Little Tennis Stars growing its presence
Dionysia (Didi) Paronis is helping children from 18 months to three years share her love for tennis.
Getting 18 month-3 year olds to move in a co-ordinated fashion is no child’s play, but Dionysia Paronis has made it her growing business.
Reconnecting with her love for tennis as a child, Didi set up her Little Tennis Stars business in 2017 and took to the road with it.
From 100 children that year, she has now coached more than 1000 children through her own Petite Program (18 mother-3 year olds) in early learning centres.
She also provides coaching under the ANZ-supported Hot Shots tennis program (5-12yo) that’s run in schools and clubs.
“Petite Program fills a real gap in the market that I feel needs more options beyond soccer joeys.
“We need more doors opening to give kids and parents some diversity in sports offered to this age group.”
Didi and seven casual training staff run 50 sessions a week at 20 centres.
“We want to ideally double all those numbers but it’s about building trust and opening more doors.”
The Little Tennis Stars under-5 program currently makes up 50 per cent of her total business in a market where she has built first-mover advantage.
“I have worked hard on building this idea to bring children to love and engage with it.
“We’ve worked on every aspect, the nets, the racquets, the balls and games that make it interesting for kids that young.”
A large under-five clientele means more kids are being exposed to tennis and will pick up the sport at school, so it’s a big win for tennis and Adelaide clubs, she said.