Junior Clinics
Our junior program builds solid fundamentals, promotes sportsmanship, and fosters a love for tennis at every stage — from a child's very first racket to competitive play.
This fall, every level has clear goals, written skill benchmarks, and a real way to compete. Coaches assess your child in their first week and again at the end of each session, and you receive a written progress card showing how far they have come and what comes next. Our session lengths and age groups follow USTA Net Generation guidelines, the national standard for developing young players.
And we run all year. While other clubs in the Lakes Region close for the winter, your child keeps improving.
How it works
The levels
Foam ball, mini court, short racket. Balance, agility and hand-eye coordination through games — plus taking turns, following a coach, and staying with it for half an hour.
A drop-off session. Parents don't come on court — it helps the little ones settle and listen to their coach. You're very welcome to watch from the lounge.
Red ball — 75% slower than a regular ball — on a 36-foot court. Grip, consistent contact on both sides, ready position, the underhand serve, and how to keep score. Level 1 runs an hour; Level 2 runs 90 minutes for players ready for more.
Orange ball on a 60-foot court. Full swings with control, hitting crosscourt and down the line on purpose, the overhand serve, returning serve, and the first real volleys. This is where children start playing actual matches.
Green ball on the full court. Consistency, shot selection, serving with direction, approach shots and finishing at the net, and the beginnings of real tactics.
Standard ball, full court, real tennis. Building a weapon, constructing points, serving and returning under pressure, an all-court game, and the mental side — staying calm, resetting after a bad point, adjusting mid-match.
Our most-offered level — a fixed schedule on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, plus Saturday match play. Players who compete in USTA tournaments also start working with video, breaking down their strokes with a coach on an iPad.
New this fall. If your teenager wants to try tennis but has never played, this is for them. Starting at twelve or fourteen alongside kids who've been playing since they were five is nobody's idea of fun — so they don't have to.
Same days and same time as Yellow Ball, on the next court, so there's a clear next step the moment they're ready. Plenty of very good players start late.
When your child plays
| Level | Days | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Foam & Tots | Tuesday & Thursday, plus Saturday | 3:30–4:00 · Sat 11:00–11:30 |
| Red Ball Level 1 | Tuesday & Thursday, plus Saturday | 4:00–5:00 · Sat 11:00–12:00 |
| Red Ball Level 2 | Tuesday & Thursday | 4:00–5:30 |
| Orange Ball | Tuesday & Thursday | 4:00–5:30 |
| Green Ball | Monday, Wednesday & Friday | 4:00–5:30 |
| Yellow Ball | Monday, Wednesday & Friday | 4:00–5:30 |
| Teen Tennis 101 | Monday & Wednesday | 4:00–5:30 |
| Saturday match play (Green & Yellow) | Saturday | 12:00–2:00 |
| Flex session (make-ups, all levels) | Friday | 4:00–5:30 |
If you have more than one child
Every level from age three to ten runs on both Tuesday and Thursday. That's deliberate. A family with a four-year-old, a seven-year-old and a nine-year-old drops all three on the same afternoon and picks them up together. Green and Yellow players, ages ten and up, share Monday, Wednesday and Friday for the same reason.
One trip. Not three.
If none of those days work, tell us anyway
- If four families need the same different day, we'll open a group on it — at any level.
- If a group fills up, we won't just leave you on a waiting list. We'll offer you a place in the same level on another day.
- Or email me directly — andres@gilfordhills.com. Tell me which day would work and I'll look at coach and court availability. If it's there, I'll open the day.
When you register, tell us which days actually work for your family — even if they aren't the ones listed. That's what lets us build the right groups.
What it costs
Junior tennis is $22 an hour. You pay for the session, once, at the start — not month by month, and not lesson by lesson. Each fall session is 7 weeks.
| Level | Session length | Per week | 7-week session |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foam & Tots | 30 minutes | $11 | $77 |
| Red Ball Level 1 | 1 hour | $22 | $154 |
| Red L2 · Orange · Green · Yellow · Teen 101 | 90 minutes | $33 | $231 |
Play more, pay less per hour
| Hours per week | Rate per hour | You save |
|---|---|---|
| 1 hour | $22 | — |
| 2 hours | $20 | 9% |
| 3 hours | $18 | 18% |
| 4+ hours | $16 | 27% |
Brothers and sisters
10% off your second child. 15% off your third and beyond. Discounts don't stack — you get whichever saves you more, and the front desk works it out for you.
Just want to try a single session?
For the first two weeks of Session 1 — through Saturday 12 September — there's no surcharge: try any session at the regular rate, and we'll credit it toward your first session if you enroll. After that, drop-in is the session price plus $10 — $32 for an hour, $43 for 90 minutes, space-available. If you enroll afterwards, we credit it toward your first session. Foam & Tots is enrollment only; at that age the routine and the same familiar faces are most of the value.
You don't need to be a club member
Junior tennis is open to everyone at the same price. No membership fee, no joining fee, no different rate for non-members. Plenty of our junior families aren't members.
Membership is for the fitness centre and for booking courts yourself. Your child's tennis doesn't depend on it.
Sessions and renewal
Fall runs in two short sessions rather than one long season. You sign up for a session at a time.
| Session | Dates |
|---|---|
| Session 1 | Monday 31 August – Saturday 17 October |
| Session 2 | Monday 19 October – Saturday 12 December |
Renewal is automatic — and easy to stop. About two weeks before a session ends we'll email you to say the next one is starting, what your child's place will be, and the date by which to let us know if you'd rather not continue. If we don't hear from you, your child keeps their spot. If you tell us by that date, it simply stops — no phone call, no explanation needed.
Joining partway through? You only pay for the sessions left.
What's included, beyond the lesson
Play Days — once a month, every level
A whole-program event, not a normal lesson. One Saturday morning a month, every level from Red Ball up plays level-appropriate matches — short-court games for the youngest, real formats for the older ones. Parents welcome. It replaces that week's regular Saturday sessions, so there's nothing extra to sign up for or pay.
Saturday match play — every week, Green and Yellow
Two hours of real matches, 12:00–2:00, for players aged 10 and up. Singles and doubles, everyone plays both, mixed abilities on purpose so nobody spends the afternoon on the sidelines.
If your child trains three or more hours a week, match play is included — nothing to sign up for, nothing to pay, and we'll expect them every Saturday.
Everyone else pays $10 a session, decided week by week. We email on Wednesday, you reply by Thursday, and the $10 goes on your card on file at the end of the month. No cash at the desk, and no charge for a week you don't play. The three hours means enrolled weekday sessions — match play itself doesn't count toward it.
And the rest
- A written progress card at the end of every session. Not a grade and not a weekly report — a clear picture of where your child began, how far they've come, and what's next.
- Match data on our indoor courts. Our PlayReplay system tracks ball speed and match statistics, so older players can see real numbers on how their game is changing.
- Video analysis for tournament players. Once your child is competing in USTA tournaments, their coach films and breaks down their strokes on an iPad.
- Friday Flex. Missed a session? Away for a week? Hit a holiday? Come Friday at 4:00 and make it up, whatever level your child is.
- Borrow a racket to start. If it's your child's first time, we'll put a junior racket in their hand — there's nothing to buy.
Questions parents ask
No — every level has a beginner track and an advanced track running side by side. And the free evaluation exists precisely so nobody gets dropped in the wrong place.
No. Junior tennis is the same price for everyone, member or not. Plenty of our junior families aren't members.
Tell us before the session ends and you're done — that's why we run short sessions instead of a season. And for the first two weeks you can try a session at the regular rate before committing to anything.
Yes, and it's a lovely age to start. Thirty minutes, foam balls, mostly games. We're not teaching a three-year-old to serve — we're teaching them to catch, balance, take turns, and love being on a court.
That's exactly why Teen Tennis 101 exists. They'll be with other beginners their own age, not with kids who've been playing for a decade.
You'll have it in writing at the end of each session. Every child is assessed in their first week and again at the end, against the same published benchmarks, so the card shows where they started, where they are now, and the goals for next time. And you don't have to wait for it — ask any coach at pick-up and they'll tell you how the week went.
We keep going. We have four indoor courts, and we're the only club in the Lakes Region running junior tennis right through the winter — which is when most of the real improvement happens.
Ready to start?
Register below, or book a free evaluation and we'll place your child at the right level.
Register for Fall 2026Not sure where your child fits? Call us — it takes two minutes.
or email andres@gilfordhills.com
Junior Clinics
Our junior program builds solid fundamentals, promotes sportsmanship, and fosters a love for tennis at every stage — from a child's very first racket to competitive play.
This fall, every level has clear goals, written skill benchmarks, and a real way to compete. Coaches assess your child in their first week and again at the end of each session, and you receive a written progress card showing how far they have come and what comes next. Our session lengths and age groups follow USTA Net Generation guidelines, the national standard for developing young players.
And we run all year. While other clubs in the Lakes Region close for the winter, your child keeps improving.
How it works
The levels
Foam ball, mini court, short racket. Balance, agility and hand-eye coordination through games — plus taking turns, following a coach, and staying with it for half an hour.
A drop-off session. Parents don't come on court — it helps the little ones settle and listen to their coach. You're very welcome to watch from the lounge.
Red ball — 75% slower than a regular ball — on a 36-foot court. Grip, consistent contact on both sides, ready position, the underhand serve, and how to keep score. Level 1 runs an hour; Level 2 runs 90 minutes for players ready for more.
Orange ball on a 60-foot court. Full swings with control, hitting crosscourt and down the line on purpose, the overhand serve, returning serve, and the first real volleys. This is where children start playing actual matches.
Green ball on the full court. Consistency, shot selection, serving with direction, approach shots and finishing at the net, and the beginnings of real tactics.
Standard ball, full court, real tennis. Building a weapon, constructing points, serving and returning under pressure, an all-court game, and the mental side — staying calm, resetting after a bad point, adjusting mid-match.
Our most-offered level — a fixed schedule on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, plus Saturday match play. Players who compete in USTA tournaments also start working with video, breaking down their strokes with a coach on an iPad.
New this fall. If your teenager wants to try tennis but has never played, this is for them. Starting at twelve or fourteen alongside kids who've been playing since they were five is nobody's idea of fun — so they don't have to.
Same days and same time as Yellow Ball, on the next court, so there's a clear next step the moment they're ready. Plenty of very good players start late.
When your child plays
| Level | Days | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Foam & Tots | Tuesday & Thursday, plus Saturday | 3:30–4:00 · Sat 11:00–11:30 |
| Red Ball Level 1 | Tuesday & Thursday, plus Saturday | 4:00–5:00 · Sat 11:00–12:00 |
| Red Ball Level 2 | Tuesday & Thursday | 4:00–5:30 |
| Orange Ball | Tuesday & Thursday | 4:00–5:30 |
| Green Ball | Monday, Wednesday & Friday | 4:00–5:30 |
| Yellow Ball | Monday, Wednesday & Friday | 4:00–5:30 |
| Teen Tennis 101 | Monday & Wednesday | 4:00–5:30 |
| Saturday match play (Green & Yellow) | Saturday | 12:00–2:00 |
| Flex session (make-ups, all levels) | Friday | 4:00–5:30 |
If you have more than one child
Every level from age three to ten runs on both Tuesday and Thursday. That's deliberate. A family with a four-year-old, a seven-year-old and a nine-year-old drops all three on the same afternoon and picks them up together. Green and Yellow players, ages ten and up, share Monday, Wednesday and Friday for the same reason.
One trip. Not three.
If none of those days work, tell us anyway
- If four families need the same different day, we'll open a group on it — at any level.
- If a group fills up, we won't just leave you on a waiting list. We'll offer you a place in the same level on another day.
- Or email me directly — andres@gilfordhills.com. Tell me which day would work and I'll look at coach and court availability. If it's there, I'll open the day.
When you register, tell us which days actually work for your family — even if they aren't the ones listed. That's what lets us build the right groups.
What it costs
Junior tennis is $22 an hour. You pay for the session, once, at the start — not month by month, and not lesson by lesson. Each fall session is 7 weeks.
| Level | Session length | Per week | 7-week session |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foam & Tots | 30 minutes | $11 | $77 |
| Red Ball Level 1 | 1 hour | $22 | $154 |
| Red L2 · Orange · Green · Yellow · Teen 101 | 90 minutes | $33 | $231 |
Play more, pay less per hour
| Hours per week | Rate per hour | You save |
|---|---|---|
| 1 hour | $22 | — |
| 2 hours | $20 | 9% |
| 3 hours | $18 | 18% |
| 4+ hours | $16 | 27% |
Brothers and sisters
10% off your second child. 15% off your third and beyond. Discounts don't stack — you get whichever saves you more, and the front desk works it out for you.
Just want to try a single session?
For the first two weeks of Session 1 — through Saturday 12 September — there's no surcharge: try any session at the regular rate, and we'll credit it toward your first session if you enroll. After that, drop-in is the session price plus $10 — $32 for an hour, $43 for 90 minutes, space-available. If you enroll afterwards, we credit it toward your first session. Foam & Tots is enrollment only; at that age the routine and the same familiar faces are most of the value.
You don't need to be a club member
Junior tennis is open to everyone at the same price. No membership fee, no joining fee, no different rate for non-members. Plenty of our junior families aren't members.
Membership is for the fitness centre and for booking courts yourself. Your child's tennis doesn't depend on it.
Sessions and renewal
Fall runs in two short sessions rather than one long season. You sign up for a session at a time.
| Session | Dates |
|---|---|
| Session 1 | Monday 31 August – Saturday 17 October |
| Session 2 | Monday 19 October – Saturday 12 December |
Renewal is automatic — and easy to stop. About two weeks before a session ends we'll email you to say the next one is starting, what your child's place will be, and the date by which to let us know if you'd rather not continue. If we don't hear from you, your child keeps their spot. If you tell us by that date, it simply stops — no phone call, no explanation needed.
Joining partway through? You only pay for the sessions left.
What's included, beyond the lesson
Play Days — once a month, every level
A whole-program event, not a normal lesson. One Saturday morning a month, every level from Red Ball up plays level-appropriate matches — short-court games for the youngest, real formats for the older ones. Parents welcome. It replaces that week's regular Saturday sessions, so there's nothing extra to sign up for or pay.
Saturday match play — every week, Green and Yellow
Two hours of real matches, 12:00–2:00, for players aged 10 and up. Singles and doubles, everyone plays both, mixed abilities on purpose so nobody spends the afternoon on the sidelines.
If your child trains three or more hours a week, match play is included — nothing to sign up for, nothing to pay, and we'll expect them every Saturday.
Everyone else pays $10 a session, decided week by week. We email on Wednesday, you reply by Thursday, and the $10 goes on your card on file at the end of the month. No cash at the desk, and no charge for a week you don't play. The three hours means enrolled weekday sessions — match play itself doesn't count toward it.
And the rest
- A written progress card at the end of every session. Not a grade and not a weekly report — a clear picture of where your child began, how far they've come, and what's next.
- Match data on our indoor courts. Our PlayReplay system tracks ball speed and match statistics, so older players can see real numbers on how their game is changing.
- Video analysis for tournament players. Once your child is competing in USTA tournaments, their coach films and breaks down their strokes on an iPad.
- Friday Flex. Missed a session? Away for a week? Hit a holiday? Come Friday at 4:00 and make it up, whatever level your child is.
- Borrow a racket to start. If it's your child's first time, we'll put a junior racket in their hand — there's nothing to buy.
Questions parents ask
No — every level has a beginner track and an advanced track running side by side. And the free evaluation exists precisely so nobody gets dropped in the wrong place.
No. Junior tennis is the same price for everyone, member or not. Plenty of our junior families aren't members.
Tell us before the session ends and you're done — that's why we run short sessions instead of a season. And for the first two weeks you can try a session at the regular rate before committing to anything.
Yes, and it's a lovely age to start. Thirty minutes, foam balls, mostly games. We're not teaching a three-year-old to serve — we're teaching them to catch, balance, take turns, and love being on a court.
That's exactly why Teen Tennis 101 exists. They'll be with other beginners their own age, not with kids who've been playing for a decade.
You'll have it in writing at the end of each session. Every child is assessed in their first week and again at the end, against the same published benchmarks, so the card shows where they started, where they are now, and the goals for next time. And you don't have to wait for it — ask any coach at pick-up and they'll tell you how the week went.
We keep going. We have four indoor courts, and we're the only club in the Lakes Region running junior tennis right through the winter — which is when most of the real improvement happens.
Ready to start?
Register below, or book a free evaluation and we'll place your child at the right level.
Register for Fall 2026Not sure where your child fits? Call us — it takes two minutes.
or email andres@gilfordhills.com