Development Tennis Teaching Program with Game-based Learning to Improve Skills and Specific Fitness for University Students

Background and Aims: Tennis is a sport that demands both technical proficiency and physical fitness, yet traditional teaching methods often fail to engage students effectively. This study aims to develop and evaluate a game-based learning (GBL) approach in tennis instruction to enhance skill acquisition and improve specific fitness among university students. The primary objectives are to analyze how tennis content can be integrated with GBL and to compare the effectiveness of this approach with traditional instruction. Materials and Methods: A quasi-experimental research design was employed, involving 60 female university students aged 18–19 from Changchun University of Humanities. The participants were equally divided into an experimental group (n=30), which received game-based learning instruction, and a control group (n=30), which followed a traditional teaching method. The intervention lasted eight weeks, with one 90-minute session per week. Tennis skills and specific fitness levels were assessed before and after the intervention. Statistical analysis included independent t-tests for intergroup comparisons and one-way ANOVA with Bonferroni post-hoc testing to analyze improvements within the experimental group. The significance level was set at p < 0.05. Results: The results indicate that both groups showed improvements in tennis skills and specific fitness. However, the experimental group demonstrated significantly greater progress in forehand accuracy, backhand control, serving consistency, agility, reaction time, and explosive strength (p < 0.05). Additionally, qualitative observations revealed higher motivation and engagement among students in the game-based learning group compared to the control group. Conclusion: The study concludes that integrating game-based learning into tennis instruction is more effective than traditional methods in enhancing both technical skill development and physical fitness. This research supports the broader application of interactive and engaging learning strategies in sports education, emphasizing the need for innovative pedagogical approaches to improve student engagement and learning outcomes.