A healthy dose of competition could be the perfect catalyst for stronger bonds between workmates. Photo: Aperture Media.
Getting together with your work team is fun, but after-hours drinks at the local pub can get old pretty quickly.
If a new venue is in order, why not try an afternoon on the court? A few rounds of tennis might just be the spark your team is looking for.
There are 37 tennis clubs across the ACT region, including in Queanbeyan and Googong. Most clubs have four courts available with a mix of hard court, synthetic grass, and clay surfaces, so visitors are spoiled for choice.
Group tennis is grand slam for value, too. Depending on the venue, local courts can be hired from $10 to $35 per person, per hour.
Some clubs will even let corporate and social groups bring their own food, drinks and music to make the affair extra entertaining.
Harrison Frater, Tennis ACT’s club development officer and casual tennis player, says his favourite thing about the sport is that anyone can jump in and play, no matter their age, experience or level of ability.
“The beauty of social tennis is you don’t have to be a pro to enjoy it. Games can be as fast paced or relaxed as you like, so everyone can grab a racket and get involved,” Harrison says.
“Playing with a group definitely brings out a whole new vibe.
“You’ll quickly find out who the competitive people in your group are, but I think a bit of friendly rivalry never hurt anyone.”
Players are generally encouraged to bring their own racquets, but some clubs have spares on hand for social games. Other than that, Harrison says all you’ll need to bring is a good pair of sneakers and clothes easy to move around in.
“Stay hydrated, and don’t forget a hat and sunscreen if you’re playing outdoors,” he says.
“If you’ve never played tennis before, start small and don’t take yourself too seriously. Just try to get your ball over the net and have it land in bounds on the other side.
“Have some fun with it and you’ll be rallying back and forth with your mates in no time.”
A warm, sunny afternoon met staff from The Property Collective when they stepped onto their local court in Wimbledon-themed finery.
Team members were clad in white and ready to party, beyond excited to celebrate their first ever Collective Cup tennis competition. With a hired DJ pumping up the tunes, it wasn’t long before drinks began to flow and friendly rivalries breached the surface.
Players were spurred on by the promise of a shiny trophy… and the bragging rights that would come with being crowned Collective Cup champions.
Far from the stiffness of finger food and small talk in an office boardroom, events coordinator Brodie Honey says the competition is a showcase of team building done right.
“We host team social events every month or so. It’s nice to run something a little more relaxed than the usual corporate get-together,” she says.
“In the past we have done paint and sip, yoga, meditation, and bushwalks. But the team wanted to try something a bit more fast paced.
“Tennis was great fun, especially since we organised a theme, snacks, drinks and a DJ. There were a lot of laughs around the court.”
The Collective Cup was such a hit, staff decided to make it an annual event. Each year will present a different theme and introduce fresh players to the game.
For Brodie, the day also created an opportunity to connect those who wouldn’t usually work together.
“Team building is a crucial part of any trusting, productive and collaborative workplace,” she says.
“We matched up people from different areas of the office, so they could get to know each other’s strengths and communication style better. The more you understand your co-workers, the more likely you are to support them.
“It was great to see people’s creativity come out as they faced each other head on.”
Brodie was thrilled to take home the trophy at the end of the day, alongside her teammate Jeremy Grobben.
Jump over to Tennis Australia for more information and to book a court near you.
