Junior
Mini Tennis
This allows children from 4 upwards to play uninterrupted.
We follow the new national guidelines that have revolutionized the teaching of young kids:
- courts;
- softer, bigger balls
- shorter lighter racquets;
- Planned transition to full sized courts and normal balls.
We are an accredited LTA teaching club.
We have links with 2 local primary schools which provide good catchment for new members.
Children learn fast at the Hard.
Junior Tennis
- A second coach has been appointed to absorb the growth of junior membership;.
- County/national standard juniors employed to hit with promising younger juniors;
- Winter squad at nearby indoor facility for elite boys and promising younger boys/girls;
- Elite girls being incorporated to ladies match practice;
- Promising older juniors get free upgrade to Cadet status to play in adult sessions.
- Junior open tournament successful: profits continue to fund coaching programme, and subsidies for most promising players.
Many strong players have emerged from our coaching programmes. For the others, we do our best to ensure that a love for the game of tennis stays with them.
Parent of Child membership
The cost of the membership to the parent, on top of the junior or child membership, is:
One parent – £18.00 per annum
Both parents – £28.00 per annum.
This fee automatically includes full social membership of the Club (normal cost £15).
The following restriction applies: parents can only play with their own children, and then only at the times these junior or child members are allowed to play.
For full details of these times see the Club Notice Board:
"Court Times – a guide for juniors, children and their parents"
In practice parents can play with their own children at any time during daylight hours whenever courts are available, except that senior members have priority.
The coaches or any committee member will be happy to advise on those times which are best avoided
Court Times – a guide for juniors, children and their parents
The use of courts is governed by the principles outlined below:
- A club match has priority on courts; the norm is 2-3 courts per match, although occasionally a match may use 4 courts. (Normally only one match in progress at any one time).
- One court (court 1 or 7) is generally reserved for the club coach (except at certain times when a match or club event is normally scheduled).
- Whereas generally senior members gain priority over juniors, except for Mini Tennis, (& doubles over singles), at certain times of the week juniors gain priority and are also encouraged to play at other times. This table illustrates this position and explains when the special category of member, parent of child, is allowed to play with their own children.
Courts 1-7
| hour beginning | Saturdays | Sundays & Bank Holidays |
Weekdays | |
| 9 am | A | E | B | |
| 10 | A | E | B | |
| 11 | A | E | B | |
| Noon | B | E | B | |
| 1 pm | E | E | B | |
| 2 | E | E | B | |
| 3 | E | E | B | |
| 4 | E | E | B | |
| 5 | C | C | B | |
| 6 | C | C | D | B |
| 7 | C | C | D | E |
| 8 | C | C | D | E |
| Junior Play | Parent Play with own child | |
| A | Juniors have priority on all main courts 1-7. | Parents allowed to play with own children, subject to court availability. |
| B | Juniors fully allowed to play on all courts but Seniors can take priority. | Parents allowed to play with own children, subject to court availability. Seniors have absolute priority. |
| C | Juniors encouraged to play in daylight hours subject to court availability. Seniors have absolute priority. |
Parents allowed to play in daylight hours with own children, subject to court availability. Seniors have absolute priority. |
| D | Juniors encouraged to play in daylight hours subject to court availability. Seniors have absolute priority. |
Parents encouraged to play in daylight hours with own children, subject to court availability. Seniors have absolute priority. |
| E | Juniors not expected to play, but may do so subject to court availability. Seniors have absolute priority. |
No Play for parents |
JUNIOR COMPETITIONS ENTERED
Summer (April – October)
Mini tennis
Red, Orange Green. Box leagues & 1 day internal tournaments, u 11, 1 a month,
1 day hosted tournaments, u11, 1 each per holiday;
County leagues, weekly.
Junior tennis
L&W league, u14 & u16, weekly;
National junior club league, u18;
1 day competitions, 1 per holiday.
Winter (November – March)
Mini tennis
Red, Orange Green. 1 day hosted tournaments, u11, 1 each per holiday.
Junior tennis
1 day competitions, 1 per holiday;
County leagues, weekly.
COACHING for more details go to the Coaching section and see Junior Coaching.
Parent of Child membership is unique to Westcliff Hard and provides unbeatable value at very low cost (under £20 pa): click here for details.
- one or both parents can play tennis with their own children;
- the children play more frequently, fast-tracking their improvement.
Talent attraction, identification & development programme click here for details.
Junior Mornings
Junior Morning takes place on Saturdays between 10 and 12.30pm – very much a social affair, where children of all ages and standards are invited to come along and mix in together. Children are organized into compatible games and impromptu fun tournaments are held from time to time on high turnout days.
A well-supported and popular tuck shop run by volunteers sells canned drinks and food throughout the morning. Subject to court availability children are both permitted and encouraged to play beyond 12.30pm.
Mini Tennis Lessons
Mini tennis (red) lessons are available for children aged between 4 and 8 years using a sponge ball. These lessons are held on Thursdays after school and Saturdays and Sundays at various times.
Mini tennis (orange) lessons are available for children aged between 7 and 9 years using a "slow" ball. These lessons are held Wednesdays and Fridays after school.
For both categories, fees are £4.00 per lesson, payable in advance for either a 1/2 term or full term. The total depends on the number of weeks in a term.
Play & Pay Introductory Offer for non-members
On Saturday mornings between 9am and 10am, junior non-members are welcome to come along for a few weeks and try out tennis to see how they get on. These sessions are aimed at the over 8s and those who are moving from mini red to mini orange; and it encourages existing members to bring a friend.
There's no obligation to join as a club member and for only £2.50 it's a great way for juniors to get an introduction to tennis.
Combined with our unique "try before you buy" adult temporary membership scheme, it's perfectly suited for families who are new to tennis and thinking of joining a club, but worried about the expense of paying for full membership up front before knowing how they get on with playing.
Contact Graham Broadley our head coach at gbroadley@cordatec.com or on 01702 465118.
Volunteers are a vital part of tennis club life and having lots of people each helping out in a small way helps to make us a success. Voluntary work can include anything from helping in the tuck shop to running one of our junior teams, so if you would like to become more involved with the junior section please let us know.