HLK U10
Tennis for kids
U10 tennis coaching is designed for children under 10 years old. HLK’s U10 coaching offers various options for participation. There is family tennis for the youngest players, evening and weekend practices for those approaching preschool age, and for school-aged children, there are additional practice sessions available in the afternoons after school.
The children’s coaching is kept fun and safe to ensure a secure learning environment. Tennis helps develop motor and physical skills as well as social skills in children quite effectively. Our goal is to create a foundation for a lifelong passion for tennis and for children to enjoy an active environment. The guiding principle of our coaching is to teach children to play tennis. Tennis can be played and enjoyed at many different levels.
Child-Parent (Family Tennis) (2020-2023)
HLK Family Tennis is a weekly activity designed for both the child and their guardian to enjoy together, with the goal of introducing tennis under the guidance of an HLK coach. One of the objectives of Family Tennis is to inspire both the child and the guardian to engage in tennis-like activities together outside of the scheduled sessions. In Family Tennis, the guardian has the opportunity to build a “play bank,” allowing them to practice the games learned during the sessions with their child even off the court. Read more about Family Tennis.
U10 Evening/Weekend (born 2014-2020)
In the U10 evening and weekend practice sessions, tennis is practiced either on weekdays between 5 PM and 7 PM or on weekends. Each practice session lasts for one hour. The groups are organized based on age and skill level. A second session time can generally be requested only for those born between 2017 and 2020, while older players are encouraged to join the afternoon practice groups.
The goal of these practices is to develop basic physical skills that support tennis, learn to work within a group, and understand the fundamentals of tennis. The first practice session can be attended without any commitment, and new players can join mid-season as well.
For the first tennis session, you’ll need indoor sports clothing, tennis or indoor sports shoes, and a water bottle filled with water. A tennis racket can be borrowed for the practice session if needed. The coach will provide guidance on purchasing a racket once the decision is made to continue with tennis and remain in the group.
Practice times
U10 evening and weekend practice sessions are held at Meilahti on Tuesdays and Wednesdays between 5 PM and 7 PM, as well as on weekends. In Tapiola Tennis Park, practices take place on Mondays and Thursdays between 5 PM and 7 PM.
U10 Afternoon (born 2014-2017)
U10 Afternoon Practice Sessions are scheduled on weekdays between 1 PM and 4 PM. Practices are held at Meilahti from Monday to Friday and at Tapiola Tennis Park from Monday to Thursday. When forming groups, both the player’s previous experience and age are considered. U10 Afternoon Practices offer suitable levels for players of all skill levels, and players can participate 1 to 3 times per week.
U10 Practice Fees & Rules
Please review our rules and fee structure before applying.
More information about HLK’s U10 activities: Esa.kinnunen@hlk.fi
How do I join
You can apply to participate in the activities at Tennisclub.
Instructions for registration can be found here in Finnish.
Also check out HLK’s U10 Pikkudinot (born 2017-2019) and Dinojengi (born 2014-2016) groups and check out our social media.
The most common questions
At what age can one start playing tennis? You can start tennis as early as 2-3 years old with a parent in HLK’s Family Tennis. For U10 evening or weekend practices, you can join at age 4.
Do I need my own racket for the sessions and what gear is required for practice? For the initial sessions, you don’t need to bring your own racket; you can borrow one from the coach. However, we recommend purchasing your own racket once you have received advice from the coach on which type is best. Playing with your own racket is more enjoyable. For practices, normal indoor sports clothing and shoes are sufficient.
How do I register for the activities? Registration is done on the www.tennisclub.fi website. If you already have an account, log in and find the “Season Registration” section on the left sidebar, where you can access the registration forms. If you do not have an account yet, register as a user and select HLK as your club to proceed with the registration as described above. For more detailed instructions.
I would like to try participating in competitions, but I’m not sure if I’m ready. It’s great that you want to try participating in competitions! You can start competing as soon as you are comfortable with playing and rallying with a partner in practice sessions. Club competitions are an excellent way to meet new friends and gain experience. Feel free to ask your coach for more information.
The season is underway; can I still join mid-season? Yes, you can! We will check for available spots in the groups and offer these to you.
Locations
The Meilahti Sports Center opened in September 2008. The center features eight tennis courts (3 indoors and 5 in an air-supported dome), ten badminton courts, and a Unisport gym. The center also includes a café and a pro shop selling the latest Wilson products. Changing rooms, equipped with a sauna, are located in the indoor hall. All our tennis courts have a Plexipave surface. In the summer, the air-supported domes are retracted, allowing tennis to be played on excellent outdoor courts.
Tapiola Tennis Park is known for its pleasant and cozy “club” atmosphere. The indoor facility boasts seven Greenset indoor courts. During the outdoor season, tennis is played on well-maintained clay courts, of which there are four. There is a free parking area for drivers with ample parking space.
