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Lesson 6 - Doubles Tournament

Competitive Doubles Play

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Year 6

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Tennis

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Big Question

How can we use tactics and teamwork to win a doubles tennis tournament?

Learning Objectives

To apply tennis skills in competitive doubles matches with accurate serving and strategic shot placement
To work collaboratively with a partner using effective communication and court positioning
To demonstrate tactical awareness by creating and exploiting space on the court

Key Outcomes

Students will compete in a structured doubles tournament demonstrating consistent tennis techniques
Students will show effective partnership skills through clear communication and coordinated court coverage
Students will apply tactical decision-making to win points and matches

Equipment & Resources Required

Tennis Rackets

1 per student (30)

Check all rackets for damage before use

Alternative: Table tennis bats, badminton rackets for lighter option

Low-Compression Tennis Balls

6 balls per court (18 total)

Ensure sufficient balls at each court for continuous play

Alternative: Foam balls for less experienced players

Dish Cones

32 cones

Use to mark court boundaries and net lines clearly

Alternative: Spot markers or chalk lines

Nets

3 nets for mini courts

Set net height appropriate for Year 6 students (lower than adult height)

Alternative: Cones with rope stretched between, or imaginary net line

Score Sheets

1 per court (3 total)

Pre-prepare with team names and score tracking format

Alternative: Whiteboard and marker per court

Stopwatch

Visible to all courts for time management

Alternative: Smartphone timer app

Key Vocabulary

Doubles

A tennis match played with two players on each side of the net

Serve

The shot that starts each point, hit diagonally into the opponent's service box

Rally

The sequence of shots after the serve until the point is won or lost

Ready Position

Balanced stance with knees bent, racket ready, facing the net

Court Coverage

How doubles partners position themselves to defend their side of the court effectively

Tiebreak

A special scoring system used when the score is tied

Skill Progression Pathway

Understanding where pupils are coming from and where they're going

Prior Learning

Basic forehand and backhand technique
Understanding of court boundaries and scoring
Experience of singles rally play

Current Skills

Competitive doubles play with tactical awareness
Serving under tournament pressure
Partnership coordination and communication

Next Steps

Advanced tournament formats and rules
Specialist shots like volleys and smashes
Individual tournament play

Milestone Indicators

Consistently lands serves in correct service box

Demonstrates clear tactical discussions with partner

Shows resilience when losing points or matches

Key Teaching Points

Diagonal serving in doubles creates better court angles and opportunities
Partnership communication prevents collisions and improves court coverage effectiveness
Creating space through shot placement is more effective than power shots
Tournament pressure reveals true technique - maintain basics under competition
Tactical adaptation between rounds shows higher-level tennis understanding
Sportsmanship and respect enhance everyone's enjoyment and learning
Ready position recovery after each shot maintains defensive court coverage

Common Misconceptions

Doubles tennis is just two people playing singles - actually requires coordinated partnership strategy
Serving hard wins more points - accuracy and placement are more effective than power
Only winning matters in tournaments - learning and improvement are equally valuable outcomes
Tennis tactics are too complex for Year 6 - basic space creation and positioning are achievable
Competition means being mean to opponents - sportsmanship enhances competitive experience
Partners should cover the same areas - effective doubles requires complementary positioning

SEN Adaptations

ADHD

Shorter match durations if needed, regular movement breaks, clear visual boundaries, immediate feedback and encouragement, role as score keeper for engagement

dyspraxia

Larger targets for serving, simplified tactical instructions, extra practice time with serving technique, partner support for court positioning

autism spectrum

Clear visual schedule of tournament format, quiet zones available for breaks, consistent partners where possible, predictable routines between matches

visual impairment

Use brightly coloured balls and equipment, verbal descriptions of court layout and boundaries, tactile markers for court areas, sound cues for ball location

hearing impairment

Visual demonstrations of all techniques and tactics, hand signals for communication, written instruction cards, visual score tracking systems

physical disability

Seated tennis options with modified court sizes, larger/lighter rackets, softer balls, adapted serving techniques from wheelchair or chair

Cross-Curricular Links

English

Communication skills with partners, descriptive language for tactical discussions, vocabulary development through tennis terminology

Science

Forces and motion in serving and shot-making, trajectory and angles, reaction times and coordination, physics of ball bounce and spin

Geography

Spatial awareness and court positioning, understanding of boundaries and areas, directions and angles for shot placement

PSHE

Teamwork and cooperation in partnerships, resilience when losing matches, respect and sportsmanship, managing emotions during competition

Teacher Guidance

Positioning

Central position with clear sight lines to all three tournament courts, move between courts regularly

Observation Focus

Monitor serving accuracy, partnership communication, tactical decision-making, and sportsmanship behaviour

Intervention Points

["Step in immediately if unsafe racket use observed", "Intervene in disputes over scoring or line calls", "Provide tactical guidance if students struggling with strategy", "Support students showing frustration or poor sportsmanship"]

Demonstration Notes

Use students as positive examples during tournament, demonstrate tactical concepts between rounds, show appropriate celebration and sportsmanship

Verbal Cues

•'Mine!' or 'Yours!' to show communication
•'Serve diagonally!'
•'Find the space!'
•'Great partnership!'
•'Ready position!'

Safety Considerations

Space & Surface Requirements

Space Requirements

Large indoor space (sports hall) or outdoor tennis courts, minimum 30m x 20m for three mini courts

Surface Check

Non-slip surface free from water, debris, or obstacles that could cause falls

Equipment Safety

Safety Checks

•Check all rackets for cracks, loose strings, or splintered handles before use
•Ensure balls are not worn or cracked which could cause unpredictable bounces
•Verify cones are stable and visible with no sharp edges or damage
•Check nets are secure and at appropriate height for age group

Risk Management

Key Risks

•Collision between students on adjacent courts
•Racket contact between partners or opponents
•Slips and falls during dynamic movement
•Eye injury from ball contact
•Overexertion during competitive tournament format

Risk Mitigation

•Clear boundaries established between courts with adequate buffer zones
•Emphasis on controlled swings and awareness of others
•Non-slip footwear required and surface checks completed
•Soft/low compression balls used appropriate for age group
•Regular hydration breaks and monitoring for fatigue
•Clear rules about safe racket handling and storage

Supervision & Emergency Procedures

Supervision Points

•Teacher positioned centrally to observe all courts simultaneously
•Regular movement between courts to provide close supervision
•Monitor emotional responses during competitive play
•Watch for signs of fatigue or overexertion during tournament

Emergency Procedures

Stop all play immediately, assess injury/incident, provide appropriate first aid, contact emergency services if required, complete incident report