New balls for 10 and under

Leroy Brown, Gleaner Writer

Tennis is fast becoming one of the most attractive sports for young players worldwide, and the International Tennis Federation (ITF) is making an effort to keep the momentum going with a rule change designed to make the sport more attractive to young players.

The ITF announced on January 1, that as of that date, a new rule would be introduced worldwide for players 10 years and under. Under this rule, 10 years and under competitions can no longer be played using the regular yellow tennis ball. Instead, there will be the mandatory use of red, orange or green tennis balls. These younger players will also play on smaller sized courts.

This change is so far reaching that it is put alongside the rules that introduced the tie break, foot fault, set breaks, and optional scoring methods. It is a part of the ITF Tennis 10s programme which supports the use of slower and lower bouncing balls, shorter and lighter tennis racquets, and smaller courts, all designed to make it easier for young players to play the game.

More friendly tennis

The element of fun, it is hoped, will make tennis more friendly to youngsters and make them want to move from stage to stage at a structured pace.

The new red tennis ball is made from foam or felt and is 75 per cent slower than the regular yellow tennis ball. This ball will be used by the age group five to eight and they will play on a court that is 12 x 6m. The orange coloured ball is 50 per cent slower than the regular ball and is designed for the eight and nine year olds who will play on a 18 x 6.5m court. The nine to 10 year old players will use a green ball that is 25 per cent slower than the yellow ball but they will play on full-sized courts.

The use of these new balls on an experimental basis has been taking place for some time, and the results have been so far-reaching and positive that the ITF believes that their use should now be made compulsory. Young tennis players, it has been reported, have been showing great improvement in their games, and the number of youngsters coming into tennis is also said to be improving as a result.

In supporting the new rule, ITF president Francesco Ricci Bitti has stated that "The rule change is a great step forward for tennis" and added that "it is great to see such good results in terms of increased participation."