Starting next week, there’s a new set of tennis classes for children that are being held in Holland Park – Puppy Tennis! Suitable for boys and girls aged from 18 months to five years – otherwise known as ‘pups’! – the classes will not only teach your child to play tennis, but will also serve as a way of improving coordination and taking on other key learning skills, all in a safe and fun environment.

Group coaching classes last 45 minutes per session, with six and twelve week bookings available from 5th November 2013; children can begin their sessions any week from then. The classes cost £72 for a six week session, or £144 for a twelve week one; there is a maximum of eight children per class.

Classes take place on a mini court, using mini rackets and sponge balls. As well as fun movement drills and hitting the sponge balls across the mini net at targets, the youngsters will be taught the basics of tennis with regards to the court, tennis scoring, different shots and simple tennis techniques. There will also be match play and imaginative tennis throughout! Week by week specifics can be found at the Puppy Tennis Course Guide.

All tennis equipment and rackets will be provided; the tennis pups just need to bring their own trainers and a water bottle to join in.

As well as classes on the tennis courts in Holland Park, there are also sessions available at Bishops Park Tennis Centre in Fulham SW6. It’s also possible to book Puppy Tennis as a kids’ party, or to book individual coaching sessions.

Puppy Tennis was founded by Katharine Brown, who has coached tennis for nine years and grew up as a national junior tennis player. She’s also a fully qualified British LTA coach, is CRB checked and First Aid trained.

For full details on Puppy Tennis, please see www.puppytennis.com.