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From a lunchtime open session to a full Competitive tournament, all you need is a few sets of tables, some tennis balls and this page.
Running a youth group or a camp? See Hantis for churches and camps →
Starting a club at your school or college? Get the free club guides →
Pick a format
Most first events use Freestyle, where anyone can walk up and join the line. Once you have regular players, add a Competitive tournament.
Competitive rules
Share this with teams before the event. The full rules are in Section 6 of the rulebook.
| Topic | Rule | No. |
|---|---|---|
| Match length | Best of 1, 3, 5 or 7 sets of first to 21, win by 2. The organizer chooses. | 6.0.1 |
| Time limits | Organizers may reduce the winning score (e.g. first to 15 or 11). Always win by 2. | 6.0.2 |
| First serve | Rock, paper, scissors. | 6.0.3 |
| Serving | Each player serves 5 times, rotating through all 4 players and alternating teams. A Double is 2 points but 1 serve. | 6.0.4 |
| Serving side | Pick a table and make all 5 serves from it. | 6.0.5 |
| Change of ends | Swap ends every 10 points. | 6.0.6 |
| Set and match point | The trailing team serves until the score is level. | 6.0.7 |
| Faults | Only when set or match point down; otherwise a missed serve is a point to the other team. | 2.2.1 |
| Boundary | 8 m × 8 m official. | 1.1.3 |
| Referee calls | Blocking, and opposing players hitting the ball at the same time: the referee awards the point or calls a replay. | 7.0.0, 3.0.5 |
| Disputes | No referee? Replay the point, play rock, paper, scissors, or check the video. | 7.0.2 |
Plan it
Each court is one set of four tables. More courts means more matches at once.
Every team plays every other team. Great for 4 to 8 teams and for making sure everyone plays plenty. Rank by wins, then points for and against.
Lose once and you're out. Fastest format for big fields. Seed from a short round robin if you have time.
Teams are out after two losses. Fairer than single elimination and more matches for everyone.
Free download
Everything to print for a Competitive tournament of 3 to 16 teams, plus posters to bring players in. Print only the pages you need.
Teaching Hantis in P.E.? The P.E. Lesson Plans include a full tournament unit with 10-team round-robin, double-elimination and elimination sheets.
Free club guides
Step-by-step guides for students who want Hantis at their school: find members and a sponsor, get the club approved, and run your first meetings. Each one ends with copy-ready templates and a checklist. Free to print and share.
Register a student organization, fund it, book space and run events, then pitch Hantis to campus rec as an intramural sport. Includes a proposal email, a constitution outline and a one-page intramural proposal.
Find a teacher sponsor, sign up players, get school approval and run your first after-school meeting. Includes a note to a sponsor, a proposal for your principal and announcement text.
Pair them with the free Organizer Kit for posters, a sign-up sheet and brackets, and the Official Rulebook.
Free app
The free Hantis for P.E. app turns a list of names into random teams of two, draws a single-elimination, double-elimination or round-robin bracket, and tracks every result. Its scorekeeper follows the 5-serve rotation, set point serving and change of ends for you, on as many courts as you need.
Day of
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