An animation of a science beaker with a bubbling green liquid appears on screen with a title that reads "Sports Lab."

Now Nykeem appears on screen walking in a sports stadium. Nykeem is in his thirties, has shaved black hair, is clean-shaven, and wears a green T-shirt and jean shorts.

Nykeem says HEY EVERYONE,
WELCOME TO SPORTS LAB,
WHERE WE DISCOVER
HOW A PINCH OF SCIENCE
AND A DASH OF SPORT
IS A RECIPE FOR FUN.

(Theme music plays)

The opening sequence begins.

Two light blue doors with a title that reads "Sports Lab" open where thousands of sports equipment encircles a classroom skeleton. The animated balls fly throughout the white room stopping at scenes of people playing different sports.

First Nykeem kicking a soccer ball, then a boy on a skateboard, then a tennis ball, then a hockey goalie, and lastly of a group of kids and Nykeem who break on a tennis court and say SPORTS LAB!

All the sports equipment turns into different colours and funnel into a science beaker with green liquid with a label that reads "Sports Lab."

(music plays)

Nykeem stands in a tennis stadium and says MY NAME'S NYKEEM,
AND TODAY WE'RE READING
BETWEEN THE LINES.
TENNIS LINES THAT IS.
HERE AT THE REXALL CENTER
STADIUM COURT.

Nykeem runs down the stairs.

In the white room, the science beaker with green liquid bursts with colours and balls and a title emerges that reads "Tennis."
(FANFARE)
(APPLAUSE)

Nykeem walks on the tennis court and a caption reads "Rexall Centre, Toronto, Ontario."

Nykeem says TENNIS MEANS
USING THIS RACKET
TO GET THIS BALL
BY YOUR OPPONENT.
IT'S LIKE PING PONG,
BUT BIGGER.
SO, STICK AROUND,
BECAUSE SPORTS LAB
IS ABOUT TO
PUT ITS OWN SPIN
ON THE GAME OF TENNIS.

Now Dr. Heather appears on screen with a caption that reads "Dr. Heather, Sports Scientist." She has straight, dark brown hair in a ponytail and wears a red shirt. She stands at a white desk with books and science supplies around her.

Dr. Heather says NICE SERVE, NYKEEM.
HITTING A TENNIS BALL
WITH A RACKET IS FUN.
AND THE SCIENTIFIC
FORCES THAT TAKE OVER
ARE JUST AS FUN.
WHEN YOU LEARN ABOUT
AERODYNAMICS OF A TENNIS BALL
AND HOW THE SURFACE
OF A COURT MAKES A DIFFERENCE
IT'LL REALLY
MAKE YOUR HEAD SPIN.

Now Chloe appears on screen with a caption that reads "Chloe." Chloe has long, feathery blond hair pulled back into a ponytail and wears a white patterned tennis tank top.

Chloe says MY NAME'S CHLOE,
AND I'M 11 YEARS OLD.
MY HOME COURT'S
AT KEW BEACH
IT'S RIGHT BY THE LAKE
AND AN AWESOME PLACE TO PLAY.

Clips of Chloe playing tennis appear on screen.

Chloe says MY FRIENDS AND I
GO THERE WHENEVER WE CAN
AND PLAY FOR HOURS.
IT'S SO MUCH FUN.
MY MOM AND DAD PUT ME IN
LOTS OF SPORTS LIKE GYMNASTICS.
ONE DAY, SHE PUT ME
IN TENNIS LESSONS
AND EVER SINCE THEN,
I HAVEN'T DROPPED THE RACKET.
ONE OF MY FAVOURITE
THINGS ABOUT TENNIS
IS BEING ON THE COURT
AND INDEPENDENT.
AND I LIKE PLAYING
SPORTS BY MYSELF.
I PLAY TENNIS
ALL THE TIME
YOU CAN'T GET ME
OFF THE COURT.

Nykeem walks over to Chloe on the tennis court and says HEY CHLOE.

Chloe says HEY, WHAT'S UP?

Nykeem says NOT MUCH,
WELCOME TO SPORTS LAB.
SO, FIRST OFF,
I WAS WONDERING
IF I COULD SHOW YOU
MY READY POSITION.

Chloe says SURE.

Nykeem says AND YOU CAN LET ME
KNOW IF IT'S RIGHT.

Chloe says ALRIGHT.
Nykeem stands back and holds his position with the racket.

Chloe says UH...

Nykeem says WHAT, WHAT'S
WRONG WITH IT?

Chloe says IT'S WRONG.

Nykeem says SO, HOW DO I DO
IT RIGHT AGAIN?

Chloe says IT'S LIKE THIS.

Nykeem puts himself into position just like Chloe.

Nykeem says OKAY, THIS
MAKES MORE SENSE.

Chloe says YOU NEED TO HAVE
TWO HANDS ON THE RACKET
BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW
IF YOU'RE GONNA GET
A FOREHAND OR A BACKHAND.

Nykeem says SO, IN TENNIS ARE YOU
SUPPOSED TO NAME YOUR RACKET?

Chloe says YOU COULD HAVE
A NICKNAME FOR IT, YEAH.

Nykeem says I'LL CALL MINE
NYKEEM JUNIOR.
(LAUGHS)

Chloe says NICE NAME.

Nykeem says DO YOU HAVE
A NICKNAME?

Chloe says I CALL IT ACE.
BECAUSE WHEN I'M SERVING
I GO FOR THE BIG ACE.

Nykeem says WHOA.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE
YOU'D LIKE TO KNOW
ABOUT THE GAME OF TENNIS?

Chloe says I MEAN, I PLAY
TENNIS ALL THE TIME.
BUT, WHERE DOES IT COME FROM?
AND WHAT DOES THE WORD MEAN?

Nykeem says EXCELLENT QUESTION,
LET'S SERVE UP
THE HISTORY OF TENNIS.
(FANFARE)
(APPLAUSE)

Back in the lab, a book opens and a title flies out that reads "History of Tennis."

Nykeem says TENNIS CAN BE TRACED
BACK TO 12TH CENTURY FRANCE.
IN A MONASTERY OF ALL PLACES.
WHERE THE MONKS CAME UP WITH
A FUN LITTLE GAME CALLED...

A voice says JEU DE PAUME.

Nykeem says WHICH MEANS,
GAME OF THE PALM.
THAT'S RIGHT.
INSTEAD OF A RACKET,
THEY USED THEIR HANDS.
DURING THE 16TH CENTURY,
TENNIS WAS PLAYED INSIDE
WHERE THE BALL COULD
BOUNCE OFF THE WALLS.
IT WASN'T UNTIL 1859
WHEN LAWN TENNIS
WAS INVENTED
THAT TENNIS
MOVED OUTSIDE.
THE WORD TENNIS COMES FROM
THE FRENCH WORD 'TENNEZ'.
WHICH MEANS HOLD, OR RECEIVE.
SOMETHING THE PLAYERS
WOULD SHOUT AT EACH OTHER
BEFORE SERVING.
LAWN TENNIS WAS
A POPULAR ROYAL PAST TIME
BUT TODAY, ANYBODY CAN YELL...

A voice says TENNEZ!

Nykeem says SO, GIVE IT A TRY.

Back on the court, Nykeem says SO, THAT'S
THE HISTORY OF TENNIS.
PRETTY COOL, RIGHT?

Chloe says YEAH.

Nykeem says THERE'S ONLY ONE
THING LEFT TO SAY.

They both jump and say TENNEZ!

Now clips of Chloe playing tennis with her coach appear on screen.

Her coach has short dark hair and wears a white T-shirt.

Her coach says COME ON, HERE WE GO!

Nykeem says GOOD JOB, CHLOE!

Now Nykeem plays tennis with Chloe?s coach.

Chloe?s coach says HERE WE GO, ONE!
LET'S GO, NYKEEM.
OFF THE BOUNCE,
TURN AROUND 360.
ALRIGHT.
THAT'S ONE.

Nykeem says AM I DOING IT RIGHT?

Chloe?s coach says COME IN FOR THE VOLLEY!
FOOT IN,
FOOT OUT.
YEAH, THERE YOU GO.
GET THERE,
BACKHAND VOLLEY, GOOD.
THINK I'M A DANCER, ALRIGHT,
VOLLEY UP IN THE AIR.

Nykeem hits the ball and Chloe says NICE ONE, NYKEEM!

Chloe, Nykeem, the coach, and the other tennis players all say SPORTS LAB!

Nykeem and Chloe walk over to a bench off the court and Nykeem says GREAT JOB, CHLOE.

Chloe says THANKS, YOU TOO.
(SIGHS)

Nykeem says I THINK YOU CAN
GIVE ME SOME ADVICE.
WHAT IS ONE THING
I SHOULD ALWAYS REMEMBER
WHEN PLAYING TENNIS?

Chloe says IT'S GOOD TO
MIX UP YOUR SHOTS.
SO YOU SHOULD LEARN
DIFFERENT ONES.

Nykeem says WHAT'S ONE TENNIS SHOT YOU
WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT?

Chloe says TOP SPIN!

Nykeem says WHAT'S TOP SPIN?

Chloe says IT MAKES A BALL
DROP DOWN FAST,
BUT I'M NOT SURE
HOW IT WORKS.

Nykeem looks at his phone and says I THINK SCIENCE CAN HELP,
LET ME CHECK IN WITH THE EXPERT.
DOCTOR HEATHER,
YOU THERE?

Dr. Heather appears on screen in the lab and says INTERESTING QUESTION, GUYS.
I THINK WE NEED TO
PAY ATTENTION TO AIRFLOW.
I KNOW JUST
THE RIGHT PERSON
TO GIVE YOU
THE SKINNY ON SPINNY.
YOU CAN MEET HIM
ON STADIUM COURT.

Back on the court, Nykeem says ALRIGHT, YOU READY?

Chloe says YEP.
LET'S GO.
(FANFARE)

Back in the lab, the science beaker with green liquid appears on screen with a label that reads "Pop Quiz." The bottle swirls and flies over to the blackboard with a question.

Nykeem says WHO'S READY FOR A QUIZ?
WHY ARE
TENNIS BALLS FUZZY?
A - SLOW THE BALL DOWN.
B - BETTER GRIP FOR PLAYERS.
OR C - DOGS LIKE THEM.

A skeleton with a red cap says THE ANSWER IS A.

Nykeem says SLOW THE BALL DOWN.
IF THE BALLS WEREN'T FUZZY,
THEY WOULD MOVE TOO FAST
FOR MOST PLAYERS.

(music plays)
(APPLAUSE)

Back in the lab, out of the science beaker launches white foam that turns into a slate that reads "Meet the Pro."

Now Daniel appears on screen with a caption that reads "Daniel." Daniel has short, side-parted brown hair, and wears a blue T-shirt that reads "IPFW Tennis."

Daniel says MY NAME'S DANIEL, AND I'VE
BEEN PLAYING ALMOST ALL MY LIFE.

Clips of Daniel playing tennis appear on screen.

Daniel says WHEN I WAS YOUNG,
MY DAD PLAYED A LOT
AND IT REALLY MADE ME
WANT TO PICK UP A RACKET.
AND NOW,
I'M PROUD TO SAY
I CAN BEAT MY DAD.

Nykeem and Chloe walk over to Daniel and Nykeem says CHLOE, THIS IS DANIEL.
THIS COURT IS AMAZING.
HAVE YOU EVER
PLAYED HERE BEFORE?

Daniel says YEAH, I'M ACTUALLY
LUCKY ENOUGH,
I'VE PLAYED
A TOURNAMENT HERE.

Nykeem says OH, THAT'S AWESOME.
HAVE YOU EVER
PLAYED HERE?

Chloe says DEFINITELY NOT.
BUT I WILL ONE DAY.

Nykeem says THAT IS
A GREAT ATTITUDE.
DO YOU HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS FOR DANIEL?

Chloe says YEAH, ACTUALLY I DO.
WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE SHOT?

Daniel says PROBABLY MY FOREHAND.
I CAN ATTACK A LOT
EASIER ON THAT SIDE.
WHAT ABOUT YOU,
WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE SHOT?

Chloe says PROBABLY MY
FOREHAND AS WELL.
I'VE WORKED ON IT
FOR THE WHOLE WINTER
AND NOW IT'S BECOME A WEAPON.

Nykeem says OKAY, SO WE NEED
SOMEONE TO DEMONSTRATE
TOP SPIN FOREHAND FOR US.
ARE YOU GAME?

Daniel says YEAH, I CAN DO THAT,
FOR SURE.

Nykeem says OKAY, LET'S MOVE BACK.

Daniel says HERE ARE A FEW
QUICK TIPS.
FIRST OF ALL,
YOU WANT TO KEEP THE RACKET
BELOW THE BALL
WHEN YOU HIT.
SECOND, YOU WANT TO GRAZE
THE BACK OF THE BALL
TO GENERATE
THE TOP SPIN.

Nykeem says AWESOME.

Daniel says HERE, I'LL SHOW YOU.

Daniel begins to hit the tennis ball back and forth with a partner in white.

Nykeem says WOW.

Chloe says THAT'S A NICE SHOT.

Daniel says DID YOU SEE
THE SPIN?

Chloe says I KNOW.
LOOK AT THAT POWER.

Nykeem says OH, SO WHEN
HE'S GRAZING IT
HE'S BRUSHING UP AGAINST
THE BACK OF THE BALL
MAKING IT SPIN.

Chloe says WHOA!

Nykeem says DOCTOR, YOU SEEING THIS?

Back in the lab, Dr. Heather says OH, HEY GUYS.
SO, THIS IS
WHAT I FOUND OUT.
WHEN THE BALL
IS MOVING FORWARD,
AIR IS GOING OVER
TOP OF THE BALL
AS WELL AS
UNDERNEATH THE BALL.
BECAUSE OF THE TOP SPIN
THE AIR OVERTOP IS
MOVING AGAINST THE BALL
AS THE AIR UNDERNEATH
IS MOVING WITH THE BALL.
THIS CREATES A DIFFERENCE
IN AIR PRESSURE.
THERE'S MORE PRESSURE ON TOP
AND LESS PRESSURE
ON THE BOTTOM.
AND THAT'S WHY
THE BALL MOVES DOWN.
THIS IS CALLED
'THE MAGNUS EFFECT.'
FIRST DEVELOPED BY A SCIENTIST
NAMED GUSTAV MAGNUS
AS HE WAS STUDYING
CANNONBALLS.
USING TOP SPIN
MEANS THAT THE BALL
CAN BE HIT HIGHER
SO IT'LL GET OVER THE NET
BECAUSE THE MAGNUS EFFECT
WILL HELP IT DROP QUICKLY,
KEEPING IT IN BOUNDS.
BECAUSE THE BALL
IS SPINNING SO QUICKLY
IT WILL HIT THE GROUND
AND JUST TAKE OFF.
AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT
SO HARD TO HANDLE.
SO, IN CONCLUSION
I BELIEVE THAT
SPINNING EQUALS WINNING.

Back on the court, Nykeem says HOW AWESOME WAS THAT?
I BET MR. MAGNUS
HAD A PRETTY NICE FOREHAND.
WHAT DID YOU
THINK, CHLOE?

Chloe says THAT'S REALLY COOL
I DIDN'T KNOW TOP SPIN
WORKED LIKE THAT.

Nykeem says I THINK WE SHOULD
SHOW GUSTAV MAGNUS
WHAT WE'RE MADE OUT OF.
LET'S PUT HIS EFFECT
INTO ACTION.
CHLOE, YOU'RE UP.

Chloe starts to hit the ball.

Nykeem says WOW, THAT'S IT!
MAKE SURE
YOU ACCELERATE.

Daniel says THERE YOU GO.

Nykeem says WOW, I SAW
THE TOP SPIN THERE.

Daniel says NOW, THAT'S TOP SPIN.
YEAH!

Nykeem says AWESOME JOB.

Chloe says THANK YOU.
(FANFARE)

Back in the lab, the green liquid in the science beaker spills and then dries up to reveal a title that reads "Fun Fact."

Nykeem appears on screen on the tennis court.

Nykeem says TENNIS HAS OVER 160
OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED
PLAYING SURFACES.
THE MOST OF ANY SPORT.
WHAT DOES THAT
MEAN FOR THE BALL?
THE ANSWER LIES
IN FRICTION.
THE FORCE THAT SLOWS DOWN
MOVEMENT OF SLIDING OBJECTS.
TWO OF THE MOST COMMON
SURFACES ARE CLAY
AND HARD,
LIKE THIS ONE.
CLAY HAS MORE FRICTION,
BECAUSE THE LOOSE SURFACE
CLUMPS AROUND THE BALL.
SO WHEN THE BALL BOUNCES,
IT SLOWS DOWN MORE.
BECAUSE IT SLOWS
DOWN SO QUICKLY,
THE BALL BOUNCES
HIGHER IN THE AIR.
ON A HARD COURT
THERE'S LESS FRICTION
SO THE BALL MOVES QUICKER.
THE DIFFERENCE
IN FRICTION MEANS
THERE'S ALWAYS NEW
TECHNIQUES TO LEARN.
SO GIVE THEM BOTH A TRY.

Back on the court with Chloe, Nykeem says ALRIGHT CHLOE, YOU AND ME.
LET'S SEE THAT TOP SPIN.

Nykeem and Chloe start playing a game of tennis.

Chloe says ALRIGHT!
COME ON, NYKEEM!

Nykeem says YOU CAN'T, OH,
WITH THE SKILL!
AH!
AW!
BAM!

They shake hands and Chloe says GOOD GAME, NYKEEM.
YOU STILL PLAYED
REALLY WELL.
YOU WANNA GO
FOR ICE CREAM?

Nykeem says LET'S GO.

(music plays)
(APPLAUSE)

Back in the lab, colours and balls fly out of the science beaker and a slate reads "Pro Tip."

Daniel appears on screen on the tennis court and says WHEN IT COMES TO TENNIS,
ONE THING I ALWAYS
TRY TO REMEMBER
IS TO STAY ON
THE BALLS OF MY FEET.
YOU CAN GO FOREHAND, BACKHAND
YOU'RE ALWAYS READY.
MY NAME'S DANIEL,
AND THIS IS MY PRO TIP.

Chloe appears on screen and says I THINK THE SCIENCE
OF TENNIS IS REALLY COOL
AND I REALLY WANT
TO LEARN MORE.
BYE GUYS,
SEE YOU ON THE COURT.

Nykeem walks up the stairs in the stadium and says TODAY WE LEARNED
HOW THE MAGNUS EFFECT
CAN HAVE THE MOST EFFECT
ON YOUR TENNIS GAME.
WE FOUND OUT THAT A LITTLE
SPIN GOES A LONG WAY
AND A LITTLE TENNIS
IS A LOT OF FUN.
I GOTTA SAY BYE FOR NOW.
BECAUSE IN THE SPORTS LAB
THERE'S ALWAYS MORE TO EXPLORE.
SPORTS LAB!

The credits roll scenes of kids playing sports appear on screen.

Written and directed by, Johnny Mitchell.
Host, Nykeem Provo.
Editor, David Mitchell.

Produced in association with TVO Kids for riverbank pictures, copyright 1919216 Ontario Inc.