Through Mini Tennis, the modified version of the game, and the ... used in some activities and games ..... uses tennis a
Adapt, include and excel
INCLUSIVE TENNIS TEACHER RESOURCE Guidance Handbook
Contents
Adaptations .............................................................. 4-7
Makaton ................................................................16-19
This section provides general ideas on how tennis activities can be adapted for young disabled people, including general, specific and equipment adaptations.
A range of Makaton signs and symbols, to support the delivery of tennis activity. Progressing ............................................................20-23
Activity Cards ............................................................8-9 A range of activity cards are provided here, which provide ideas for Warm Up, Main Theme and Competitive activities. Each card includes specific examples on how to make the activities easier and harder. Other Schools Tennis Resource .............................10-15 Whilst this resource has been developed to empower special school teachers and those teaching disabled young people in mainstream education to deliver tennis effectively, a wide range of other resource is available, which could also be appropriate to use, dependent on the level of ability you are working with.
2
Information on how young disabled people can progress in tennis, including information on competitive opportunities and how to link with places to play tennis in your local community. Celebrating Success! .............................................24-25 Certificates and stickers to positively reward and recognise achievement with the young people participating in tennis activity at your school.
Introduction Tennis is fun, great for fitness, developing hand-eye co-ordination, spatial awareness and motor skills. It can be played by all ages and abilities - boys and girls can play together, so it’s ideal for mixed classes.
You don’t need tennis courts to play – it can be played in school halls, playgrounds or sports halls. Through Mini Tennis, the modified version of the game, and the wide range of innovative equipment available, this resource provides guidance to empower special school teachers and those teaching disabled young people in mainstream education, to deliver tennis effectively. It also provides signposting information on how young disabled people can continue and progress in the sport, outside of school in the local community. A DVD is included in this pack, containing a 5-minute promotional film, providing an overview of the resource and examples of how it can be used.
3
Adaptations Many young disabled people have the ability to participate fully in tennis, with little or no adaptations. However, for some people with more limited functional and physical abilities, there are many ways in which tennis activities can be adapted to ensure that all young people enjoy their experience and can achieve. In general, we recommend using Mini Tennis a fun, modified version of the game, for delivering tennis to young disabled people in schools. Mini Tennis uses shorter rackets, smaller courts, slower/softer balls and simple scoring. This section outlines a range of general, specific and equipment adaptations you can make when delivering tennis to young people with a range of abilities.
Testimonial ”The Inclusive Tennis Teacher Resource, and free equipment pack, has helped us involve all our SEN pupils in inclusive activities alongside and against their mainstream peers. The sheer enjoyment they had from using the pack was a delight to see.” Primary School Head Teacher, Wales 4
GENERAL ADAPTATIONS: When delivering tennis in a to young disabled people in schools, you could: ■ Change the size of the court/playing area ■ Change the size or type of targets being used in some activities and games ■ Change the scoring method – Mini Tennis uses simple tie-break scoring (i.e. first to 10 points, rather than traditional tennis scoring) ■ Ensure each activity is able to be completed from a seated position ■ Ensure each activity is practiced from a static position, before introducing movement ■ Give pupils more time to react, by allowing more than one bounce before the ball is caught/hit ■ Shorten the distance the ball has to be hit/thrown/rolled
ADAPTING EQUIPMENT: A wide range of innovative equipment is available to make the delivery of Mini Tennis fun, exciting and achievable for all. In general, you could: ■ Use softer and / or larger balls to make hitting, catching and throwing activities easier
More info... In addition to this general and equipment adaptation advice, each of the 36 activity cards in this resource contains specific guidance on how to make the activities easier and harder.
■ Use alternatives to balls – bean bags, balloons, fluff balls (see next page) ■ Use brightly coloured balls or those with bells inside, to assist young people with a visual impairment ■ Use alternatives to rackets – hitting hands and smiley face hitting pads (see next page) ■ Use rackets with shorter handles, but large hitting areas to enable young people to quickly achieve success ■ Use tape or straps to assist young people with limited grip to hold the racket ■ Use additional grips to make it easier for young people to hold and control the racket ■ Use a tee to enable the ball to be served or hit from a stationary position in some activities
5
Adaptations EQUIPMENT EXAMPLES: British tennis makes a significant annual investment into distributing free Mini Tennis equipment to schools. The following items are included in the AEGON Schools Tennis Inclusive Equipment Pack, available free of charge to a limited number of special schools each year – individual items are also available to purchase. To find out more please visit: www.schoolstennis.org
Mini Tennis Rackets
Hitting Hands
Mini Tennis rackets have shorter handles and large faces, making it easier for young people to make contact with the ball successfully.
Hitting hands are an alternative instead of using rackets. They simply slip onto the back of a young person’s hand to increase the hitting area available.
Mini Tennis Balls
Mini Tennis Nets
Sponge Mini Tennis balls are ideal for use indoors, with low compression felt Mini Tennis balls better for use outdoors. They travel slower through the air, making it easier for young people to track and receive the ball successfully.
Mini Tennis nets are quick and easy to assemble and a great way of playing the ‘game’ of tennis. Barrier tape is also a cost effective and quick way of creating additional nets.
6
Testimonial “It is not exaggerating to say that in all my years as a special school P.E. teacher this is the best thought out and differentiated equipment to make mainstream sport accessible to children with special needs.” Primary School Head Teacher, Lancashire
Juggle Squares
Fluff Balls
Juggle squares can be used by young people with limited functional ability and their tactile, colourful nature makes them an ideal tool to assist with catching activities.
Fluff balls can also be used by young people with limited functional ability and their tactile nature makes them an ideal tool to assist with catching activities.
Throw Down Lines
Balloon Balls and Smiley Face Hitting Pads
These can be used quickly and effectively for a range of different activities and are ideal for marking out/zoning playing areas.
These are ideal for practicing throwing and hitting activities. A balloon is inserted inside the machine washable material ball and they are caught on the velcro smiley face hitting pad.
7
How to use the Activity Cards These activity cards are suitable for children of all ages and abilities and can be used in a number of different ways: 1. Build cards together to form a session 2. Use the cards for additional / new ideas, to build into existing sessions 3. Use the cards as part of a festival, or circuit activity session
EACH CARD HAS SOME, OR ALL OF THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION: 1. Category: ABCs, Main Theme, Competition 2. Learning Objectives 3. Organisation and Equipment 4. Activity or Activities: Sometimes there are alternative ways of doing the activity, which are equally as beneficial - if the activities are numbered, they are in a progressive order 5. Easier & Harder: How to make the activity easier or harder 6. Quality Points: Points you need to look for and encourage 7. Discover: Questions you can ask to help the children learn for themselves 8. Competition: A competitive version of the activity to use in the last part of the session
8
More info... Additional copies of the activity cards can be downloaded from: www.schoolstennis.org
Adapt, include l and exce
Over Your Head QUALITY POINTS
wi one hand, catch with ow with hro Thr Throw
• Look at the ball all the time. throwing. • Balance with feet apart before stretching. • Use the knees to push up for you want. • Guide the ball in the direction
Bounce ball down hard and catch
Jump Squa re
two
QUALITY POI
NTS
• Keep head still and eyes focu forwards sed on all jum ps. • Bend knee s for take off and land • Get bala ing. nced moving off on landing befo re again. • Keep a good rhythm for repeated jumps.
above head
p with two hands up all u ball pab Keep
Moguls Jump from side
Hops Change foot Throw overhead in a rainbow
Jump the river Jump off one foot
, land on
to side
two feet
at the mar ker
shape
TENNIS CE INCLUSIVE R RESOUR TEACHE ds Car y ivit Act
Kangaroo jumps Jump with both feet together
Hops
Moguls
Jump the 17
Kangaroo
jump
s LEARNI NG OBJ ECTIVE • Use both S hands to control the • Use han ball. ds above the head . ISATION • Equipm ent: balls and ballo • Define the ons. playing area . • Position the players in the play • Organise ing area and players into demonst 2s. • Highligh rate. t the need to watch and avoid ACTIVIT others. Y Players thro w and catc h a • Throw the ball above ball up und the head in the follo erarm and • In a rain wing way reach up bow shap s: to catch e thro letting it it with 2 bounce befo w the ball with hands or 1 hand 1 hand. re catching • Keep it up it with the over the head, by tapping other han it above the • Bounce d. head. Use the ball dow both han n hard and ds. reach up to catch it above the EASIER head.
Low High, Middle &
ORGAN
TS
QUALITY POIN
feet apart • Get ready with and hands ready. the other movement of • Work out the . the ball ahead player and send body. in front of your • Catch the ball
use 2 hands With a big ball and no bounces
With a tennis ball ball bounce
river
Over Your Head
let the
• Use a big ball for thro wing and • Use a ballo catching on . it above the and keep it up by tapping head.
ce Throw in sequen high, middle, low
DISCOV
ER • Which othe r parts of your bod • What do y help with you look reaching at all the high? • How can time? your feet help you ?
11
HARDE
R
• In a rain bow shap e catch with • Jump with no bounce. feet point of catc off the floor at the hing.
18 15
9
Other School Tennis Resources Whilst this resource has been developed to empower special school teachers and those teaching disabled young people in mainstream education to deliver tennis effectively, a wide range of other resources are available, which could also be appropriate to use - dependent on the level of ability you are working with. All the resources listed are available free of charge by attending a Teacher Training Course, or alternatively, they can be downloaded from: www.schoolstennis.org
10
PRIMARY SCHOOLS DVD AND LESSON PLANS This is an innovative, child-facing DVD that allows generically trained teachers to deliver tennis to mixed-ability children by using a ‘virtual coach’ concept; removing the embarrassment teachers may have from delivering the demonstrations, whilst allowing them to do what they do best – teach! It shows how tennis can be taught in small areas to large groups, whether in the playground or school hall. The DVD and accompanying hand book consists of 15 lessons and enables every teacher to deliver tennis with the comfort that what is being delivered is correct, consistent and fun, ensuring that the child’s first experience of tennis is a positive one!
SECONDARY SCHOOLS TENNIS – TEACHER RESOURCE
OUT OF SCHOOL HOURS TENNIS CLUB TOOLKIT
A comprehensive resource, developed to assist teachers at secondary level to deliver tennis more often and with greater confidence. It consists of 12 lesson plans for varying ages and abilities including complete beginners, three cross curricular lesson plans using tennis as a vehicle to deliver English/Media, French and History, guidance on Leadership and Volunteering, an introduction to Cardio Tennis plus advice on delivering Schools Competition and a unique Assessing Ability Framework (based on the National Curriculum P.E. Attainment Levels).
This toolkit has been developed to make running an Out of School Hours Tennis Club as easy as possible within primary schools. Out of School Hours Tennis Clubs are a great opportunity to ‘bridge the gap’ between a young person experiencing tennis at school for the first time and participating in a community environment. They are an easy way for schools to add to the range of activities offered to pupils and they are a great way of developing a link with a local place to play tennis.
11
Other School Tennis Resources TENNIS ACTIVITY WEEK PACK
SCHOOL GAMES TENNIS TOOLKIT
The Tennis Activity Week Pack is a pre-prepared week of cross curricular lessons, based on a tennis theme, aimed at children aged 7-9 years, but can easily be extended and adapted for older primary year groups.
The School Games Tennis Toolkit is an interactive CD-Rom, which has been designed for teachers and the school sport infrastructure, to make competition in schools as easy to run as possible. The Guide contains over 40 resources and templates, many of which can be edited. This supports one of British Tennis’ key priorities of increasing the number of juniors regularly competing.
The pack contains easy to use lesson plans and worksheets covering; Literacy, Numeracy, Science, History, Geography, PHSE, Music, Art, Design & Technology and PE, with many of the lessons incorporating ICT. This shows how tennis and sport can help kids in the classroom as well as on court.
VOLLEYS & VALUES Volleys & Values is a cross curricular resource that uses tennis and the Olympic and Paralympic Games to inspire young people. ‘Dan the Coach’ and the Value Monsters are on hand to help guide you through the 12 lesson plans which are primarily aimed at children aged 9–11 years old, but can easily be adapted for younger or older year groups.
ES L GAM IT SCHOO TOOLK TENNIS
SCHOOL G SC TE ENNIS TO AMES OLKIT www.schools ww tennis.org
12 19/06/20
d 1
LKIT CD
NIS TOO
ES TEN OOLS GAM
TF=SCH
12
=MAY12
HOLDER
FINAL.ind
10:22
SCHOOLS TENNIS REGISTRATION & MEMBERSHIP
SCHOOLS TENNIS ASSEMBLY VIDEO
Registration:
A musical tennis compilation video has been developed for use by teachers and coaches during tennis themed assemblies, or as an introduction to a block of tennis sessions.
Registration is free and aimed at individuals such as colleagues in the school sport infrastructure, teachers, coaches and anyone interested/involved in developing tennis in schools. Many of the resources online are only available to registered users, through an exclusive and personalised area of the website.
You can download the schools tennis assembly video at: www.schoolstennis.org
Membership: Membership is aimed at schools to join for an annual fee - £15 per year for primary and £35 per year for secondary schools (£35 per year for schools covering all ages). Membership brings a wide range of benefits, including: ■ Online Shop – between 30-40% discount on Schools Tennis equipment ■ Eligibility to enter into the Wimbledon Ticket Ballot ■ Eligibility to apply to an annual small grants scheme ■ Priority/free access to some resources ■ Free quarterly British Tennis publication
13
Other School Tennis Resources TENNIS LEADERS Tennis Leaders is the first step on the tennis and sport career pathway for volunteering and potentially, paid employment. It has been designed to offer a wide range of opportunities to young people, providing them with enhanced skills and experience. Tennis Leaders is aimed at 13 years plus and the content is suitable for pupils and older juniors just starting out through to adult volunteers looking to support their local coach, referee or club official. Tennis Leaders is free to deliver and can now be tutored by Licensed and Registered Coaches (level 3 upwards) as well as qualified teachers without the need to go on any specific training. There are five Tennis Leader modules: ■ Core Module – 3 hours Introduction to tennis You must take this module before the other Tennis Leaders modules to understand the basics of tennis such as strokes, game formats and variations of the sport ■ Additional Modules – 2 hours each Volunteering at your tennis venue Learn about what makes a successful place to play Leading a practice session Know the attributes and responsibilities of leading a practice session Helping at your school Learn how to organise tennis activities with large groups in small spaces Helping at a competition Consider the key actions before, during and after a competition
14
COMPETITION ORGANISERS WORKSHOP A free 3-hour workshop, designed specifically for 16-25 year olds, can be delivered locally by our tennis development managers, to provide the skills to run a range of competitions. At the training, attendees will be given a Competition Organisers Toolkit, providing them with all of the tools and resources needed to run competition. Competition Organisers can then play an important role in ensuring we keep more young people in the sport. To find out more about Tennis Leaders, or to arrange a Competition Organisers Workshop at your school or college, please visit: www.schoolstennis.org
TENNIS SCHOOL TRIPS There are a wide range of tennis related school trips available, throughout the year, for different age groups. Many events offer discounts for groups and juniors. Major Events A number of high profile, major events take place in Great Britain such as The Championships, Wimbledon, The Davis Cup and The Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. AEGON British Tennis Series Three high profile grass court events, including the AEGON Championships held at the Queen’s Club in London, played in the lead-up to the Championships, Wimbledon. Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum This state-of-the-art museum explores the evolution of tennis from a garden party pastime to today’s world-wide professional sport. Local club visits: ■ Why not think about making a trip to your local tennis club, park or centre? ■ Why not schedule in a school trip as a culmination of a programme of tennis activity delivered at your school? ■ Why not investigate scheduling in a school trip to contribute to an element of a P.E. related qualification being delivered at your school? ■ Why not consider a tennis related school trip during National School Sport Week?
15
Makaton Makaton uses signs, symbols and speech to help people to communicate. Being able to communicate eases frustration and gives children and adults confidence, a feeling of well-being, plus social skills including turn-taking, emotional development, language skills and independence.
Makaton can help children and adults who have difficulty with: ■ Communicating what they want, think or how they feel ■ Making themselves understood ■ Paying attention ■ Listening to and understanding speech ■ Remembering and sequencing Makaton is a visual way to develop communication skills which helps stimulate sounds and words. This visual way of communicating in turn helps to encourage language development, i.e. putting words together. Makaton helps understanding, giving the child or adult an extra visual clue to help understanding. Makaton signs help convey meaning, because the signs give an extra clue when speaking, for example “Hello” and “Drink”. The signs used in Makaton are from British Sign Language (BSL) which is the language of the deaf community in Britain. Makaton symbols help learning. A Makaton symbol is a simple black and white drawing which shows the meaning of a word. Symbols are lasting and permanent. Symbols give a child or adult more time to take in information.
16
When using Makaton: ■ Only use the sign or symbol for the important word in the sentence ■ Remember to speak and sign at the same time ■ Use clear, short sentences ■ Remember to make eye contact and use facial expression, body language and gesture ■ Use real objects and mime to give reference and meaning, for example when talking about a tennis racket, point to the racket, when talking about serving the ball, mime doing it ■ Use the sign and symbol for ‘Good’ to give praise ■ Have fun!
THESE ARE SOME SIMPLE MAKATON SYMBOLS AND SIGNS TO HELP YOU WITH BASIC COMMUNICATION IN TENNIS SESSIONS: Hello
Good
Next/your turn
17
Makaton
To look
18
To listen
Again
To drink
Yes
No
More info... Makaton symbols and signs used with permission from The Makaton Charity 2011. If you would like to learn to use Makaton, contact The Makaton Charity at: www.makaton.org email:
[email protected] or telephone: 01276 606 760 19
Progressing This section outlines some of the further opportunities that are available to young disabled people in terms of competitions, coaching and linking with places to play in your local community. For more detailed information on the opportunities available for each impairment group (including eligibility / classification etc), please visit: www.tennisfoundation.org.uk and click on ‘Disability’.
LEARNING DISABILITY The Tennis Foundation organises a number of coaching weekends and competitions each year for players with a learning disability. In addition, they work in partnership with Special Olympics G.B. (SOGB) and The UK Sports Association (UKSA) to provide opportunities for athletes to compete in national and international events such as the Special Olympics World Games.
WHEELCHAIR TENNIS One of the fastest growing wheelchair sports in the world, wheelchair tennis integrates very easily with the able-bodied game, since it can be played on any regular tennis court, with no modifications to the size of the court or the size of rackets or balls. Wheelchair tennis is played to the same rules as non-disabled tennis, with the one exception that a wheelchair player is allowed two bounces of the ball before returning it. As long as the first bounce is within the normal parameters of the court, the second bounce can be outside the tramlines.
20
The Tennis Foundation organises a number of a wheelchair tennis development camps and competitions each year. On the world stage, the NEC Wheelchair Tennis Tour has grown in size and popularity, with currently over 170 events taking place all over the world.
DEAF TENNIS The Tennis Foundation organises a number of deaf tennis festivals and competitions each year. In addition, there is an annual national competition and teams also compete in international events such as the Deaflympics and the Dress and Maere Cups (the Davis and Fed Cups of deaf tennis). For national and international deaf tennis competitions, a player must have an average hearing loss of 55 decibels or more in their best ear.
BLIND & VISUALLY IMPAIRED TENNIS Blind and visually impaired tennis can be played on a court with the same dimensions as a badminton court. Players work out their position on court by touching tactile lines on the court. One of the main rule differences is that players get either one, two or three bounces of the ball depending on their degree of visual impairment. Mini Tennis rackets are used by the players and the specialist ‘sound ball’ allows the players to hear the ball when it bounces and therefore judge its height, direction and speed. The Tennis Foundation organises a number of blind and visually impaired tennis festivals and competitions each year.
21
COMPETITION When considering competitive opportunities for people with a disability, players can be included within mainstream events*; alternatively events can be run which are specific to a category of disability. *
Example – If a non-disabled person is playing against a wheelchair user; the wheelchair user is allowed two bounces, with the non-disabled player allowed one bounce. A competitive structure and player pathway for Blind and Visually Impaired Tennis is currently being developed. The Tennis Foundation are working with the Youth Sport Trust and several Project Ability Schools to pilot an inclusive mini tennis red competition format for those young people that cannot easily access the traditional format of the game. It is hoped this will be available for national roll out in early 2013.
LINKING WITH A LOCAL PLACE TO PLAY There are more than 2,600 registered places to play tennis across Great Britain. To find out more about places to play in your local community, please visit: www.LTA.org.uk/playtennis Many places to play are Tennis Clubmark accredited. Clubmark is a cross-sport quality accreditation for clubs and the LTA is an accredited partner. Tennis Clubmark is an opportunity for places to play tennis to be recognised for achieving excellent standards and includes all the key criteria of the national Clubmark programme. The Tennis Foundation is supporting tennis venues to become fully accessible so that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy playing the game. Disabled people can play against their non-disabled friends or family, and more and more clubs across the country and now running both inclusive sessions and impairment specific sessions. allplay is a national campaign, brought to you by the LTA, to help people play tennis. This site is the online home of the campaign and is perfect for anybody just starting out in tennis as well as people who are looking to play more often. For more information visit: www.allplaytennis.com
22
Case Study: Warwickshire Special Schools Competition For the last five years, Warwickshire LTA have organised a special schools competition, linked to The AEGON Classic International Women’s Event. The format for the events were similar to that of the mainstream competitions, running alongside each other. Special schools across the county were grouped together and competed in two feeder events at tennis clubs – one in the north and one in the south of the county. The winning teams then progressed through to compete at the final, which was staged at The AEGON Classic event, as part of its community activity programme. Mini Tennis Red was used as the format for primary school age players and Mini Tennis Orange was used as the format for secondary age pupils. Over 40 players with a learning disability competed against each other.
23
Celebrating Success! ACHIEVEMENT CERTIFICATES Achievement certificates are available to download and edit from: www.schoolstennis.org
Well done! This is to cer
tify that:
ell done! W Well done! Signed:
to certify that: Thiss iss to
www.schoolst
ennis.org
This is to certiffy y tha that:
d: gneed: Sign
Signed:
is.org www.schoolstenn
www.schoolstennis.org
24
AWARD STICKERS: Award stickers are found within the teacher resource boxset. Additional stickers are available to order from: www.schoolstennis.org
Well Well Well done! done! don e! ll e W Well Welle! dWoenlel ! Well done! donWelldoneW! elldoneW! ellWell done! done! don done! e! ll e W Well Welle! Wdeolnl e! Well n ed Well lloneW done! doW edlloneW ! e ll done! done! do! ndone! e! ll e W Well Welle!Wedlol ne!Well done! don done! done! Well done! 25
As Lead Partner of British Tennis, AEGON supports tennis at all levels, from first steps with a racket to world-class events like the AEGON Championships. Grass roots development is especially important to us. Through the AEGON Schools Tennis programme, we support the LTA and Tennis Foundation in helping teachers get more children playing tennis. Produced by The Tennis Foundation | Charity No. 298175 For more information visit: www.schoolstennis.org Photographs supplied courtesy of Getty Images, Roy Smilijanic Photography and James Jordan Photography.
