Tennis Coaching for 12 and 13 Year Olds in North London - PH Green at PH Tennis
Tennis Coaching for 12 and 13 Year Olds in North London - PH Green at PH Tennis
PH Green is where players step onto a full-size tennis court for the first time.
It's a significant moment. The court is now the same one the professionals play on, the rallies get longer, and the game starts to become genuinely sophisticated. It's also the stage where players stop simply learning tennis and start becoming a particular kind of tennis player - developing their own identity, their own style, and the shots that go with it.
Here's what PH Green involves and why it's such an important step on the pathway.
Quick Summary
Ages 12-13 · 90 minutes · Max 12 players · Full-size court · Green transition ball · LTA qualified coaches · Available at Winchmore Hill, Southgate and Enfield
PH Green moves players onto a full-size court using a green transition ball - 25% slower and 25% lower bouncing than a standard ball. This lets players cover the bigger court and sustain longer, higher-quality rallies. The focus shifts to developing an individual playing identity and mastering trajectory - one of the most game-changing concepts in tennis. Players progress through three levels (Green One, Two and Three - bronze, silver, gold), can enter green tournaments, and this is where our Performance Green pathway begins.
What Is PH Green?
PH Green is our programme for players aged twelve and thirteen, and it marks the move into full tennis.
For the first time, players are on a normal, full-size tennis court. But they're still using a green transition ball, which is 25% slower through the air and bounces 25% lower than a standard yellow ball.
That combination is deliberate and important. The slower ball gives players the time they need to cover the increased court size. And because the ball moves more slowly, rallies last longer - which matters more than most people realise. The longer every rally is, the better the tennis player becomes. More repetitions, more decisions, more time actually striking the ball and less time picking it up. Quality comes from volume, and the green ball is what makes that volume possible on a full court.
Developing a Player Identity
This is where PH Green really comes into its own, and it's one of the most distinctive things we do.
At this age we actively encourage players to start developing their own play style and to understand their identity as a tennis player. Broadly, players tend towards one of two instincts:
The lengthener. A player who looks to extend points - more defensive, consistently minded, happy to grind opponents down. They wait for very obvious opportunities to attack, and when in doubt, they lengthen the rally.
The shortener. A player who's more proactive - looking for options to shorten the rally, willing to take risks and gambles, taking opportunities when they arise earlier in the point.
Neither is right or wrong. They're different ways to compete, and the point is that players discover which one fits them. Understanding this identity at this age is genuinely powerful: it helps a player know the type of tennis player they want to be, and therefore exactly which shots they need to learn and develop. Rather than trying to be good at everything, they start building the game that suits them.
We don't assign these identities. We create the situations and let players find their own answers - which is how a real, owned playing style emerges rather than an imposed one.
Trajectory - The Game-Changing Concept
If PH Orange is where players learn topspin, PH Green is where they learn what to do with it.
Trajectory is one of the most important concepts in tennis, and it's deceptively simple:
• When the ball is falling, match it with a topspin shape
• When the ball is rising, match it with a slice shape
• When the ball is level or flat coming into you, play a level or flat shot back
That's it. Match the shape of your shot to the trajectory of the incoming ball.
The effect on a player's consistency is dramatic. Instead of guessing which shot to play, or forcing the same shot regardless of what's coming at them, players learn to read the ball and respond appropriately. It's genuinely game-changing, and it's the single biggest step up in shot quality and reliability that players make at this stage.
Nuancing Sensations to the Player
Here's where trajectory and identity come together - and where the coaching gets genuinely individual.
We start exploring more personal sensations, based on both the trajectory of the incoming ball *and* the player's own characteristics. Two players facing exactly the same falling ball might play it completely differently, and both would be right:
• A shortener might play a rip - aggressive, trying to hit the ball faster, taking the opportunity to shorten the point.
• A lengthener might play a roll - rolling the ball into the corner, taking less risk, but still with a topspin intention that matches the falling trajectory.
Same ball. Same trajectory principle. Different execution, because they're different players with different games. This is how we nuance the coaching to let each player generate their own play style rather than pushing everyone towards one model.
Progress, Competencies and Medals
Players continue to work through clear competencies, with three levels at this stage:
• Green One - Bronze
• Green Two - Silver
• Green Three - Gold
A medal is awarded at each level, and progress is tracked so players and parents can see exactly what's being worked on.
Worth knowing: PH Green is the top of the medal system. Once players graduate through Green, we no longer use medals - by that age, players simply aren't motivated by them, and their goals shift towards competition, level and genuine development. Green is the last stage where the medal structure applies.
Tournaments
A tournament series runs alongside PH Green, so players can enter green tournaments if they wish. It gives the coaching a purpose beyond the weekly session - somewhere to test their developing identity, apply the trajectory principles under real pressure, and compete properly.
The Performance Pathway Starts Here
PH Green is where our Performance Green pathway begins.
After PH Orange, some players will be invited into Performance Green - a more intensive route for those with the level, attitude and motivation to pursue the game more seriously. Others will continue in the PH Green sessions described here, which remain a full, high-quality programme in their own right.
Importantly, that first choice isn't a closed door. There is absolutely no reason a player can't move between the two. Players in PH Green can move across to the performance side whenever their level, attitude and motivation are right. The pathway is designed to be flexible, because players develop at different rates and commitment can grow over time.
The Coaching Approach
PH Green continues our constraints-led coaching philosophy - and at this stage it's essential. Developing a genuine playing identity is only possible if players are discovering their own solutions rather than being told what to do. We create the situations; they find the answers. That's what produces players who own their game rather than players who've been moulded into someone else's.
Session Details
Court - full-size tennis court.
Ball - green transition ball, 25% slower and 25% lower bouncing than a standard ball.
Session length - 90 minutes.
Groups - a maximum of twelve players.
Our Coaches
All PH Green sessions are delivered by LTA qualified coaches, each holding an appropriate DBS check, first aid certification and safeguarding training. They coach in PH Tennis uniform and are trained in our constraints-led methodology.
How to Get Started
As with all our programmes, we offer an extended taster period for new joiners. After the taster, PH Green runs on a monthly direct debit covering all 39 term-time lessons a year, plus access to our holiday courses for just £1 per course across ten weeks of school holidays.
Where Does PH Green Run?
PH Green runs across all three of our North London venues:
• Winchmore Hill (Firs Farm Tennis)
• Southgate
• Enfield
Convenient for families across Palmers Green, Edmonton, Cockfosters, Barnet, Potters Bar and the surrounding areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
What age is PH Green for?
Players aged twelve and thirteen.
What's a green ball?
A green transition ball is 25% slower and 25% lower bouncing than a standard yellow ball. It lets players cover a full-size court and sustain longer, better-quality rallies while they develop.
Why not just use a normal ball on a full court?
Because rallies would be far shorter. The green ball gives players the time to cover the court, which means longer rallies, more repetitions and faster improvement.
What will my child learn at this stage?
How to play on a full court, the trajectory principle (matching shot shape to the incoming ball), and crucially, how to develop their own playing identity and the shots that suit it.
My child is new to tennis - can they join at this stage?
Yes. Our coaches assess each player individually and adapt sessions so newer players are supported while still playing alongside more experienced ones.
Are there tournaments?
Yes. A green tournament series runs alongside the programme.
What's the difference between PH Green and Performance Green?
Performance Green is a more intensive pathway for players with the level, attitude and motivation to pursue the game seriously. PH Green is a full, high-quality programme in its own right. Players can move between the two as their level and motivation develop.
Are the coaches qualified?
Yes. All coaches are LTA qualified with appropriate DBS, first aid and safeguarding certifications.
How does my child progress?
Through three levels - Green One, Two and Three (bronze, silver, gold), with a medal at each. Green is the final stage of the medal system.
How do I book?
Find a PH Green session at your preferred venue on our timetable and book the taster directly. If you have questions first, submit an enquiry through our website or call us.
Book a Taster Session
If you have a twelve or thirteen year old ready to move onto a full court and start building their own game, PH Green is exactly where that happens.
Find a session at your nearest venue on our timetable and book a taster to get started.
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