funetics!

Don't miss out. Get involved.

Funetics is back!

If you're looking for a great activity for your kids, look no further!

In 2017, 20,000 children in Great Britain took part in our tennis starter course for kids. This year, lessons are open to kids aged between 4 and 11, and will be available from coaches near you, all year round. For just £25 every child will receive 6 high - quality lessons, developed by experts at the LTA, as well as a special Funetics Babolat racket, ball set, and personalised T-shirt delivered right to their door.

98% of parents have said they were happy with their child's experience - why not find out for yourself?

What's it all about?

From how to hold a racket, to developing a rally, your kid will learn all the essentials that are key to building confidence and a foundation in tennis. Age-specific activities and specially trained coaches give you the reassurance that your kid is receiving the best possible start in tennis - as well as having lots of fun and staying active in a safe, relaxed environment.

Tennis is a great way for children to learn new skills, and we encourage home practice with mum, dad, brothers and sisters so the whole family can be involved. Plus tennis is a great sport to help your child learn valuable life skills, like respect, team work, fair play and concentration.

Most importantly, they’ll be having fun and making new friends - and who knows, it may even be the start of a life-long love for tennis!

Funetics parents...

Since we launched Funetics in 2016, we’ve been overwhelmed by the response we've had from mums and dads, and demand for the course has been so high that more specially trained coaches than ever are now running them all year round.

"It was such a positive experience, I cannot praise the scheme enough. The coach was absolutely amazing and so enthusiastic."

"Both my son and daughter attended the course and loved meeting new children, learning new skills and being active! As a family we enjoyed the homework which was set each week as it was fun as a family to research things about tennis! We also enjoy all playing together."

"The coach was brilliant, made it fun for the kids and knew what he was doing."

"My son loved every minute and was really keen to carry on learning about tennis."

Book a course today

Frequently Asked Questions

Q Do I need a ClubSpark account to book onto a Funetics course?

A Yes. Once you have selected the course you wish to book your child or children onto, you will need to register for a ClubSpark account under your name (as the parent/ guardian). Please note: you must be over 16 years old to register. Alternatively, you can Sign In using your LTA Member log-in details.

You will then need to add your child or children onto your account by selecting the 'Add Player' option.

Q Why do age groups limits apply for courses?

A The coach will tailor the course content for the age group. If your child falls slightly outside of the advertised age group for the course, we would advise speaking to the coach to establish whether the course is suitable. If you agree that it is, the coach will be able to add your child onto their course and arrange for a booking completion and payment link to be sent to you.

Q My child is already a member of a club, how can they get involved?

A This initiative is aimed at kids between the ages of 4-11 who are new to tennis. We would recommend speaking to the coach at your child’s existing club to find out what other coaching programmes are available.

Q My child has special requirements, can this be supported?

A Of course; when booking onto a course there is a field where you can enter special requirements. You can also get in touch with the coach to ask them any questions you may have in advance of the course starting.

Q When will my child get their personalised kit bundle?

A Your child’s participant pack bundle, which includes a personalised t-shirt and Funetics racket and ball set, will be posted to the address provided at point of booking. We will endeavour for your bundle to reach you within 15 working days of point of booking.

Please note that your items may arrive separately and delivery timeframes may be extended dependant on stock availability.

Occasionally we may not be in a position to provide your preferred T-shirt size; in this scenario we will endeavour to send the closest matching size available. Your delivery will need to be signed for.

If you receive an incorrect or faulty item, or have any further queries regarding your delivery, please contact our distributor DMC directly at [email protected] or 01420 525516 for assistance.

Q My child can no longer attend the course, how do I cancel?

A You are able to cancel your child’s place on a course within 48 hours of booking and will receive a refund (minus fees). After this time, you can cancel your booking but will not receive a refund as the participant kit pack will be on its way to you.

Q Can I change my booking as I’ve noticed a course that suits my child better?

A If the course is run by the same provider, you can get in touch with the coach and they will be able to move your booking. If the course is by a different provider, unfortunately this is not possible. You would need to cancel your booking and re-book online. Please note: you will only be able to receive a refund (minus fees) for your initial booking if you cancel it within 48 hours of booking.

Q Will I be involved as a parent?

A Yes, we are very much encouraging involvement from parents and there will be an opportunity to get on court with your child during a session (or sessions). Please ask the coach for more details.

If you want even more in on the fun, why not check out Tennis Xpress – an introductory course to tennis for adults!

Q The course running at the venue closest to me is fully booked, what can I do?

A If there are no alternative venues near you with available spaces, we would advise booking a place on your local course’s waiting list. There is no charge to join a waiting list. If a place becomes available on the course or the provider adds a new course, you will be notified by email of the course details and will have 48 hours to accept or decline the place for your child. If you accept, you will be taken to the payment stage to complete your booking.

Q Are there any venues where I can play with my kids in addition to the course?

A Yes, absolutely. You may be able to play at the venue where your course is taking place so chat to the coach first. If the venue doesn’t work for your timings, there are plenty of free council park courts where you can play.

If you need a racket, check out whether you can borrow one from the coach first but if not many high street retailers stock an affordable range of rackets.

Q What happens after the course if I want my child to carry on playing?

A The venue you attend will have an offer available to help all kids involved to continue to play. We would recommend speaking to the coach who will be able to advise you further on this. If you still have questions on how your child can continue to play after the course, please don’t hesitate to give the LTA a call on 0208 487 7000.

Q I’ve tried to book my child onto a second course but it won’t let me, why is this?

A A child is only able to attend one 6 week Funetics course. We’d recommend getting in touch with the coach from the original course to ask about alternative coaching programmes or offers they can recommend.

Q We missed out on Funetics last year as courses were full; why is there now a charge?

A Some children missed out on a place on a course due to high demand and this is one of the areas we wanted to address. We want any child in the country to learn how to play tennis and get everything they need for a low cost. Introducing a small fee allows the LTA to grow and sustain the programme creating more opportunities to play, in more locations, all year round.

We have enhanced the children’s pack this year to include a personalised Funetics t-shirt with their name or initials on, alongside a Funetics racket and ball set which will be posted directly to them. The whole package including lessons will be available for a cost of £25 equating to just over £4 per week.

Q Can I make changes to my child’s kit order or return it for an exchange if unsuitable?

A We ask that you carefully check the kit order and delivery address before completing your booking. You will receive a summary in your confirmation email. If you do need to make any changes, you can log into your ClubSpark account to make edits within 48 hours of booking. After 48 hours, you will no longer be able to make any changes as your kit order will be being processed.

Items from your kit order cannot be returned if unsuitable. We can only accept returns for wrong or faulty items. We would ask you, in the unlikely event this were to occur, to contact our distributor for assistance on 01420 525516 or [email protected].

Please note that your items may arrive separately and delivery timeframes may be extended dependant on stock availability. Occasionally we may not be in a position to provide your preferred size; in this scenario we will endeavour to send the closest matching size available. See our terms and conditions.