What do I need to know as a parent of a 10 and under tennis player in South Africa? Red, orange and green stages, balls, court sizes, net heights, racket lengths, scoring, timed matches, age limits and coaching.
They are the three stages of 10 and under tennis set out in the 2026 ITF Rules of Tennis (Appendix VIII). Each stage matches a ball, a court and a racket size to the child's age and level:
| Stage | Ball | Court | Recommended for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 3: Red | Red (foam or felt) | Small red court | Players aged up to 8 |
| Stage 2: Orange | Orange | Orange court | Players aged 8 to 10 |
| Stage 1: Green | Green | Full-size court | Advanced players aged 9 to 10 |
The numbering counts down towards the full game: red is Stage 3, orange Stage 2, and green Stage 1, the last step before the standard yellow ball.
The ITF gives these ages as recommendations, not strict limits.
Each stage uses a lighter, lower-bouncing ball than a normal yellow ball. ITF specifications (2026 Rules of Tennis, Appendix I):
| Ball | Weight | Size | Bounce (rebound) | Colour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red, foam | 25.0 to 43.0 g | 8.0 to 9.0 cm | 85 to 105 cm | Any |
| Red, standard (felt) | 36.0 to 49.0 g | 7.0 to 8.0 cm | 90 to 105 cm | Red and yellow, or yellow with a red dot |
| Orange | 36.0 to 46.9 g | 6.0 to 6.86 cm | 105 to 120 cm | Orange and yellow, or yellow with an orange dot |
| Green | 47.0 to 51.5 g | 6.3 to 6.86 cm | 120 to 135 cm | Yellow with a green dot |
For comparison, a standard yellow ball weighs 56.0 to 59.4 g and bounces 135 to 151 cm.
The red foam ball is the only tennis ball allowed without a fabric (felt) cover.
From Appendix VIII of the 2026 ITF Rules of Tennis:
| Stage | Court length | Court width | Net height at centre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red | 10.97 to 12.80 m (36 to 42 ft) | 4.27 to 6.10 m (14 to 20 ft) | 0.800 to 0.838 m |
| Orange | 17.68 to 18.29 m (58 to 60 ft) | 6.10 to 8.23 m (20 to 27 ft) | 0.800 to 0.914 m |
| Green | Full-size court (23.77 m long) | Full size | Standard net (0.914 m at centre) |
All court measurements are made to the outside of the lines.
The 2026 ITF Rules of Tennis (Appendix VIII) recommend:
| Stage | Racket length |
|---|---|
| Red (Stage 3) | Up to 23 inches (58.4 cm) |
| Orange (Stage 2) | 23 to 25 inches (58.4 to 63.5 cm) |
| Green (Stage 1) | 25 to 26 inches (63.5 to 66.0 cm) |
These are recommendations that go with each ball and court. The general racket rules still apply: no more than 73.7 cm long overall, a flat, evenly strung hitting surface, and only one racket in use at a time.
No. Under the 2026 ITF Rules of Tennis (Appendix VIII), only Stage 3 (Red), Stage 2 (Orange) and Stage 1 (Green) balls can be used in 10 and under competition. The standard yellow (Type 1, 2, 3 and high altitude) balls cannot be used in 10 and under events.
10 and under competition can, however, be played on a full-size court as well as on red and orange courts. The green ball is the one recommended for full-size courts.
Under Appendix VIII of the 2026 ITF Rules of Tennis, red, orange and green ball competitions can use any scoring method in the Rules of Tennis, plus shorter formats such as:
Other approved options include No-Ad scoring (one deciding point at deuce, receiver chooses the side) and the No-Let rule (a serve that clips the net and lands in the box is played).
Timed matches: the tournament committee may also set a specific time period for matches in a 10 and under event, so a match can end when time is up rather than when a set is complete.
The organiser picks the format for each event and announces it in advance.
No. Under the 2026 ITF Rules of Tennis (Appendix I), the Stage 1 (Green) ball may be used at all levels of competitive play, except:
Each national association decides which of its national competitions use the green ball. In South Africa that decision rests with Tennis South Africa.
The red and orange balls, by contrast, are specified for 10 and under competition.
The ITF limits competition for young children (2026 ITF Junior Regulations, Appendix G):
Local club and school red, orange and green ball competitions are not international events, so these limits don't stop your child playing them.
Under Rule 30 of the 2026 ITF Rules of Tennis, coaching from off the court is only allowed if the body running the competition permits it. Unless the event says it is allowed, assume it isn't.
Where it is permitted:
"Coaching" means advice or instruction of any kind, by any means, so hand signals and calling out tactics both count.