.
JUNIOR SOCIAL EVENTS
- January Mid term camp
- Spring Camp/ Easter Camp
- Junior Graded Tournament
- Teen Camp June
- Summer programme 7 weeks
Our Summer Programme caters for 7 – 10 year olds from 10am – 1pm and Over 10’s from 2pm – 5pm daily from the last week in June.
Fun tennis games along with free play, supervised tennis and teen camp fill the summer for our juniors.
- Junior Championships
- Halloween Camp and Party
- Christmas Party
COMPETITIONS
- Junior League u10, u12, u14, u16, u18
- Stars and Stripes U12 & U14