Day 01
December 1st
Backhand Live drill
DESCRIPTIONCoach feeds the ball from the forehand side of the court.
Players start in the centre and hit the first backhand back to the coach. The player should try to recover back to the centre to then move towards the short ball and hit a backhand cross-court.
Day 02
December 2nd
Backhand Lateral with direction
DESCRIPTION- Live ball Drill
Coach feeds from position 1.
Players start off in forehand doubles alley and execute shots with direction. player has to to hit the first ball back to the coach to then hit the second shot down the line.Day 03
December 3rd
Lateral Backhands
DESCRIPTION- Dead Ball drill
Players start in the forehand alley and hit two backhands on the move.
Trying to hit both shots at down the line.Day 04
December 4th
backhand recovery and forehand
DESCRIPTIONPlayers line up on centre move to play a backhand down the linerecovers to the centre and moves to hit a forehand down the line.
COACHING POINTSPlayers should take quick adjusting steps and as they get closer to the ball smaller quicker steps should be taken just prior to contact.
Day 05
December 5th
Serve grip
DESCRIPTION- To aquire the correct serve grip, tell the players to hold the head of the racket with their playing hand with the thumb and the fingers touching the strings. Player should then slide their hand down the rackets and grab the handle in this position
Day 06
December 6th
Recognising where the ball is going to land
This session's packed full of great exercises to improve your players' ability to Read the Ball and keep your players motivated at training!When you watch your players are they constantly having to react at the last minute? Struggling to get into position to play their next shot? If so their ability to read the game and anticipate where the ball is going to bounce could be lacking!
To develop your players' ball judgement skills to get them in the correct position for their next shot we've split the session into three clearly divided sections. After starting with a fun no racquets warm-up, followed by a running game of hot potato you will see your players rallying co-operatively as they run around the court and attempt to hone their ball reading skills.
Even the players who are temporarily waiting on the sidelines can get involved in the drills - as they run up and down the lines, acting as linesman to see how accurate their fellow players are at anticipating where the next ball is going to land!
Day 07
December 7th
Live ball drill with player
DESCRIPTION- In this Drill the players start in the tram line. With the coach feeding the first ball from the basket the first player hits a controlled forehand back to the player at the net who in turn plays the ball in to the open court for the player to run onto the ball and hit a winner down the line. Player then runs around the cone and returns back to the queue.
COACHING POINTS- The use of a player can be an option for the coaches that are not able to keep up a rally or return a controlled ball into the open court.
- As players move sideways they must take last step towards ball at contact.
- The use of a player can be an option for the coaches that are not able to keep up a rally or return a controlled ball into the open court.
Day 08
December 8th
Backhand Deep / short
DESCRIPTION- Coach is stationed at position 2 while players start off forehand alley corner moves and executes first shot near middle baseline and second shot mid-court short ball.
Day 09
December 9th
Full Tennis Court
Day 10
December 10th
Passing shots
DESCRIPTIONStarting with a feed to either forehand or backhand at random players play their first shot down the line after which the players can play out the point.
No lobs allowed.
COACHING POINTSEncourage both players to maintain a low stance for improved balance and movement.
Volley should keep the racket head out in front all the time, not swing back and make contact in front of the body.
The baseliner should have enough net clearance if when attempting down the line passing.Alternatively short angled cross court passes can also be trained.
Day 11
December 11th
Return of serve 1
DESCRIPTION- Players position themselves on return line. Coach (2) takes turns serving to both deuce and the court.
Day 12
December 12th
Chip and Charge
DESCRIPTIONPlayer 1 only has one serve. Player 2 returns and follows it into the net to volley or smash. The server should not be allowed to lob the first shot. Player 2 should aim for either a deep return or cross court.
Play out the points and first to seven points is the winner.
COACHING POINTS- Returner must maintain balance when moving forward.
- If possible slice the return.
- Split step when approaching the net.
- Server to react quickly after serve.
Day 13
December 13th
Ground strokes under pressure
DESCRIPTION
-Feeder hits first ball to forehand alley.
-The second ball if fed to backhand alley.
-The third feed goes deep to the forehand side.COACHING POINTS- The drill helps players learn excellaration, decellaration, balance and recovery.
- Emphasise that players maintain balance and keep their head still whilst hitting.
- Encourage players to use the outside foot to push back when changing direction.
Day 14
December 14th
Shot selection
DESCRIPTION
-Players play in pairs as a team and alternate shots scoring a point each time a shot is hit in the back 1/3 of the court.
-If a ball is hit short the players can attack.
-Attacking shots should also be hit deep (1/3 back of court) and if they are hit as outright winners the team will score an extra 3 points.
-First side to 7 points wins the game.
-The game can also be started with service and then carried on as described above.COACHING POINTS- Players are encouraged to keep good length to force a short ball from the opponent.
- Encourage good shot selection and patience to construct a point.
Day 15
December 15th
Contact point
DESCRIPTION- Tell the players to stand close the surrounding netting of the court and ask the players to throw up the ball and trap it between strings and fence.
Day 16
December 16th
Point play: restricted and unrestricted!
Struggling for ideas how to keep your sessions fresh and fun? If you are, or maybe you want to try something different, why not try this Point Play Session - A fast rotating, rallying session which aims to get your players thinking tactically about shot selection and positioning - Getting everyone involved!Tennis can be a long game and requires concentration, stamina and skill (who can forget Isner v Mahut match (see video) at last year's Wimbledon, which lasted 11 hours and 5 minutes!
This match lasted as long as it did because both players were not thinking too far ahead and were playing the game one shot at a time!
Designed to work several players at once this week's session will really get your players working and thinking hard - playing the game one shot at a time!
Day 17
December 17th
1st and 2nd volley position
DESCRIPTIONThe coach is feeding from the basket and players hit 2 balls each, a 1st volley and a 2nd volley.
Players can start between the baseline and the service-line running forwards and split-stepping as the coach makes contact with the ball.
After hitting the first volley down the line, they must move forwards closing the net down and edging to cover the line before they hit the 2nd volley cross-court.
The 1st volley must be played deep and the 2nd volley as a shorter angled shot.
COACHING POINTSEven though the players know where the ball is going they should be on balance and ready to react to whatever ball is fed.
The split step as the coach feeds will help this.
Day 18
December 18th
Extras
Day 19
December 19th
Returning A / B
DESCRIPTIONPlayer 2 has to tell player 1 where they are returning before the serve. Server only has one serve (depending o n the level of the player). Player 2 is rewarded bonus points for htiing into designated area and eventually winning the point.
COACHING POINTS- Returner must split step at the right time. i.e. just before the server contacts the ball.
- Transfer the body weight forward.
Day 20
December 20th
Forehand and Backhand Crosscourt
DESCRIPTION- Coach feeds the ball from centre of court to the players backhand. Players moves from the centre to hit the backhand down the line then recover back to the middle and move to hit a forehand crosscourt.
Day 21
December 21st
Spanish style
DESCRIPTION
Working on net clearance and top spin
Place 4 rackets on top of the net.
Players should aim to hit the ball to the last quarter of the court.
Pairs take it in turns and rally for the highest score.COACHING POINTS- Encourage players to work on topspin and height for good net clearance.
- For topspin players need to generate very fast racket head speed and finish with a full follow-through.
Day 22
December 22nd
Good court positioning
DESCRIPTION
-Learning correct positions enhances court coverage and enables the player to respond to the most likely shot placements by the opponent.
-Place 4 markers in a diamond shape around the centre of the baseline. Start by the coach telling the player to move to a correct marker after each shot.(Using forward, back, left, right commands.COACHING POINTS- Explain that after they hit a deep shot they should move to the front marker, if they hit a shot out wide they should move to the opposite side marker, and after they hit a short shot they should move to the back marker.
Day 23
December 23rd
1st and 2nd volley position
DESCRIPTION- Player hit a backhand volley from the 1st position followed by a forehand volley from the 2nd position
Day 24
December 24th
Lob and Smash
DESCRIPTIONPlayer 1 must feed player B with a lob (deep if possible). Player B must hit the smash and play out the point. The ball must not bounce on the side of player 2 throughout the point. Player 1 can hit drives or lobs after the initial lob feed.
First player to reach 11 points.
COACHING POINTS- Player 2 should start in the middle of the service box and move back quickly for the lob.
- Equally player 1 must be alert to return the lob and keep low to the ground.

Recognising whe..
Point play: res..
