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:
Gather all players in the middle of the court.
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”
Encourage players to shout the word back to you at each stop.
How to Play – Call & Run:
Stand in the middle of the court.
Call out one of the one-word abbreviations.
All players run to that line as fast as they can.
Mix up the order to keep them on their toes.
Story Game Variation:
Tell a silly story, highlighting any of the line names you’ve taught.
When players hear a line name, they must run to that line immediately.
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:
Add a competition element — last player to reach the correct line is out for that round.
Add in fake calls to test listening skills.
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.