DECS Designated: Sport: Tennis

Marryatville High School
Special Interest Tennis School

Marryatville High School applied to become a Special Interest Tennis School in 1995. The program was established by an agreement between the Department of Education and Children Services and Tennis SA to enable students who were training for tennis at a high level to be able to combine their school studies and tennis coaching with minimal disruption to their school work.

The tennis program offers a broad academic education, specialist tennis coaching during school hours, acquisition of theory knowledge related to tennis and the opportunity to represent Marryatville High at school, State and National levels.
The Special Interest Tennis Program offers an opportunity for students to

• be involved in specialist coaching squads
  
• have coaching from accredited coaches during school time
  
• acquire theoretical knowledge in areas such as anatomy and physiology,
• fitness, diet and nutrition, relationships, sports injuries, drugs in
• sport, psychology of winning
  
• participate in tennis teams in Saturday morning school competition,
• SSSSA team and individual tournaments and at a national level in the Tennis Australia School Teams Challenge

• Boys - Australian ranking of less than 2000 points
  
• Girls - Australian ranking of less than 1000 points
  
• Be committed to representing the school in tennis teams and competitions (Years 8 - 12)

Students not involved in the specialist teaching program but who play tennis for the school in Saturday competitions are invited to further develop their skills through lunchtime coaching sessions with accredited coaches in terms one and four.

Tennis as a subject is offered from Year 8 to 11 to students who are able to meet specific criteria regarding skill level and playing ability. There are three different coaching groups operating within the curriculum.

Group 1: Coaching modules are in 8-week blocks each term and all sessions occur within the normal school timetable. This option is recommended for students who are already involved in the National High Performance Academy (NHPA) squads with Tennis SA. International students are accepted into the program at this level depending on ability. Participants receive:

• Five lessons per week are divided into 2 x 1 hour on-court coaching sessions
  
• 1 theory class per week

Group 2: An extended coaching program of eight week modules each term is available to students who wish to spend extra time on court to further develop their skills and abilities.

This group will:

• receive 3 x 11/2 hour coaching sessions per week - two during school time and one session either before or after school
  
• be provided with a physical program to be completed in their own time
  
• have one theory lesson per week
  
• have a player/coach ratio 1:8

Students for these two groups pay a fee to the school for coaching received from accredited coaches. Information regarding applications and squad fees are available directly from the school.

Group 3:

• Year 11 students, involved with the NHPA program with Tennis SA, may opt to include Tennis as a Group 1 subject. This requires prior negotiation with the Tennis Manager and Year Level Co-ordinator to allow greater flexibility for each individual with their academic and tennis pursuits.


• Year 12 students may choose to use Tennis as one of their practical topics in Year 12 Physical Education. However, this is dependent on ratification from SSSABSA and must be negotiated with the Year 12 Physical Education teacher at the beginning of the school year.

It is an expectation that students from all groups will play tennis in the school Saturday morning school competition and participate in any tournaments conducted by the South Australian Secondary School Sports Association and Tennis Australia National Schools Team Challenge, if selected, as part of their course.

Theory units covered from Year 8-10 for both groups include:

• Anatomy and physiology topics: skeletal, muscular, energy, circulatory systems
  
• Drugs in sport
  
• Sports Injuries
  
• Health Issues
  
• Importance of exercise
  
• Career pathways in tennis
  
• Coaching skills
  
• Relationships
  
• Fitness
  
• Diet and nutrition
  
• Team co-operation skills
  
• Psychology of winning

Students are assessed in practical skill development and acquisition of tennis knowledge and receive accreditation for their studies for the South Australian Certificate of Education. Year 10 students receive one unit and Year 11 receive two.(Integrated Studies - Tennis)

Both the Tennis Co-ordinator and coaches collaborate to manage the program so that students are given ongoing support to maintain studies while training. There is also counselling support available from the School Counsellors.

Marryatville High School has an enviable tradition of excellence and achievement in all endeavours and there is a strong sense of community support for this ethos in the school. In particular, the tennis program gives students

• Opportunity to study and specialise in tennis with students of similar interests and abilities
  
• Support for academic studies
  
• Coaching at school to minimise disruption to schooling
  
• Cooperation between the school and Tennis SA for student benefits
  
• Opportunities to develop skills and to achieve the results they deserve
  
• Access to tournaments and competition play at local, state and national levels

From parent of Year 8 tennis student:
"Students have the opportunity to develop their skills and knowledge among other like-minded students of similar abilities"
"Theory work is invaluable, providing a well-rounded program"
Year 9 student:
"This school was recommended to me by a number of coaches and I think that being able to do tennis as a subject is both a rare and valuable experience"

Marryatville High School has six hard courts and two synthetic courts. To complement their school tennis coaching, International students are able to avail themselves of coaching packages at the Next Generation Tennis Complex. Facilities include hard synthetic grass tennis courts, swimming pool, gymnasium and squash courts.

Special Interest Music

International Program