About
Junior Tennis Programs offers tennis programs with beginning, intermediate, and advanced level lessons. Beginning level lessons focus on learning the basics of all strokes, including forehand and backhand groundstrokes, forehand and backhand volleys, overheads, and serves, and are taught using compression balls. Intermediate and advanced level lessons continue stroke development and introduce more complex skills such as spin, strategy, and match play concepts, with intermediate classes sometimes using a mixture of compression and yellow balls and advanced classes using yellow balls.
The program is part of the Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District, whose mission is to provide high-quality park and recreation facilities, programs, services, and natural areas that meet the needs of the diverse communities it serves. The leadership team includes Troy Christiansen as Center Supervisor; Jim Rankin, CPRP, as Program Coordinator; Amethyst Mckenzie as Office Tech; Anju Babaria as Customer Engagement Representative; and Gary May as Maintenance Tech. Staff credentials specifically note Jim Rankin as CPRP.
Tennis programs are divided by age and level. Beginning level lessons are for players who are new to tennis or have had little to no instruction and use compression tennis balls that travel slower so players can work on fundamentals in a more controlled environment. Red compression balls, which are slightly larger than yellow tennis balls, are used at beginning levels and are designed for 36-foot courts, or the distance between the service lines on either side of the net. Orange compression balls are smaller than red balls, travel significantly slower than a yellow ball, and are designed for 60-foot courts, where the baseline is roughly halfway between the service line and the full-court baseline; some courts, including Cedar Park, have lines for 60-foot courts. Green dot compression balls are the same size as yellow balls but lower compression, are generally yellow with a green dot, and are designed for use on a full-size court while still traveling slightly slower than a yellow ball. As players move up levels, they transition to faster balls.
Intermediate level players work on refining technique and developing consistency in all strokes, with topspin and slice on groundstrokes introduced at this stage. Intermediate players are introduced to match scoring, positioning for singles and doubles, and basic strategy, and need to be proficient at hitting on the run and maintaining both groundstroke and volley rallies to advance beyond this level. Advanced level 3 players continue to refine their strokes and improve consistency, with spin on groundstrokes emphasized and slice and topspin serves introduced. At level 4, the focus shifts more to strategic and mental aspects of the game while technical stroke work continues, and players at level 4 are ready to compete in beginner and intermediate level tournaments. If a child uses a certain type of compression ball in class, the program recommends purchasing the same type of ball for practice.
Last updated January 6, 2026.
The program is part of the Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District, whose mission is to provide high-quality park and recreation facilities, programs, services, and natural areas that meet the needs of the diverse communities it serves. The leadership team includes Troy Christiansen as Center Supervisor; Jim Rankin, CPRP, as Program Coordinator; Amethyst Mckenzie as Office Tech; Anju Babaria as Customer Engagement Representative; and Gary May as Maintenance Tech. Staff credentials specifically note Jim Rankin as CPRP.
Tennis programs are divided by age and level. Beginning level lessons are for players who are new to tennis or have had little to no instruction and use compression tennis balls that travel slower so players can work on fundamentals in a more controlled environment. Red compression balls, which are slightly larger than yellow tennis balls, are used at beginning levels and are designed for 36-foot courts, or the distance between the service lines on either side of the net. Orange compression balls are smaller than red balls, travel significantly slower than a yellow ball, and are designed for 60-foot courts, where the baseline is roughly halfway between the service line and the full-court baseline; some courts, including Cedar Park, have lines for 60-foot courts. Green dot compression balls are the same size as yellow balls but lower compression, are generally yellow with a green dot, and are designed for use on a full-size court while still traveling slightly slower than a yellow ball. As players move up levels, they transition to faster balls.
Intermediate level players work on refining technique and developing consistency in all strokes, with topspin and slice on groundstrokes introduced at this stage. Intermediate players are introduced to match scoring, positioning for singles and doubles, and basic strategy, and need to be proficient at hitting on the run and maintaining both groundstroke and volley rallies to advance beyond this level. Advanced level 3 players continue to refine their strokes and improve consistency, with spin on groundstrokes emphasized and slice and topspin serves introduced. At level 4, the focus shifts more to strategic and mental aspects of the game while technical stroke work continues, and players at level 4 are ready to compete in beginner and intermediate level tournaments. If a child uses a certain type of compression ball in class, the program recommends purchasing the same type of ball for practice.
Last updated January 6, 2026.
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