Primary School Carnivals

Designed to bridge the gap between school tennis and club play, the Primary School Carnivals are held across metro and regional areas of South Australia.

With two distinct streams – Participation for kids who are new to tennis and Pathways for intermediate players who can serve and rally – the carnivals introduce beginner students to the sport while providing a supportive pathway for experienced students to continue their tennis journey.

Modified equipment and court setup make learning tennis easier. Softer balls, smaller racquets and lower nets help children build coordination and develop proper technique while progressing confidently.

We supply all the required equipment, including:

21 or 23-inch Hot Shots Tennis racquets
low compression red tennis balls
5.5 or six-metre Hot Shots Tennis nets.

Court setup:

Each standard tennis court is divided into four red ball courts
5.5‑metre or six‑metre nets are placed in a row from the baseline to the net on both sides of the court.

The Primary Schools Carnivals are primarily designed for Year 3 and 4
students, although Year 5 and 6 students are also welcome.
All teams must be mixed gender with at least two boys or two girls.
Each team is made up of eight players. Reserves are allowed to rotate,
but only eight active players can participate at once.
Schools can enter multiple teams. When registering, make sure you clearly
specify which stream your teams are entering.
One teacher is required for every three teams.
All players are required to wear their school sports uniforms.

The games follow a round robin format, typically with 6-8 rounds. Music is used to guide the start and finish of each match.

Teams earn one point for every set they win, with points added up across the round robin. If teams are tied, the head‑to‑head result determines the outcome.

All primary and area schools who participate in the State Final event are invited to nominate a team of 8–10 students in Years 3 and 4 to compete against other top schools from across the state.

The State Final event is held at The Drive and Memorial Drive Tennis Club in the heart of the city.

Selected schools will have the opportunity to play at the Adelaide International before matches begin, with each progressing school receiving 25 tickets to experience the event.