PART II
KINDS OF SPORTS WITH A BALL
PHẦN 2
CÁC MÔN THỂ THAO DÙNG BÓNG


Unit 1

TENNIS
I. PRE - READING TASK
Discuss the following questions in groups:
1. Do you think tennis is suitable for all ages? Why? Why not?

2 . Is tennis an indoor or an outdoor sport?
3. Can you name some famous tennis players in the world you know?
II. RF.ADI.NG TEXT
Tennis is a sport played between two players
(singles) or betvveen two teams of two players (doubles).
Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollovv
rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the
opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is
played at all levels o f society at all ages. Tennis is
enjoyed by millions o f recreational players and is also a
hugely popular worldwide spectator sport, especially the
íịurGrand Slam toumaments (Also referred to as the
"Majors"): The Ausữalian Open played on hard courts,
the French Open played on red clay courts, Wimbledon played on grass courts, and
the us Open played also on hard courts.
The game isplayedwith a racquet, including a handle, known as the grip,
connects to a neck which joins a roughly elliptical frame that holds a matrix of
tightly pulled synthetic strings. Racquets vary from size and

shape, depending on the net. There are three sizes in common:
Standard, medium-sized and big. For the first 100 years of the
modem game, racquets were o f wood and o f Standard size,
and strings were o f animal gut. Then composites of carbon
graphite, ceramics, and lighter metals such as titanium were
introduced. These stronger materials enable the production of
oversized rackets to resist more power.


Part II: Kinds o f Sporís With A Ball

131

Tennis balls are of hollovv rubber covered with felt
coating. They also have numbers in order to be
recognized easily. Traditionally white, the predominant
color was gradually changed to yellow green in the later
part o f the 20'h century to allow visibility. Tennis balls
are from 6.35 cm to 6.6 cm in diameter and from 56 to
59.4 grams in vveight.
Tennis is played on a rectangular and flat surface,
usually grass, clay, or hard court and occasionally carpet
(indoor). The court is 78ft (23.77m) long, and 27ft (8.23m)
wide for singles matches and 36ft (10.97m) for doubles
matches. Additional clear space around the court is
required in order for players to reach overrun balls. A net
is stretched across the full width o f the court, parallels with
the baselines, divides it into two equal ends. The net is 3 ft
6in (1.07m) high at the post and 3ft (91.4cm) high in
the center.

Play of a single point
The players (or teams) start on opposite sides of tìie net. One player is
designated the server, and the opposing player is the receiver. The choice to be
server or receiver in the first game and the choice o f ends is decided by a toss before
the warm-up starts. Service altemates game by game between the two players (or
teams). For each point, the server starts behind the baseline, between the center mark
and the sideline. The receiver may start anyvvhere on their side o f the net. When the
receiver is ready, the server will serve, although the receiver must play to the pace o f
the server.
In a legal Service, the ball travels over the net (Without touching it) and into the
diagonally opposite Service box. If the ball hits the net but lands in the Service box,
this is a let or net Service, which is void, and the server retakes that serve. The player
can serve any number o f let services in a point and they are always treated as voids
and not as faults. A fault is a serve that falls long or wide of the Service box, or does
not clear the net. There is also a "foot fault", which occurs when a player's foot
touches the baseline or an extension o f the center mark before the ball is hit. If the
second Service is also a fault, the server double faults, and the receiver w ins the

point. However, if the serve is in, it is considered a legal Service.


132

Giáo trình Tiếng Anh trong Thể thao

A legal Service starts a rally, in which the players altemate hitting the ball
across the net. A legal retum consists of the player or team hitting the ball beíore it
has bounced twice or hit any fixtures except the net, provided that it still falls in the
server's court. A player or team cannot hit the ball twice in a row. The ball must
travel past the net into the other players’ court. A ball that hits the net during a rally

is still considered a legal retum. The fưst player or team to fail to make a legal
retum loses the point. The server then moves to the other side o f the Service line at
the start o f a new point
A tennis match is determined through the best o f three or five sets. For men,
the first player who wins three sets wins the match, and for women, the first player
who wins two sets wins the match. A set consists o f games, and games, in tum,
consist ofpoints. A game is won by the first player who outscores at least four
points in total and at least two points more than the opponent’s.
The modem game of tennis originated in late 19th century in England, most
historians believe that the games ancient origin is from 12th century France, but the
ball was then struck with the palm o f the hand. It was not until the 16th century
that rackets came into use, and the game began to be called "tennis".
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) is the goveming
body of
world tennis, made up of 205 national tennis associations, found on 1” March 1913.
ffl. NEW WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS
- racquet ['raekit] (n): vợt
- court [ko:t] (n): sân bóng
- strike [straik] (v): đánh
- rubber ['rAbs] (n): cao su
- cover ['kAV3] (v): bao phủ, bao bọc
- recreational ['rekri'eiín] (adj): giải trí, tiêu khiển
- hugely ['hju:d3li] (adv): hết sức, rất đỗi
- toumament ['toinamant] (n): vòng thi đấu
- grip [grip] (n): tay nẳm, tay cầm
- roughly ['rAÍli] (adv): gồ ghề
- elliptical [i'liptik3l] (adj): hình elip
- synthetic [sin'0etik] (adj): tồng hợp, nhân tạo
- sừing [striĩ|] (n): dây bện
- gut [gAt] (n): ruột, ruột lòng (thực vật)



Part II: Kinds o f Sports With A Ball

133

- composite ['kompazit] (n): hỗn hợp
- graphite ['graefait] (n): than chì
- ceramics [si'raemiks] (n): gốm
- metal ['metl] (n): kim loại
- titanium [tai'teinÍ3m] (n): titan
- coating ['koutir)] (n): lớp phù ngoài
- predominant [pri'domin 3nt] (adj): chiếm ưu thế, nổi ứội
- diameter [dai'2emit3 ] (n): đưòmg kinh
- surface [’s3 :fis] (n): bề mặt
- matrix ['meitriks] (n): khung vợt
- hollow ['holou] (adj): rỗng
- baseline ['beislain] (n): đuòmg biên
- spectator [spek'teito] (n): khán giả
- visibility [viz 3lbil 3ti] (n): nhìn thấy được, rõ ràng
- opponent [3'pounant] (n): đối thủ
- palm [pa:m] (n): lòng bàn tay
- stretch [stretl] (v): kéo căng ra
- diagonally [daĩaeganally] (adv): theo đường chéo
- legal [’li:g3l] (adj): hợp lệ, đúng luật
- altemate ['o:lta:nat] (v): thay phiên, lần lượt
- bounce ['bauns] (v): nảy lên
- íixture [Tikstís] (n): vật cố định
- rally ['raeli] (n): loạt đánh ứả qua lại
- historian [his'to:rÍ 3n] (n): nhà sừ học

IV.

READING COMPREHENSIONS

1.

Ansvver the following qucstions

a. Is tennis an individual sport or a team sport?
b. What are four Majors toumaments? And what are the differences among them?
c. What is a tennis ball made of? And why is it changed into optic yellovv?


134

Giáo trình Tiếng Anh trong Thê thao

d. Were racquets used to play tennis in the 12lh century?
e. Can you describe the dimension o f a tennis court?
f. How many sets are there in a tennis match?
g. Who determines ửie server and the receiver in a tennis match?
h. What is a legal Service?
i. What happens if the ball hits the net during the rally?
j. When was the International Tennis Federation (ITF) íounded?
2. Decide whether the following statements are True (T) or False (F)
a. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels o f society at teenagers.
b. People use their palm to throw the ball over the net.
c. There are three sizes in common: Standard, small-sized and big.
d. Tennis balls are of hollow rubber covered with felt coating.
e. Tennis courts have the same size for both single matches and double matches.

f. A net is stretched along the full vvidth of the court, parallels with the baselines,
divides it into two equal ends.
g. Service altemates game by game between the two teams.
h. The player can’t hit any number of let services in a point.
i. A player or team can hit the ball twice in a row.
j. The ball must go past the net into the other players’ court.
V. VOCABULARY
1. Fill ỉn each blank with a w ord/phrase provided in the box
treated

points

millions

vary

clear

parallels

determined
legal

rally
rubber

1. Tennis is enjoyed by

......................... of recreational players.


2. Racquets

from size and shape, depending on the net.

covered vvith felt coating.
3. Tennis balls are o f hollow
4. A net is stretched across the full vvidth o f the court,
baselines, divides it into two equal ends.

with the


Part II: Kinds ofSports With A Bcill

135

5. The player can serve any number of let services in a point and they are always
..................... as voids and not as íaults.

6. A fault is a serve that falls long or wide of the Service box, or does not
........................ the net.
7. A legal Service starts a ........................ , in vvhich the players altemate hitting the
ball across the net.

8. A ball that hits the net during a rally is still considered a .........................retum.
9. A tennis match i s .........................through the best of three or five sets.
10. A game is won by the fírst player vvho wins at least f o u r......................... in total
and at least two points more than the opponent’s.
2. Match a word/phrase in A to a phrase in B to make a mcaningíul sentence
A


1 . Tennis balls

a. is a sport played between two
players or two teams.

2 . The players

b. is played with a racquet.

3. The u s Open

c. played on hard courts.

4. The French open

d. played on red clay courts.

5. A tennis match

e. played on grass courts.

6. The Australian Open

f. played also on hard courts.

7. Tennis

g. are of hollow rubber covered
with felt coating.


8. W imbkdon

h. is stretched across the fuH width
o f the court.

9. The game
10. A net

VI.

B

i.

start on opposite sides o f the net.

j.

is determined through the best
o f three or five sets.

WORD STUDY: PREFIXES (OUT- /UNDER- / OVER- / DIS- / MIS- /RE/E N - /+ V — V)

To form verbs, preíixes like out- /super- /under- / over- / can be added bịre
the verbs.
Exampìe: A game is won by the first player who outscores at least four points in
total and at least two points more than the opponent’s.



136

Giáo trình Tiếng Anh trong Thế thao

1. O u t-... (hơn)
number

—►outnumber (nhiều hơn, đông hon)

live

—* ................................................

run

—►................................................

grow

—> ................................................

weigh

—*■................................................

2. Over-... (quá)
Act

—* overact (cường điệu,


stay

—* ................................................

làm quá)

take

—* ................................................

cook

—* ................................................

work

—* ................................................

3. U nder-... (thấp, dưới, không đủ)
sell

cook

—» undersell (bán rẻ hơn)

—* ........................................................

estimate —►................................................
charge
do


...................................................
—>................................................

4. DỈS-... (không)
agree

—* disagree (không đồng

ý)

like

—►................................................

appear

—» ................................................

b eliev e

—* .........................................................

allow

—>................................................

5. Mis-... (nhầm lẫn, lầm)
understand —>misunderstand (hiểu lầm)
behave


—* .........................................................


Part II: Kinds o f Sports With A Ball

137

6. Re-... (lại)
marry

—>remarry (tái

hơn)

write

—» ...........................................................

arrange

—» ...........................................................

do

—» ...........................................................

take

—* ...........................................................


7. En-... (làm cho...)
íbrce

—» enforce (bắt tuân theo)

act

—> ...........................................................

close

—> ...........................................................

No te:
“en-” can be added aíter some adjectives and nouns to form verbs
Example:
enrich, enlarge, endanger, encase, ensure, ...
EXERCISE: CHOOSE THE BEST VERB TO COMPLETE EACH SENTENCE
Example:
It has been 3 years since they remarried.
1. Marry and her younger broửier a r e ..................................the dining room to make
space for her birthday party.
2. People o fte n ..................................Linda for her tvvin sister.
3. Don’t ..................................anyone when you can’t know exactly their ability.
4. Polices become impotent when dem onsừators..................................them.
5. Farmers can h e lp ..................................the soil by adding fertilizers.

6. Mrs Danny’s jew elry ................................. last night and no one knows who stole it.
7. To avoid having a stomachache, you shouldn’t eat food w h ic h ..............................


8. Tom wants to buy a nevv mobile on his birthday. Uníortunately, his parents
.........................................w ith h im .

9. Roger is punished because he .................................. with the reíeree in the last
tennis match.
10. Smoking i s ............................................................................................. in the oíĩice.


Giáo trình Tiếng Anh trong Thế thao

138

VII.

GRAMMAR FOCUS: PASSIVE VOICE (THE PRESENT SIMPLE AND
THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS)

1. The Present Simple
Examples:
Tennis is eiýoyed by millions o f recreational players.
A tennis match is determined through the best of three or five sets.
Tennis balls are o f hollow rubber and are covered with felt coating.
•

Positive:
Form:Active voice —> Passive voice
Active

Passive


Subject

Verb (-s/es)

Object

Subject

am/is/are + V

by + Object

(object of A)

(-ed/v3)

(subject o f A)

Example:
Acti ve:

He opens the window

s

V

Obj


Passive: The window Ịs opened by him.
s
be V-ed
Obj (agent)
Usage:
Passive voice is used when the focus is on the action. It is not important or not
known; however, who or what períorms the action.
Sometimes a statement in passive is more polite than active voice.
Example:
Some mistakes are made.
In this case, the focus is on the fact that some mistakes are made, but we do not
blame anyone.
Exercỉse: Complete these rules to form the passive voice
The object o f the active sentence becomes the ................. of the passive
sentence
The verb in the simple present is changed into.............+ V past participle (Vpp)


Part II: Kinds ofSports With A Ball

139

The subjcct o f the active sentence becomes the ...................... o f the passive
sentence with “by”.
Notes:
- lf subjects in the active sentences are someone, somebody, people, the objects
in the passive sentence are dropped.
Example:
Someone breaks into the house. —♦ The house is broken into.
- If subjects in the active sentences are no one/ nobody, verbs in the passive

sentences are negative.
Example:
No one knows vvhere he is all the day. —♦ He isn’t known all the day.
• Negative
Form:Active voice —> Passive voice
Subject

don’t/doesn’t + V

Object

Subject

am/is/are (not) + V

by + Object

(object o f A)

c-ed/v,)

(subject o f A)

Active
Passive
Example:
Active:

He doesrTt open the window.


s
Passive:

(Aux)

V

Obj

The window isn’t opened by him.

s

be (not) V-ed

Obj (agent)

Exercise 1: Make passive sentences vvith provỉded words
1. is/ The/ us/ set/ table/ by.
2. rooms/ making/used/ These/ for/ are/ classes.
3. This/ very/ swept/ house/ often/ isn’t.
4. not/ to/ her/1/ invited/ party/ am/ invited/ tonight.
5. careíully/ ironed/ N am ’s/ by/ are/ his/ clothes/ mother.
Exercisc 2: Revvrite these sentences in passỉve voice
1. They deliver the newspapers every moming.
2. People speak English all over the world.
3. She doesn’t take her children to school to day.


Giáo trình Tiếng Anh trong Thế thao


140

4. No one believes his story.
5. People play tennis as one o f the way to relax.
•

Yes/No question:
Form:

Active voice —* Passive voice

Active

Do/ Does

Passive

Am/ Is/ Are

Subject

V(inf)

Subject

V-ed/

(object of A)


v3

Example:

•

Active:

Does the teacher give the homevvork? Yes, she does.

Passive:

Is the homevvork given (by the teacher)? Yes, it is.

Wh - questions:
Form:

Active voice —>Passive voice

Active

Question word

do/does

Passive

Question word

am/is/are


Subject
Subject
(object of A)

Example:
Active:
Passive:

Where do they find his keys?
Where are his keys found?

Exercise 3: Rewrite these questions in the passive voỉce
1. Do they usually hold tennis competitions at the school?
2. How do the police find the lost man?
3. When do they open ửie show?
4. Does she make a cake for us?
5. Why don’t you help them?
•

Passive sentences with two objects
Revvriting an active sentence with two objects in passive voice means that one

o f the two objects becomes the subject, the other one remains an object. Which
object is transformed into a subject depends on vvhat you want to put the tòcus on.


Parl II: Kinds o f Sports IVith A Ball

141


Example:

Subject

Verb

Object 1

Object 2

Adv

Active

Rita

Writes

a letter

to me

every day

Passive

A letter

is written


to me

by Rita

every day

Passive

I

am written

a letter

by Rita

every day

Exercise 4: Rewrite the sentences in passive voice in 2 vvays

1 . I give that vvoman my phone numbers.
—* That w om an.................................................
—* My phone num bers.....................................
2. They pay me a lot of money to do the job.

3. Someone tells him the truth.

4. My parents always send me a present on my birthday every year.


5. The vvaiter brings us a lot o f special food.

2. The Prcsent Continuous
Example:
The old classrooms are being painted.
T he m eeting is b ein g held in the hall.
•

Positive:
Form:

Active voice —» Passive voice


Giáo trình Tiếng Anh trong Thể thao

142

Active

Subject

am/ is/ are + V-ing

Object

Passive

Subject
(object of A)


am/is/are+being+Ved/v 3

by + Object
(subject of A)

Exampỉe:
Active:

Students are doing exercises
s be V-ing Obj

Passive:

Exercises are being done by students at the moment.

s
•

be being

v3

Obj (agent)

Negative
Form: Active voice —* Passive voice
Active

Passive

Example:
Active:

Subject

am/ is/ are + V-ing

Object

Subịect
(object o f A)

am/is/are + not +
being + V-ed/V 3

by + Object
(subject o f A)

Students aren’t doing exercises at the moment.

Passive:
•

at the moment.

Exercises aren’t being done by students at the moment.

Yes/No questions
Form:
Active voice —> Passive voice

Active

Am/ Is/ Are

Subject

V-ing

Object

Passive

Am/ Is/ Are

Subject
(object of A)

being + V-ed/

by + Object
(subject of A)

Example:
Active:

Are students doing exercises at the moment?

Passive:
•


v3

Are exercises being done by students at the moment?

Wh - questions:
Form:
Active voice —* Passive voice

Active

Passive

Question word

Question word

am/is/are

Subject

V-ing

Object

am/is/are

Subject
(object of A)

being + Ve d /v 3


by +
Object
(Subject of
Á)


Part II: Kinds o f Sporls With A Ball

143

Exampỉe:
Active:

Why is he holding Mrs Danny’s wallet?

Passive:

Why is Mrs Danny’s wallet being held by him?

Exercise 5: Change these sentences into the passive voice
1. Frank is vvriting a report for the meeting tomorrow.

2 . Is the police making inquires about the thief?
3. She is telling nothing about her problem.
4. Marry is preparing dinner while her husband is having a bath
5. W ho are th ey k e e p in g in the

room?


6. Are people destroying íịrests unintentionally?
Exercise 6: Rewrite these sentences in the active form
1. These boxes are made by hand by orphans.
2. This car isn’t being fìxed by any one.
3. Is red believed to be the Symbol o f luck?
4. The animals at the zoo are being fed.
5. When is this book retumed to the library by you?

6. Is this luggage being looking for by her?
VIII. FURTHER EXERCISE
Start playing tennis with instruction and advice for beginners on strokes,
strategy, rules, terms, and equipment. These free lessons tips on which racquet to
buy, and many other resources will help you leam tennis easily.
There are 7 steps to leam playing tennis below. Put ứie correct order from the l st
step to the 7th step.
1. Start to learn how to serve
Hold the tennis ball in one hand and your racquet on the other. To hold the
tennis racquet, hold the grip as if you are shaking someone’s hand or by holding the
racquet so that the face is perpendicular to the ground then slide your hand down the
racquet with your thumb on one side and the remaining íĩngers on the opposite.
Throw the ball high enough so that the racket may hit the ball forward.
Hit it hard, so that it may go over the net. Hit it diagonally over the net; also hit
it in the svveet spot o f the racket (The svveet spot is the center or the place o f the
racket which has no vibration).


144

Giáo trình Tiếng Anh trong Thế thao


2. Buy a decent tennis racket and high quality tennis shoes at your local sports
store or tennis store
3. Find a local tennis club and become a member with the plan that is most
appropriate to you
4. Lcarn the backhand next.
Use this technique, if the ball isn’t in the side where your racket is at hold your
racket with both hands on the grip like a baseball bat. You can either use a twohanded backhand or a one-handed backhand. Make sure you get a good grip.
5. Participate in a fun match play event to meet the pros and other regulars at
6. Start vvith the íorehand
Wait until the ball b o u n ces just o n ce on the court w h en it’s Corning to y o u or
it’s on your side of the net.
Hit the ball on the svveet spot.
7. Read and learn about tennis, including vvhat all the tennis terms are, how to
avoid injuries, hovv to hit a proper ball, etc.
Hit the ball on the sweet spot upwards to generate topspin, and it would go over
the net.
IX.

FURTHER READING

Rules of Tennis for Beginners
Corning to the rules of tennis, first, let us assume that we're talking about a
singles match being played. The winner in the coin toss gets to decide vvhether he
wants to serve or choose the side o f play. The fỉrst serve needs to be taken from the
right half of the court, from behind the baseline, and the ball needs to be tossed in
the air for the serve. No part o f the foot should touch the baseline until the serve is
complete. The receiver has to stand on the diagonal side on his h a l f o f the court,
though he is allovved to stand behind or inside the baseline too, whichever he
chooses fit. The serve should land in the Service box, which is the square area just
after the net on the opposite side of the court. The serve needs to be retaken if it

lands outside the Service box or into the net. This is called a fault, and a double-fault
results in the loss o f a point. After this serve has been retumed, players can then hit
and retum the ball after one bounce in their side of the court, or even directly
without letting it bounce. The next serve is taken from the left side of ửie court, and
this sequence continues till the end o f the game.


Part II: Kinds ofSports With A Balỉ

145

A point is won if the opponent cannot retum the ball, the opponent hits the ball
into the net on his side, the opponent's retum goes outside the sideline or the
baseline on your side o f the court, if you hit the ball and the opponent cannot get to
it, and even if the opponent touches the net or comes into your side o f the court.
Aíter this, 20 seconds is the maximum time allowed for the server to start the next
point. Balls that land on any part o f a sideline or baseline are considered to be in,
and play continues.
In a doubles match, all players serve tum-by-tum each game. That means, the
same player gets to serve again every fifth game. Just like in singles, the íĩrst serve
is taken from the right half o f the court, and then the left. The two players in the
serving team thus svvitch sides every point, while the players in the receiving team
do not, which means that the player receiving each serve changes for every point.
Once the serve is taken and retumed, players can then go to any part o f the court, hit
the ball aíter one or wiứiout a bounce, and any player from each team can retum
the ball, meaning, from then on, no sequence needs to be followed in the course of
the point.
Tennis is a great sport that can be either played as a pass-time, form o f exercise,
or even professionally. All the basic tennis shots need to be practiced day in and day
out in order to get better and move on to a competitive level. If we take a look at all

the past and present champions, they took up this sport as beginners when they were
kids, and years o f practice got them to where ứiey are/were.
Skills Developmcnt for Tennis Beginners
In order for tennis beginners to develop theứ tennis skills, apart ữom practicing
their serve, the two most important ground sứokes are the forehand and the
backhand. The forehand and backhand needs to be practiced as often as possible. As
the player becomes more skilled, additional tennis sừokes can be added as well as
the reíinement o f the tennis technique. Right from ửie start, the tennis beginner
needs to concentrate on how to play tennis by developing the right technique for the
strokes. This will make the ball easier to control, while making the direction o f ứie
shot more successíul and physically less tiring.
Beginners should pay close attention to their positioning on the court when
receiving. They should attempt to alvvays be able to reach the ball at the correct
distance for ửie retum. Alvvays consider the position o f the opponent, where are they
moving from and where to. As the beginner grows in coníidence, there is the
possibility to become more o f a shot maker controlling the shots in the rally and ứie
opponents ability to respond.


146

Giáo trình Tiếng Anh trong Thê thao

These basics o f how to play tennis are good starting points for where a beginner
can leam tìie basics of the game o f tennis. Tennis will be a joumey with ups and
downs and with obstacles in the way o f your goals. By following a steady path to
improve, a tennis beginner can leam how to play tennis in a fast and easy manner.
X. POST - READING TASK
Work in groups. Discuss the topic “Is Tennis ứie most famous sport in
Vietnam?” And “Is it a sport for rich people to play?



Unit 2

TABLE-TENNIS
I. PRE - READING TASK
Discuss the following questions in groups:
1. Where does table tennis originate?
2. What countries are dominant in the world table tennis now?
3. What is the other name o f table tennis?
II. READING TEXT

T a b íe . T e n r tiò
N

A

T

I

o

Table tennis is a game that is quite similar to lawn
tennis. It is played by two or four players. The equipment
required for playing table tennis include a table, wooden
paddles and a small hollow plastic ball. Like in lawn, the
table has a net, which divides the playing area into two
portions. During the Service, the ball must bounce once
before clearing the net and should again bounce before

being struck by the player at the other end. Hovvever, the
player who retum the ball back should not let it bounce
again on his side once striking the ball!

N

In a table tennis game, a player scores a point when
his opponent’s Service does not land properly or when his opponent’s ball is not
retumed properly. Players require to serve five times in
a row. The player who fírst earas 21 points wins
the game.
Table tennis, also knovvn as ping-pong, is a sport
in which two or four players hit a lightvveight, hollow
ball back and forth using table tennis rackets. The
game takes place on a hard table divided by a net.
Except for the initial serve, players must allovv a ball
played tovvard them only one bounce on their side of the table and must retum it so
that it bounces on the opposite side. Points are scored when a player fails to retum


Giáo trình Tiếng Anh trong Thê thao

148

the ball vvithin the rules. Play is fast and demands quick reactions. A skilled player
can impart several varieties o f spin to the ball, altering its trajectory and limiting an
opponent's options to great advantage.
Table tennis is govemed by the worldwide organization International Table
Tennis Federation (ITTF), íịunded in 1926. ITTF currently includes 217 member
associations. The table tennis oHìcial rules are speciíied in the ITTF handbook.

Since 1988, table tennis has been an Olympic sport, with several event categories. In
particular, from 1988 until 2004, these were: men's singles, women's singles, men's
doubles and women's doubles. Since 2008 a team event has been played instead o f
the doubles.
In the meantime, after íìnding its way to the Asian countries, table tennis started
to fade from the European scene but in the early 1920s it was again revived in
England. By that time the name “ping pong” had actually become a registered
trademark of the game. However, the term table tennis was still retained for the
more serious organizations where table tennis was actually played for sport.
Equipment
Ball
The intemational rules specify that the game is played
with a light 2.7 gram, 40 mm diameter ball. The rules say
that the ball shall bounce up 24-26 cm when dropped from
a height o f 30.5 cm on to a Standard Steel block thereby

having a coeíĩicient o f restitution of 0.89 to 0.92. The
40 mm ball was introduced after the 2000 Olympic Games. However, this created
some controversy as the Chinese National Team argued that this was merely to give
non-Chinese players a better chance of winning since the new type of balls has a
slower speed, while at that time most Chinese players were playing with fast attack
and smashes. A 40 mm table tennis ball is slower and spins less than the original
38 mm (1.5 inch) one. The ball is made o f a high-bouncing air-filled celluloid or
similar plastics material, colored white or orange, with a matte íinish. The choice of
ball color is made according to the table color and its surroundings. For example, a
white ball is easier to see on a green or blue table than it is on a gray table. Stars on
the ball indicate the quality of the ball. Three stars indicate that it is of the highest
quality, and is used in in oíĩĩcial competition.



Part II: Kinds o f Sports With A Baỉl

149

Table
The table is 2.74 m (9 ft) long,
1.52 m (5 ft) wide, and 76 cm
(30 in) high with a Masonite (a
type of hardboard) or similarly
manutầctured timber, layered with
a smooth, low-friction coating. The
table or playing surface is divided
into two halves by a 15.25 cm (6 in) high net. An ITTF approved table surface must
be in a green or blue color. Concrete tables with a Steel net are sometimes available
in public parks.
Racket

J

Players are equipped with a laminated wooden
racket covered with rubber on one or two sides depending
on the grip of the player. The official ITTF term is
“racket”, though “bat" is comraon in Britain, and
“paddle” in the us.

The wooden portion of the racket, often referred to
as the”b\ade”, commonly ĩeatures anywhere between one and seven plies of wood,
though cork, glass fiber, carbon fiber, aluminum fiber, and Kevlar are sometimes
used. According to the ITTF regulations, at least 85% of the blade by thickness shall
be of natural vvood. Common wood types include Balsa, Limba, and Cypress or

“Hinoki” which is popular in Japan. The average size o f the blade is about 6.5 in
(16.5 cm) long and 6 inches (15 cm) wide. Although the ĩìcial restrictions only
focus on the ílatness and rigidness o f the blade itselí, these dimensions are optimal
for most play styles.
Table tennis regulations allovv diíĩerent surfaces on each side of the racket.
Various types of surfaces provide various levels of spin or speed, and in some cases
they nulliíy spin. For example, a player may have a rubber that provides much spin
on one side o f his racket, and one that provides no spin on the other. By Aipping the
racket in play, different types o f retums are possible. To help a player distinguish
between the rubber used by his opposing player, intemational rules speciíy that one
side must be red while the other side must be black. The player has the right to
inspect his opponent’s racket bịre a match to see the type o f rubber used and what

color it is. Despite high speed play and rapid exchanges, a player can see clearly
what side ot’ the racket was used to hit the ball. Cuưent rules State that, unless


150

Giáo trình Tiếng Anh trong Thê thao

damaged in play, the racket cannot be exchanged for another racket at any time
during a match.
III.

NEW WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS

- paddle 1'paedl] (n): vợt
- hollovv ['holou] (adj): rỗng, lõm
- portion ['py:Jn] (n): phần, phần chia

- bounce ['bauns] (n): nảy lên, bật lên
- opponent [3’pounsnt] (n): đối thủ, địch thủ
- serve [ss:v] (v): giao bóng
- decade ['dekeid] (n): thập kỷ
- vellum ['vetam] (n): đa cừu
- craze [kreiz] (n): sự say mê, sự ham mê
- íashionable [Taelnsbl] (adj): đúng mốt, hợp thời trang
- attire [3'taia] (n): quần áo, trang phục
- satire ['sastais] (n): sự châm biếm, lời châm biếm
- fade [Teid] (v): mờ nhạt, mất dần, biến dần
- stiff [stií] (adj): khắc nghiệt, hà khắc

- disabled [dis'eibld] (adj): tàn tật, tàn phế
- stimulate [’stimjuleit] (v): kích thích, khích động

- promote [pre'mout] (v): xúc tiến, đẩy mạnh
- generation [’d 3en3'reijn] (n): thế hệ, đời con cháu
- plastic ['plaestik] (n): chất dẻo, làm bằng chất dẻo
- hit [hit] (v): đánh bóng, đấm bóng
- lightweight ['laitweit] (n): võ sĩ hạng nhẹ
- racket ['raekit] (n): vợt, cái vợt
- except [ik'sept] (v) trừ ra, loại ra

- initial [i'niÍ3l] (adj): ban đầu, lúc đầu
- allovv [s'lau] (v): cho phép, thừa nhận
- demand [di'ma:nd] (v) yêu cầu, nhu cầu


Part II: Kinds o f Sports With A Ball


- reaction [ri:'a;kjn] (n): sự phàn ứng, sự đáp trá
- impart [im'pa:tj (v): truyền đạt, phổ biến
- variety [vo’raioti j (n): sự đa dạng, sự phong phú
- alter f'o:lt 3] (v): thay đôi, sửa đôi
- trạịectory [tradseksri] (adj): cong
- option [’opJn] (n): sự lựa chọn, vật được lựa chọn
- currently ['kArantli] (adv): hiện thời, hiện nay
- association [3'sousi'eiín] (n): sự liên hiệp, sụ kết hợp
- category ['kaetigari] (n): loại, hạng, phạm trù
- íầde [’feid] (v): phai dần, mờ dần, bạc mầu
- scene [si:n] (n): cảnh, phông
- actually ['aektịuali] (adv): thực sự, trên thực tế
- register [’red 3Íst3] (v): đăng ký, trình bày
- trademark ['treidma:k] (n): thương hiệu
- retain [ri'tein] (v): giữ lại, ngăn lại
- serious ['siarias] (adj)-. nghiêm trang, nghiêm túc, nghiêm ừọng
- diameter [dai'aemita] (n): đường kính
- Standard ['stasndsd] (n): chuẩn, tiêu chuấn, trình độ
- Steel [s ti:l] (n ): thép

- block [blok] (n): khối, tàng
- thereby [’ỗe 3'bai] (adv): theo cách đó. bàng phương pháp đó
- coefficient [koui'fiínt] (adj): hệ số
- restitution ['resti'tju:/n] (n): sự phục hồi, sự bồi thường
- create [kri:'eit] (v): tạo ra, tạo thành
- controversy [’knntr3V3 :si| (n): sự tranh luận, sự tranh cải
- argue ['a:gju:] (v): tranh luận, cải nhau
- smash [smasí] (v): đập mạnh, đập
- high-bounce [hai-'bauns] (v): nay lèn cao, bật lên cao
- air-filled [e3-filđ] (adj): đầy kliõng khí

- celluloid ['seljubid] (n): chất dẻo

151


152

Giáo trình Tiếng Anh trong Thể thao

- matte ['mast] (adj): mờ hoặc xỉn (màu)
- manufacture [maenju'faektía] (v): sàn xuất, chế tạo
- timber ['timbs] (n): gỗ xây dựng, cây gỗ
- layer ['leia] (v): ngã, ngã rạp xuống
- smooth [smu:đ] (adj): nhẵn, trơn, trượt, phẳng
- low-ữiction [lou-'frikín] (n): ma sát thấp
- coat [kout] (v): phủ, bọc, tráng
- approve [s'pru:v] (v): chấp thuận, phê chuẩn, tán thành
- concrete ['kor|kri:t] (n): bê tông
- Steel [sti:l] (n): thép, sắt
- available [aVeilsbl] (a): sẵn có, có hiệu lực, có giá trị
- grip [grip] (v): nam chặt, ôm chặt, kẹp chặt
- refer [ri'fb:] (v): xem, tham khảo, quy chiếu
- ply [plai] (n): lớp
- wood [wud] (n): gỗ, cây
- cork [ko:k] (n): nút bần, phao bần
- glass íiber [gla:s Taibs] (n): sợi thủy tinh
- carbon íiber ['kaiban Taiba] (n): sợi cácbon
- aluminum fiber [3'lu:min3m Taibs] (n): sợi nhôm
- blade [bleid] (n): lưới, mái
- restriction [ri'strikjn] (n): sự hạn chế, sự giới hạn

- ílatness ['ílastnis] (n): sự bằng phảng
- rigidness [’rid 3Ìdnis] (n): sự cứng nhắc, khơng linh hoạt
- dimension [di'menjn] (n): chiều, kích thước, phạm vi
- optimal ['optimol] (adj): tốt nhất, tối ưu
- laminated ['laemineitid] (adj): thành phiến, thành là, gồm nhiều phiến lá
- nullify [’nAlifai] (v): làm thành vơ hiệu, hủy bỏ
- spin [spin] (v): xoay trịn, quay ứịn
- ílipping ['ílipi] (adj): qi quỷ (Chỉ sự bực nhọc, khó chịu)
- distinguish [dis'tir|gwij] (v): phân biệt, nhận biết
- inspect [in'spekt] (v): kiểm tra, thanh tra
- despite [dis'pait] (v): ghen ghét, si nhục, lăng mạ
- rapid ['raspid] (adj): nhanh, nhanh chóng


Part II: Kinds ofSporls With A Ball

153

IV. READING C O M PR E H E N SIO N
1. Ansvver the following questions
a. Which sport is table tennis similar to?
a. What is the other name o f table tennis?
b. When was table tennis introduced in England?
c. When did table tennis become popular in England?
d. Was table -tennis named “ping-pong”?
e. What does ITTF stand for?
f. Can you describe the dimension o f the table?
g. What is the ball made of?
h. When did table tennis become an Olympic sport?
i. Can you describe the table tennis bat?

2. Decide whether the following statements are True (T) or False (F)
b. Table tennis was adapted from lawn tennis.
c. The net divides the tennis court into two portions.
d. The player to reach 11 points first wins the game.
e. Table tennis, also known as ping-pong, is a sport in which only two players hit
lightweight.
f. A skilled player can’t impart several varieties o f spin to the ball.
g. The table tennis official rules are specified in the ITTF handbook.
h. Since 2004, A team event has been played instead o f the doubles.
i. The intemational rules specify that the game is played with a light 2.7 gr, 40 mm
diameter ball.
j. The table surface is divided into four halves by a 15.25 cm high net.
k. Despite high speed play and rapid exchanges, a player can see clearly what side
o f the racket was used to hit the ball.
V. VOCABULARY
1. Fill in each blank with a vvord/phrase provided in the box
rubber

reactions

scored

hollow

properly

involves

celluloid


natural

specified

divided

1. The equipment required for playing table tennis include a table, wooden padđles
and a sm a ll..................plastic ball.