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USTA Kids Courts Kickoff • tennis exhibition • 7.19.07
Andy Roddick
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America's top singles player and 2003 U.S. Open Champion Andy Roddick will be honored at the national unveiling of the United States Tennis Association's (USTA) new pilot program, "Project 36/60." Launching at Horseshoe Bay Resort, the program focuses on scaling tennis down to the size and abilities of young players.

Beginning in 2008, Project 36/60 will become the way that children under the age of 10 will be introduced to tennis in the United States. Project 36/60 will take on many forms including competitive play and practice opportunities.

Project 36/60 is tennis scaled to the size and abilities of young players. It is based on six key specifications: court size, net height, age, ball speed and weight, size of racquet and scoring. 36/60 reflects the length in feet of the courts for children under eight and ten years of age. A 36-foot court is used by eight and under children and a 60-foot court for children ten and under. This is a collaborative effort between the USTA Player Development and Community Tennis departments, TIA, USPTA, PTR, and Tennis Equipment Manufacturers.

The goals of this project are to:
• Increase the number of beginning players ages 5 to 10
• Increase the retention of players ages 5 to 10 and beyond
• Improve the technical, tactical and physical development of players ages 5 to 10

For more information, visit the USTA player development site.