Cities Academy
Minneapolis’ Premier Tennis Academy
Age Four to Eighteen ❘ All Skill & Experience Levels
Overview
Cities Academy is InnerCity Tennis’s year-round youth program, welcoming players ages four to eighteen of every ability, from first-timers to soon-to-be college athletes, into one community.
Levels & Advanced Programs
Cities Academy’s player pathway leads through six “levels,” from Level Six up to Level One. Registration for Levels Six through Three is largely determined by age, while Levels Two and One are distinguished by level of play and experience. In addition, some Level Five, Level Four, and Level Three groups are noted as “w/ Advanced Group.” In summary, and with reference to program structure prior to Fall 2026:
- Level Six – Red Ball – Age 4-6 – Developing Players.
Replaced 6U Red Ballers. - Level Five – Red Ball – Age 6-8 – Developing Players.
Replaced 8U Red Ballers. - Level Five w/ Advanced Group – Red Ball – Age 6-8 – Developing & Advanced Players.
Combined two programs: 8U Red Advanced and 8U Red Ballers. - Level Four – Orange Ball – Age 8-10 – Developing Players.
Combined two 10U programs: Orange Crushers 1 and 2. - Level Four w/ Advanced Group – Orange Ball – Age 8-10 – Developing & Advanced Players.
Combined three 10U programs: Orange Advanced, Orange Crushers 1, and Orange Crushers 2. - Level Three – Green Ball – Age 10-12 – Developing Players.
Combined two 12U programs: Green Machines 1 and Green Machines 2. - Level Three w/ Advanced Group – Green Ball – Age 10-12 – Developing & Advanced Players.
Combined three 12U programs: Green Advanced, Green Machines 1, and Green Machines 2. - Level Two – Yellow Ball – Age 12-18 – Developing Players.
Combined two 18U programs: Yellow Acers 1 and 2. - Level One – Yellow Ball – Age 12-18 – Advanced, Competitive Players Only.
Replaced High Performance.
Development Programs Registration → | Advanced Programs Registration → | See below for more information.
Colors
Over the last few decades — though after many of today’s parents learned tennis as children — the USTA has developed and demonstrated the efficacy of using different color balls, of differing size and weight, to support young player development. These red, orange, green, and yellow balls are designed to be age-appropriate. It is an extremely effective tool, and our programs are tagged accordingly.
Cities Academy’s core are its coach-led group training sessions, each lasting 60-90 minutes, and each meeting once a week for the duration of a season. There are seven seasons youth are able to participate in throughout the year. They typically last about seven weeks:
- Early / Late Fall
- Early / Late Winter
- Early / Late Spring
- Summer (several, commonly shorter)
Cities Academy Sessions take place seven days a week. Most players sign up for one day a week for a season, with roughly one-quarter doing more. Use the filters in our schedule to see programs that fit your player. E.g.
InnerCity Tennis coaches are nationally accredited and bring years of on-court teaching experience. Their curriculum draws on the USTA’s Net Generation framework and ICT’s own developmental methods, adapted to each player and group.
Cities Academy is about more than tennis: alongside skills, coaches work on the core values of enthusiasm, integrity, perseverance, respect, responsibility, service, and teamwork—so you’ll often see them asking questions and prompting reflection that carries beyond the court.
Scholarships are available to all young athletes needing financial assistance. Scholarship amounts / rates are determined by documented family capacity.
In addition, InnerCity Tennis hosts one of the founding USTA Foundation Excellence Teams, providing high potential athletes with financial need additional support – e.g. travel, tournament entry, equipment and more.
See the Scholarships & The Excellence Team to learn more about both.
“Cities Academy” most commonly refers to ICT’s coach-led group training sessions. But two additional elements of Cities Academy exist:
- Conditioning – our Level 1 sessions are commonly preceded or followed by a 30-minute conditioning period.
- Open Match Play – taking place on weekend nights and during other out-of-school hours, Youth Open Match Play allow players to get low-stakes match time in a coach facilitated manner.
Registration
Registration opens 10 weeks in advance for Junior Members, and 8 weeks in advance for youth who hold a Public Membership.
Registration takes place through CourtReserve. If creating a Court Reserve account for the first time, parents should create a Head of Household account first, then add youth to their account as family members. Additional help on Court Reserve can be found here.
Contact
Contact juniors@innercitytennis.org with program questions and info@innercitytennis.org for registration help.
The Levels
Cities Academy’s player pathway runs through six levels, the first four grouped by age with the final two distinguished by competitive play experience. Each level is one community that brings together a range of abilities, with court assignments and coaching priorities differentiated by experience and skill level.
Advanced Group & Level One
Within Levels Five through Three (for youth aged 6-12), some sessions include an Advanced Group. These sessions run only a limited number of times per week, assuring that advanced players – those who are engaged in competitive play – in each age group can train and compete together. Regardless of whether the session hosts an Advanced Group, all Level Six through Level Two sessions are open and welcoming to every registrant.
Level One (12–18) is exclusively for advanced, competitive yellow ball players — those who compete in UTR events, USTA tournaments, or on their high school team. It, too, runs only a limited number of times per week.
What to Expect
A welcoming first step onto the court, built around the athletic ABCs—agility, balance, and coordination—and plenty of hand-eye work through tossing, catching, and sending the ball. Using a soft red ball on a short court, players learn to keep a rally going, find their ready position, and pick up the basics of the game, from “in and out” to giving their best effort and taking turns. Complete beginners and children with a head start learn together, and everyone leaves with the confidence and coordination to keep going.
What to Expect
Players start to look like tennis players—rallying with a partner, moving in different directions and recovering to the middle, and swinging low-to-high toward a target with a proper grip. Red balls and right-sized racquets keep everyone succeeding, and because skills vary across the group, coaches adjust so newcomers and more experienced players are equally challenged. Alongside strokes, players build their athletic base and the habits—effort, listening, and fair play—that prepare them for orange-ball rallies and live points.
What to Expect
On a larger court, the game comes together: players rally with control, add a serve and return, keep score, and play real points. Coaches sharpen footwork and shot direction, introduce spin and doubles, and help each player compete with a growing sense of the game. The group spans a range of abilities—some finding their footing, others already competing—so instruction is differentiated to keep everyone progressing toward the green ball and full-court tennis.
What to Expect
On a full court and with a livelier ball, players develop depth, direction, and the spin and shape that make shots hold up under pressure. They learn to serve with placement, move forward to volley and hit overheads, handle passing shots, and read a doubles point—while also picking up match craft like scoring a tiebreak, court etiquette, and coping with winning and losing. Experience ranges widely here, and coaching is tailored so each player keeps improving and builds toward yellow-ball match play and, for many, their first school-team tryouts.
What to Expect
Level 2 is for middle and high school players who are developing their games, but not yet competing at a high youth level. If unsure between Levels 2 and 1, choose Level 2; our coaches will evaluate your play and move you if appropriate.
Players step up to the standard yellow ball on a full court and focus on the things that win matches: consistency, shot selection, point construction, and the mental side of competing. This level welcomes a range, from players new to the yellow ball to solid intermediates, and coaching differentiates by skill so everyone is challenged within one team. It’s built to prepare players to make a high school team, get their feet under them with USTA or UTR events, and, when ready, step up to Level 1.
What to Expect
Our most advanced level is for committed competitors—players who regularly compete in UTR events, play USTA tournaments, or who have already made and competed on a high school team.
Training sharpens advanced technique, tactics, mental toughness, and fitness through focused practice and regular match play. With coaching differentiated by skill, one community holds players working to move up the varsity ladder with others aiming to play in college, including at the Division I level.
Upcoming Sessions
Cities Academy’s annual calendar is built around six seasons.
- Early Fall Season – Begins the week after Labor Day.
- Late Fall Season – Begins in late October, the week after the Girl’s HS State Tournament.
- Early Winter Season – Begins the week after New Year’s
- Late Winter Season – Begins in mid February.
- Early Spring Season – Begins in late March, beginning concurrently with the Boy’s HS Season.
- Late Spring Season – Begins in late April.
- Summer Season – Begins in early June; the week following the Boy’s HS State Tournament. Is actually several mini-seasons
Frequently Asked Questions
What is your refund and cancellation policy?
All refund and cancellation policy details may be found on our about page, here.
How do I register for classes?
You can register online through Court Reserve. If you have issues registering for a particular class, email juniors@innercitytennis.org.
What class should my child register for?
We suggest all players start based on their current age regardless of experience level. Coaches will reach out to parents when they feel players are ready to progress to the next level.
What if the session has already started?
If space is available, kids may join the session at any time, your cost will be prorated automatically.
What if we want to change class days or times?
Prior to one week in advance of session start parents may cancel their registration and reregister without cancellation fee. Less then one week before a session or during a session, parents may contact juniors@innercitytennis.org and we will help as possible.
Do you have additional questions? Please feel free to reach out to us at juniors@innercitytennis.org.