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