General: Tiny Tennis - for more advanced players

What: Tiny Tennis is a game that helps players, from beginners to the advanced, develop their soft touch skills around the tennis net. It is played using only the service courts. Tiny Tennis can be played as singles using two or four service courts, or doubles using four service courts. The backcourt and alleys are not in play.

The skills emphasized are racket control, hitting soft accurate touch shots from the forehand and backhand side, reading the opponent's racket, and quick foot movement. Younger players learn to judge where the ball will land and move to the proper position to play a bouncing ball.

During play, the ball must bounce in the service court to be considered good. However, players may move outside the service boxes to play the ball.

Balls that hit the lines during play or on serves are considered good or inbounds. Slams are not permitted at any time. Volleying can be prohibited or allowed.

Serves are done with a drop-and-hit underhand stroke from below the waist starting outside the service court. Points may not be scored by the server on the serve.

Players keep score just as they would in regular full court tennis. The server's score is announced first.

Play Tiny Tennis for beginners with used tennis balls. New tennis balls bounce more than used tennis balls. Low bouncing balls make judging the flight of the ball easier.

Tips: Youngsters can be taught the novel scoring system of tennis by starting with a 0 -1 - 2 - 3 - 4 scheme, with 4 being game. Ad scoring or advantage to the server (ad in) and advantage to the receiver (ad out) can be modified by telling the players than they must win by two points. Once they understand the 0-1-2-3-4 scoring, then simply switch them to the regular love - 15 - 30 - 40 - game scoring.

Reference: For more tennis games for children nine and younger, see Munchkin Tennis at Books, etc. at www.NAYSI.com. Cost is $14.95 plus $3.50 postage.

NAYSI Activity Tip of the Week is a feature of NAYSI. Find a new activity every week that can be played at home with your kids or on the field and court with your group or team. Past issues are found in the Archive at www.NAYSI.com.

Article courtesy of NAYSI.