Tennis -- now kid size

Tennis presents a few challenges when it comes to attracting younger players. The rackets are big, the court is expansive and the net, well, for a 5-year-old, the net could come up to their shoulders.

Indeed, about 80 percent of the 6 million new players to tennis each year give up the game within 12 months, according to industry statistics.

It's no wonder the tennis industry is looking for a match point.

They're looking to a new program for kids, called Project 36/60 to increase the number of beginning tennis players ages 5 to 10, increase retention through improved technical and tactical skills and reduce frustration.

"Tennis has often lost kids to other sports because they spend a lot of time hitting the ball but not playing the game," said Mark Baladad, assistant manager at the River Trails Tennis Center in Arlington Heights.

"With the changes in balls, court size, etc., younger players are able to have rallies (hitting the ball back and forth) and can actually play games," Baladad said.

The program is a collaboration between the United States Tennis Association, Tennis Industry Association, U.S. Professional Tennis Association, the Professional Tennis Registry, tennis equipment manufacturers and community tennis departments.

"The name is based on the smaller court sizes -- 36 feet for 5- to 8-year-old players, and 60 feet for 8- to 10-year-old players. A full-sized court is 78 feet long," Baladad said. "This new approach not only adjusts the racket size, which many kids have been doing for years, but also takes into consideration court size, net height, ball speed, weight and type, and the scoring system for the different age groups."

Thirty-five facilities across the country were selected to participate in the United States Tennis Association's pilot program last year. Midtown Tennis Club in Chicago was among them. After finding success, the club implemented 36/60 companywide, including at its Midtown Athletic Club in Palatine.

"They've been doing this for about 20 years in Europe, mainly in Belgium, France, Spain and England," said Todd Johnson, head tennis professional at the Midtown Athletic Club. "With their 2008 Quick Start program, the USTA hopes to have it in 1,200 clubs nationwide."

Indeed, the popularity of 36/60 is growing. Johnson said it has been well received at Midtown.

"The kids love it," Johnson said. "They are hopeful when they start playing tennis right away instead of doing drills. It's neat to see them improve so quickly."

That improvement is due to beginning players, ages 8 and younger, starting on a 36-foot by 18-foot court using foam balls, with rackets up to 23 inches and a 2-foot, 9-inch net. When ready, the net gets 3 inches higher, the court grows by 24 feet in length and 3 feet in width for singles, and players use low compression balls.

Scoring is also forgiving, which can build confidence. This prepares children to play on a full-size court by age 12.

"Initially, some children and parents are skeptical about the small court and different balls," Baladad said. "They feel like it is not real tennis until they watch their kid's development on the 36-foot or 60-foot court and see how much their kid's game looks like the pros."

One of those parents is Lisa Tenuta of Mount Prospect whose son, Nick, is taking the course. Although 8-year-old Nick has already taken standard tennis lessons, she feels the 36/60 will heighten his experience.

"It gives him an opportunity to play on a court sized for him," she said. "It's impossible for a child to strike at baseline consistently and get the ball over the net. Bringing the baseline closer allows for the ball to go over the net and that gives a child confidence that they can play the game."

Nick does see pluses to the 36/60 format.

"With the smaller court it's easy to get the ball and come up to the net," he said. "The racket is light and has a smaller grip and it makes it easy to swing. The big balls are fun to play with and I can play anywhere with them -- at home in my driveway, against my big brother Ralphie or on the tennis court."

"I think Nick will gain more learning tennis this way than my older son did learning the traditional way," Tenuta said.

36/60 by the numbers

Age 8 and younger

• Court size: 36 by 18 feet

• Racket size: Up to 23 inches

• Ball: Foam

• Net height: 2 feet, 9 inches

• Scoring: Best of three games, first to 7 points in each game

Ages 10 and younger

• Court size: 60 by 21 feet for singles, 60 by 27 for doubles

• Racket size: Up to 25 inches

• Ball: Low compression

• Net height: 3 feet

• Scoring: Best of two sets of first to four games, with third set (first to 7 points)

Where to find it

• River Trails Tennis Center, 2831 Malmo Drive, Arlington Heights, (847) 593-0580, www.RiverTrailsTennis.net

• Midtown Athletic Club, 1760 N. Hicks, Palatine, (847) 991-4646, www.midtownclubs.com

• Midtown Tennis Club, 2428 N. Elston, Chicago, (773) 235-2300, www.midtownclubs.com

• North Shore Racquet Club, 2860 Old Willow Road, Glenview, (847) 729-0450, www.northshorerc.com (modified version)