Tennis: Chair Umpire, Scoring and the Tiebreak

Short tennis matches with low-compression balls where a seated student acts as chair umpire and calls the score out loud. Students learn 15-30-40, deuce and the tiebreak by playing them.

How to play

1. Scoring on court: 15, 30, 40 and game; deuce and advantage; the server's score is called first (5 min).
2. Games with a chair umpire: two play on each court while the umpire calls the score after every point; rotate each game (10 min).
3. Tiebreak explained: first to 7 by 2 wins; the first server serves one point, then each player serves two in a row; switch ends every 6 points (4 min).
4. Umpired tiebreaks: each court plays full tiebreaks with a chair umpire and an assistant tracking the scorecard (12 min).
5. Review: umpires compare scorecards and discuss the moments they weren't sure (4 min).

Rules

• The umpire calls clearly after each point; players don't argue the score during play.
• Close balls on your side are called by you; if in doubt, the ball is in.
• The umpire's chair goes next to the net post, outside the court.

Variations

Adaptations

• Deaf or hard of hearing: the umpire also shows the score on fingers or a big sheet.
• Wheelchair users: play with the two-bounce rule or serve as the court's head umpire.
• Injured students: act as umpire or scorekeeper in every round.

Learning goals

• Know the tennis scoring system, including the tiebreak.
• Umpire a match, calling the score correctly.
• Settle close calls with fair play.

Equipment for a class of 25

• tennis rackets: 24
• low-compression tennis balls: 20
• cones: 24
• badminton net: 3
• chairs: 6
• scorecards: 12

Teacher tip

Keep a tiebreak diagram on the board: the most common slip is forgetting that after the first point, each player serves two in a row. Classroom chairs work fine as umpire chairs.

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