Ideas for Teaching Tennis

According to Miguel Crespo, development officer of the International Tennis Federation, "The traditional method of teaching tennis was focused on a technique or production of the strokes." This method of teaching tennis can be monotonous and does not enrich beginners' experience of the game. Because of this, other sports drew a lot more beginners and trainees. To combat this, tennis experts in recent years have developed different views, approaches and ideas for teaching the sport of tennis.

  1. Game Based Approach

    • The Game Based Approach, or GBA Tennis, immerses the students in actual games and reserves the drills to help improve their performance later. GBA Tennis promotes the idea that the sport is an open skill, meaning that the game itself will create different scenarios for players. Coaches work on the tactical, technical, physical and mental aspects of the game while putting the individual needs of the trainee first. The training usually transpires during the course of the game. For example, as a player is serving, the coaches will outline the best way to angle the shot and to make the ball rotate. Combining these factors, the trainers will then teach the specific shot to the player.

    Game Play System

    • The founders of modern tennis encourage people to train using the Game Play System. According to moderntennis.com, Modern Tennis has been "developed over the years by innovative professional players who---ever in search of a competitive advantage---have discovered new and better ways of hitting a tennis ball." The Game Play System combines the traditional system of training through drills and the tactical method, which teaches a player the best responses to given instances of a game. The method also teaches a beginner the skills and strategies that tournament level tennis players employ. Trainers hone their students to perfect the best shots to make in specific situations.

    QuickStart Approach

    • The QuickStart method is designed for trainees under ten years old. This way of teaching tennis is enticing a lot of children. The United States Tennis Association (USTA) tailored the tennis equipment just for kids. The racquets are smaller than the regulation size, while the balls travel slower and are lighter than in regular tennis. Tennis courts themselves are also smaller in QuickStart games. The association also adjusted the rules for the kids. For example, it takes only seven points to win a set and three sets to win a match. Since the game caters to learners, the players develop confidence in the sport.