Tennis in Primary Schools: The Pros and the Challenges
Tennis can often be seen as a specialist-only sport, or something reserved for Wimbledon—but it's not! It is a skill-rich sport that any teacher can confidently deliver.
The sport continues to grow in popularity and accessibility for young people, thanks to significant investment in grassroots facilities. Recently, the Park Tennis Project, funded by the UK Government and the LTA (Lawn Tennis Association), refurbished and reopened thousands of park tennis courts across the UK. This is giving more children and families the opportunity to pick up a racket locally. Whilst it’s not always perfect – with some courts requiring booking or small fees – overall it is a real access point, with focus being placed in underserved communities and areas of high social deprivation.
However, in schools, the challenge is often turning that opportunity into engaging, structured lessons.
PE Planning can help! Providing easy to follow, fun lesson plans and resources to help teachers deliver high-quality tennis lessons with confidence.
In this blog we’re going to dive into the pros of teaching tennis in primary school as well as the challenges schools and teachers face when tennis is on their PE curriculum.
Why Tennis Works in Primary Schools
At first glance, tennis might seem like a complex sport to deliver in primary PE, but when broken down into simple activities, skill development and modified games, it becomes an engaging and highly effective part of any PE curriculum—especially when supported by clear, structured planning.
It offers far more than just hitting a ball over a net—supporting the development of key physical, social, and cognitive skills in primary-aged children.
The Pros or Teaching Tennis in Primary School
1. Develops fundamental movement skills
Tennis supports the core skills—agility, balance and coordination—key foundations of all sports, as well as fundamental movement skills. These skills are pivotal in any PE curriculum!
2. Boosts physical and mental wellbeing
Children are constantly moving, whether it being running, twisting, reaching and reacting, which improve overall physical health and fitness. It also enhances emotional and social wellbeing… focus, confidence, fair play, problem solving and building resilience,
3. Inclusive and adaptive
Modified equipment allows children of any age and ability to participate. Soft balls, lighter plastic rackets, smaller courts and adapted rules makes tennis highly inclusive within PE.
4. Encouraging lifelong participation
Tennis can be played individually, or socially, in parks, schools, clubs and playgrounds. And, with the improvement to many grassroot and park courts, tennis is a great option for promoting physical literacy.
5. Cross curricular opportunities
Tennis provides valuable cross curricular opportunities, supporting math through scoring and counting, while also developing English skills such as communication, instructional language and reflective thinking, alongside PSHE themes like resilience, teamwork and self-regulation.
The Challenges of Tennis in Primary School
Whilst tennis has clear benefits, there are certainly common barriers that schools can often face…
1. Teacher confidence and knowledge
Teachers can often feel less comfortable, confident or knowledgeable teaching tennis, compared to other sports.
2. Limitations on equipment and space
Not all schools have tennis rackets, nets and space readily available.
3. Difficulty perception
There is often a perception that tennis is too technical or advanced for younger pupils, which can discourage teachers from including it in their EP long term plan.
4. Weather
The Great British Weather can’t always be relied on, and with limited indoor space available, tennis lessons in school are often at the mercy of a sunny forecast!
How to Overcome These Barriers
Use PE Planning Lesson plans – They are designed by teachers, for teachers. They are easy to understand and deliver, progressive and engaging!
Lesson Plans that understand space and equipment limitations – Our units of work understand the challenges in Primary schools, so even in a small playground with plastic rackets and soft balls, tennis can be taught and children can progress and excel.
Break the game down – into simple, achievable skill progressions that allow pupils to see success before progressing to more modified games. Rules, court sizes and player numbers can all be adapted to support learning and help children achieve success.
Summer PE – Ensure Tennis is taught during the summer term to minimise the risk of PE having to be indoor. In the UK, tennis is also commonly associated with the summer months, giving pupils the opportunity to feel inspired by major professional events such as the French Open and Wimbledon.
Tennis in Primary School is Perfect for Summer PE
Tennis naturally and perfectly aligns with summer term PE.
- Summer means brighter weather, so consistent outdoor PE.
- The playground allows more opportunity for engaging game-based activities.
- Courts can be adapted smaller sizes to fit the needs of the class size and activity.
- An ideal option for summer extra curricular clubs and intra-school competitions.
Looking for seasonal inspiration? Check out our Summer PE Blog, where tennis fits perfectly into warm-weather units.
Game, Set, Match
Don’t see tennis as only an extra in school—bring it to the forefront. It’s a valuable, inclusive and curriculum aligned sport that supports all areas of development – physical and personal!
Structured resources, like PE Planning can help. Tennis PE lessons build key skills, engage learners and promote lifelong activity.
We are here to support you however we can, so please just shout if you need us.
