Should Your Kid Play Up an Age Division? A Realistic Framework

Your 10-year-old is dominating the 10 & Under division. Should they jump to 12s? Your 14-year-old is competitive at the top of their age group — would 16s push them further? The decision to play up is one of the most debated topics in junior tennis, and the answer isn't as simple as "they're winning, so they should move up."

The Case for Playing Up

Playing against older, stronger, more experienced opponents can accelerate development. Your child learns to deal with bigger serves, heavier groundstrokes, and smarter tactics. They also develop mental toughness — learning to compete when they're not the favorite is a skill that pays dividends later.

The Case Against

Losing consistently can erode confidence, especially for younger players who may not have the emotional maturity to process it. There's also a physical component — a 10-year-old's body isn't built for the same kind of tennis as a 12-year-old's. Playing up too aggressively can lead to injuries or, worse, your child simply not enjoying the sport anymore.

Experiment And Check The Data

Enter one or two tournaments in the higher age group before making a permanent switch. See how your child handles it — not just the results, but their attitude and effort level. A good rule of thumb: your child should be winning roughly half to two-thirds of their matches in the higher division. If they're losing almost every match, it's too big a jump. If they're winning most, they probably need to move up permanently. On the qualitative side: Are they competing and learning, even in losses? Or are they getting discouraged and going through the motions? The quality of the experience matters more than the score.

The Mixed Approach

Many families find success with a mixed schedule — playing primarily in their own age group but entering select tournaments in the next division up. This gives your child the development benefits of tougher competition while maintaining the confidence that comes from competing against peers. We have also found this can reduce distance driven to tournaments as finding competitive players in older age brackets close to home can ease the travel burden.

Examine Your Motivation

Be honest about why you want your child to play up. Is it because they genuinely need tougher competition to develop? Or is it because you want to tell other parents your kid plays up? The first reason is valid. The second one isn't — and kids can tell the difference. Talk to your child's coach, and more importantly, talk to your child. Their buy-in matters most.