Play Tennis
National Tennis Centre
Tennis Ireland offers public access to both the indoor and outdoor facilities of the National Tennis Centre at Albert College Park at selected times during the day and evening. We currently have four indoor hardcourts, three clay courts (seasonally covered) and three outdoor hardcourts available to book in advance for members of the public. All courts are floodlit, and Tennis Ireland also offers to change and shower facilities on-site.
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Getting Started
Tennis is a fun and enjoyable sport accessible to a wide range of individuals, regardless of age, gender, or fitness level.
It can be played in various settings, including public parks, clubs, and indoor facilities. It’s a sport for life and offers the flexibility to adapt to different age groups and skill levels.
The equipment is relatively affordable and readily available, making it accessible to many people.
Participation in the game contributes to overall health and well-being and helps improve flexibility, cardiovascular fitness, muscular strength, speed, agility, and coordination. Regular play helps to manage weight, reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, and promote bone strength.
In addition, playing tennis releases endorphins, which can enhance mood, reduce stress, and improve mental well-being.
Tennis is very much a social sport as well and allows participants to engage with others. Whether playing singles or doubles, participants can meet new people, build friendships, and develop a sense of camaraderie.
The game offers opportunities for both recreational/leisure and competitive involvement. Whether you prefer casual matches with friends or aspire to participate in tournaments and leagues, tennis provides options for players of different ambitions and skill levels, providing opportunity for various social interactions.
Diversity & Inclusion
Tennis Ireland is delighted to present our second cycle of ‘She Leads – Young Women Leadership Programme’. ‘She Leads’ will give representatives from each county of Ireland the opportunity to discuss and collaborate on how to grow tennis for young Irish women, empower future leaders in our sport and provide a platform for them to voice their opinions and bring about effective change. Representatives could be nominated by their clubs, potentially junior representatives on committees, junior captains or young committee members (i.e. potential future leaders in clubs).
Rules of tennis
Download the ITF Rules of Tennis App for Apple or Android
Equipment & modifications of the game
Tennis Ireland works closely with our World Governing Body, the ITF, on many projects, including their Tennis Play and Stay campaign, which aims to promote tennis as easy and fun, and ensures all starter players can serve, rally and score from their first lesson.
Fundamental to the campaign is the use of slower balls by coaches and organisers of play and competition for starter players, ensuring that their first tennis experience is a positive one, where players can play the game.
To support the concept, programmes like Tennis Xpress for youth and adults and Tennis 10’s for young children were developed, which promote play on smaller courts with slower red, orange, and green balls.
The programmes are a fun way to start tennis and make it easy for all participants to play the game, develop a good technical base and tactical awareness and, indeed, a love for our sport.
Although the tables below represent an age group for each colour code, it’s important for organisers of play and competition to use the modified version of the game for all participants, including teenagers and adults as well as young children.
So, the Red, Orange, Green, Yellow (ROGY) concept should be applied according to ability rather than age.
Appendix 1 of the ITF Rules of Tennis reminds us that the green ball may be used for all levels of competitive play except for world-ranking professional tennis events and team competitions like the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup.
The National Associations can decide which competitive events should use the green ball.
Colour Guides
Age
5-8
Court Size & Net Height
10.97m – 12.8m long 4.88m – 6.1m wide 3m or 6m mini net 80cm high net.
Ball
Red ball 25% compression of yellow ball 8cm diameter. Foam for inside
Rackets
9″ – 23″ length
Rule Adaptations
Serve
Can be underarm with one bounce, no bounce or overarm
Scoring
Assitance (helpers or clothes pegs/cones) can be used
Calling score
Encourage children to call out score before each point
Lines
Helpers can assist with calling the lines
Etiquette
Children shake hands after each match. Parents Coaches & Players sign the relevant Code of Behaviour
Formats & Rules
Length of match
First to 7 points or up to 5-minute matches
Type of scoring
1,2,3,4 etc. – Sudden death at 6-6 – Finish the point you’re on when the 5 – minute whistle goes
Serving Format
Serves for 2 points, receive for 2 points – Serve from the left then the right-hand side
Equipment required
Red nets/tape – Red balls – Marker lines to mark courts – 19″, 21″, 23″ racquets – Cones or clothes pegs to assist children with scoring
