1. Introduce yourself to your opponent. Walk to the net, shake hands (or fist bump), and say hello. For example: "Hi, I'm [Your Name]. Good luck today!" This shows good sportsmanship and sets a positive tone.
  2. Determine who serves first and which side to start on. Twirl your racket (or spin it) to decide. One player calls "up" or "down" (or "smooth" vs. "rough" on the logo).
    • The winner chooses: either to serve first/receive first, or which side of the court to start on.
    • The loser gets the remaining choice.
  3. Move to the correct sides and begin the 5-minute warm-up. Head to your chosen sides. Warm-up is limited to 5 minutes total (including serves). Focus on:
    • Forehand and backhand ground strokes (rally cooperatively from the baseline).
    • Serves (take all your warm-up serves now—hit a few from each side if time allows).
  4. Start the match. The player who chose to serve first begins serving from the right side (deuce court), serving diagonally into the opponent's service box on the opposite side.
  5. Scoring rules: Use no-ad scoring; games are scored 15-30-40. If the score reaches 40-40 (deuce), the following point wins the game—no advantage needed.
  6. Side switches and serving order
    • After the first game, players switch sides, without stopping for water, etc.
    • Player 2 then serves the second game.
    • Player 1 serves the third game (their second service game).
    • Switch sides on odd games—after 1, after 3, after 5, etc.)
  7. During side changes, use the time to take a quick water break, towel off, adjust gear, apply sunscreen, etc. (Stay on court; no leaving unless necessary.) Have all your equipment courtside: water, towel, extra racket, hat, food/snacks if needed.
  8. Other important rules
    • No coaching is allowed during the match (from parents, coaches, or anyone else).
    • If you're unsure about the score or a call, ask a nearby official if one is present. Otherwise, politely ask your parent/coach (but only for clarification, not advice).
    • Play honestly, call lines fairly, and give your opponent the benefit of the doubt on a close call.