Competition

What competition should my child play at red stage?

Competition can begin for red stage players from 6 years of age, once they have the basic abilities to serve (start the rally), rally, call the lines, and score (game understanding). These skills will be developed in group and one-on-one lessons. Competitive play practice will feature in group lessons when players are training with their peers.

At the red stage, competition should largely occur in the club environments where the players train. Competing at a familiar venue with peers and being organised by their regular coaches helps keep competitive stress levels lower for 6-7 year olds.

Lavie Tennis Academy holds red stage tournaments every term at our club venues. Please sign up for our newsletter to receive announcements about these events. Red stage players are recommended to play in 1-2 events every term. For those who have participated in several red tournaments and are looking for more challenge, both Tennis Auckland and Tennis Northern regions run red tournaments that are open entry and feature a wider range of new players to compete against. These tournaments can be found at Tournament Software.

What competition should my child play at orange stage?

Competition for orange stage players can begin through two pathways from ages 7-8. First, players can move through the red stage training and competitions and progress to orange stage based on age and coach assessment. These players will be experienced at match play through red stage tournaments and will be familiar with the rules of the game and managing their own matches. Second, players who begin their tennis journey at the orange stage will look to develop the requisite serve (start the rally), rally, and game understanding (call the lines and score) skills.

Players new to competition should look to play 1-2 tournaments per term, while more committed and experienced players should aim for 2-4 tournaments. For those looking for more challenge, both Tennis Auckland and Tennis Northern regions run orange tournaments that are open entry and feature a wider range of new players to compete against. These can be found at Tournament Software.

What competition should my child play at green stage? 

Competition at the green stage opens up into two external competition pathways. Firstly, more committed players will look to enter 'regional events' run by the regions in the U10 grade. The local regions are Tennis Northern (Albany Tennis Park and Forest Hill Tennis Centre) and Tennis Auckland (Merton Road Tennis Centre). These tournaments are mostly held during school holidays and long weekends, last two to three days, and attract more players and a bigger competitive field.

Players engaging in U10 grade tournaments should also compete in one-day tournaments that are run during the term, usually on Sundays. All of these events are found at Tournament Software. It is recommended that parents create a term and annual competition schedule for their child based on their level of commitment.

Secondly, interclub is available for U10 players through association with an Auckland or Northern-based club. Please contact your local club for more information.

Tournament ‘Tiers’ and national events from U12 upwards 

From the U12 age group up through to the U18 grade, regional and national events expand significantly as commitment to tennis and competition increases.

• Tier 3 events - Players are eligible relative to their birthday. For example, a player can enter U12 Tier 3 events as long as they are 12 years old (or under).

• Tier 2 events - Players must play in their 'birth year' for these events. For example, to play U14, you must be turning 14 years (or under) in that calendar year. You cannot play if you are turning 15 (whether in January or December of that year). Tier 2 events usually draw stronger players.

• Tier 1 events - These are the strongest domestic events and attract players from all over NZ. Players must play in their 'birth year' and gain entry to these events through their WTN. These events often feature a qualifying tournament for those outside of direct acceptance to compete for a place in the main draw. These events include:

• Kiwi Clay Court Championships

• National High School Champs

• National Junior Teams Event

• Kiwi Indoors

• Junior Masters

• National Junior Champs

• Road to the ASB Classic