Re: Beginner group clinic

Judy,

While placing beginners in lines is the easiest way to "control" the
activity, the downside is the "lack of activity" when the students are
waiting in lines. It's a challenge for most. Here is my two cents on the
subject.

Cooperative learning is a principal used in many educational situations,
including sport activities. The concept in a classroom is simple. Have the
students pair up and work together at various times instead of the teaching
lecturing until boredom sets in.

On a tennis court, the USTA is now advocating what teaching organizations
like the USPTA and PTR have also been recommending for years; namely, to
pair up students and get the hitting. The challenge is that they cannot hit
the ball under control!!! While this is the obvious challenge, there is also
a fairly easy solution. We have to SLOW things down. Here is how it plays
out...

Smaller rackets, slower balls, and a shorter court to hit into. The point is
that people of all ages can rally if you adjust things in a graduated length
approach. Example: Four-year-olds with no sports backgound may play tennis
with their hands and a beach ball, push it back and forth across a line.
Here's a link to an image that will give you just one idea and one approach.
It is called 36/60 Tennis.

http://www.oncourtoffcourt.com/pc-384-2-3660-tennis.aspx

Good luck!

Joe Dinoffer
www.oncourtoffcourt.com


Received on Fri May 18 2007 - 14:29:48 CDT