Modified & Alternative Activities
Mini Tennis:
Mini Tennis is a fun, modified version of the game, primarily used for players aged 10 and under. Mini Tennis uses shorter rackets, smaller courts, slower/softer balls and simple scoring, to ensure players of all abilities can achieve. However, Mini Tennis is a great way of also attracting partially engaged pupils and those new to tennis in secondary schools.
Mini Tennis progresses through 3 colour stages:
- Mini Tennis Red is played on smaller courts with shorter rackets and softer balls. It’s just like the real thing and gives players the chance to have long rallies and play different types of shots.
- Mini Tennis Orange is played on reduced full size tennis court, with bigger rackets and balls that are not as soft as red balls. It’s the next stage to go through before you start playing on a full sized court and it will help players develop the different shots, providing fun competition.
- Mini Tennis Green is the next step. It is played on a full tennis court, with bigger rackets and balls that are a little softer than traditional balls. It’s the next stage to go through before you start playing with a full compression yellow ball on a full sized court and it will help players work on and improve all aspects of their game.
Mini Tennis is great as the different progressions cater for all abilities and it can be played outside on a playground, or inside in a sports hall or gym.
Cardio Tennis:
Cardio Tennis is a fun group activity, featuring drills using Mini Tennis balls to give pupils of all abilities an ultimate, high energy workout.
There are activities for absolute beginners through to advanced players, all of which provide you with a great cardio workout while improving skill.
Music is played during the session to help create a high energy atmosphere and add motivation, as well as controlling the tempo of the activity. Participants are advised to wear heart rate monitors or pedometers, so they can see how hard they are working. The measure of a pupils’ success becomes their heart rate, or number of steps taken, rather than the number of balls hit over the net and in the court.
The main purpose of the session is to provide you with an enjoyable work out. It’s not about forehands and backhands, it’s about getting in to your appropriate cardio zone and getting a great workout.
Cardio Tennis was originally launched as a product for adults, however, it’s also an ideal alternative method of delivery in secondary schools – especially targeting partially engaged young people, girls and those who don’t think tennis is for them.