What do Barbados, Switzerland, and London have in common? On the surface, they are dream vacation spots. Dig deeper, and you’ll find they are the birthplaces of three distinct, high-energy paddle games: Road Tennis, Street Racket, and touchtennis.

For years, my colleague Seth Martin (Lake Tahoe Unified School District) and I have discussed a necessary shift in pedagogy: “World Games” shouldn’t be relegated to a once-a-year special unit. Every game is a world game. When we isolate them, we miss the chance to show students how movement transcends borders. Instead, these global perspectives should be woven into our daily curriculum.

Integrating Culture and Strategy

By diversifying our racket units, we do more than just teach a cross-court forehand; we create a laboratory for modern instructional models. Whether using Teaching Personal & Social Responsibility (TPSR) to navigate the self-officiated nature of these games or Teaching Games for Understanding (TGfU) to highlight universal tactical principles, the global context adds a layer of “Global Competence.”These sports are also a natural fit for the Sport Education model; students don’t just play—they become cultural ambassadors, event organizers, and sport-specific officials, fostering a sense of ownership and “season” authenticity.

If you attended Jack Harvey’s session at the 2026 SHAPE America National Convention in Kansas City—Integrating Indigenous Movement Cultures for Global Competence in Physical Education—you saw this in action. It was a masterclass in how movement is a universal language. Creating a haka with my friends, Naomi Hartl, Andy Milne, and Murray Wallace remains one of the most memorable experiences I’ve ever had at a conference.

Three Games to Level the Playing Field

I stumbled upon these three specific games while searching for activities that were “unfamiliar.” In PE, unfamiliarity is a gift—it levels the playing field, removing the “expert” advantage some students hold in traditional games like badminton or pickleball.

Road Tennis (Barbados): A fast-paced, low-to-the-ground game that is a vital part of Bajan street culture. Traditionally played with wooden paddles (similar to table tennis paddles without rubber padding) and tennis balls that have the felt removed, it turns any asphalt surface into a high-speed arena. Check out this 7-minute read from Nike to see the culture behind the game and watch this video to see the game in action.

Street Racket (Switzerland): A versatile “anyone, anywhere” game that turns any flat surface into a court. It promotes incredible ball control and long rallies. You can see the basics here or explore variations here.

Touchtennis (London): An accessible, scaled-down version of tennis that emphasizes touch and tactics over raw power. The foam tennis balls from the USTA and Net Generation’s free equipment program are perfect for this game.

By introducing these games, we aren’t just teaching sports; we’re teaching students that the world is their court.

This post is part of #slowchathealth’s #MicroBlogMonth, where educators from around the world share, connect, and inspire. Take a moment to explore more posts, connect with contributors like Sarah Gietschier-Hartman and if you’re feeling inspired… we’d love to hear your voice too.

Pair this post with:

Why Patintero Belongs in Your PE Curriculum by Andy Milne

Maybe Hacky Sack Is Peak Meaningful PE by Andy Milne

Teaching World Games by Andy Milne