SPARK TENNIS MATCH PLAY

Spark Tennis Match Play is a program designed to give kids who are already playing tennis the opportunity to transition from learning the game to playing matches in a fun team environment. It is intended to give participants a great experience which will enable them to fall in love with the sport. Spark Tennis Match Play promotes the core values of sportsmanship and participation; the focus isn’t simply on winning. Participating in a team environment has numerous benefits, including encouraging social interaction, physical activity and teamwork.

Spark Tennis Match Play will help participants to:

• Develop an understanding of how to play tennis matches, including scoring and positioning on the court
• Learning to problem-solve
• Social participation skills such as communicating, negotiating and fair play
• Improved cognitive function and motor coordination
• Understand the values of sportsmanship and what it means to be part of a team working
• How to come 1st and 2^nd
• Create new friendships
• Learn from mistakes via the utilisation of
• Learning that trying your best, effort and persistence can be rewarding and lead to increased confidence, self-worth and self-esteem.
• To have fun and enjoy the journey.

vision:

Spark Tennis Match Play provides children with an ideal pathway through tennis. It enables children to play and compete in a modified environment, which not only assists with their development it also allows the opportunity to experience a far greater level of success. Through Spark Tennis Match Play, our team aims to provide an environment that promotes teamwork, a fun experience, and social interaction alongside the opportunity for advancement. The program coordinators, volunteers, parents and match-play students are critical to the program’s success.

In a world where the notion of competition is everywhere, we certainly can’t ignore it. What we can do is promote, encourage and provide an initial “taste” of healthy competition for our students.    

WHY SPARK MATCH PLAY IS DIFFERENT

Based on experience and research, more often than not, parents and coaches tend to mirrior the child’s competitive experience on the adult professional model without exploring the implications of doing so.

Traditionally, sports are often governed by fixed playing spaces, equipment, rules and scoring. We will change some of these formats to make the match-play experience more rewarding, which will help us step into the child’s world and overall, the child’s development will be much greater.

How?

 · Playing space – We can change the playing space to teach the child that there are many ways of solving a problem.

 · Equipment – We can change balls and the height of the net, which will change how the game is played.

 · Rules of the game – Using pegs/cones to teach how to score. Drop hit or an overarm throw to commence a rally. Allowing the ball   to bounce more than once during a rally. Being awarded points not only for winning a rally but for communication, sportsmanship,   effort and social behaviours at the end of each session.

Match Play Co-ordinators

Our match play coordinators will be Spark Coaches Jeremy, Keyanah and Ash. They are an integral part of our community and all of them have a burning desire to help everyone in our program get the most out of themselves. As the match play coordinators, they will be helping the match-play students with scoring, understanding the rules as well as modelling the correct areas to stand when playing a tennis match.

REFLECTION

At Spark, we are big on self-reflection. At the end of every match play, students will sit on the court together and write on their reflection sheet which will be provided to them by the coaches. The rationale behind this practice is so that students can develop self-awareness and accountability. We believe that these are essential life skills and in utilising this practice, we aim to create the conditions that foster resilience.