Time
:
60 minutes
Equipment
:
Racquets, foam or low pressure balls, spots, teaching cables and small nets
1. Welcome/roll call (3 min.)
2. Warm-up
Follow the leader (4 min.)
The leader moves along the lines of the court, being sure to tell the children the names of the lines. As the children follow, the leader changes forms of locomotion at each line, instructing them to:
- Walk fast
- Jog
- High step or march
- Side shuffle
- Hop on one foot, alternating
Slow stretches (3 min.)
Have the children count aloud as they do the following stretches:
- Neck rolls -- roll the neck six times left and then six times right
- Arm swings -- do six rotations forward and six rotations backward with each arm
- Ready, set, stretch -- in starter's block position, extend the right leg, then the left, and hold each for six counts
- Wrist rolls -- do six rotations forward and six backward; first the right wrist, then the left
3. Motor skills
Red light/green light (5 min.)
All children begin at the baseline and the head clinician stands at the net. When the clinician calls "green light," children move as quickly as possible toward the net. When the clinician calls "red light," the children must freeze. The game continues until a child reaches the net. Have students perform a skill while moving forward, such as balancing a ball on their racquets or doing ups or downs (they must catch the ball to freeze).
Racquet introduction (2 min.)
Teach the children to "freeze" upon command and to hug their racquets.
Bump-up tennis -- solo (5 min.)
Use a foam or low pressure ball the children can control with their racquets to do the following skills. To add difficulty, do any of these drills in a limited space, taking only one step or while standing on one foot:
1. Bump-ups with a bounce -- drop the ball and bump it up after the bounce, then let it bounce again and bump it up
2. Bump-ups -- bump the ball gently and keep it from hitting the ground
3. Bounce-downs -- use the racquet to dribble the ball
4. Racquet skills
Shot of the day -- forehand drive (5 min.)
Demonstrate the forehand drive with limited specifics, such as sideways stance with racquet back. Show how the next progression will be done so children can imitate the instructor.
Forehand progression on dangling balls (10 min.)
Hang up to five dangling balls on each teaching cable (see diagram, Page 122). Place spots to correctly position kids. In all drills, stress contact point in front of the child.
Have the children:
1. Hit a stationary ball steadied between hits by a parent-coach
2. Hit a ball gently swung by a coach, who catches the ball as the student prepares to hit again
3. Gently hit consecutive balls with compact strokes every time the ball swings back
- Good drills for this are "10 Club," "20 Club," "30 Club" and "World Record."
5. Playing skills
No-net tennis (15 min.)
Position coaches with their backs to the fence to keep balls from spraying. Coaches should stand several feet from the children and gently hit forehands with them one-on-one. This may resemble the bump-ups with a bounce practiced earlier.
- Have a coach and student demonstrate before the class begins playing.
While this drill is ongoing, pull out children to play Small-net tennis.
Small-net tennis
A good ratio for this game is one assistant or parent-coach who can control the ball well to four or six students on one short court. The coach stands across the small net from two players who share the court as a doubles team. The coach should alternate balls to the players, reminding them to keep their feet moving between balls. After a specified number of balls played or minutes, the doubles team can be switched out with a waiting team.
- Another parent or coach can help keep waiting children occupied at a safe distance.
- Excellent games for rotation are "5 and You're Out" and "10 Club," "20 Club" and "World Record."
- Spots can help children understand their positions on the court.
6. Wrap-up/homework (3 min.)
Practice suggestions:
Parents should participate with children on homework assignments, and everyone should warm up with standard exercises before playing.
- Bump-up tennis -- with a bounce, solo or with a partner
- Bump-up tennis -- without a bounce, solo or with a partner
- Wall tennis -- stress getting the ball back with control and consistency
