JUNIOR TENNIS
AATA JUNIOR TENNIS
The AATA recognizes that Junior Tennis Players are the future of our sport!
We love kids and want to see a racquet in the hand of as many as possible!
We have many opportunities for Juniors from age 5-18.
The Amarillo Area Tennis Association (AATA) is dedicated to growing and promoting junior tennis by offering a variety of programs that cater to players of all skill levels.
Junior Team Tennis provides young athletes with the opportunity to develop their skills in a fun, team-based environment while competing against other players in the area.
QuickStart Tennis is designed for beginners, using modified courts, racquets, and balls to help children learn the fundamentals in an engaging and accessible way.
Tennis Play Days offer a relaxed, non-competitive setting where juniors can practice and gain match experience.
For those looking to compete, Junior Tournaments provide structured opportunities to test their abilities and improve their rankings. During the summer, Summer Camps give young players an immersive experience to refine their technique, strategy, and fitness.
Additionally, Ladder Play allows juniors to challenge others and climb the rankings in a fun and competitive format. Through these programs, AATA fosters a love for tennis while developing the next generation of players in the Amarillo area.
TEAM TENNIS
Amarillo Area Junior Team Tennis is organized and provided by the AATA, under the rules and direction of the USTA. For information or to join a Junior Team Tennis League see links at sidebar or contact the Amarillo Area JTT Coordinator, Donna Sellers at 806-236-7827 or donna@amarilloareatennis.org
USTA Junior Team Tennis brings kids together in teams to play singles and doubles against other teams. It promotes social skills and important values by fostering a spirit of cooperation and unity, as well as individual self-growth. Also, it’s a fun environment for kids in which they learn that succeeding is really more about how they play the game – win or lose.
How Does it Work?
Junior Team Tennis is designed for kids ages 10-18. They are immediately placed on teams. Matches are held at Amarillo National Tennis Center and Rebel Tennis Center on Sundays for JTT.
Our Quick Start program is designed for ages 6-10 beginner and intermediate and they will have instructional program on Sunday's as well.
They are divided by the following age and play levels.
Quick Start Program
8 & Under (QuickStart) beginner and intermediate instructional
10 & Under (Quickstart) beginner instructional
Junior Team Tennis Program
Match Play: 10 & Under green dot (must serve from the baseline and keep score)
12 & Under yellow ball
14 & Under yellow ball
JUNIOR EVENTs
*Local Junior Events*
Amarillo Nat'l Tennis Center Junior Programs
After School Programs
Summer Camps
Call ANTC for information on how to sign up to play: 806-359-2090
Rebel Tennis Center
Junior groups and lessons
Summer Programs
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Questions:
Coach Tim Cochran
806-674-8297
tenncoach1@gmail.com
AATA SCHOLARSHIPS
The AATA is proud to offer a minimum of $500 scholarships to area high school seniors planning on attending college that have played either high school tennis or USTA tennis.
In 2024 we gave 7-$500 scholarships to qualified candidates.
Applications will open January 15th and will be due March 15, 2025. For questions please email Donna@amarilloareatennis.org or call 806-236-7827. Click here for application – please print, follow instructions and mail to AATA, P.O. Box 8556, Amarillo, TX 79114
10 & UNDER TENNIS
What?
10 and Under Tennis using the QuickStart Tennis play format takes a new and better approach to introducing kids to the game. Balls are lower in compression; they bounce lower and don't move as fast so they are easier to hit. This allows kids time to get to the ball and helps them develop optimal swing patterns. Racquets are sized for small hands, and the courts are smaller and easier to cover. All that equals more fun and less frustration. Full sized courts can be reconfigured to accommodate up to six 36-foot courts, so instead of waiting in line, kids can spend their time playing.
WHY?
10 and Under Tennis follows the same logic as other youth sports like baseball or soccer: kid-sized courts and kid-sized equipment. The benefits are immediate. Within an hour kids are rallying, having fun and psyched for more. They're playing real tennis and having real fun. And isn't that the point.
HOW AND WHERE?
Our JTT program includes the Quickstart format for the 10 & Under group. AATA runs a Spring and Fall program. Please go to the links on the right to see when and where those programs are happening.
Kid’s Inc. is also running a tennis program for 10 & Under and that will be happening in April. There is a link to that as well on the right.
The common theme with each of these types of play? Play. Get kids playing with the right racquets and low compression balls, and let them have fun.
For more information and questions, please contact our Coordinator: donna@amarilloareatennis.org
Alex O'Brien Foundation
The Alex O’Brien Foundation was founded by area tennis pro Alex O’Brien.
Alex started the foundation with the intention of encouraging and enabling the youth of Amarillo to play tennis.
They have also teamed up with Kids, Inc. to offer tennis at an affordable cost to a wider variety of youth that otherwise would not have that opportunity. Kid’s Inc. tennis will be Saturdays during the month of April.
Thanks Alex for all you do for tennis in Amarillo!
MEDIA
