1. Recognise the types of hitting needed for different areas of the court
2. Throw/hit to targets on a court
3. Use long high throws/hits for far targets and short low throws/hits for closer targets

Skill Development: Types of hitting

1. I can describe different hits in tennis
2. I can hit different targets
3. I can show different hits for close targets and targets further away

Play in a competitive game against an opponent

Develop tennis hitting skills to play in games

L Communicating with a partner to play together

N Keep track of points scored against an opponent

Ball Mania

All players line up in a line facing the teacher. The teacher has the same amount of balls as children on a tennis racket or in a box depending on the number of balls. The teacher throws the balls up in the air and calls go. Children must quickly catch/collect a ball and go back to sit down. Extend the game so children must face away from the teacher. Remind children of health and safety rules in this game: they must be using their observation skills to ensure they do not bump into other children. You could split the group in half and play with only half of the group at a time.

Put children in pairs and give each pair two hoops. The aim of the practice is for children to hit to the two hoops. The hoops should be placed as per the diagram. Children should use a forehand hit (with their hand or racket) and bounce the ball themselves to hit. The player who is not hitting can be the ball collector then swap roles.

Challenge: Children can begin to get points for getting the ball into the targets or use smaller hoops or smaller targets.

Development: Pupils can use their hands to hit to the hoops instead, or pupils can throw to the targets.

• After practising the skill development. Over the net, bench or cones children now play in a game. One player has a racquet, and they are still trying to hit to one of the targets.
• Their partner now stands in the middle of the hoops and has to try and catch or return the ball before the ball bounces into one of the hoops.
• The player hitting must try to vary the hoops they are hitting to so that their opponent has to stay alert to both hoops.

Extension: In the game, if the hitter hits and gets the ball in the target further away they get 5 points if they hit and get the ball in the target closer to the net they get 2 points. Players need to swap roles. The game can again be made easier by taking away the rackets or made harder by giving both players rackets.

to hit the ball to different parts of the court using a forehand hit.

Forehand hit

• Children should use a forehand grip as if they are shaking hands with the racket.
• Forehand hit– follow through the ball with the racket to hit to the target.
• Pupils do not need to swing back too far and do not need to hit too hard.
• A nice smooth motion should be encouraged hitting through the ball to the targets.

1. Why do you need to make sure you do not hit the ball too hard?
2. What techniques are needed in a forehand hit?
3. How do you hit differently to closer and further away targets?
4. How can you hit with accuracy?