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Tennis: Racket skills

Your tennis drills are extremely useful coaching tools.

Nail, Tennis coach

DESCRIPTION

Each child has a racket and tennis ball and dependent on ability they should try and -

Around the clocks (balance ball around the edge of the racket),
Ups, downs,
Alternates (twist racket between hits)

COACHING POINTS

Strings face direction you want ball to go in
Control of racket
Strong wrist
Watch ball
Waist height

PROGRESSION

HA (high ability) - no bounces, create their own skill using body parts too

LA (low ability) - balance a bean bag, have a bounce between hits

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OFTEN USED WITH...

Racket Skills

Each child has a racket and tennis ball and, dependent on ability, balances the ball around the edge of the racket, ups, downs, alternates (twist racket between hits).

Aspire sport videos

Donkey

Players hit one ball before running round the court to the other end.

Each player gets 3 lives and loses one if they make a mistake, or fail to get into position on time. Alternatively players can collect letters for each mistake they make until they spell a work (like donkey).

The winner is the one left standing.

The coach can state at any time for the players to change direction in the way they are running around the court, even mid rally!

Coordination / Fun Games

Anticipation and reactions

Player side steps until the coach drops a ball.

The player must catch the ball before the second bounce. Players can also start from a stationary position with heels of the ground or hopping on one leg or criss crossing the legs or with player starting with their back to coach and the coach shouting out when throwing the ball.

Movement

Divots!

Scatter some cones (divots) across the area, some the right way up, and some upside down. Split the group into two teams - 'Hackers and Greenkeepers' - and spread them out across the area.

On the word 'Go' the Hackers run round turning the divots upside down and the Greenkeepers must turn them the right way up.

Coordination / Fun Games

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Tennis

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