Every sport has a common body of knowledge (CBOK) that is the foundation for teaching and playing that sport. At the highest level baseball players have to throw, catch, and hit. In the sport of platform tennis, the CBOK includes:
• Serve and first volley
• Return of serve
• Net play
• Playing in the backcourt
• Playing the screens
• Communications
Each of these six areas has multiple subsets.
When the USA Professional Platform Tennis Association formed in 1998 its first undertaking was to establish a common body of knowledge for the sport. That CBOK has since served as the foundation for its testing and certification process.
It was developed to eliminate myths, challenge current teaching methods, suggest efficient methods for instruction, and reduce unnecessary injuries by doing away with techniques that physically do not make sense. The CBOK was not intended to be an endorsement of one method of instruction, realizing that teaching professionals customize their system process based on their knowledge, personality, and number and skill level of students.
A group of professionals met the day before the 1999 APTA Nationals and taped their thoughts about what should be included in the CBOK. Over the next six months, Gary Horvath transcribed this session, put it in a document, and oversaw a series of discussions and further edits based on feedback from fellow professionals Hank Irvine, Gerri Viant, Rich Maier, Patty Hogan, Bob Callaway, Sue Aery, Bobo Mangan, Christi Hays, Connie Jones, Steve Nycum, Chuck Poe, Dave Romberg, and Rodney Workman.
Looking at the six points above, it seems like the development of the CBOK would be a simplistic task. It wasn’t.
As well as being the backbone of the teaching profession, students of the game should also take note of the CBOK. The playing and instructional programs at their facilities should include all six elements. As well, these programs should include the subsets under the six major points mentioned above.
