Player Development Glossary
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Tennis Development Glossary

Plain-English definitions and on-court coaching cues for players, parents, and coaches across all development stages.

Tactics

8 terms

Choosing what to do with the ball.

Consistency
PlayersParentsCoaches
Red (Ages 5–8)
Orange (Ages 7–10)
Green (Ages 9–12)
Yellow (Ages 11+)

Keeping the ball in play over many shots. The first tactical goal at every young stage.

Say it on court

“Win by making one more ball than them.”

Direction
PlayersCoaches
Red (Ages 5–8)
Orange (Ages 7–10)
Green (Ages 9–12)
Yellow (Ages 11+)

Choosing where the ball goes: cross-court or down the line.

Say it on court

“Cross-court is the safe choice.”

Depth
PlayersCoaches
Red (Ages 5–8)
Orange (Ages 7–10)
Green (Ages 9–12)
Yellow (Ages 11+)

How close to the opponent's baseline the ball lands. Deep balls push opponents back.

Say it on court

“Aim past the service line.”

Height
PlayersCoaches
Red (Ages 5–8)
Orange (Ages 7–10)
Green (Ages 9–12)
Yellow (Ages 11+)

How high the ball travels over the net. Players learn to recognize high balls (above the shoulder) and low balls (below the knee) and to choose trajectory on purpose.

Say it on court

“Higher over the net, deeper in the court.”

Red (Ages 5–8)
Orange (Ages 7–10)
Green (Ages 9–12)
Yellow (Ages 11+)

Recognizing and using fast, slow, heavy and light balls. Children learn to feel the difference and use each one on purpose.

Say it on court

“That was a heavy ball. Give it a bit more room.”

Near and far
CoachesPlayers
Red (Ages 5–8)
Orange (Ages 7–10)
Green (Ages 9–12)
Yellow (Ages 11+)

Recognizing whether a ball will land close to you or far away, and moving accordingly.

Say it on court

“Is this one coming close or far?”

Cooperative rally
CoachesPlayersParents
Red (Ages 5–8)
Orange (Ages 7–10)
Green (Ages 9–12)
Yellow (Ages 11+)

Hitting with a partner to keep the ball going rather than to win the point. It is the first goal of red tennis and a warm-up habit at every stage.

Say it on court

“How many can we get in a row?”

Send and recover
CoachesPlayers
Red (Ages 5–8)
Orange (Ages 7–10)
Green (Ages 9–12)
Yellow (Ages 11+)

The simplest tactical habit: hit the ball, then move back to the middle to get ready for the next one.

Say it on court

“Hit it and come home to the middle.”