Bucks County Tennis Association (BCTA) played host to a national tennis pilot this spring as 29 young players participated in the Red Ball Youth League — a new program developed by the United States Tennis Association (USTA) to reshape how kids experience tennis. The league combines team competition, fast-paced games, and skill-building activities to help players ages 7–14 rally, score, and compete from the very first session.
“This was about keeping kids engaged, moving, and having fun while learning the game,” said Steve Johnson, lead coach for the BCTA, which ran the pilot program locally. “The energy and excitement on the courts every week were incredible.”
Bucks County was one of a limited number of sites nationwide selected by USTA to test this emerging youth format. With overwhelmingly positive feedback from participants and families, the BCTA is already in the planning stages to bring the Red Ball Youth League back this fall and offer even more local kids a fun first step into tennis.