Red Ball Rumble
Red Ball Rumble was a new initiative introduced by Tennis SA in 2024 to create a transparent pathway between schools and club tennis. The Red Ball Rumble follows the same format as the school carnivals, providing clubs the opportunity to host red ball match play. Ideally, a coach from a club would run the program although Tennis SA can educate any club representative on how to run a red ball match play session. In 2024, 30 clubs hosted a Red Ball Rumble Program, with almost 500 players participating!
WHAT IS RED BALL RUMBLE?
The Red Ball Rumble is a family friendly program to promote to children throughout each region to try Red Ball Match Play at a club. The Red Ball Rumble program provides students with the opportunity to learn tennis in a fun and inclusive environment. It's played on smaller courts and uses low compression balls, making it fun and easy for beginner participants (including Mums and Dads!) to play. It is a low cost, high fun program running for 4-6 weeks where participants will be able to further develop their tennis skills, make new friends, and have the opportunity to advance Into Hot Shots Tennis programs.
FORMAT:
1. Matches are timed using music as a reference point (duration of match is subject to number of rounds) and all begin and end at the same time.
2. Matches are scored numerically e.g., 1-0, 1-1, 2-1 etc.
3. Players umpire themselves and will play until the music stops. Once the music has stopped, each doubles pairing will swap and play against a different pair.
4. Teams score 1 point for each set won that are tallied up throughout the round robin. If teams are tied on sets, then the result is based off who won the match up between those two teams. If teams did not play each other, it is then based off the points won.
RULES:
1. To begin, players do rock, paper, scissors, and the winner chooses to serve or receive.
2. The point will only begin if all four players are standing behind the baseline.
3. First and second serves are to be a 'drop, bounce, hit' over the net to either receiver who must let the ball to bounce once before returning*. If the ball lands outside the court lines. or lands in the net it is a ‘fault’, and the player serves again. If a player serves a fault on the second serve, then the opponent wins the point.
4. If the ball touches the net on its way over and lands on the other side it’s called a ‘let’, and the player serves again.
5. If the ball bounces twice, the player hits the ball out or into the net, the opponent wins the point.
6. Players cannot reach over the net or touch the net during a rally otherwise it is the opponents point.
7. Unsportsmanlike behaviour such as deliberately wasting time, dangerous play or abusive language needs to be reported to the club supervisor, who will then penalise the player by forfeiting the set.
8. When the music stops to end the match, players finish the rally then gently tap racquets. and wait on their court for their score to be collected by the club supervisor.
9. If a set is tied at the end of the allocated time, players then play next point wins to decide who wins the set. *If a serve is hit before bouncing, the server wins the point.
WHY RED BALL MATCH PLAY?
In 2016, Tennis SA introduced the Hot Shots School Carnivals across South Australia. Schools were immediately interested, and the format has steadily increased with participants in the following years. In 2024, across South Australia, Tennis SA ran a total of 51 school carnivals with approximately 9900 students participating. In this time, we have seen varying numbers of participants join programs at local clubs as a result of these carnivals. After the success of the Red Ball Rumble in 2024, we look forward to seeing this program expand in 2025.
WHERE
We run the program at Colonel Light West Tennis Club, 45a Penang Ave, Colonel Light Gardens.
Time
- 4.30pm to 5.30pm
Days / Venue Location
- Friday's at Colonel Light West Tennis Club – 45a Penang Ave, Colonel Light Gardens
When
- Dates 7th, 14th, 21st & 28th of November 2025
Cost
- $40 for the (4 weeks) for all sessions or $10 per week Casual
Payment Options - Bank Transfer to DPTennis BSB 085005 -A/C 26-947-3759 Child’s name in description or Sports Voucher 2025 complete and email me Sports Voucher 2025-Sports-Voucher-Registration-Form.pdf
Sports Voucher - We accept the Sports Voucher for payment. – Refer to Sports Voucher Scheme 2025 info here at https://www.sportsvouchers.sa.gov.au/
Join The Crew - Hot-Shots T-Shirts
You can order your Free Hot-Shots New Balance T-Shirt to Join the Crew, just click on this link hotshots.tennis.com.au/already-playing – Choose myself as Coach and Colonel Light West Tennis Club as the venue.
Book Now
If you would like to secure a place for your child, please email me or SMS me, if you have any further questions please let me know.
To enquire or Book, please contact Damien on 0407184781 or [email protected]
