This week we will be learning about Tennis. Much like last week in our basketball unit the tennis unit will be broken up into three days
Monday- Rules and Regulations
Wednesday- Forehand and Backhand
Friday- Serve and dropshot
Monday- Rules and Regulations
Wednesday- Forehand and Backhand
Friday- Serve and dropshot
monday: Rules and regulations
First lets take a look at the brief history of tennis.
Most historians believe that tennis originated in the monastic cloisters in northern France in the 12th century, but the ball was then struck with the palm of the hand, hence the name jeu de paume ("game of the palm"). It was not until the 16th century that rackets came into use, and the game began to be called "tennis." It was popular in England and France, although the game was only played indoors where the ball could be hit off the wall. Henry VIII of England was a big fan of this game, which historians now refer to as real tennis.
The Davis Cup, an annual competition between men's national teams, dates to 1900. The analogous competition for women's national teams, the Fed Cup, was founded as the Federation Cup in 1963 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the ITF, also known as International Tennis Federation.
In 1926, promoter C.C. Pyle created the first professional tennis tour with a group of American and French tennis players playing exhibition matches to paying audiences. The most notable of these early professionals were the American Vinnie Richards and the Frenchwoman Suzanne Lenglen. Once a player turned pro he or she could not compete in the major (amateur) tournaments.
In 1968, commercial pressures and rumors of some amateurs taking money under the table led to the abandonment of this distinction, inaugurating the open era, in which all players could compete in all tournaments, and top players were able to make their living from tennis. With the beginning of the open era, the establishment of an international professional tennis circuit, and revenues from the sale of television rights, tennis's popularity has spread worldwide, and the sport has shed its upper/middle-class English-speaking image (although it is acknowledged that this stereotype still exists)
Tennis is a sport people play individually against a single opponent (singles) or between two teams of two players each (doubles). Each player uses a racquet that is strung with cord to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over or around a net and into the opponent's court. The object of the game is to play the ball in such a way that the opponent is not able to play a good return.
Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society and at all ages. The sport can be played by anyone who can hold a racquet, including wheelchair users. The modern game of tennis originated inBirmingham, England, in the late 19th century as "lawn tennis". It had close connections both to various field ("lawn") games such as croquet and bowls as well as to the older racquet sport of real tennis. During most of the 19th-century in fact, the term "tennis" referred to real tennis, not lawn tennis: for example, in Disraeli's novel Sybil (1845), Lord Eugene De Vere announces that he will "go down to Hampton Court and play tennis."
Most historians believe that tennis originated in the monastic cloisters in northern France in the 12th century, but the ball was then struck with the palm of the hand, hence the name jeu de paume ("game of the palm"). It was not until the 16th century that rackets came into use, and the game began to be called "tennis." It was popular in England and France, although the game was only played indoors where the ball could be hit off the wall. Henry VIII of England was a big fan of this game, which historians now refer to as real tennis.
The Davis Cup, an annual competition between men's national teams, dates to 1900. The analogous competition for women's national teams, the Fed Cup, was founded as the Federation Cup in 1963 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the ITF, also known as International Tennis Federation.
In 1926, promoter C.C. Pyle created the first professional tennis tour with a group of American and French tennis players playing exhibition matches to paying audiences. The most notable of these early professionals were the American Vinnie Richards and the Frenchwoman Suzanne Lenglen. Once a player turned pro he or she could not compete in the major (amateur) tournaments.
In 1968, commercial pressures and rumors of some amateurs taking money under the table led to the abandonment of this distinction, inaugurating the open era, in which all players could compete in all tournaments, and top players were able to make their living from tennis. With the beginning of the open era, the establishment of an international professional tennis circuit, and revenues from the sale of television rights, tennis's popularity has spread worldwide, and the sport has shed its upper/middle-class English-speaking image (although it is acknowledged that this stereotype still exists)
Tennis is a sport people play individually against a single opponent (singles) or between two teams of two players each (doubles). Each player uses a racquet that is strung with cord to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over or around a net and into the opponent's court. The object of the game is to play the ball in such a way that the opponent is not able to play a good return.
Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society and at all ages. The sport can be played by anyone who can hold a racquet, including wheelchair users. The modern game of tennis originated inBirmingham, England, in the late 19th century as "lawn tennis". It had close connections both to various field ("lawn") games such as croquet and bowls as well as to the older racquet sport of real tennis. During most of the 19th-century in fact, the term "tennis" referred to real tennis, not lawn tennis: for example, in Disraeli's novel Sybil (1845), Lord Eugene De Vere announces that he will "go down to Hampton Court and play tennis."
Courts There are five types of court surface used in professional play. Each surface is different in the speed and height of the bounce of the ball. The same surface plays faster indoors than outdoors.
Now for the court dimensions. SCORING
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RACKETS
The parts of a tennis racket are the head, rim, face, neck, butt/butt cap, handle, and strings. Modern tennis rackets vary in length, weight, and head size. 21" to 26" is normally a junior's length, while 27" or 27.5" are for stronger and taller adult players. Weights of a racket also vary between 8 ounces (230 g) unstrung and 12.5 ounces (350 g) strung. Rackets originally flared outward at the bottom of the handle to prevent slipping. The rounded bottom was called a bark bottom after its inventor Matthew Barker. But by 1947, this style became superfluous. Head size also plays a role in a racket's qualities. A larger head size generally means more power and a larger "sweet spot" that is more forgiving on off-center hits. A smaller head size offers more precise control. Current racket head sizes vary between 85 sq. inches and 137 sq. inches, with most players adopting one from 95-105 sq. inches. (See left picture) |
Below are some informational websites
http://www.usta.com
http://www.itftennis.com
Carefully read all the information above and then fill out the worksheet to the best of your knowledge.
/uploads/2/7/1/4/27146867/tennis_worksheet.docx
http://www.usta.com
http://www.itftennis.com
Carefully read all the information above and then fill out the worksheet to the best of your knowledge.
/uploads/2/7/1/4/27146867/tennis_worksheet.docx
wednesday: Forehand & backhand
Forehand
Here is another informational website for a forehand strike. Please watch the video on this page http://lockandrolltennis.com/forehand/ This video should be a great help as well Now that you know the technique and the cues for the forehand strike in tennis. I want you to practice this by hitting and rallying with a wall. Find a wall, preferably outside, and practice striking a tennis ball against the wall. Do this for 60 seconds and count how many successful consecutive strikes you make. After that, try to beat the number that you got on the first trial. If you do not have a tennis racket and ball just use any other racket or paddle that you can find, if you can't find any of these just use your hand.
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Backhand
Here is another informational website for backhands Please watch this video to for the proper techniques of a backhand Now that you know the technique and the cues for the backhand strike in tennis. I want you to practice this by hitting and rallying with a wall. Find a wall, preferably outside, and practice striking a tennis ball against the wall. Do this for 60 seconds and count how many successful consecutive strikes you make. After that, try to beat the number that you got on the first trial. If you do not have a tennis racket and ball just use any other racket or paddle that you can find, if you can't find any of these just use your hand.
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practice practice practice!!
Remember practice makes perfect. It may not be the most exciting exercise but it will help build your game and improve you as a player.
Friday: Serve & Drop shot
For our last day of our tennis unit we will be looking at the tennis serve and the drop shot. Both of these shots are essential to be competitive and to have a full understanding of the techniques of tennis. Below will be steps, cues, and videos to help you on your discovery of the two strikes.
SERVE:
A serve (or, more formally, a service) in tennis is a shot to start a point. A player will hit the ball with a racquet so it will fall into the diagonally opposite backside box without being stopped by the net. Normally players begin a serve by tossing the ball into the air and hitting it (usually near the highest point of the toss). The ball can only touch the net on a return and will be considered good if it falls on the opposite side. If the ball contacts the net on the serve but then proceeds to the proper backside box, it is called a let; this is not a legal serve in the major tours although it is also not a fault. Players typically serve overhead, but serving underhand, although rare, is allowed. The serve is the only shot a player can take their time to set up instead of having to react to an opponent's shot. The serve is one of the more difficult shots for a novice, but once mastered it can be a considerable advantage. Advanced players can hit the serve in many different ways and often use it as an offensive weapon to gain an advantage in the point or to win it outright. Because of this, professional players are expected to win most of their service games, and the ability to break an opponent's serve plays a crucial role in a match. Watch the video below to learn how to perform a serve |
Drop shot:
A good drop shot requires great touch. The ball should bounce low and near the net, sometimes with underspin (or backspin). Backspin slows the ball and decreases the height of its bounce. In some extreme cases, the ball will bounce back towards the net. Sidespin may also be put on the ball so it kicks sideways when it bounces. A bad drop shot is one that travels too deep into the court, or bounces too high. When this happens, the opponent can get to the ball, and make an easy play. A very soft drop shot, that just barely travels over the net, is sometimes called a dink. (A term possibly borrowed from volleyball.) Keeping the ball as low as possible and near the net. Making the drop shot a surprise also makes it more effective. If opponents are expecting a normal shot, they may not be in position to run forward to make a good play on a drop shot. The video below is a quick tutorial of the tennis drop shot |
Just like with the forehand and backhand strokes I want you to practice your serve and drop shot, either with a partner or by yourself these practices can be done. Remember to track the ball with your lead arm when serving. And with the drop shot remember to try to keep the ball as low to the net as possible.
This final video is a quick tutorial from Professional Tennis Player Novak Djokovic
This final video is a quick tutorial from Professional Tennis Player Novak Djokovic
conclusion
This concludes our tennis unit. I hope it was informational, fun, and exciting. If you continue practicing what you have learned from this week your tennis game will continue to improve.
The final assignment is to write a small paper about tennis, 350-500 words. Be sure to touch on each aspect, rules, scoring, history, courts, and tennis strokes. I have provided you with ample information so reaching the word goal should not be a problem. Please do not copy and paste direct from the source. I will know, and this will result in a loss of points or a zero for the assignment. Copy and paste your paper into the comment box below and then click submit.
The final assignment is to write a small paper about tennis, 350-500 words. Be sure to touch on each aspect, rules, scoring, history, courts, and tennis strokes. I have provided you with ample information so reaching the word goal should not be a problem. Please do not copy and paste direct from the source. I will know, and this will result in a loss of points or a zero for the assignment. Copy and paste your paper into the comment box below and then click submit.