Learning the Lines

Story / Theme:

A fast-paced, interactive way for kids to learn and remember the names of tennis court lines — with a fun story twist to make it stick.

Equipment:

• Tennis court (full or mini)

• Coach to lead the calls and story

How to Play – Learning the Lines:

1. Gather all players in the middle of the court.

2. Walk as a group to each line and explain its name, shortening each to a single word:

• Baseline → “BASE”

• Net → “NET”

• Centre line → “CENTRE”

• Tramline → “TRAM”

• Service line → “SERVICE”

• Alley (space between tramlines) → “ALLEY”

3. Encourage players to shout the word back to you at each stop.

How to Play – Call & Run:

1. Stand in the middle of the court.

2. Call out one of the one-word abbreviations.

3. All players run to that line as fast as they can.

4. Mix up the order to keep them on their toes.

Story Game Variation:

1. Tell a silly story, highlighting any of the line names you’ve taught.

2. When players hear a line name, they must run to that line immediately.

3. Example story:
   “I had to get my suitcase out of the BASEment, then call a taxi SERVICE.
   But my phone had no NETwork, so I walked through an ALLEY.
   When I landed, I took a TRAM to the town CENTRE…”

Progressions:

1. Add a competition element — last player to reach the correct line is out for that round.

2. Add in fake calls to test listening skills.

3. Use more complex stories with faster line name changes.

Variations:

• Team Play: Divide players into two teams. Whichever team gets all members to the line first scores a point.

• Reverse Calls: Coach stands on the wrong line to confuse players — they must listen, not watch.