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Easy as 1,2,3
Beginning players need repetition while also setting goals. For this drill, players simply stand on opposite sides of the service line and count as they hit the ball back and forth as many times as possible. Advanced beginners should practice this with volleys, closing in on the net after every shot. This drill allows players to focus on building fundamentals, but setting goals to hit five, 10 or 20 shots in a row motivates them to perform better.
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Target practice
Beginners aren’t ready to talk strategy yet, but they can certainly get started on shot placement. Set up a quad of tennis balls at a particular spot on the court (e.g., the point where the service line and doubles alley meet). Fashion the tennis balls so that three form a triangle and one sits atop. The player will then try to hit the target off a feed. This can be done with groundstrokes, volleys and serves. Prizes for hitting the target make it even more fun!
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Catch me if you can
When learning stroke technique, beginners are often standing still so that they can perfect grip and form and more easily connect with the ball. Fitness is an important part of tennis, however, so beginners shouldn’t be standing still throughout the entire lesson. For this cardio drill, one person stands between the baseline and service line, racket in hand. The person on the opposite side of the net does not have a racket, but hand feeds the ball to the other player. The player with the racket then hits the ball over the net and the feeder tries to catch it in the air or on the first bounce. After the ball is retrieved, both people sprint up to the net and switch racket and ball, then backpedal to their starting positions. Repeat the drill several times and include a point-keeping system for balls caught.
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Catch me if you can
After a player has become acquainted with tennis, they are capable of holding a rally. Coaches can engage beginning players in point play by having them play out, let’s say, every sixth ball in a groundstroke feeding drill. Since the coach will likely be standing at the net, they can easily control the ball and hit it back to the player in order to keep a rally. Children, especially, will be thrilled by the idea of “beating” their coach in a point.
