QuickStart Coming to San Francisco Courts
14:02:2012
An exciting change is coming to youth tennis! On September 7, 2010, the USTA passed new criteria governing competition for 10 and Under
Tennis (TAUT) tournaments. The new criteria requires that all USTA 10 and Under tournaments be played using lighter, slower‐moving and lower‐bouncing balls, smaller and lighter racquets, and smaller courts. The new criteria was effective January 2, 2012. The game of tennis is following the formula that the majority of youth sports have used for years – tailoring equipment and courts to a child’s size and age so that they develop skills and have fun right from the start. Youth baseball, soccer, basketball, and other sports all offer modified gear, courts, and fields that give children confidence and enjoyment as they develop and mature. Tennis is now following suit – 10 and Under Tennis incorporates the QuickStart Tennis play format so that children can learn, rally, play, and compete in a way that is more fun and engaging. These changes will make it easier for more children to acquire skills and enjoyment early, encouraging them to continue with the sport. The smaller courts will give children the opportunity to build confidence and learn skills and strategy while covering the entire court. The shorter, lighter racquets will allow children to better control the racquet and discourage extreme grips. The balls will slow play down, bounce at a height appropriate to the child’s size and provide longer rallies, allowing children to better develop their court skills. Tennis is already the fastest growing traditional sport in America, and with these improvements in youth tennis, the sport will provide an even greater opportunity to get young children engaged in a healthy activity. In order to provide San Francisco youth with opportunities to practice tennis on appropriately lined courts, the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department will be lining some of its tennis courts, including those at Golden Gate Park Tennis Complex, in order to be in line with this new criteria. The lines will in the same color family as the playing surface of the tennis court ‐ as shown in the photo here, a blue on blue. If you have any questions or concerns, or for a complete list of sites, please contact Daliah Khoury at daliah.khoury@sfgov.org.
Created By-> Daliah Khoury
