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5/20 - 5/26

Palmetto Pro Open
Sumter, S.C.

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Recreational On-Court Training

Ages 5-6 Instruction

Flamingo

Have the children move around the court like an animal the coach chooses. When the coach shouts out "Flamingo," the players stop the animal imitation and balance on one foot with their arms out and eyes looking straight ahead. Repeat several times, choosing a different animal to imitate.

Racquet Quickness

Two players (or player and coach) stand facing one another, each standing a racquet on the tip of the frame with the handle pointing up. At the count of three, the players will switch places and catch the other player’s racquet without letting it drop. More details

Call My Name

Children are in pairs, one partner with a ball and the other with her back to her partner. The partner with the ball tosses it up and calls out the partner’s name. The partner has to turn around and catch the ball after one bounce.

Applause

All players have a ball in their own space. Each will toss the ball up, clap and catch after the bounce. To increase the difficulty, have them clap twice before catching, then three times, then as many times as they can before the ball bounces twice.

Lobster Trap

This activity is done in pairs. The players stand 8 to 10 feet apart, with one player holding two racquets, one in each hand, and the partner with one ball. More details

Side Show

Players are in pairs, throwing a playground ball with both hands across their body to a partner on the other side of the net. The throw should resemble that action of the forehand and backhand ground stroke.

Roll with Hands

Using a playground ball or beach ball, have the children stand 4 to 5 feet apart and have them roll the ball back and forth to their partner or coach. Have them catch the rolling ball with two hands directly in front of their body.

Rolly Polly

The players stand across from each other on either side of the doubles alley. Players have a racquet and should position themselves sideways to the ball as they might be positioned for a forehand with the edge of the racquet on the ground behind the ball and the strings touching the ball. More details

Tennis Shoot Out

Players are divided into two teams. Spots are spread out along each singles sideline of the 78-foot court, and two cones forming a goal are placed behind the baseline. Make sure the goals are large enough to ensure success. More details

One Bounce – Two Bounce

One player tosses the ball underhand over the net and calls out "One" or "Two." The other player must allow the ball to bounce that number of times before catching it and tossing it back, also calling out a number. More details

Jacks

The player tosses the ball up and lets it bounce and bumps it up with the racquet and catches it and announces "onesies." The player then attempts to tap it up twice, "twosies" and so on until they reach "fivesies.

Mini Rally

Partners work together and rally over a line or low obstacle that serves as the net. They stand close to the obstacle and gently rally balls over the line or obstacle using the forehand. To start the rally, have players start close and sideways to each other, match up racquet faces and take two steps back.

Tag Team Singles

A minimum of four players are needed for this game. Divide players into two groups, with each group forming a line behind the middle of each baseline. One player is up on each side The first player from one side drop-hits the ball over the net and moves to the back of her line. More details

The Bird

Have the children move around the court with the coach, but this time imitating one of three different types of birds that the coach will call out—either a hummingbird with arms moving short and quick, a robin with medium length and medium speed arm movements, or an eagle with long and slow arm movements.

Bungee Jump

Each player has a ball that is balanced on the strings. The players move around the court balancing the ball. When the coach calls out, "Bungee Jump," the players let the ball drop off the racquet, let it bounce and then catch the ball back on the racquet. More details

Frog Hop

Jump from a crouching position along the ground, landing quietly on the balls of the feet and with both feet together.

Team Lilly Pad

Players work as a team to get from one side of the court to the other (the swamp). To cross the swamp, one player must step only on the "lily pads" (poly spots or donuts). Each team has two poly spots and one player places one "lily pad" in front, where the other player can hop to or step on. More details

Inchworm

Players line up shoulder to shoulder in a straight line, with their racquets held out in front with the strings facing up. The last player in the line has a beanbag or Koosh ball.

Koosh Ball Pass

Use one Koosh ball or beanbag for each pair. Have the players begin by standing close together with their racquets, passing the Koosh ball back and forth from one racquet to the other. More details

Alligator River

The players line up across from each other on either side of the doubles alley, with their racquets and one ball for each pair. The coach or one of the players is the "alligator" and is going to walk down the "river" (i.e., the alley). More details

Throw Ball

Players are on either side of the net on a 36-foot court. Players throw a foam ball underhanded over the net. The opposite player must catch it and throw it back after the ball bounces one time on the court. More details

Tennis Hockey

Players form two teams and stand across from each other on the doubles sidelines and place two cones as goals about 3 feet beyond the end of the line. Keeping the ball close to their racquets, the children tap the ball along the line (have them name the line) trying to keep the ball on the line. More details

Rally Me

Within the service box, the player tosses the ball, lets it bounce off the court and bumps it up with the racquet, lets it bounce and taps it up again. This can be done while moving around the service box.

Splat

Two players each with a racquet and a ball pyramid made of four balls (three for the base and one on top). One player drops and taps the ball up at about head-level height, trying to hit the ball pyramid to make it "splat." When the balls are hit, the player scores a point.