Floor Tennis: Rolling Rally between Lines

A first taste of forehand and backhand strokes: in pairs, students hit a ball rolling along the floor with a paddle and send it back to a partner, like tennis at ground level. Then they play to roll the ball past the partner's end line.

How to play

1. In pairs, each with a paddle and one soft ball per pair; mark with chalk or cones two parallel lines about 16 ft apart and a lane about 10 ft wide (2 min).
2. Stance: knees bent, sideways, paddle near the floor; hit the rolling ball with a forehand and roll it back to the partner (3 min).
3. Alternate: partners send the ball once to the forehand and once to the backhand, so the receiver must turn and hit with the other face of the paddle (3 min).
4. Point game: each player defends a line; score 1 point when the ball rolls across the partner's line untouched, staying inside the lane (5 min).
5. Switch partners for a new game to 7 points (2 min).

Rules

• The ball must always roll; if it leaves the floor, replay the point.
• Hit only with the paddle, never with a foot or hand.
• Safety: use short swings, and never lift the paddle above the knee.
• If the ball leaves the lane, the point goes to the opponent.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: play seated on the floor or from a chair, with a long-handled paddle to reach the floor.
• Visual impairment: use a bell ball and mark the lane with ropes on the floor that can be felt underfoot.
• Advanced level: play with the non-dominant hand for half the points.

Learning goals

• Tell apart the forehand and backhand strokes.
• Turn the body sideways to hit.
• Follow the game rules and respect the opponent's score.

Equipment for a class of 25

• paddles: 25
• soft balls: 13
• cones: 24
• chalk: 4

Teacher tip

This is ideal for students who can't control a bounce yet, since the ball moves slowly and stays on the floor. Stress bending the knees, not the back.

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