Mini-court singles

Setup

1. Split the court lengthwise along the centre line into two long, narrow mini-courts, one for each game.
2. Lay throw-down lines along the middle between the net and each short service line, where the court has no centre line.
3. Each mini-court runs from the net to the doubles long service line and from the singles sideline to the centre line.
4. Two players per mini-court, one each side of the net.

How it runs

1. Serve underarm from behind the short service line, straight into the opponent's mini-court. (In a full game the serve goes diagonally.)
2. Rally-point scoring: every rally wins a point, and whoever wins the rally serves next.
3. Games to 11. Junior events use different game lengths, so check your competition's rules.
4. A shuttle on the line is in. If a shuttle from the other game comes across, stop and replay the point.
5. With more players, winners move up a court and the others move down after each game.

Coaching points

• After every shot, get back to the middle of your mini-court.
• Use the length: a deep shot followed by a short one makes the opponent run.
• Be in the ready position, racket up, before the opponent hits.
• The server calls the score, their own score first, before serving.

Common mistakes

• Admiring the shot instead of getting back to the middle.
• Sending every shot to the same spot in the middle of the opponent's court.
• Chasing a shuttle into the next game; let it go and replay.
• Arguing about line calls: on the line is in.