TRANSITION FROM no reason to hurry the transition prematurely. The transition should not THE RED TO ORANGE be placed in the context of a “race” in TO GREEN BALL which moving quickly is equivalent to “winning.” When working with children, winning should never override proper SYNOPSIS development.30 • A proper transition from the red to orange to green ball should be based With regard to a competitive structure, on sound technique and tactical the national governing body (NGB) must competencies rather than impatience choose the rules, and most often the to skip from one level to the next. rules are determined by age category.35 • There is a normal decrement in Even within this framework there exists performance with each transition the possibility for experimentation. For phase, and this decrement can be example, rather than designating a single much greater if a premature transition year (e.g. 7-and-under, 8-and-under) or is made. every two-year transition (e.g., 8-and- under, 10-and-under), it is possible to • When children transition too quickly develop a competitive schedule that from one ball to another, there is a divides a year in two. That means that for much greater likelihood that they will 8-and-under, there could be two divisions develop technical flaws as a means that roughly follow the school year: 8-and- of compensating for developmentally under players born between September inappropriate play. and March, and 8-and-under players born between April and August.35 The reason to There are not concrete guidelines about consider such a schedule is that a child’s when a child should transition from a red success in sports is often determined by his ball/red court to an orange ball/orange or her date of birth.19 If we follow the strict court to a green ball. It is possible that calendar year, a child born in January has making a transition from one ball to an almost one-year advantage over a child another could become associated with born in December, which is a substantial a race to make the transition as quickly proportion of time in such a young child. as possible.35 This is in part because In the United States, the potential age some people associate the non-yellow advantage is neutralized somewhat by balls as “not real” tennis balls, and they allowing children to play in their age group furthermore associate the smaller courts until the month they age up. as “not real” courts. It is important to educate all stakeholders that the red, When working with orange and green balls are all a legitimate children, winning should part of progression in tennis, and are as real—and appropriate—for children never override proper as the yellow ball is for adolescents development. and adults.31 The transition is based on a natural progression in technique, The other variables to consider are skill, athleticism, and age. Because each whether the transition is for a player child matures differently, and because development-competition track or for a there is no known correlation between a community tennis-friendly play track. For fast transition in childhood to teenage player development, the competition and and adulthood performance, there is training transition are in parallel, but even 64 TRANSITION FROM THE RED TO ORANGE TO GREEN BALL PATH OF PROGRESS FOR TRANSITION IN 10 AND UNDER TENNIS PETENCE M OF CO OF L EVE L 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 AGE Source: ITF in this scenario, there can be flexibility. If the player is not technically ready to For example, a player may transition from make the transition, then the performance the orange to the green ball but may still decrement would be expected to be much have difficulty with the backhand volley greater. This would likely translate to less technique. Utilizing deliberate practice/ fun for the player, and fun is what drives closed play, a coach could work specifically the player to continue to play over time.96 with the orange ball for the backhand volley while the player otherwise trains with It is essential for coaches to be well the green ball, and he or she will transition versed in the maturational expectations fully to the green ball after improving of childhood as well as the technical technique in the backhand volley with the competencies that allow for the best orange ball.62 transition from the red to orange to green ball.24, 43 Many countries are in the If a player makes a transition too quickly, process of experimenting with different the player will likely feel frustrated at ways to make the transition, but virtually playing worse and may even lose interest. all rely on the models below, which are As noted in the chart above, almost all based on ITF research. players will experience a decrement in performance when making a transition The diagram on the following page from one ball to another, which means illustrates the technique competencies that there could be less emphasis on developed by the ITF that guide children competition during the transition phase. in making a smooth transition from the red to orange to green ball. TRANSITION FROM THE RED TO ORANGE TO GREEN BALL 65 TRANSITION AND TECHNIQUE COMPETENCIES Ages 5 – 6 Throwing/sending: • Half open stance • Hold the racket at the bottom, close to the butt-cap Catching/receiving: • Be alert and dynamic • Well balanced position when throwing and catching • Hitting the ball in front of the body • Good balance while hitting the ball and having good distance from the ball Ages 6 – 7 Throwing: • Half open to open stance • Initiate shoulder turn • Hit the ball in front of the body Receiving and return of serve: • Dynamic, attentive and alert • Holding the racket close to the bottom/butt-cap and distinguishing between forehand and backhand grip • Early rotation of the shoulder and trunk • Hitting the ball in front of the body • Good control of balance Ages 9 – 10 • Dynamic, attentive and alert • Good acquisition of forehand and backhand grip • Turning/rotation of the trunk right after split step • Follow through higher than the contact point • Compact backswing before hitting the ball • Racket head acceleration with the arm and lower arm/ wrist action • Hitting the ball in front of the body and following through • Various forms of footwork: open, semi open or square stances depending on situation/ tactic • Good control of balance by using different stances • Various forms of recovery according to situation Ages 11 and Up • Adjustment of the backhand grip according to the spin needed • Separation of the upper body and lower body according to the stance used • Racket head lower to give more spin • More racket head acceleration with the arm and lower arm/wrist action • At the end of the backswing, the balance should be forward according to the stance and target • Follow through according to the spin applied and tactical objective Source: ITF 66 TRANSITION FROM THE RED TO ORANGE TO GREEN BALL It is noteworthy that each transition is transitioned to a yellow ball prematurely. It associated with more sophisticated stance, is only in exceptional cases that a 10-and- footwork, racquet swing, racquet grip, under tennis player should make the full and dissociation of upper and lower transition to a yellow ball, with the caveat body movements. that player ability and player ranking pre-puberty do not correlate with late The illustration below illustrates the teenage and adulthood success.30, 31, 35 age-driven transition. It is appropriate for 10-and-under tennis Although this type of transition is easier to children to compete, but the competition administer and does not require the more should be fun while utilizing a short coach-driven intervention, the danger scoring format. Ideally, most competition of relying simply on age to determine matches will last about 20 minutes or less advancement is that the child may not for 8-and-under children (e.g., 2-out-of-3 be physiologically or technically ready to tie-breaks), thus allowing an abundance make the change, and a premature change of play opportunities with many different 31, 96 can lead to premature dropout. children.31, 96, 121 As children age, they can Even for proficient green ball 10-and- tolerate longer-duration matches; for under tennis players, there is no good example, 9- and 10-year-old children can evidence to suggest that players should be play 2-out-of-3 short sets, which could last 20 to 45 minutes.15 USTA 10 AND UNDER SPECS FOR COMPETITION RED: 8 AND UNDER ORANGE: 9 – 11 YEARS OLD GREEN: 10 AND UP Source: ITF (modified) TRANSITION FROM THE RED TO ORANGE TO GREEN BALL 67 The table below illustrates the approach two countries (Brazil and France) hold some countries take with regard to annual singles national 10-and-under 10-and-under tennis competition while championships, although Great Britain utilizing the red, orange, or green ball. hosts a national invitational tournament for 9-and-under and 10-and-under children. The ITF does not allow Great Britain uses the orange ball for 10-and-under children to its 9-and-under invitational event, and otherwise the green ball is used by Great play international events. Britain, Brazil, and France for their 10-and- The ITF does not allow 10-and-under under national events, and they employ a children to play international events.96 shortened scoring format. None of these Most NGBs do not hold national 10-and- countries has a 10-and-under national under championships, nor do they rank ranking 10-and-under children.