Whether you're working with beginner players or ranked juniors, you should create a development plan that takes players from one stage of ability to the next. For beginners, the plan should focus on learning the basics strokes skills and quickly moving them to playing simple points. For more advance players, a development plan should identify tactical, technical and conditioning shortcomings and address strengthening those areas.
Beginner Technique
For beginners, teach ball control, reception and footwork skills before you teach full strokes. Have players learn to control balls by bouncing them on their rackets while stationary and moving. Use foam or low-compression balls to practice rallying with a partner standing near each other on the same side of then net. Once they can control short rallies, place them on opposite sides of the net, near the service lines, gradually move them back to the baseline as they learn stroke skills. Teach players how to hit the ball to the left, right, deep and short, introducing proper technique to achieve these skills. Teach the serve using the graduated length method, starting from the service line and working back toward the baseline as they improve.
Beginner Strategy
When players can control the ball from the baseline, introduce drills that require players to hit left, right, deep and short under pressure, using games and points. You can introduce games and drills from the service line if you are working with players 10 years old or younger, if you are using the 10 and Under format, court size and equipment. Emphasize keeping the ball in play until the opponent makes a mistake. Move to developing players' abilities to force their opponents into errors using ball placement, rather than power.
Advanced Technique
When developing advanced players, introduce technical changes to solve a tactical problem. For example, don't just give a backhand stroke lesson --- determine what type of backhand shots the player needs to improve. The player may be able to hit solid backhands crosscourt but not down the line. Create lessons, which start with hitting down-the-line shots, take a break to work on technique changes that will achieve that goal, then finish with drills that require the player to hit backhands down the line under point pressure.
Advanced Strategy
Advanced players won't succeed at high levels of play if they are defensive or simply try to hit winners from the baseline. Develop players' games by teaching them patterns of two or more shot combinations that help them end a point. For example, have a player hit a ball that requires an opponent to take several steps forward to hit a forehand. Have her hit her next shot deep to the opponent's backhand to produce a weak ball. Have her move in to take advantage of a weak ball, hitting it crosscourt for a putaway.
Lesson Format
All lesson plans should include a warmup, review of the skill you worked on during the previous lesson, introduction of a new skill, practicing the new skill under point pressure, point play, cool down and stretching.
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