Champs is fast-moving, king-of-the-court group tennis. A Host feeds balls so play never stops, players rotate through points continuously, winners claim the champion end of the court then defend it against everyone else. It is competitive, breathless and one of the most sociable ways to play tennis ever invented.
I started FunTennis in Monmouthshire in 2022 because I kept meeting people who loved tennis but hated the faff around it. The waiting, the whites, the wondering who to play with. Champs is what happened when we stripped all of that out and kept only the good bits.
How does a Champs session work?
Picture one court, a basket of balls and a group of players. One end of the court is the champion end. Win points to claim it, then hold it against all comers. Lose, rotate out, plot your comeback from the queue.
The magic ingredient is the Host. The moment a point ends, a fresh ball is already coming at whoever is up next. No walking to the fence, no picking up balls, no long changeovers. Just rally after rally, point after point, for a solid session of play.
Sessions default to 90 minutes with 7 places, though every Host can tweak both. That size is deliberate. Small enough that you play everyone, big enough that you get breathers between points. You will run, lunge and occasionally sprint, then rotate out and catch your breath while you cheer someone else’s ridiculous winner.
Who is Champs for?
Anyone over 18 who can rally. That is genuinely the whole entry requirement, because FunTennis is 18+ at launch and the format takes care of the rest.
Champs mixes levels naturally. Points are short, rotation is constant, so a strong player and a rusty returner can share a court without anyone feeling out of place. If you are a proper beginner, a few friendly hits with a mate will get you rally-ready. Everything after that, Champs will teach you at speed.
It especially suits people who find solo exercise hard to stick to. Nobody notices when you skip a gym session. Your Champs crowd absolutely notices when you skip a Tuesday night, because your session has its own crowd chat and they will ask where you were. That gentle accountability is half the reason people keep coming back. The other half is that it is enormous fun. If you are curious about what all that running does for you, the science on tennis and health is genuinely startling.
What makes it social rather than just sweaty?
Two things. First, the format itself: constant rotation means you play with the whole group every single session, not just whoever you arrived with. It is the fastest way we know to turn strangers into teammates. Adult friendships are famously hard to make. A shared scramble for the champion end shortcuts the whole awkward process.
Second, the crowd chat. Every session has its own chat in the app, so you can say hello before you arrive and rehash the highlights afterwards. Weekly sessions keep one continuous crowd: same time, same court, same people, one ongoing conversation. Miss a week and you will still know exactly what happened.
How much does it cost?
Sessions booked through the app are £12 by default, paid when you book. Hosts set their own prices, so expect some local variation. Places are strictly first come, first served, which means the golden rule is simple: if a session near you shows spaces, grab one.
There is no membership, no joining fee, no committing to a term. You pay per session and you turn up. Bring a racket, trainers and water. The balls, the Host and the atmosphere are provided.
How do I find a Champs session near me?
Through the FunTennis app. It maps more than 25,000 public tennis courts across the UK, with Champs sessions marked so you can see exactly what is running near you. Find one, book a place for £12, say hello in the crowd chat, turn up.
If nothing is running near you yet, do not just close the app and sigh. Request a session at any court on the map. Nearby Hosts get alerted, which is often exactly the nudge someone needs to start a weekly session at your local court. Players requesting sessions is how Champs spreads.
And if you have read this far thinking you would rather be the one running the show, that is a real option. Hosts set their own times and prices, run sessions at courts they choose and get paid after every session. Read about becoming a Host or dive into how the money works.
What should I do before my first session?
Honestly? Book it before you talk yourself out of it. Everyone at your first session was once at their first session too. The format is designed so that new players fold straight into the rotation. If it has been a while since you played, our guide to getting back into tennis as an adult will settle the nerves.
Full details of the format, the weekly Monmouthshire schedule and answers to the questions everyone asks are on our Champs page. See you on court.
Quick answers
What does Champs stand for?
Champs (always with a capital V) is the FunTennis name for our signature session format: live-ball, king-of-the-court group tennis. The ball is live almost the whole time because the Host feeds a new one the moment a point ends.
How long is a Champs session?
Sessions default to 90 minutes with 7 places. Hosts can adjust both, but 90 minutes of rotating points is the sweet spot: long enough for a proper workout, short enough to fit round real life.
How much does Champs cost?
Sessions booked through the FunTennis app are £12 by default, paid in the app when you book. Hosts set their own prices, so you may see sessions priced differently near you. Places are first come, first served.
Do I need to be good at tennis to play Champs?
You need to be able to rally, but you do not need to be club standard. Points are short and everyone rotates constantly, so mixed levels work naturally. Nobody is stuck opposite the same slugger all night.
Is Champs a class or a game?
It is a game with a coach-shaped engine. The Host keeps balls flying and the rotation moving, but you are playing real competitive points the whole time. Think less drill, more tournament with mates.
How do I find a Champs session near me?
Open the FunTennis app and look at the map. It covers more than 25,000 public UK courts, with live sessions shown near you. If nothing is running nearby yet, request a session at any court and nearby Hosts get alerted.
Can under 18s play Champs?
Not yet. FunTennis is 18+ at launch, so sessions booked through the app are for adults. It is a brilliant excuse for a grown-up night out that leaves you fitter rather than foggier.