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NAYSI Activity Tip of the Week
June 17, 2001
No. 4
Tiny Tennis for beginners
Tiny Tennis is a game that is useful for introducing young beginners as young as 7 or 8 years of age to the sport of tennis. Teenagers and adults will find this game interesting, for a short time. It helps them all become accustomed to the racket and a bouncing ball as they develop eye-racket coordination.
In its most simple form, two players (a child and a parent for instance) tap a tennis ball back and forth to one another. This can be done over a tennis net, across any line on the court, over a bench, or over a ribbon between two chairs at home in the driveway.
For beginners, the rules are very simple. Play Tiny Tennis in one service box on each side on the net. See how many times you can pass the ball back and forth across the net. Let’s go for five. Now let’s go for 10 in a row. Do not be concerned about how many times the ball bounces or even if the ball bounces over the net. Just get the ball over the net using the racket. Make it an enjoyable cooperative game.
As racket and ball control are developed, add a few new elements. Keep the ball bouncing inside the service court. Play the game with four players using all four service courts. Repeat the idea of seeing how many consecutive taps can be done that day. Make it progressive: five taps, rest, 6 taps, rest, 7 taps, etc.
Tips: 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.
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 is a feature of www.NAYSI.com. Find a new activity 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.
