Version control: Original 1990 / Updated 1999 / Updated 2003 / Updated 2013 / Updated 2015/ Updated February 2023/
Updated March 2023
Introduction
You must refer to the Requirements for All Sport and Physical Activity (PDF 466KB) to understand your overall compliance responsibilities.
Where considered appropriate, for example inclusion in a school sport program, parents or caregivers must be informed of full details of the location, supervision to be provided and activities to be undertaken when seeking their written permission.
Teacher/Instructor Qualifications and Experience
The appropriate level of expertise and/or training required to conduct an activity will be dependent on whether the teacher's/instructor's role is one of supervision, instruction or coaching. Other factors to be considered are the nature of the activity, the age, ability and experience of the students involved.
Tennis Australia offers the following appropriate accreditation courses:
- Tennis for primary schools online
- Tennis for secondary schools online
- Tennis for primary schools practical
- Tennis for secondary schools practical
A teacher must be present who has recognised current training in emergency care.
Specific sport support for tennis is provided in the Teacher resource hub.
Supervision
Where an adult other than a teacher is engaged to provide instruction, a teacher must be present to take overall responsibility.
Equipment
Nets and supports must be in good condition.
Students are to be instructed to keep tennis racquets in good condition.
Students are to be instructed to wear footwear which is appropriate for the playing surface.
A well-equipped medical kit must be readily available.
Venues
The court surface must be in good condition and free of obstructions and loose objects.
Any equipment inside the fence that poses a danger to students must be removed.
Gates must be closed at all times during play or practical activities.
Safety
Spectators and non-participating players are to be instructed to remain outside the court area during play.
Students are to be instructed not to enter other courts occupied by players to retrieve tennis balls (or for any other reason) whilst play is in progress.
Play must not be allowed on slippery wet surfaces. Some surfaces such as ‘plexipave' become slippery with very small amounts of moisture.
Warm-up and cool-down are vital elements in preventing injury and should be included before and after all training and competition sessions. Stretching activities performed in the warm-up should move the muscles through the full range of movement to be performed during the session and be interspersed throughout the warm-up.
The warm-up should be continuous and lead into the training session. It should be fun and include games/activities relevant to the session to be performed.
In warm weather, dehydration can be a major problem. Students should be encouraged to consume fluids prior to, during and on completion of events.
Where possible, ice should be available for the treatment of injuries.
Students are to be instructed to use adequate sun protection, e.g. an SPF50+, broad spectrum, water resistant sunscreen reapplied regularly and a hat.