Assessment Criteria for the Service

 

The criteria will be given on a 9-point scale.

 

Category

Area of play and Criteria

Teaching Pointers

 

(1) – (2)

Consistency

Short tennis court.

Get the ball into play. Work both arms together to get overhead action.  When appropriate use an under-arm serve.

 

·         Racket Swing

·         Basic grip.

·         Throw racket head at the ball.

 

(3)

Consistency

Modified to Full court

Demonstrate complete service action hitting the ball above the head and in front of the body.

Get one out of two services on a regular basis.

·         Throwing stance.

·         Racket behind head in back-scratch position

·         Place ball in the air, throw racket head at ball with both arms working together.

·         Keep balanced.

 

(4)

Accuracy & positioning

Full court

Show accuracy with service hitting to one side of the service box with a stepping into court to recovery position.

Maintain consistency of serving. 

80% success with 2 serves.

·         Feet placement.

·         Use of wrist.

·         Transfer weight into service.

·         Body follows racket.

·         Split-step recover

 

(5)

Accuracy & positioning

Spin

Full court

Hit to side, line and middle of service box.  Perform topspin second serve. Show consistent serving with a high % of second serves going in. 90% success with spin on second serve.

 

·         Throw ball up more overhead.

·         Use of wrist.

·         Ball hit higher over the net.

 

(6)

Accuracy & positioning

Spin & Power

Full court

Show Flat/Topspin/slice services with declared accuracy. 

After serve effective positioning.

Develop power in the service.

50% success with the first serve, 90% with the second serve.

·         Adjust ball placement.

·         Slice – Hit to side & under ball.

·         Flat – Hit ball with open face straight on.

·         Power – Use legs & upper body. Body follows racket.

·         Recover behind baseline or service-line

 

(7)

Consistency

Accuracy & positioning

Spin & Power

Full court

Return of serve:  Show ability to play a variation of service returns for singles and double games. Respond correctly to opponent’s serves. 90% second serves returned, 50% first serves returned.

Ability to hit ace serves and none returnable serves by moving the ball.  Able to direct spinning serve.

·         Ready and relaxed.

·         Moving back – Play shot with more time.

·         Blocking – step into shot with volley action.

·         Disguise intention with serve

·         Use spin to move ball into and away from returnee’s body.

 

(8)

Accuracy & positioning

Spin & Power

Full court

Directing return of serve to pressurize server with backhands and forehands. Strategic use of the service in doubles and singles.  Show ability to correct own mistakes to encourage consistent strong serving. 95% topspin serves going in with the ball kicking. 70% slice serves going in with the ball breaking. 50% flat serves going in with the ball keeping low.

·         Split step before return.

·         Lose grip before hit ball.

·         Serve too weaker side on important points.

·         Serve and volley & serve & stay back tactics in the game.

·         75% first serve in doubles.

·         Serve to partners requested target.

·         Singles – Vary spin and pace on serve and placement to prevent opponent reading serve.

·         Body- line serve.

(9)

Consistency

Accuracy & positioning

Spin & Power

Modified to full court

Coach a person’s serve improving consistency, accuracy and when appropriate, power.

·         Ensure correct grip.

·         Consistent toss up.

·         Back-scratcher position.

·         Hit at full reach.

·         Wrist snap and follow through.