Though canines love tennis for its bouncy yellow balls, humans appreciate the freedom to bark loudly with each swing and bury their favorite rackets all over the court. Teach kids how to become tennis beasts with today's Groupon: for $10, you get an adult QuickStart tennis-training workshop from Baltimore Tennis Patrons in Parkville (a $20 value). The workshop will take place at the Northeast Regional Recreation Center's indoor facility Friday, June 10 from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Local nonprofit Baltimore Tennis Patrons helps adults become proficient coaches by holding workshops that follow the principles of the national QuickStart Tennis play format, a format sponsored by well-known role models such as Michelle Obama, Andre Agassi, and Steffi Graf. During the 3.5-hour session, U.S. Tennis Association trainer Alanna Broderick teaches workshoppers how to pass on orb-smacking techniques to pint-sized players aged 10 and under. In the QuickStart Tennis play format, young participants play on a 60-foot or 30-foot mini-court and use smaller rackets to hit slower-moving, low-compression tennis balls. As training wheels do for tiger-riding, these modifications make the activity more fun, less frustrating, and easier to learn. The workshop teaches adults games and techniques with which they can engage children and provides them with resources including practice plans, a participant manual, and instructions for paving tennis courts with taffy. Swinging pupils should arrive prepared to play and dressed in tennis-playing garb.