Tennis: Turn and Catch Warm Up

Coach throws 2 balls at the same time (Different heights). Player tries to catch both balls in the air.

The coach throws an easy ball to the player who hits a forehand shot back to the coach. The Coach then throws the ball back again but this time the player hits a forehand shot to the open space (deuce side) where the cones are situated.

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!

The ball is fed in by the coach, or a waiting player, and players 1 and 2 rally the ball, moving each other around the full court in a co-operative manner. Players are constructing points but at a slightly lessened tempo and with greater control. Players work like this for 2 minutes, before one player is replaced by player 3, for the next 2 minutes. The idea is that players are working in this manner for 4 minutes at a time and resting then for 2 minutes until the 24 minutes are completed.

Coach and player rally together. Using 2 racquets each, coach and player have to always catch the ball between the racquets and then hit it over the net back to the partner.

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.

Rally with the coach in a round robin system. Players hit one shot and then run to the back of the queue. For variation use one racquet. After each shot players must pass the racquet on to the next player.

Ladder is set in front of a player. The player tries to bounce the ball down with the racquet and hit each ball in the next square of a ladder.

Lay out one agility ladder. Player controls the ball by bouncing the ball up. Player hits one time inside the ladder and one time outside the ladder. Player tries to get through all the spots on the ladder. 

Player bounces the ball up in the air using racket in the dominant hand. Coach throws another ball to the left side of the player. Player tries to catch the ball with free hand while still bouncing the ball on the racket with the dominant hand. 

Lay out one agility ladder. Player controls the ball by bouncing the ball up. Player lets the ball land one time inside a ladder box and one time outside the ladder. 

The coach stands behind the player. The player works with fast feet, and then the coach throws the ball over the player's head, who then has to catch the ball in the air. This exercise is a good warm-up tool to work on quick movement and reaction. Knowing how fast modern game is, these skills are necessary to become a good net-game player.

The player stands facing the ladder, and then performs jumping pattern (inside the ladder, outside the ladder, jump to the side). Every time the player jumps inside the ladder, the coach throws the ball to the player. The player catches the ball and throws it back.

Player starts on the baseline. Coach feeds the balls to the forehand side. Player jumps on left leg and executes forehand on left leg.

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.

Players start on the baseline with a ball on their racket strings. They run up to the net where they swap over the ball with the player on the opposite side of the net. They then run back to the baseline.

-Players rally on a full court. -There can be two or more players on each side of the net starting from the baseline. -Using one racket per team the first player hits one shot and passes the racket to the next team player. -Points are won if the opposing side hits the ball outside of singles court or into the net.

Player keeps cone in both hands. Coach serves to deuce side. Player catches the ball into the cone after the first bounce. Player takes the ball out of the cone and throws back to coach using dominant hand.

Separate the whole group into teams of around 5-6. Each team nominates a player to feed first. When ready the feeder throws the ball to each player consecutively until the team has caught 5 balls. The team getting to 5 first shouts Five Alive and win the first point. A new feeder is selected by each team, and the next round begins.

Coach rallies with player. Player alternates hitting forehand and catching/throwing forehand.