This is an instructional guide for anyone interested in developing or supporting a tennis training program for Special Olympics. It is a standardize plan based on the skills of both volunteer and athlete and has been successfully implement with GREAT RESULTS.

1. WHATS OUR GOAL
• Build a year around program to ensure athletes are not
limited based on seasonal sports selections ( Softball).
• Get more athletes and more community engagement
• Introduce it to your local tennis club.
• Develop a “standardized” tennis training/exercise
program.
• Introduce it to high schools and others wanting to
volunteer
WHY DO IT
• Develops a great atmosphere for team building.
• Creates a training program to support our athlete’s
skills and focus.
• Parents enjoy the “socializing” our program provides
• Parents/Caretakers appreciate the individual
attention a structure program provides the athletes
• The athlete’s love it!
AREA 31 TENNIS PROGRAM SUMMARY
To support the efforts of our Special Olympic athletes to allow each one to become better tennis players through
positive community engagement, friendly developmental lesson, and appreciation of common sportsmanship
To support the efforts of our Special Olympic athletes to allow each one to become better tennis players through
positive community engagement, friendly developmental lesson, and appreciation of common sportsmanship
WHERE YOU WILL NEED HELP
• Get the word out
• Provide the “rules” of reaching out
• Who can we contact
• We are all Special Olympics
• Introduce concept to partners ( give us permission first)
• High School
• USTA
• Local Tennis Clubs

2. TEAM ACESTEAM DEUCETEAM VOLLEY
• Remedial players needing special
attention
• 3 to 1 player/instructor ratio
• Use Server Wand/basic tennis skills
( Front head) and light movement
• Players that can follow general instruction
but not ready to play points
• 4 to 1 player/instructor ratio
• Use Server Wand to work on swing
mechanics and mix in feeding tennis balls
• Players that are experienced and can play
points/games consistently
• 6 to 1 player/instructor ratio
• Work on serving, volleys, and some
tennis strategies
AREA 31 TENNIS PROGRAM STANDARIZE TENNIS FUN

3. AREA 31 TENNIS PROGRAM ACES
GROUNDSTROKE ( BOTH BACK
and FRONT HEAD ( 20 Minutes)
• Each Athlete is introduced to the
group and given a tennis racquet.
•Each Athlete is lined up along the
base line at proper distance to
provide space to swing
•The instructor introduces the 3 steps
on the groundstroke
•This is performed 10 times
•The instructor will use the Server
Wand to allow each athlete to hit a
ball while performing the 3 steps of
the ground stroke
WALKING WITH THE BALL ( 10
Minutes)
• Each Athlete is introduced to the
group and given a tennis racquet.
•Each Athlete is lined up along the
base line at proper distance to
provide space to swing
•The instructor place a ball on each
athlete’s tennis racquet and ask each
athlete to walk to the net.
•Once at the net, the instructor will
ask the athletes to walk back to the
base line
By the Hour
00:-05 Intro/get ready
05:-25 Groundstrokes
25:-30 BREAK
30:-40 Walking the Ball
40:-55 Groundstroke3Step
55:-1:00 Team Celebration
By the Hour
00:-05 Intro/get ready
05:-25 Groundstrokes
25:-30 BREAK
30:-40 Walking the Ball
40:-55 Groundstroke3Step
55:-1:00 Team Celebration
THE GROUNDSTROKE “THREE STEP” ( 15 Minutes)
• Each Athlete is introduced to the group and given a tennis
racquet.
•Each Athlete is lined up along the base line at proper
distance to provide space to swing
•The instructor demonstrates to the athletes taking 3 steps
to the instructor’s left.
•The instructor will ask the athletes to follow the
instructor’s movement.
•After taking three steps, the athlete will practice the 3 step
groundstroke
•Once the athletes move three steps to the left, the
instructor will ask that the athletes move back 3 steps to
the instructor's right
•The instructor will use the Server Wand to allow each
athlete to hit a ball while performing the 3 steps of the
ground stroke
Using the Server WandGroundstroke Exercise

4. AREA 31 TENNIS PROGRAM DEUCE
STOP AND GO SWING ( 10 Minutes)
• Each Athlete is introduced to the group and
given a tennis racquet.
•Each Athlete is lined up single file at one end
of the base line
•The instructor will be five steps to the left of
the athlete.
•The instructor will say “GO” and the athlete
will come to the instructor and perform a
groundstroke using the server wand
•Once at the net, the instructor will ask the
athletes to walk back to the base line
•Once the athletes perform the groundstroke,
the instructor will take five steps to the left of
the athlete
By the Hour
00:-05 Intro/get ready
05:-15 Groundstroke
15:-30 Three Step
30-35 BREAK
35:-55 Stop and Go
55:-1:00 Team
Celebration
By the Hour
00:-05 Intro/get ready
05:-15 Groundstroke
15:-30 Three Step
30-35 BREAK
35:-55 Stop and Go
55:-1:00 Team
Celebration
THE GROUNDSTROKE “THREE STEP” ( 15
Minutes)
• Each Athlete is introduced to the group and
given a tennis racquet.
•Each Athlete is lined up along the base line at
proper distance to provide space to swing
•The instructor demonstrates to the athletes
taking 3 steps to the instructor’s left.
•The instructor will ask the athletes to follow the
instructor’s movement.
•After taking three steps, the athlete will practice
the 3 step groundstroke
•Once the athletes move three steps to the left,
the instructor will ask that the athletes move
back 3 steps to the instructor's right
•The instructor will use the Server Wand to
allow each athlete to hit a ball while performing
the 3 steps of the ground stroke
GROUNDSTROKE ( BOTH
BACK and FRONT HEAD ( 10
Minutes)
• Each Athlete is introduced to the
group and given a tennis racquet.
•Each Athlete is lined up along the
base line at proper distance to
provide space to swing
•The instructor introduces the 3
steps on the groundstroke
•This is performed 10 times
•The instructor will use the Server
Wand to allow each athlete to hit a
ball while performing the 3 steps of
the ground stroke

5. AREA 31 TENNIS PROGRAM VOLLEY
TENNIS SKILLS ( 35 Minutes)
• Volley Practice
– Athletes will be divided into groups of
four and will practice starting with foam
balls and then progressing to tennis balls
•Serving Practice
– Athletes will review the proper 3 steps
serving motion and will practice proper
motion and then progress to proper ball
toss technique
• Captain of the Court
– One Athlete will be the “King” ( K)
located on the left side of the court and
will be challenged by the other players in
a 3 point match
– The first to win two points is the winner.
– If the King wins, she/he remains on the
left side of the court
– If the challenger wins, she/he becomes the
Captain
•Match Play
– Athletes will play against each over using
proper scoring and tennis rules.
– Instructors will monitor and review tennis
strategies to help the athlete better
understand the skills and fundamentals of
tennis
By the Hour
00:-05 Intro/get ready
05:-15 Groundstroke
15:-30 Tennis Skills
30-35 BREAK
35:-55 Tennis Skills
55:-1:00 Team
Celebration
By the Hour
00:-05 Intro/get ready
05:-15 Groundstroke
15:-30 Tennis Skills
30-35 BREAK
35:-55 Tennis Skills
55:-1:00 Team
Celebration
THE GROUNDSTROKE “THREE STEP” ( 5
Minutes)
• Each Athlete is introduced to the group and
given a tennis racquet.
•Each Athlete is lined up along the base line at
proper distance to provide space to swing
•The instructor demonstrates to the athletes
taking 3 steps to the instructor’s left.
•The instructor will ask the athletes to follow the
instructor’s movement.
•After taking three steps, the athlete will practice
the 3 step groundstroke
•Once the athletes move three steps to the left,
the instructor will ask that the athletes move
back 3 steps to the instructor's right
•The instructor will use the Server Wand to
allow each athlete to hit a ball while performing
the 3 steps of the ground stroke
GROUNDSTROKE ( BOTH
BACK and FRONT HEAD ( 5
Minutes)
• Each Athlete is introduced to the
group and given a tennis racquet.
•Each Athlete is lined up along the
base line at proper distance to
provide space to swing
•The instructor introduces the 3
steps on the groundstroke
•This is performed 10 times
•The instructor will use the Server
Wand to allow each athlete to hit a
ball while performing the 3 steps of
the ground stroke

6. AREA 31 TENNIS PROGRAM VOLLEY
TENNIS SKILLS ( 35 Minutes)
• Volley Practice
– Athletes will be divided into groups of
four and will practice starting with foam
balls and then progressing to tennis balls
•Serving Practice
– Athletes will review the proper 3 steps
serving motion and will practice proper
motion and then progress to proper ball
toss technique
• Captain of the Court
– One Athlete will be the “King” ( K)
located on the left side of the court and
will be challenged by the other players in
a 3 point match
– The first to win two points is the winner.
– If the King wins, she/he remains on the
left side of the court
– If the challenger wins, she/he becomes the
Captain
•Match Play
– Athletes will play against each over using
proper scoring and tennis rules.
– Instructors will monitor and review tennis
strategies to help the athlete better
understand the skills and fundamentals of
tennis
By the Hour
00:-05 Intro/get ready
05:-15 Groundstroke
15:-30 Tennis Skills
30-35 BREAK
35:-55 Tennis Skills
55:-1:00 Team
Celebration
By the Hour
00:-05 Intro/get ready
05:-15 Groundstroke
15:-30 Tennis Skills
30-35 BREAK
35:-55 Tennis Skills
55:-1:00 Team
Celebration
THE GROUNDSTROKE “THREE STEP” ( 5
Minutes)
• Each Athlete is introduced to the group and
given a tennis racquet.
•Each Athlete is lined up along the base line at
proper distance to provide space to swing
•The instructor demonstrates to the athletes
taking 3 steps to the instructor’s left.
•The instructor will ask the athletes to follow the
instructor’s movement.
•After taking three steps, the athlete will practice
the 3 step groundstroke
•Once the athletes move three steps to the left,
the instructor will ask that the athletes move
back 3 steps to the instructor's right
•The instructor will use the Server Wand to
allow each athlete to hit a ball while performing
the 3 steps of the ground stroke
GROUNDSTROKE ( BOTH
BACK and FRONT HEAD ( 5
Minutes)
• Each Athlete is introduced to the
group and given a tennis racquet.
•Each Athlete is lined up along the
base line at proper distance to
provide space to swing
•The instructor introduces the 3
steps on the groundstroke
•This is performed 10 times
•The instructor will use the Server
Wand to allow each athlete to hit a
ball while performing the 3 steps of
the ground stroke