Time
:
60 minutes
Equipment
:
Racquets, foam or low pressure balls, ball in sock aid, spots, teaching cables and small nets
1. Welcome/roll call (3 min.)
2. Warm-up
Run the lines (5 min.)
Pupils line up at the baseline and doubles sideline to walk and then jog the lines. The pattern is as follows:
- forward along the doubles sideline to the net,
- sidestep across to the singles sideline,
- backward along the singles sideline to the service line,
- sidestep across the service line almost to the T,
- up the center service line to the net,
- sidestep to just across the center service line,
- backward along the center service line to the service line,
- sidestep to the singles sideline,
- up to the net,
- sidestep to the doubles sideline,
- backward along the doubles sideline
- and sidestep across to the center hash mark
Use spots and position parents to help direct children.
Slow stretches (3 min.)
Have the children count aloud while doing the following stretches:
- Neck rolls -- roll six times to the left and six times to the right
- Arm swings -- do six rotations forward and six rotations backward with each arm
- Ready, set, stretch -- in a starter's block position, extend the right leg, then the left, and hold for six counts each leg
- Wrist rolls -- do six rotations forward and six backward with both wrists
3. Motor skills
Throw three in a row (5 min.)
Place a row of balls across the court, behind the service line, with one ball at each of the sidelines and one at center line. Have the children start at the ad court doubles sideline, move to pick up the first ball and throw it over the net, run or sidestep to the middle ball and throw it over, and then to the third ball. Place targets across the net or add more balls to keep it challenging.
- A parent-coach can quickly replace the balls so the next child does not have to wait.
- Left-handers should go before or after the right-handers and start from the deuce side.
Tennis spins (3 min.)
To practice the service toss, have children toss the ball into the air with the non-dominant hand. While the ball is in the air, they should clap once before catching the ball. Place a target on the ground and occasionally test the child to see if tosses are landing there.
4. Racquet skills
Shot of the day -- serve (10 min.)
1. Demonstrate and have the class shadow the three progression steps practiced last week: the trap, the tray and the V position.
2. Demonstrate the full serve with full follow-through. Have the children hold a ball and shadow a throw, then do shadow throws with a racquet. Use a tennis ball in a tube sock as a teaching aid. With the ball tied in the toe of the sock, hold the open end of the sock and pretend to throw. (The ball drops behind the student's back and loops before coming over the head as the racquet will on the serve.)
3. Demonstrate the toss when applied with the service motion.
Serve progression on dangling ball (5-10 min.)
Hang up to five dangling balls on each teaching cable and place spots to correctly position children. Adjust the ball line to the maximum length, allowing pupils to hold the ball low and toss it up for the serve. Have the children:
1. Throw the ball using correct ready position and follow-through that is identical to the serve.
2. Hit the ball using a full serve motion, if possible, and a correct underhand toss.
- Stress contact point in front of the children as they hit the ball.
- If the full serve is frustrating the child, move him back to the previous progression step with which he had the most success: the trap, the waitress or the V position.
Serve for score (5-10 min.)
Two pupils stand as a doubles team across a small net from the assistant coach. Pupils alternate serving until they have had two serves each, then new players rotate in. The goal is to serve with good form and control so the coach does not have to move to catch the ball. Coach can score each serve on a one to 10 scale. Each serve can be scored separately or points can be accumulated by individuals or doubles teams.
5. Playing skills
Small-net tennis (10 min.)
1. The assistant coach stands across the small net from a doubles team and pupils take turns using the full serve or serve style they were most successful with in the above drill. The group plays out each point.
- A parent-coach can keep waiting children occupied at a safe distance and rotate them in to play.
- Spots can help children understand their positions on the court.
2. Have students play singles with one another, as in King/queen of the court or King/queen of the mountain. One coach attends to each court and rotates children in to play. The goal is to have cooperative rallies.
- If children cannot successfully serve to start points, have them drop-hit or have a coach feed in a ball so children play as many good points as possible.
6. Review (3 min.)
Class wrap-up
Thank everyone involved. Explain the next lesson series and let them know how to enroll with their friends and classmates.
