Growing Your Programs

When you offer the right programs for your players, you’ll get more people playing this sport. Whether you cater to kids, juniors, students, adults, seniors, wheelchair, or special populations, check out all that the USTA and its partners have to offer tennis players – and potential players – of all ages and skill levels.

Programs

• Junior Team Tennis
• Junior Tournaments
• Adult Tennis
• Wheelchair Tennis
• Cardio Tennis 

Facilities

Tennis facilities come in all sizes, both public and private, with all types of amenities. Learn about the resources available to you from the USTA’s Facility Assistance Team.

1. BUILDING/RENOVATING COURTS: Whether you want to construct a new state-of-the-art facility, build 36- and 60-foot courts for youth, or simply get the cracks fixed on your park courts, we have services, technical support and grants that can help.
2. HOW TO RUN EVENTS: Unsure what tournament format would be best for your players? Contact William Foreman at williamf@mstennis.com
3. MARKETING MATERIALS: Everything you do at your facility includes marketing – whether it’s publicizing upcoming programs and events, telling players about facility improvements, promoting products in the pro shop, and more. The USTA has customizable templates and marketing materials that can help.

Equipment/Youth Equipment

Make sure you’re offering players the gear that suits them and helps them to enjoy the game and improve.  With racquets and balls sized right for kids, children can start playing anywhere, at any time.

1. YOUTH RACQUETS: For young players, standard adult racquets are too long and too heavy, and the grips are usually too big for small hands. Know the guidelines for 10 and Under Tennis equipment and it will help kids enjoy the game and improve.
2. RED, ORANGE, and GREEN BALLS: Kids need lower compression tennis balls that bounce lower. A regulation yellow ball moves too fast and bounces too high for new – and young - players. Progressing from Red to Orange to Green to Yellow balls will keep kids in the game – and help them to improve more quickly.  Marking Red & Orange Courts Manual. (.pdf)

Staffing

To give your customers, members and players the best possible service, you need to have the correct staff.

1. CUSTOMER SERVICE: Whether an on-court teaching pro, racquet stringer, pro shop employee, match scheduler, or front-desk person, the people working at your facility or shop need to be friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable about your operation and the sport. To help attract more players and customers, look for employees – or volunteers – who can also be "ambassadors" for tennis in your community.
2. RATIOS OF INSTRUCTORS TO STUDENTS: Tennis players love personal attention, but it is not always practical for a player to schedule private lessons with a pro. Determining what’s profitable in terms of the student-to-instructor ratio is often best determined by past experiences – and what the market will bear – at your facility. Keep in mind that some programs such as Cardio Tennis, can typically put more people on court at one time than traditional clinics.
3. MAINTENANCE: Regular maintenance for your courts and facility is essential – no one likes to play at a club or on a court that’s not attractive. The USTA and the American Sports Builders Association put out the comprehensive Tennis Courts: Construction & Maintenance Manual that can help you and your staff keep things appealing. Visit www.sportsbuilders.org.
4. HIRING QUALIFIED COACHES & TEACHING PROS: Looking to add to your staff or hire for your programs? Check out the USPTA or PTR.