School Frontenis Doubles with Alternating Hits
A 2-on-2 frontenis game against a flat wall, using rackets and pressureless tennis balls, in which each team must alternate hitters. Students practice forehands and backhands, court positioning, and communication with their partner.
How to play
- Chalk a short line 20 inches up the wall and cone off courts 26 by 20 feet; spend 5 minutes explaining and rallying freely.
- Pair students by similar skill level and put two pairs on each court; extra pairs keep score and rotate in.
- One player serves from behind a line 13 feet from the wall: drop the ball, let it bounce, and hit it so it strikes the wall above the short line and lands inside the court.
- Shots alternate between teams and, within each team, between partners: if you hit the last shot for your team, your partner must take the next one.
- The ball may bounce once or be volleyed; a team loses the point if the ball bounces twice, lands out, hits below the line, or is struck by the wrong partner.
- Play four 5-minute games using rally scoring; on the whistle, the winning pair moves up a court and the losing pair moves down.
Rules
- Call 'mine' before you swing and check where your partner is to avoid getting hit with a racket.
- The player not hitting moves out to the side and never stands right behind the hitter.
- If a player blocks an opponent's swing, replay the point.
Variations
Easier
Allow two bounces and drop the rule that partners must alternate hits.
Standard
Play one bounce, required alternating hits within each team, and 5-minute games.
Harder
Raise the short line to 32 inches and require the return of serve to be a volley.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: a student using a wheelchair plays with two bounces while their partner covers the back of the court.
- Autism or shyness: keep the same partner all class and preview the hitting order and rotations on a card.
- Fitness or skill level: less experienced pairs use a soft ball and a court only 20 feet deep.
Learning goals
- Hit forehands and backhands to open areas of the court.
- Coordinate hitting turns and court coverage with a partner.
- Apply safety rules and keep score independently.
Equipment for a class of 25
- rackets: 26
- tennis balls: 12
- chalk: 4
- cones: 16
Teacher tip
The most common mistake is both partners chasing the ball, so teach students to step back into open space after they hit. Old tennis balls bounce lower and make rallies last longer.
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