ELECTIVE CASE STUDY 1 · PROGRAM DESIGN
Adult Tennis 101: Designing the Confidence to Start
Abdul Jordan · Jordan Park academic facility model
A beginner class succeeds when a new player knows where to go, experiences a real rally, and leaves knowing what comes next. This case study turns the Adult Tennis 101 pathway into a testable service design. Jordan Park is a fictional RSMA planning model; the sequence and measures below are proposals, not reported results.
The design challenge
The first barrier is not a forehand. A new or returning adult may be unsure whether they belong, what equipment they need, or whether a class will move too fast. A facility can solve that problem before anyone steps on court. Registration should ask about experience, goals, preferred times, equipment needs, and any support the player chooses to disclose. A confirmation message should name the court, arrival time, coach, what to bring, and whom to contact with a question.
A four-session pilot
The published pathway describes Tennis 101 as a 60-minute, play-based entry point for new or returning players around NTRP 1.0-2.0. For a proposed pilot, I would schedule four weekly sessions with five participants per coach on one tennis court. Five participants per coach is a proposed pilot design assumption; it still needs a funded roster, confirmed fee units, court capacity and a weather plan.
Session 1 - Welcome and rally: Learn names, introduce court space and equipment, then create a short cooperative rally. Success is making contact and returning, not perfect technique.
Session 2 - Control and direction: Use partner games to explore ready position, spacing, and sending the ball to a target. Offer easier or harder feeds without separating people into winners and losers.
Session 3 - Start the point: Practice a simple serve or underhand start, return, and two-shot exchange. Explain scoring only as much as the game requires.
Session 4 - Play and progress: Run supported points and a friendly rotation. Give each player a brief, specific recommendation for the next format.
Each hour would reserve roughly 10 minutes for welcome and warm-up, 35 minutes for guided games, 10 minutes for supported play, and five minutes for a next-step conversation. A coach can adapt equipment, feed speed, or activity intensity so the class stays welcoming without pretending everyone has identical needs.
The Handoff Matters
At the end, the coach and front desk should offer a small number of real choices, not a generic instruction to "keep playing." The current Adult Tennis Pathway identifies Novice Cardio and Love to Play as possible next steps; Tennis 102 may suit a player ready for a further instructional series. The recommendation should reflect the participant's goals, confidence, and schedule. Include a free public-play option for someone who is not ready to buy another program.
What the pilot would measure
Track inquiry-to-registration, first-session attendance, four-session completion, next-program enrollment within 30 days, and any tennis participation within 60 days. Ask one short question after the first visit: "Did you feel you knew where to go and what to do?" Compare answers with attendance and follow-up, rather than calling a full class a success by itself. No pilot results are claimed here. If completion is weak, review timing, pace, coach communication, cost, and weather disruption before changing the curriculum.
Operating Safeguards
The class should not displace the free public court access promised in the Jordan Park model. Confirm court and staffing capacity before advertising dates, prepare a weather communication plan, and give the front desk the same placement language as the coach. Those choices connect player confidence to an operationally credible program.
Explore the model: Adult Tennis Pathway · Business Plan · All articles
Decision, alternatives and evidence
Recommended design: A small, play-based pilot with a clear next-step invitation. An open drop-in is more flexible but gives beginners less continuity; a longer instructional series offers more depth but asks for a larger initial commitment. The four-session proposal balances continuity with a manageable starting commitment.
Evidence available: The linked Adult Tennis Pathway specifies the intended entry experience; the Business Plan establishes the need to validate fees, staffing and capacity. The five-player pilot size is a proposed design choice, not validated budget enrollment or proof of demand.
Evidence to collect: Compare completion and 30-day next-program enrollment across pilot cohorts, record participant feedback and the number of free-play referrals, and explain weather or scheduling interruptions. Report the sample size before drawing conclusions.
Management reflection
The lesson from this design is that an accessible first session depends on coordination before and after instruction. A full roster alone cannot show that participants felt welcome or continued playing. Review confidence, completion, follow-up and delivery cost together; adapt the next pilot rather than claiming success without results.