ORANGE 2 - WEEK 5
MEET & GREET
(2-3 minutes)
Talk to the kids and ask them questions about life outside of the tennis lesson:
- who is your favorite tennis player?
- what is your favorite sport?
- how is school?
- did you play tennis at home?
- do you have any pets?
- what is your favorite food?
etc.
Keep the conversation age appropriate
WARM-UP
(7-8 minutes)
STRETCHES AND LIGHT STRENGTH TRAINING
Gentle and simple stretching exercises.
Students can choose some of the exercises.
Gentle and light strength training:
- squats and lunges
- push-ups (knee or regular)
PLAY - PRACTICE - PLAY
(40 minutes)
RALLY CROSSCOURT
(10 minutes)
- players attempt to rally crosscourt with racquets
- if lower skill, they can use self rally to the net
Fundamental Teaching Points
- teach correct grips
- teach racquet facing target
- teach contact point
GROUNDSTROKE RALLY WITH SELF RALLY
(10 minutes)
- players attempt a consistent rally using self rally
- self rally from their baseline to the net
- hit friendly shot to partner
Fundamental Teaching Points
- teach correct grip for both sides (f-hand, b-hand)
- teach sideways set up position
- teach contact point (out in front)
- teach recovery to ready position
APPROACH SHOT TO VOLLEY
(10 minutes)
- player 1 throws or feeds a groundstroke to the other
- player 2 hits an approach groundstroke
- player 1 hits a groundstroke to the volleyer
- if player 1 misses, feeds a fresh ball to volleyer
- player 2 hits volleys and they rally until they miss
Fundamental Teaching Points
- teach how to approach the net
- teach position at the net
- teach contact points
OVERHEAD SERVE & RETURN CROSSCOURT
(10 minutes)
- players serve and return to each other
- not a rally, only one serve and one return
- can be brought closer to the net, if necessary
- alternate between hand toss overhead and racquet serve to maintain a balance of success and failure
Fundamental Teaching Points
- throwing motion from trophy position
- teach continental grip
- teach contact point
WRAP-UP
(5-10 minutes)
COURT TAKE-DOWN
- players and coach clean up together
- teach the importance of keeping everything organized
SUMMARIZE & ENCOURAGE
Ask the players questions about the lesson:
- what did we work on today?
- what did you learn today?
- what is your favorite shot?
+
- tell each player individually what was ONE THING they did great today and hand out Firefly Dollars
+
- optional: coach target challenge for extra Firefly Dollar