Akron Sports Monster Tennis

Tennis will be back in the spring of 2009. Get some friends together now for some spring fun on the courts. Leagues will be posted in January so make sure you register before leagues sell out.

Coed team tennis is always a blast - YOU should play!

If you are looking to get into the swing of things, Sports Monster tennis is the sport for you. We offer Team Tennis (SMTT) and have three skill levels: Hacker, Whacker and Smacker (descriptions of skill levels below).

Team Tennis (SMTT): Tennis can be as much of a team sport as volleyball or soccer and when you play Sports Monster Team Tennis (SMTT), you will find out why.

Ideally, each team is made up of three men and three women. Through the course of 1 1/2 hours of match time, each team will play the following formats: mens and womens singles, mens and womens doubles and 2 sets of coed doubles. Matches are played on 2 courts with different formats being played at the same time. Substitutions are allowed as in regular team sports and, through the use of speed scoring, there is enough time to play all of the formats listed.

If it sounds fun, that is because SMTT is! This is a great way to meet new people, not feel the pressure one might feel in a singles only format and provide a sense of camaraderie. If you are signing up as an individual, you will find that many of our teams are made up of individuals just like you. So do not be shy! Sign up to play.

SMTT is available for Hacker, Whacker and Smacker level players. Sports Monster reserves the right to mix players of different skill levels on the same teams to provide a balanced league if all three levels are not available.

Skill Levels:

• Hacker: The Hacker level is for recreational players. Specific skills will vary with stroke but in general, either the forehand or backhand are inconsistent. Play is sometimes a bloopy type shot. First serves sometimes go in and have some pace, while second serves are lobbed. Net play is fair and court coverage is adequate. USTA rating of 2.0 - 2.9
• Whacker: The Whacker level is for intermediate level players. Ground strokes are more consistent and players usually have a strong forehand or backhand but usually one is noticeably better. The first serve is solid and consistent and the second serve is done with some pace. Net play and court coverage are good. USTA rating of between 3.0 and 3
• Smacker: The Smacker level is for advanced level players. All aspects of the game are solid and only in strategy or mobility will weaknesses be evident. Both first and second service are strong. USTA rating of above 4.0

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