Junior Tennis

There’s lots for younger children and teenagers at our club.

Rathgar Tennis Club is a fun, safe and supportive environment, providing play and coaching for junior players of all ages and levels. We encourage all members to make full use of our facilities.

Junior membership of our club is a great opportunity to learn or improve your tennis, to make friends, keep healthy and most of all to have fun.

€150
Junior Membership

€150
Young Adult Membership

€585
Family Membership

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Young girl playing tennis, preparing to serve

What’s Available?

Rathgar Tennis Club’s year-round Junior Tennis Programme has lots going on including..

Individual coaching
Group coaching
Tournaments & Leagues
Casual play
Club invitationals
Tennis Camps
Comprehensive Summer Programme
Ladders and blitzes
International tennis trips
Social events (pizza nights, BBQs, seasonal parties etc.)
And much, much more…

Junior Coaching Programme

Rathgar Tennis Club’s year-round Junior Tennis Programme is led by coach Jamie Pilkington and a team of dedicated coaches and is supported by the Junior Committee.

We strive for our young players to progress through the club right through to adult tennis.

We have three terms of group lessons which follow school terms and each week we host approx. 20 group lessons.

We follow the ITF Tennis 10s initiative, using low bouncing balls and short courts for the very best learning experience. Group lessons are based on age and standard and every child is individually assessed so that they have access to the best coaching for their needs.

Rathgar Tennis Club also runs three squad groups (Junior, Senior 1, and Senior 2) and 10 squad sessions each week. These groups give our older junior players the option to take on extra classes which offer high-quality coaching and training for up to eight hours per week.

BOOK LESSONS AND SQUADS (members)

BOOK LESSONS AND SQUADS (non-members)

Swipe left for more options

Our Junior Coaches Group Lessons Overview Dates for your Diary Tennis Camps Child Protection What’s available?

Jamie Pilkington

Level 4 Coaching Certificate Tennis Ireland

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Claire Keogh

Junior Coach

Luke Maguire

PTR Pro

Group Lesson Overview

Tots (Ages 4 – 6)
Skills: Focus on fun and learning basic skills including balance, coordination, ball skills and an introduction to the racket and connecting with the ball.
Red court, Red balls and mini rackets 19’-23’’
Red Ball (Ages 6-8)
Skills: Beginning to rally and work on reception and projection (throwing and catching). Starting to feature point scoring.
Red court, red balls and mini rackets from 19’-23’’
Orange Ball (Ages 8-9)
Skills: Larger court and beginning to learn both technical and tactical play.
Orange court, orange balls and mini rackets from 23’’-25’’
Green Balls (9-10)
Skills: This is the stage before using yellow balls on the full court. Working on serving, returning and rallying skills. Will see improved tennis skills and building confidence.
Full court, green balls and rackets 25’’-27’’ (full size)
Yellow Balls (11+)
Skills: Playing on the full court with the yellow ball. Can competently play a match and understand the technique and tactics of the game of tennis. Final stage before playing senior tennis.
Full court, yellow balls and 27’’ rackets.

February Mid-Term Camp	17th February to 21st February 2025
Coach on Duty	5 July – August 20 (afternoons)
Summer squad	5 July – August 20 (twice weekly)
Rathgar Junior Open	30th May to 2nd June
Rathgar Junior Club Championships	27th to 30th August

Tennis Camps

Tennis Camps are run independently of Rathgar Tennis Club by Jamie Pilkington during the summer, mid term and Easter breaks.

Summer Camps start on June 16th and run until August 22nd.

All kids will learn and advance based on their ability but the camps will concentrate on technique, tactical awareness and physical development for tennis. This will all be delivered in a full filled environment and prizes will be given on a constant basis.

Cost:

5 day camps are €120 for members and €135 for non-members. 4 day camps are €110 for members and €125 for non-members. Payments of cash, revolut or cheque only and cheques to be made payable to Jamie Pilkington.

Applications for the 2025 Summer Tennis Camps are currently open.

Summer Camps 2025

Contact

If you have any queries about any aspect of our Junior Programme or Junior Camps, please contact Jamie Pilkington.

Phone: 086 8269960

Child Protection

Rathgar Tennis Club strives at all times to provide a supportive, safe and friendly environment for tennis and has implemented a range of measures specifically to support the safeguarding and wellbeing of our junior players.

We have adopted and implemented the Tennis Ireland Code of Ethics and Good Practice for Children’s Sport.

On joining the Club or renewal of membership, all members agree to abide by the Code of Conduct and the Club’s Child Protection Policy. All members should read and become familiar with them.

Our junior coaches are Garda vetted have completed the required child protection safeguarding training.

The club’s Child Protection Officers are available should any member have any questions or require any assistance in relation to child protection in the club.