a good return is, and how to score (Sloane, 1984, pp. 269-271).
By age 10, I had completely mastered the rules of the game. Mastering the rules was the first prerequisite for the student to enter into tennis competitions. I won the West Virginia State Championship three times: at ages 10, 11 and 12. Years later, I played on the tennis team of the Ohio Northern University at Ada, Ohio.
Looking back, I realize how important the rules of the game were. I could not have won three state championships or have played on a college tennis team had I not first learned the rules. I learned that scoring in tennis was much different from that of other sports. For instance, when a player wins his or her first point, he or she receives 15 points. A player's second point is also credited with 15 points, but the third point is only credited with 10 points, and under some circumstances, the fourth point may only be worth 2 points. Since I learned how to score at an early age, I had an advantage over other opponents who may have been struggling with scoring the game in the middle of a match while I could instantly calculate the score and then concentrate on establishing a lead against my opponent.
Also, when I reflect on how I won those three state championships, I recall how my coach always drilled the rules regarding faults into my mind. The effort that my coach made in stressing the rules to me really helped me improve my game. For example, I made an effort to slow down my game enough to avoid making faults which could cost me points. Knowing all of the rules of is an essential component to winning at tennis; if a player knows the rules well,
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