Meaningful learning in Tennis: An experience report on the creation and use of empty spaces on the court

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Understanding tactical concepts is a factor that contributes to success in tennis. From this knowledge, the player makes more assertive decisions more quickly. Understanding concepts occurs mainly from meaningful learning. Especially for teaching sports, pedagogical principles are proposed that guide the planning, intervention and evaluation of coaches
OBJECTIVE: report the experience of the coach in using pedagogical principles for meaningful learning in tennis.
METHODS: Descriptive study, in the form of an experience report. A tennis coach and two players participated. The intervention was planned based on pedagogical principles for meaningful learning of sports games and the class objective was to create and use empty spaces on the opponent's court.
RESULTS: The coach´s experiences were carried out in a class organized in three moments: recognizing the concept of creating empty spaces on the opponent's court; seek to create empty spaces on the opponent's court and apply the concept in the game itself. Firstly, the activities “tennis with the hand” and “tactics in squares” were carried out. In the second moment, the “open!” activities were carried out. and “winner game”. In the third moment, the game itself was played, consisting of five games.
CONCLUSION: The organization of activities based on pedagogical principles for meaningful learning contributed to the understanding of the tactical concept of creating and using empty spaces on the opponent's court.