| Even the Kids Love Tennis! | | | | |
| | | | When teaching tennis drills to your beginner |
| The sport of tennis is gaining popularity | | | | players, look for drills that teach different |
| amongst younger players, even those as young | | | | skills such as the amount of power put into |
| as 4 or 5 years old. When teaching tennis | | | | each hit. This drill, called Goldilocks and |
| drills to kids, make sure to select drills | | | | the Three Balls, has players introduced to |
| that are simple yet focus on the underlying | | | | the concept of soft hits, medium hits and |
| fundamentals of the game. If the | | | | hard hits. |
| fundamentals are taught properly at a young | | | | |
| age, younger players have a much better | | | | First, demonstrate the "baby hit" by hitting |
| chance of remembering their basic skills | | | | the ball very softly, the "mama hit" by |
| throughout their lives. The following tennis | | | | hitting the ball to the middle of the court, |
| drills are a great way to put the fun back in | | | | and the "papa hit" by hitting the ball full |
| the fundamentals of the game! | | | | court. |
| | | | |
| When teaching tennis drills to kids, always | | | | Next, have players line up at center court on |
| make sure to fully explain the drill first | | | | the baseline with the coach on the opposite |
| before attempting it, and allow players a | | | | side of the net. Lob the ball towards |
| chance to ask questions before beginning to | | | | players one at a time and as the ball is in |
| avoid any mishaps or injury that may occur. | | | | mid-air call out which type of hit you'd like |
| Keep a close eye on your players and their | | | | the player to use: baby, mama, or papa. This |
| balls as they practice, since errant balls | | | | fun drill has kids learning how to control |
| can cause twisted ankles if stepped on. | | | | the amount of power put into each hit. |
| | | | |
| Through the Hoop | | | | Finally, we have a fun drill introduces the |
| | | | concept of the forehand hit by having kids |
| First, we have a drill known as Through the | | | | hold the racquet like a softball bat. Once |
| Hoop, since it requires a hula-hoop or other | | | | again, have your players line up on the |
| large circle-shaped object. Have the players | | | | baseline at center court with the coach on |
| stand in a line with the coach standing | | | | the other side of the net. |
| approximately 10 feet away with the hula hoop | | | | |
| in hand. The coach slowly lobs a ball to | | | | The coach lobs the ball towards the players |
| players one by one who attempt to hit the | | | | one by one who swing their racket like a |
| ball through the hoop. For every time they | | | | softball bat at the oncoming wall. To help |
| score a shot through the hoop, they earn one | | | | children build up accuracy with these types |
| point. This drill teaches young players | | | | of hits, assign a point value to a number of |
| accuracy when hitting the ball. Players may | | | | different spots on the opposite court, such |
| use their forehand, backhand, or underhand | | | | as ten points for the back wall and fifteen |
| motions to hit the ball. | | | | points for a chair in each corner of the |
| | | | court. The player with the most points at |
| Baby hits, mama hits and papa hits | | | | the end of the game is the winner. |