My Tennis Shorts

Taking your 4-8 year old beginner to the tennis court can become a frustrating and discouraging experience for you and your child especially when balls are flying over the fences instead of the net.  Before hitting any tennis balls, it's important to ask yourself a few questions.  "Am I looking for instant success?"  "Are my expectations going to be too high for his ability level?"  "Are we going to have fun?"  If your answers are 'no' to the first two questions and 'yes' to the third, you're ready for a winning event together!

Just put the Game Plan in your pocket, then take your child to court!

Here's the Game Plan:

Warm-Up:

1. Ball Pyramid - Each of you stand behind a set of four balls stacked like a pyramid at the singles sideline.  Across from each of you on the opposite singles sideline is your racquet.  When you say "go" or even "roar like a lion", each of you runs one ball at a time to rebuild the pyramid on the racquet face.  ("Just think, if you (the parent) runs fast enough, that's one less workout at the Fitness Center!")
2. Double Your Troubles - At the baseline your child stands facing the net with his feet shoulder width apart.  Roll two balls between his legs.  Before the balls reach the net, he has to run and pick up a ball in each hand.  With an overhand motion, he has to throw one left-handed and one right-handed throw over the net and return to the baseline for another round.  ("You will be in trouble if he asks you to spread your legs at the baseline!)

Once You Recover from the Warm-Up, Try these Fun Games!

Ground Stroke Drills:

1. Tennis Golf - For a forehand ground stroke, your child stands on the service line "belly button" facing the side fence while you stand on the same side of the net with a bucket of balls.  Get your child to "shake-hands" with the racquet.  Ask him to swing the racquet low to high.  The cue I use is "worms to the birds".  Roll or toss balls waist high so he can make contact with the ball.  If he hits the ball before it passes the service line he gets a point.  If he misses, you win a point.  For a backhand ground stroke, ask your child to grab the racquet with the dominant hand on the bottom like a "hammer" and the non-dominant hand with a "shake-hands" grip on the top of the grip.  Get creative and roll or toss the ball wider, so he has to move.  ("Why not offer Hugs and Kisses for points and those could be real!)
2. Jacks - (Forehands or Backhands) - Your child stands on the center line about 3 feet behind the net with his racquet low.  Check his grip if he is old enough.  He should be standing belly button facing the side fence and facing you.  Stand on the same side of net with a bucket of balls facing him.  Toss into the air one ball. He waits until it bounces before attempting to hit it over the net before it rolls.  As long as the ball is not rolling, he can continue to try and get the ball over the net even if it hits the net.  If successful, toss two balls, (twosies, threesies, etc)  If he is not successful, toss the number of balls he missed for his next try.  If he is good, he might get up to eightsies!  ("How about you try it with your non-dominant and let him toss to you?)

Cue-Tips

Don't Expect Too Much Too Soon - Encourage - Less Correction - Have Fun!