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Juniors · ages 4 to 18

Your kid starts on the step that fits them.

Tennis for children is built as a sequence: a softer, slower ball on a smaller court, getting a little bigger each time they are ready. Here is the whole ladder, so you can see where your child begins and what comes next.

Blue and green hard courts at Balboa Park where junior classes run

Which program is my kid?

Three quick answers and we will point you at the right starting place. There is no wrong answer here.

1. How old are they?
2. Have they played before?

Pick an age and we will show the group your child would join, out of 4 steps on the pathway.

The pathway

Four steps, red ball to UTR

Each step has its own ball, its own court size, and its own idea of what a good day looks like. Kids move up when they are ready, not on a calendar.

  1. Step 1 · Red ball

    Red Ball Junior & Academy

    Ages 4 to 8

    Where almost every kid starts.

    • Holding the racket and making contact
    • Balance, footwork and hand-eye games
    • Rallying over a low net on a short court
    Open
    Register for Red Ball Junior & Academy (opens CourtReserve)Schedule & details
  2. Step 2 · Orange ball

    Orange Ball Junior & Academy

    Ages 8 to 10

    A bigger court and a real rally.

    • Forehand and backhand with a full swing
    • Serving and returning
    • Moving to the ball and recovering
    Open
    Register for Orange Ball Junior & Academy (opens CourtReserve)Schedule & details
  3. Step 3 · Green ball

    Green Ball Junior

    Ages 10 and up

    Full court, nearly full-speed ball.

    • Consistency and depth from the baseline
    • Serve, return and first-ball patterns
    • Net play and doubles positioning
    Open
    Register for Green Ball Junior (opens CourtReserve)Schedule & details
  4. Step 4 · Yellow ball

    UTR Pathway & High Performance

    By UTR rating

    UTR 1–3, UTR 3–5, and UTR 6+.

    • Point construction and tactical patterns
    • Physical training built around match demands
    • Tournament scheduling and UTR management
    Waitlist
    Join the waitlist for UTR Pathway & High Performance (opens CourtReserve)Schedule & details

Also for juniors

Two programs outside the ladder

Starting late is fine, and playing for a team is its own thing.

High School Beginners

Open

High school age

For teenagers who want to try out for a school team, or just want a sport that is not football. No experience assumed, and nobody in the group has been playing since they were five.

  • Mon & Fri5:00 – 6:30pm· Balboa

Price TBD — see CourtReserve

Register for High School Beginners (opens CourtReserve)Details

Junior Team Tennis (JTT)

Ages 10 to 16

Kids play on a team, in a league, against other San Diego clubs. The fall season begins in October and registration opens in September. Leave your email and we will tell you the day it opens.

Or contact Coach Maribeth Rivera directly: 858-283-6217, maribethbalboatennis@gmail.com

How to register, in three steps

  1. Download CourtReserve

    Free app, iPhone or Android. It is how every class at both of our locations is booked.

  2. Choose Balboa Tennis Club

    When the app asks you to pick a facility, search for Balboa Tennis Club and select it. That is where our programs live, including the ones at UCRC.

  3. Open Events and register

    Find your class, tap register, and you are in. Prefer a browser? Use the web portal instead.

Get it on the App StoreGet it on Google PlayUse the web portal