Hot Shot - My Progress
The Vida My Progress Program enables kids to monitor their progress along their tennis journey. After they have finished the Head Start program and mastering their motor skills, the My Progress program highlights and fast-tracks their development towards playing real tennis.
As the levels develop the child’s knowledge, their ability and confidence grow, enabling them to transition from the cooperative themes to play. Each achievement level comes with a certificate and is closely aligned with the national Hot Shots program.
The My Progress Program is part of the development stream and has eight levels focused on six key development learning areas of tennis:
- Ground strokes
- Rally
- Net play
- Serve and return
- Game base
- Physical development
A structured pathway to ensure your child continually develops
Our tennis lessons are structured to teach and develop the required components of each learning area within their group lessons. As the child moves through each level, they go from cooperate to play theme, ultimately being introduced to real tennis.
The Hot Shots program is incorporated into the journey using red balls for the first four levels and orange balls for the remaining four. It is also linked with the competition opportunities of Hot Shots MatchPlay using both red and orange balls.
All group lessons have lesson plans with activities linked to the stages of learning of the child. These help them achieve the required outcome to move to the next level.
Once the child has achieved the last level in the program (Match), they can continue their journey to the Junior Development Green Ball program.
Red Ball Levels
My Progress Level 15 has a cooperative theme using the Hot Shots red ball in a modified court space. It is the first level in the eight-stage program and requires the child to achieve the following in each of the six key learning areas to progress to the next level:
Ground Strokes
- Self feed a backhand and forehand (drop, bounce hit).
- Strike the ball fed from the coach
- Understand the ready position
Rally
- Self feed to a partner over the net and have the partner catch the ball with their hands
Net Play
- Volley with one or two hands on the racquet over the net with a simple blocking action
Serve and Return
- Be able to “push serve” over the net from different distances
Game Base
- Know all the lines on the tennis court
Physical Development
- Develop an efficient technique with the overarm throw
- Perform basic ladder exercises
My Progress Level 30 has a cooperative theme using the Hot Shots red ball in a modified court space. It is the second level in the eight-stage program and requires the child to achieve the following in each of the six key learning areas to progress to the next level:
Ground Strokes
- Throw the ball to the correct side (FH or BH) so their partner can strike it
- Run, change direction, and make contact with the ball
- Understand what a split step is
Rally
- Self feed over the net (the partner must use their racquet to block the ball, catch it with their hands, and then self feed back over the net from the service line)
- Understand where to recover to after hitting
Net Play
- Step forward with the correct foot on both forehand and backhand volley and use a simple blocking action
Serve and Return
- To serve using the on/off serve method and get the ball over the net from the service line
Game Base
- Understand a basic scoring method
- Know if the ball is in or out within tennis games
Physical Development
- Develop the ability to track the ball while moving
- Balance on one leg and then hop and balance on the opposite leg
My Progress Level 40 has a cooperative theme using the Hot Shots red ball in a modified court space. It is the third level in the eight-stage program and introduces Hotshots Match Play for the first time.
It requires the child to achieve the following in each of the six key learning areas to progress to the next level:
Ground Strokes
- Direct a forehand and backhand to a target area using a low to high action
- Understand the difference between a single- and double-handed backhand
- Develop an awareness of the grips in tennis
Rally
- Develop the ability to have a cooperative rally with multiple hits and bounces
- Play while preventing the ball from rolling and without using their hands (they can carry the ball on their racquet to the service line to self feed within a set time period)
Net Play
- Be able to perform a volley at different heights and positions (clock face method)
Serve and Return
- Be able to throw the ball up with the opposite hand and have the ball hit a target area on the ground consistently
- Be able to strike the ball once thrown over head from a half swing position
Game Base
- Introduction to Hotshots Red Ball Match Play
- Understand the main rules of the game
Physical Development
- Can change direction with balance
- Can skip using a rope
Level Deuce has a cooperative theme using the Hot Shots red ball in a modified court space. It is the last level in the four-stage red ball part of the program and requires the child to achieve the following in each of the six key learning areas to progress to the orange ball levels:
Ground Strokes
- Move, balance, and direct the ball to target areas in the service box
Rally
- Be able to rally from the service line with one hit and one or two bounces
Net Play
- Be able to move forward from a forehand or backhand to perform a volley
- Understand how to track, set, and hit the ball on the full
Serve and Return
- Be able to serve the ball in different directions and understand the difference between a first and second serve
Game Base
- Play honestly and fairly and show good sportsmanship
Physical Development
- Be able to perform a range of advanced ladder exercises
- Be able to coordinate two balls at the same time
Red Ball Levels
Level Advantage has a cooperative theme using the Hot Shots orange ball in a modified court space. The My Progress Advantage level is the first level in the four-stage program to use an orange ball and requires the child to achieve the following in each of the six key learning areas to progress to the next level:
Ground Strokes
- Be able to move to the ball and change grips between shots
- Understand when is the right time to hit a forehand and backhand
Rally
- Be able to have a cooperative rally with multiple bounces from three-quarter court ( player must hit the ball from where they get it on their racquet or hit it over straight away)
Net Play
- Be able to start the transition between a double-handed volley to a single-handed volley
- Be able to smash the ball fed from the coach on the full or one bounce
Serve and Return
- Be able to serve with either a half, three quarter or full back swing and get it in the correct direction from three-quarter court
Game Base
- Understand where to stand when serving in singles and doubles.
Physical Development
- Develop efficient running technique including changes in direction
Level Game has a cooperative theme using the Hot Shots orange ball in a modified court space. In this level, we introduce your child to Orange Ball Hotshots Match Play and require them to achieve the following in each of the six key learning areas to progress to the next level:
Ground Strokes
- Be able to move to the ball, get balanced, and control the shot with different speeds from three-quarter court
Rally
- Be able to have a cooperative rally with a partner from three-quarter court with a maximum of one hit and two bounces
Net Play
- Develop court awareness when at the net
- Be able to control the volley to target areas around the court using correct footwork
Serve and Return
- Be able to demonstrate a return of serve (movement and swing)
- Understand the correct position on the court to stand when returning
Game Base
- Be introduced to Orange Ball Match Play
- Understand how to score within a set/match, when to change ends, and which side to stand in doubles
Physical Development
- Be able to perform agility exercises with efficiency and understand the different movement patterns on the tennis court
Level Set has a cooperative theme using the Hot Shots orange ball in a modified court space. The My Progress Set level is the second to the last level of our My Progress Program and requires the child to achieve the following in each of the six key learning areas to progress to the next level:
Ground Strokes
- Understand the difference between open and closed stance
- Understand racquet head and butt positions on swing lines
Rally
- Be able to have a cooperative rally with a partner to different target zones from three-quarter court with one hit and two bounces
Net Play
- Understand how to ‘cross at the net’ in doubles.
- Be able to perform a split step and use correct footwork on the volley when moving
Serve and Return
- Develop an understanding of the correct serve grip
Game Base
- Understand court etiquette including bagging the court
- Be able to perform as part of a tennis team
Physical Development
- Be able to perform a lunge and squat with correct posture and technique
Level Match has a cooperative theme using the Hot Shots orange ball in a modified court space. It is the last level in our My Progress Program. Once the child completes the six stages below, they will move onto our Green Ball Next Steps Program:
Ground Strokes
- Understand the difference between topspin and slice on forehands and backhand shots
- Be able to control shots short or deep in the court.
Rally
- Be able to rally from three quarter court with one bounce and one hit for a number of shots
Net Play
- Be able to hit volleys and smashes to target areas
- Understand how to direct the ball away from the net player, including passing shots and lobs
Serve and Return
- Be able to serve with a complete balanced and rhythmical service action
- Be able to serve into the correct service box at different targets
Game Base
- Be able to give the best effort regardless of the match score or situation
- Be able to show respect for teammates, opponents, and self
Physical Development
- Be able to complete a push up with correct technique
- Be able to hold a plank position
