Mini Tennis: Serve to the T, Body or Wide

Overhead serve from the mini tennis baseline, with low-compression balls, aimed at three zones of the service box: the T, the body and wide. Students then play to see which direction draws the weakest returns from each opponent.

How to play

1. Review the serve: a steady toss in front, trophy position and contact up high (3 min).
2. Serving sets at hoops placed in the three zones of the box; each student hits 12 serves and records hits by zone (6 min).
3. Serve and return: the receiver returns and the server notes whether the return was weak or strong depending on the zone served to (6 min).
4. Points using the serve chosen from what they learned, and a short reflection on which zone works best against each opponent (5 min).

Rules

• Serve only when the receiver is ready and looking.
• Balls are collected between sets and by everyone at once, never during a set.
• Students waiting stay off the court, by the fence or 10 feet from the sideline.

Variations

Adaptations

• Wheelchair user: serves from the service line with a lower toss.
• Shoulder injury: underhand serve aimed at the three zones.
• ADHD: short sets of 4 serves and frequent role changes.

Learning goals

• Aim the serve to the T, the body and wide.
• Connect serve direction to the quality of the opponent's return.
• Use their own data to choose a serving strategy.

Equipment for a class of 25

• tennis rackets: 28
• low-compression balls: 80
• mini tennis nets: 6
• hoops: 18

Teacher tip

Hoops on the ground give instant feedback and are very motivating. Remember that for the body serve the hoop goes where the receiver stands, not in the middle of the box.

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