By Dr. Elisa Shipon Blum

🎾 What is the Round Robin?

Imagine a tennis match. One player “serves” and the other “returns.” Back and forth it goes, building rhythm, comfort, and confidence.

That’s the Social Communication Round Robin! Instead of rackets and nets, children and teachers play a rally of messages, notes, sounds, and words. Each “serve and return” is a chance to practice initiation skills and build social communication.

The child “serves” by handing a note, delivering a funny message, using a Verbal Intermediary®, making a sound, or eventually speaking directly. The teacher “returns” with a smile, a signature, a sticker, or a playful comment. The rally continues, getting smoother and stronger, until the child feels more comfortable initiating communication on their own.

🌟 Who Benefits From Round Robin?

This match is especially helpful for children who:

🎾 Are nonverbal but working on social initiation.

🎾 Are transitioning into verbal communication through sounds, a Verbal Intermediary©, or an AAC device.

🎾 Are beginning to use words but mostly only when responding—not yet when initiating.

In other words, Round Robin is perfect for children who need help practicing how to start the rally rather than only hitting the ball back.

🏫 How the Match is Played in School

Step 1: Nonverbal Round Robin

  1. The parent slips a note into the child’s communication journal.
  2. The classroom teacher prompts: “Jamie, do you have something for me today?”
  3. Jamie “serves” by handing the note to the teacher.
  4. The teacher “returns” by signing or putting a sticker on the note and giving it back.
  5. Jamie brings the note home, where parents celebrate with a high five, hug, or small reward.

At first, it’s like a coach tossing an easy ball, prompts help get the rally started. Over time, the child learns to step up and serve on their own.

Step 2: Transitional Verbal Round Robin

Now the child is ready for the next level. Instead of serving a written note, they deliver a message using:

  • A Verbal Intermediary© (whispering to a buddy or teacher who repeats the message).
  • A sound from the Ritual Sound Approach®.
  • An AAC device like a talking photo album or voice recorder.

Example:

  1. The classroom teacher asks: “Do you have something for me today?”
  2. The child “serves” by whispering to their buddy: “Tell Ms. Smith I like her colorful necklace.”
  3. The buddy delivers the message.
  4. Ms. Smith laughs and says: “Why thank you! Maybe I should wear more necklaces!”
  5. Everyone smiles—the rally just got longer and more fun.

Trophy Charts and visuals help track where and how the child is comfortable serving (for example: first in the hallway, then at the classroom door, then in the classroom itself).

Step 3: Verbal Round Robin

Eventually, the child “serves” directly with their own voice.

  1. The child goes up to the art teacher and says, “I like your painting on the wall.”
  2. The teacher “returns” with a smile: “Thank you! Maybe you can help me with my next masterpiece.”

The more rallies like this, the more comfortable children become with spontaneous, back-and-forth communication.

🎨 Adding Humor and Creativity

To keep the game fun, teachers and parents can use silly, creative messages for children to deliver. Humor reduces pressure and keeps the rally playful.

Examples:

  • “Tell Mr. Jones I saw him dance in the hallway yesterday!”
  • “Tell Ms. Smith her colorful necklace could probably be seen from outer space.”
  • “Tell Coach Davis I think he runs faster than the Flash.”
  • “Tell the librarian she should hide the candy stash better.”

Specials teachers can join in too. Imagine the music teacher handing the child a kazoo and saying: “Serve this to the art teacher and tell her you think she should join the band!” That message gets passed along, the art teacher laughs, and the rally continues. Humor makes children want to keep the ball in play.

👥 Playing Doubles: Using Buddies

Just like tennis doubles, buddies can play an important role.

  • A peer can walk with the child to deliver a note.
  • A buddy can be the Verbal Intermediary© when the child whispers the message.
  • A partner can cheer the child on, celebrating every successful serve and return.

Buddies make the game feel less intimidating and more social, turning the Round Robin into a team sport.

🧩 Winning Strategies for Coaches (Parents & Teachers)

  • Offer choices: Let the child pick which teacher to approach or which message to serve.
  • Keep it private: Avoid “center-court matches” in front of the whole class. One-on-one or small group rallies are best in the beginning.
  • Use charts and visuals: Scoreboards help the child track rallies and see progress.
  • Stay playful: When it feels fun, children want to keep playing.
  • Celebrate small wins: Even one serve and return deserves a cheer from the sidelines.

🏆 The Big Picture

The Round Robin is more than a game, it’s a match that builds comfort, connection, confidence, and communication. Each serve and return creates predictability and safety. The rhythm builds. The rallies get longer. And before long, children are initiating and communicating across the Social Communication Bridge®.

In the end, the goal isn’t just winning the match, it’s enjoying the game. And with enough practice, children realize communication can be just as fun and rewarding as a rally on the tennis court. 🎾