Mini Tennis Red
A specially designed game for young children as a first experience of tennis, it uses a small court, special low bounce, larger balls and appropriate sized rackets. This allows emphasis on movement and co-ordination and lets children learn the basic strokes and rules whilst having lots of fun. Some clubs are LTA accredited Mini Tennis Centres. This simply means that they fulfil certain criteria so that there is a standard of provision across the Country. Mini Tennis competition tends to be team based and in the form of festivals, team based inter club or within clubs events. Ideal for children just learning and aged approximately 4-8.
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Mini Tennis Orange
Played on a ¾ sized court with an Orange ball similar in size to the normal ball but slower and with much less bounce making it easier to play and develop good basic strokes. Competition comes in the form of team based festivals, club matches and fun inter club events. Ideal for improvers or slightly older beginners, aged from 7 upwards.
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Mini Tennis Green
Played on a full court with a Green ball which is a little slower and with less bounce than the normal ball. This enables players to learn good technique and consistent rallying in preparation for moving onto full tennis. Ideal for improvers aged 8 upwards and moving on from the orange ball as well as older beginners. Competitive opportunities are in the Team Tennis and Green circuits.
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Mini Tennis Green Circuit
The Circuit is a series of singles events, held each term and spread throughout the county. It is designed for the novice player or players new to competition. These are year of birth based and for non rated or 10.2 rated players only and offer a taste of competition in a low pressure environment. Points are awarded for various criteria, with league tables from which the top group of players are invited to a masters final to produce an overall winner each term.
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Team Tennis Circuit
Approximately 4 events each term are held around the County at the indoor centres. Using the Green ball, teams are put together on the day and can be mixed boys and girls with normally 4 in a team. Players can enjoy singles and doubles in a supportive, low pressure team environment. These are year of birth based and for players with no rating or 10.2 rating only.
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11 & Under circuit
This Circuit is a series of singles events spread throughout the county for the novice player moving out of Green Mini Tennis to full tennis or players new to competition. These are year of birth based and for non rated or 10.2 and 10.1 only. Points are awarded for various criteria, with league tables from which the top group of players are invited to a masters final to produce an overall winner. This is seen as the first rung of the competitive ladder allowing players to gain experience in a low pressure, relaxed atmosphere. There are no ratings points for these events.
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13 & Under circuit (for novice players)
Similar to the 11U circuit, these events are year of birth based and are for non rated or 10.2 and 10.1 ratings only. They are ideal for the older player new into competition, new starters or club players wanting to expand their experience and who enjoy competition in a low pressure situation. There are no ratings points for these events.
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Club Matchplay
These events are administered by the County but are organised and run by clubs. There are 2 schedules produced; the winter season - October to the end of March and the summer season - April through to September. Clubs in Cornwall, Devon and Somerset are invited to hold events, and players may enter as many or as few as they like, wherever they like. Players from outside the area are welcome to enter.
These come in various formats:
- 1. Straight forward matchplays, based on ratings bands, not age group. Results count for ratings points. Players are guaranteed at least 2 matches. It is possible that players may find that their opponents are older or younger than themselves as these events are ratings band based but organizers will do their best to match up though this will depend on entries received. Match format may vary from event to event depending on available facilities and number of entries received, the minimum will be best of 3 abbreviated sets (third set a match deciding tie break). Ideal for players moving up a rung from 11U circuit/13U circuit or club players wanting to improve.
- 2. In the winter season some events are age group based (12U or 14U) and played to a conclusion to produce a winner. These act as qualifiers for specific Ariel County Winter Indoor events.
- 3. In the summer season the programme includes graded events for ranking as well as rating points. These will be Grade 5 tournaments run by qualified referees, played to a conclusion to produce a winner and will be 12U or 14U . The format will be abbreviated sets and entries will be limited to 8.
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Road to Wimbledon
For boys and girls aged 14U non rated or rated. Clubs and schools taking part hold their own knock out tournament in the spring. Successful boys and girls from each of these events go on to play in the County Finals. In August a total of 64 boys and 64 girls made up of winners and a percentage of runners-up from County Finals go on to play at Wimbledon in the national finals. Worth having a go!
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National Junior Club League
This is open to all standards of players at clubs and schools, rated and even non rated in the lower divisions. Organisers decide which teams they want to enter, boys and girls in 12U, 14U, 16U and 18U. Clubs play each other in a local league having home and away matches. League winners in the County play off to find the County champions, who then go on to a regional competition. Its great fun and a good way of improving your tennis in a team environment.
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Sanctioned Tournaments
Sanctioned tournaments normally take place in the school holidays and are held all over the County. Usually age group based, you can often play either in your own age group or the one above. The number of actual matches you play will depend on how successful you are, but most tournaments will have a secondary event for those players knocked out in the early rounds. These tournaments are graded and you can earn ranking points. You can find advice on entering and playing in tournaments here. These are the traditional idea of competitive tennis but don’t be put off, they are great experience and you get to meet and play lots of new people.
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Devon Junior County Closed Tournament
This is the County’s own tournament for all its junior players. The winners in each age group, 10U, 12U, 14U, 16U and 18U, both singles and doubles, become the County Champions. This Grade 3 ranking tournament is held every year at the end of August. Age group based and for rated players (non rated at under 10) there is always a great atmosphere and it is a very popular event. You do not have to be an elite player to enter, its your tournament.
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Ariel Winter Indoor County Tournaments
These are the first level of nationally organised competitive events and are administered by individual counties. Some act as qualifiers for selected events in the next level, the Ariel Winter Junior Indoor Circuit. These are normally grade 4 tournaments for ranking purposes and are age group based. The number of players accepted is limited and quite often whether you are accepted or not will depend on the number and standard of the other players that enter. If you have been competing quite regularly, these events will give you the opportunity to play against people from other areas and gain more experience.
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Ariel Winter Junior Indoor Circuit
Qualifying events leading to a main draw are held all over the country to give everyone the opportunity to enter. These are designed for the more experienced competitor ready to move out of the Ariel Winter Indoor County Tournaments.
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Summer Grand Prix Circuit
Also referred to as The Sunday Telegraph Center Parcs Junior Grand Prix, this is a junior event which culminates in Masters Finals held at Center Parks for the 10U and 12U and La Manga Club in Spain for 14U, 16U and 18U. Juniors can compete in as many tournaments as possible over the summer season to accumulate points in order to qualify for the masters Finals. These are ideal for players doing well in the Ariel Winter Junior Indoor Circuit.
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