The Grasshopper programme is the Tennis NZ national initiative to introduce tennis to 5-10 year olds in schools throughout the country.

The Grasshoppers programme is a games based programme that focuses on fundamental skills and provides a seamless integration in to the PE curriculum and directly links with children joining a national programme for tennis clubs.

The programme has taken elements of best practice from existing tennis in schools programmes and built on this to encompass exciting developments for children, teachers, coaches and clubs. There are 20 lesson plans for each age group, (5-7 year olds and 8-10 year olds), developed by Tennis NZ Coach Force Officers, utilising elements of existing programmes throughout the world and closely linked to the NZ National PE Curriculum.

SPARC through their Active Schools advisors have recently endorsed the Grasshoppers programme thus ensuring the quality of what is being delivered remains high for the schools and children, whilst allowing Tennis NZ to promote our sport to this broad market.

Key Components of the Grasshoppers Programme

•Games based programme - children always active, no standing in lines

•Linked to the PE Curriculum -

•Consistent framework - low cost, children active, teachers and coaches trained consistently,

•Inservice training provided for teachers and coaches

•Tennis equipment remains in the school - children "thinking tennis all the time"

•Each child receives four sessions from a Grasshoppers Accredited Coach -

•Culmination is a tournament held at the local club, thus ensuring the link to the club is enhanced

•Children provided with a certificate, which also contains local club contact details

•Creating strong links between schools, clubs and coaches.

Capital Coaching has successfully implemented this grasshopper programme at St Marks School and is actively working with Queen Margaret’s school on this and other tennis initiatives.

Contact us if you are interested and we can tailor any programme to your schools needs!