Whether you're a parent looking to get your child interested in tennis, or you're a youth tennis coach looking for some new ways to engage your younger students, fun tennis games can help keep kids' attention as well as teach new skills. Use a combination of fun drills and structured practice to give kids a well-rounded tennis experience.
Throw Ball
Teaching the proper tennis form on a large court, including how to allow the ball to bounce before hitting it, is difficult for smaller kids. Instead, set up an easy game of catch with your student or child. Set up two chairs about 7 to 8 feet apart. Attach a string between the two chairs at the child's chest level. Have the child stand on one side of the string. Standing on the opposite side of the string, toss the ball to the child using a side-arm motion, similar to the forearm motion. Instruct the child to let the ball bounce once on her side, then catch it. She should then use a similar side or forearm motion to throw the ball back over the net. Keep playing catch until the child becomes comfortable with the forearm motion and catching the ball on one bounce.
Bean Bag Pass
The bean bag pass drill helps improve your child's skills at moving the tennis racquet in the right position. Stand about 5 feet away from your child with a bean bag in your hand. Toss the bean bag in the air and have your child catch the bean bag on the racquet, which should be parallel to the ground. Have your child pick up the bean bag and toss it back to you as you catch it on your racquet. Do three or four catches each, then back up two feet so you're farther apart. Do the drill until your child can't catch the bean bag anymore.
Sideline Jumps
The sideline jumps drill is an effective way to develop footwork in your players and serves as a great conditioning drill they will enjoy as well. Line up your players along the baseline on the side of the court by the doubles lines. Have the first player place one foot on the outside doubles line and quickly jump with the other foot onto the inside singles line. Have the player continue jumping back and forth between the two lines toward the net. Have the player stop at the net and step off the court as the next player completes the drill.
Racquet Speed
The racquet quickness drill is another fun exercise to develop your players' hand-eye coordination and footwork. Have players pair off and stand about 3 to 4 feet away from each other. Each player should balance their racquet with one finger so the head of the racquet is resting on the court and the handle is pointing up in the air. On the count of three, have each player let go of the racquet. The object of the drill is to be able to grab the handle of your partner's racquet before it hits the ground. Have players who aren't able to complete the drill step off the court. The last pair to complete the drill successfully wins.
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