title: Effects of Lawn Tennis Association mini tennis as task constraints on children's match-play characteristics.
abstract: The Lawn Tennis Association's mini tennis (MT) is a modified version of tennis consisting of progressive stages; however, there have been few attempts to evaluate how MT might shape performance behaviours. Here, we examine effects of playing MT on the emergence of children's match-play behaviours in 48 junior tennis players. Performance in 1010 match-play points were filmed and coded across 4 tennis stages (MT Red, MT Orange, MT Green and Full Ball), using a notational analysis system. Recorded performance variables included rally length, first serve percentage and shot type, for the purpose of analysing inter-stage comparisons. Results showed a series of specific adaptations to playing characteristics across the stages, including rally length, shot variety and serve success. MT Red rallies (7.36 ± 6.06) were longer than Full Ball rallies (3.83 ± 2.40), and a higher percentage of forehands were played at MT Red (66.40 ± 8.49%) than at Full Ball stage (45.96 ± 6.47%). Findings suggested that MT stages can afford children more opportunities to develop their skills and elicit different match-play characteristics than Full Ball task constraints. Coaches, therefore, should consider the nature of emergent adaptations when designing practice environments to facilitate learning in young tennis players.
authors.affiliation: a Academy of Sport and Physical Activity , Sheffield Hallam University , Sheffield , UK.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fitzpatrick
authors.affiliation: b Centre for Sports Engineering Research , Sheffield Hallam University , Sheffield , UK.
authors.forename: Keith
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1398-6123
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Davids
authors.affiliation: a Academy of Sport and Physical Activity , Sheffield Hallam University , Sheffield , UK.
authors.forename: Joseph Antony
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Stone
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D054874:Athletic Performance; D002648:Child; D003163:Competitive Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D013715:Tennis
keywords: Mini tennis; adaptations; emergent behaviours; representative learning design; task constraints