2-on-1 Tennis

Summary

This activity provides a fun and unique way to practice tennis strokes.

Materials

cone, tennis racquet, one ball per three students

Background for Teachers

Scoring in Tennis
Each game is scored in the following way. Love means zero; the first point scored is 15, the second point 30, the third point 40, and next point is game. A player needs to win a game by two points, so if the score is 40-40 it's called deuce, and then the next player to win a point has what's called advantage. If the same player wins the next point, the game is over. If he loses it, the score returns to deuce.

Sets and Matches
Generally, people play a set, or best out of three sets. The first person to win six games wins the set, so the smallest number of games in a set would be six (if the score were 6-0). However, to win a set you must win by two games, so if the score is 5-5, the set will go on till someone wins by two (7-5, 8-6, etc.), kind of like extra innings in baseball. In many competitions, players play a tiebreaker if the set is tied 6-6 instead of fighting it out for a two-game lead.

Student Prior Knowledge

Knowledge of tennis grip, different methods of striking and catching, fielding, and throwing skills.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Students will obtain striking, catching, and fielding skills, as well as improve their hand/eye coordination. Also, retrieving errant throws is a core component of this activity.

Instructional Procedures

• Using an open area, outdoors preferred, divide the students into groups of three.
• One will pitch the ball, one will be the fielder and one will be the "batter."
• When the ball is struck, the batter runs around the cone as many times as they can before the ball returns to the pitcher. Incomplete laps do not count.
• The batter performs the following tennis skills before the players take place:
  • single and two-handed forehand
  • single and two-handed backhandb
  • overhead smash
  • lob
  • dropshot
• Scores may be 1,2,3 etc. or teach them love, 15 etc. as well as sets and match.
  (See scoring information in the Background for Teachers section.)

Strategies for Diverse Learners

Using the large striking surface of the racquet should increase chances of successfully contacting the ball. Lower grades may even use a beach ball or similar type ball.