UNITS12&7

Tennis Skills, Techniques and Tactics

2019 SPECIFICATION:
Unit 12: Practical Sports Application

2016 SPECIFICATION:
Unit 7: Practical Sports Performance
TECHNIQUE FOR SHOTS IN TENNIS
Prepare Hit Recover

READY
Incoming READ SET UP CONTACT Outgoing REPOSITION
ball REACT ball

1. Ready 2. Read
• 
Shoes wider than shoulders • Track the incoming ball
• Weight forward in an athletic ready position • 
There are 5 ball characteristics to consider: height, depth,
PREPARE

direction, speed and spin

• 
Hands and racket central
• Eyes focused 4. Set up
• On time (before the incoming ball bounces) and on balance, behind the ball
3. Reset
• Stop before hitting (where possible)
• Adapt to the incoming ball with the body and racket in preparation to hit
• 
Shoes wider than shoulders

5. Contact
• Strings point towards the target

STROKE CONTENT RACKET PATH

Serve Above the head at a 12 o’clock position Overarm throwing action
HIT

Forearm To the side and in front of the shoes Low to high

Backhand To the side and in front of the shoes Low to high
Volleys In front and to the side of the shoes Tap / touch (no swing)
Smash Above the head at a 12 o’clock position Overarm throwing action

6. Reposition
RECOVER

• 
Move back to a central position
ATTACKING & DEFENSIVE SKILLS
PRACTICES

GROUNDSTROKES S5 S6 S7 S8
Aiming for space
How to Play: Progression:
• 
Students play in teams of 4 against another team. • 
Increase the size of the black hole
Each team needs a racket each, throw down lines
• 
Limit the type of shot to forehands or backhands only
and 1 ball.
• 
Start each point with an overarm serve which must
• 
Place the throw down lines in the centre of the court
land in the service box
around the service line to mark a “Black Hole”
• 
Teams start on opposite baselines
• 
Student 1 feeds the ball into play then moves to the
back of their team
• 
Students take it in turns to hit the ball and recover to
the back of their team
• 
Teams play out the point avoiding the Black Hole
• 
If a team hit the ball into the black hole, S1
they automatically lose the point
• 
Keep the score S2

S3

S4
TEACHING POINTS: Equipment:

• Start in the ready position • Racket path – low to high

 Tennis balls
• Adapt the body and racket to the incoming ball • 
Increase the depth of the ball by increasing
the length of the racket swing and aiming
• Set up to hit before the incoming ball bounces Tennis rackets
higher over the net
• Contact to the side and in front of the shoes
Throw down lines
ATTACKING & DEFENSIVE SKILLS
PRACTICES

DROP SHOT S1

S2
S2
How to Play:
• 
Students work in pairs S3 S5 S6 S7 S8
• 
Mark a zone close to the net (approx. 1m deep)
• 
Full singles court or half court singles S4
• 
Student 1 starts on the baseline
• 
Student 2 starts approx. 1m behind the baseline (throw down line placed as marker)
• 
Student 2 feeds the ball in underarm to land past the service line
• 
Student 1 aims to hit a drop shot into the zoned area with the intention for student 2 to be unable to reach it
• 
Student 2 starts moving forward once Student 1 has hit the ball and not before

S1
S1

S2
Equipment:
S3
TEACHING POINTS:  Tennis balls
• Contact to the side and in front of the shoes S4
• Racket Path - high to low, to slice the ball and create backspin Tennis rackets
• Slow the speed of the racket swing
Throw down lines
ATTACKING & DEFENSIVE SKILLS
PRACTICES S2

S4

S4

LIVE S2

How to Play:
• 
Students work in 4s with a racket each and 1 ball • 
Students switch on / off court after every point
• 
Students play half court singles diagonally • 
Alternate the server
• 
Students 1 and 2 start on court; Students 3 and 4 • 
Students 1 and 3 are a team and Students 2
start as umpires and 4 are a team adding their points together
• 
Student 1 starts behind the baseline and overarm • 
Students switch to the other half court and S4
serves the ball into the diagonal service box play using the alternative diagonal S1 S2
• 
Student 2 hits the return and they play the point out
• 
The server is the caller and can call “LIVE” Progression:
at any stage during the point S3 S1
• 
The returner becomes the caller and can
• 
The server should call “LIVE” when they call “LIVE” at any stage during the point
feel they have the advantage • 
The students off court become the callers, deciding
when their team mate is in a winning position
• 
The student who wins the point scores 1 point S3
• 
If the point ends before “LIVE” has been called • 
“LIVE” has to be called before the ball is hit
then no score is counted

TEACHING POINTS:
• Control the ball when serving • Play attacking shots based on your
opponent’s court position Equipment:
• Return the ball accurately
• Recognise your opponent’s weakness
• Aim for spaces to win the rally
and aim to put them under pressure  Tennis balls
• Anticipate where your opponent S1
is going to hit the ball
Tennis rackets

S3
ATTACKING & DEFENSIVE SKILLS
PRACTICES

VOLLEYS
How to Play: Option 1
S2
S2
• 
Students work in pairs • 
Reset to the start of the drill after the volley is hit
• 
Full singles court or half court singles 2
• 
Student 1 starts on the service line Option 2 1
• 
Student 2 starts on the baseline • 
Place targets for Student 1 to aim the volley at

• 
Student 1 feeds the ball to Student 2 and
moves into a volley position Option 3 3
• 
Student 2 hits the ball back to Student 1 • 
Students continue the rally with Student 1 volleying

• 
Student 1 hits a volley > Feed to the forehand and backhand side in
isolation or to either side
> Add a target or target zone for the volley to be hit into

S1
S1

Equipment:
TEACHING POINTS:
 Tennis balls
• Contact the ball in front and to the side of the shoes
• Student 1 should aim for space Tennis rackets
• Student 2 should vary the height, side, speed of the ball they hit
Targets
ATTACKING & DEFENSIVE SKILLS
PRACTICES

VOLLEYS AND LOBS S2

S2
How to Play: • 
Students continue switching on / off the court
after every 2 balls S4
• 
Students work in 4s in a half court area with a
racket each and 1 ball • 
When Student 1 and 2 return to court they S3
switch roles
• 
Students 3 and 4 act as coaches
• 
Student 1 starts on the service line and feeds the
Progression:
ball underarm aiming for the ball to bounce in the
service box • 
Students play out the point after the lob using
the full length of the court
• 
Student 1 then moves forward into a volley position
(use a throw down line as a marker if required) • Students switch on / off the court after each point
• 
Student 2 lets the ball bounce then returns • Alternate who serves
the ball over Student 1’s head, playing a lob
• 
Student 1 tries to intercept the lob with their
S1
racket and the sequence stops S4
• 
Students 3 and 4 give feedback then have
their turn on court S1 S3

TEACHING POINTS:
Volley: Lob:
• Balanced central ready position • Racket path - low to high
• Adapt the body and racket to the incoming ball • Strings pointing up
Equipment:
• Racket head above the wrist • The ball travels high above the head of the
student at the net
• Contact with a tap (no swing)  Tennis balls
• Contact in front and to side of shoes
Tennis rackets
ATTACKING & DEFENSIVE SKILLS
PRACTICES

SMASH
How to Play:
• 
Students work in pairs
S2
S2
• Full singles court or half court singles
• Student 1 starts on the service line
• Student 2 starts on the baseline

Option 1
• Student 1 feeds the ball
• Student 2 hits the ball high
• Student 1 smashes the ball and the point is then live

Option 2
• Student 2 feeds a high ball and the point is live

S1S1

TEACHING POINTS:
• Adapt to the incoming ball
Equipment:
• Student 1 tracks the ball with the non-hitting hand
• Student 1 contacts the ball high at a 12 o’clock position  Tennis balls
• Student 1 recovers into a volleying position
Tennis rackets
ATTACKING & DEFENSIVE SKILLS
PRACTICES S2
S2

S2

SERVING
S2

How to Play: • 
Student 2 moves to the service line and overarm
serves the ball back to Student 1
• 
Students work individually with 1 ball and racket
• 
Repeat 3 times each, then both students take a step
• 
Stand sideways, place the racket on the floor so the grip backwards, gradually moving back to the baseline
comes out of the non-dominant shoe
• 
Hold the ball in the non-dominant hand, and throw the Progression:
ball up in a straight line (Toss Up) and catch it with the S1
non-dominant hand • 
Students work in 4s in half a court, switching 2 on and 2 off,
all with rackets, 2 throw down lines and 1 ball between them S1
• 
Repeat 10 times
• 
Student 1 and 2 place a throw down line half way between
• 
Start with the dominant arm touching the back of the head the service line and the baseline
S1
• 
Toss the ball up using the non-dominant hand • 
Students stand behind the line and take it in turns to serve S1
overarm aiming for the ball to land in the service box
• 
Reach up with the dominant hand and catch the ball above
and in front of the head with a straight arm • 
The receiver stops the ball with their racket after one bounce,
then serves the ball from behind their throw down line
• 
Students work in 2s with 1 ball
• 
Score 1 point for each serve that bounces in the service box
• 
Students start either side of the net on the service line
• 
Students 1 and 2 switch with Students 3 and 4 after 2
• 
Student 1 overarm serves the ball to bounce inside the
serves each
service box
• 
Move the throw down line gradually back towards the
• 
Student 2 stops the ball with their racket, after one bounce
baseline each time they score 3 points

TEACHING POINTS:
Equipment:
• Opposite shoe forwards to the dominant hand • Elbow high above head (Nike tick or Bolt position)
Non-dominant hand: • Extend arm to straight position as it passes over the head
 Tennis balls
• Ball is released straight up and fingers stretch to the sky • Catch / contact the ball with a straight arm in
front of the body at a 12 o’clock position
Dominant hand: Tennis rackets
• Hand behind the head
Throw down lines
ATTACKING & DEFENSIVE SKILLS
PRACTICES

SERVING FOR DIRECTION

How to Play:
• 
Students work individually
• Split the service box into 3 channels length ways
• 
Perform on both the deuce and advantage side of the court
3
2
Option 1 1
• 
Students identify which channel they are aiming for before hitting a serve (flat, slice or topspin) 1
2
3
Option 2
• 
Partner or teacher calls out the channel to aim at as the student tosses the ball up
> Include a returner in the drill

S1
S1

TEACHING POINTS: Equipment:

• Contact the ball high

 Tennis balls
• Place spin on the ball
• To slice the ball, contact around the outside of the ball Tennis rackets
• To put topspin on the ball, contact underneath the ball
Throw down lines
ATTACKING & DEFENSIVE SKILLS
PRACTICES

RETURN OF THE SERVE

How to Play: S2
S2
2
• 
Students work in pairs
• 
Full singles court 4
• 
Three target zones are marked at the back of the court:
1 in the right corner, 1 in the centre, and 1 in the left corner
• 
Student 1 is the server at the end with the target zones
• 
Student 2 is the returner
• 
Student 1 serves from the deuce court
• 
Student 2 returns the serve aiming for a zoned area
• 
Student 1 hits the 3rd shot
1
• 
Student 2 hits the 4th shot
• 
Perform on both the deuce and advantage side of the court 3

> Specify the type of serve hit

S1
S1

TEACHING POINTS: Equipment:

• Returner needs to read the ball and set up quickly
 Tennis balls
• Contact to the side and in front of the shoes
• Contact with the strings pointing towards the target Tennis rackets
• Both students should recover into a central position after hitting the serve or return
Throw down lines
ATTACKING & DEFENSIVE SKILLS
PRACTICES
S4
S3

S2

GAME
S3 S4
S2
Champion of the court
How to Play: Progression:
• 
Students work in 3s or 4s using a half court • If a Challenger hits a backhand which wins the
(tramlines are in) with a racket each and 1 ball point, they automatically become the Champion
• Student 1 starts as Champion of the court
• Other students are the Challengers
and start at the other end
S1 S2
• Student 2 starts the point with an underarm serve
• Students 1 and 2 play the point out
S1 S3 S4
• If Student 2 wins the point, they score 1 point
• The Challengers take it in turns to
play against the Champion
• Students keep their own score
• The first Challenger to score 3 points becomes
the Champion and switches places with
Student 1. Challengers points reset to 0.

TEACHING POINTS:
Underarm serve: • Recover after hitting the ball into the ready position
S1 Equipment:
• Bounce the ball in front of shoes • Control the direction and depth of the ball
• Forehand tap over the net towards opponent • Aim for space  Tennis balls
• Adapt the body and racket to the incoming ball • Keep track of own score
Tennis rackets
 TACTICS
In essence tennis is about outplaying the opponent and
there are 3 ways to win a point:

1. Hit a winner

TENNIS
2. Force the opponent to make an error
3. The opponent hits an unforced error

IN
Game Situations: There are 5 main game situations within
competitive play:
As players advance it is important that the
• Both players at the back of the court
Game Situations are discussed and
understood. They refer specifically to the • When serving
position the ball is being received from and
where the ball is being sent, allowing for • When receiving
technique to be taught within the tactical
• When approaching or at the net (and your
situation. The Game Situations are very
opponent is at the back of the court)
similar for Singles and Doubles and the
situation will determine which shots are • When opponent is approaching or at the
played and to some extent the tactics used. net (and you are at the back of the court)

In addition, for doubles:

• Both players at the net
Examples of combining tactics with game situations for Singles and Doubles

When both players in

Both players at When approaching When opponent is the team are at the net
the back of the court When serving When returning the net approaching the net (doubles only)

1:
Rallying forehands crosscourt, Hitting a serve which is 75% the Returning the serve with depth Approaching the net on a ball which Hitting the ball back towards Being in essence a volley wall
aiming to hit the ball so it speed, with the intention to get the with a high clearance over the net. is neutral in power and is placed in the incoming player, to allow the – hitting volleys back to the
CONSISTENCY
bounces between the service ball in the service box. the centre back third of the court, player to make the volley reducing opponents, trading groundstroke
line and the baseline. not too close to the baseline. the risk of angles being created by for volley.
the volleyer.

2:
Rallying the ball crosscourt, Hitting a slice serve to move Hitting the return of serve down the Hitting the ball down the centre Hitting the ball low to the One of the players hits a ball
create an angle which moves the opponent out of the court to line, resulting in server having to of the court, which reduces the approaching players feet, wide into the tramline, allowing

CREATING /
opponent off the side of the court, create space. move to hit the 3rd ball. angle the opponent can hit when expecting the volleyer to lift their partner to look to intercept
therefore creating the space to attempting a passing shot. the ball. the next shot.
CONTROLLING change direction and hit the ball
SPACE down the line.

3:
Hitting the ball back following Hitting a second serve with topspin Returning a second serve with Hitting the ball with slice Hitting the ball to the opponents’ hip Maintaining court position and block
an aggressive shot with height towards opponent’s backhand, aggression deep, towards the (keeping it low) and central position to make the approaching the volleys back deep into court.

CONTROLLING
on the ball. which results in the ball kicking up serving position, resulting in (providing no angles). player play a tough first volley off
high, forcing the opponent to move server not having time to move an aggressive low shot, taking
TIME back to strike the ball. and prepare for the next shot. preparation time away.

4:
Hitting a fast aggressive forehand Hitting a fast flat first serve with the Attacking the second serve, playing Hitting the ball into space, forcing Hitting a drop shot to bring Forcing the opponents to hit the
into space. intention to serve an ace. it into space. the opponent to block the ball opponent to net, followed by a ball up into the air, to allow an

PLAYING
back, taking the pace off the ball, topspin lob. aggressive volley into space,
providing an easier volley. or smash.
TO YOUR
STRENGTHS

5:
During a rally, constantly hitting the Serving a flat, fast first serve Returning the ball deep on to the Approaching the net on a sliced Dropping the ball short, bringing the Hitting the ball towards the weaker
ball deep into the weak side of into space or into the body of the weak side of the player (commonly approach into the opponents’ player to the net, if they have a weak player of the pair, or forcing one of

PLAYING
the opponent (commonly the opponent. the backhand side). backhand, resulting in the player volley or don’t like the net position. the players out of court position.
backhand side), forcing an error having to hit the ball up and provide
TO YOUR or a short ball to attack. an easy volley.
OPPONENTS’
WEAKNESSES
DOUBLES COURT
POSITIONING

The court positioning for doubles will depend on the game situation. R

WHEN SERVING:
The server must stand start at the back behind the baseline. RP
The servers partner starts at the net in a volleying position.

WHEN RETURNING:
SP
The returner starts at the back ready to receive the serve.
The returner’s partner starts on the service line, and moves into
the net once the ball travels past the servers partner at the net.

When serving or returning pairs can start with both players

at the back of the court. This is considered a defensive formation.

S
DOUBLES COURT
POSITIONING

During the point, after the serve and return, the game situations are:

S2 S2

S1

S2

S1 S1

A pair may continue with one player at the A pair move so that both players are at the net. A pair may move so that both players are at the
net and one player at the back of the court. This is an attacking formation. It is possible that back of the court. This is a defensive formation.
all 4 players may be at the net during the point.

During a point, a pair may have moved into all 3 game situations, depending on the
shots played and their opponents’ court positioning.
TACTICAL
INTENTIONS
Advanced players who have been coached may use tactical intentions and
the language associated with these.

Players should have a tactical intention (i.e. what they are hoping to achieve) every
time they strike the ball, which will impact on the movement, preparation, execution and
where they recover to on the court after hitting the ball. The tactical intention may also be
affected by the score; for example when serving in a tie-break 1-6 down, the intention of
server may be different than if they are serving and up 6-1 in the tie-break. The tactical
intention will depend on the situation in each individual point, and the intention may
change several times during a point.

The terms used to describe tactical intentions are:

• Trading: Rallying with their opponent on equal terms where no one has the advantage

• Building: Creating an opportunity

• Finishing: Finishing the point

• Neutralising: Neutralising their opponents’ advantage

• S
 taying in the point: Playing defensively with the sole intention of getting the
ball back in play

• T
 urning the point around: Momentum changes from defending to having the
advantage and controlling the point