HOME Tennis Drills Coordination / Fun Games

Tennis: Total tennis through throwing

Thank you very much for the marvellous site.

Nick, Tennis coach

DESCRIPTION

-The players only use the service box and play without rackets.
-Start with an over-arm throw from behind the service line (as if serving) and play out a rally with normal tennis rules.
-When the player catches the ball they can only hold it for 1 second. When the player has the ball they cannot move there feet!
-If the ball bounces they must use under-arm throws. If they catch it before bouncing, they can throw over-arm (as if volleying before bounce!)
-First player to 7 points wins, as in the tie-break.

COACHING POINTS

The drill mirrows normal tennis and develops players understanding of movement, placement and the rationale behind learning the different tennis strokes.

Because the drill has the game like qualities it is useful for assessing and developing both tactical and mental skills.

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OFTEN USED WITH...

Speedy Gonzales:

This is a speed development drill for tennis.

Players line up along the outer tram line to start the race.

Players run to the inner tram line and return back to the outer line, without stopping they run to the centre service line and return again, and then continue also run to both tram lines at the far end.

The players will touch each line with their hand before moving to the next line.

Coordination / Fun Games

Five Alive:

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.

Coordination / Fun Games

Ghosts:

-Players hit one shot each and if they return it into court they return to the back of the queue, if they make a mistake they become a ghost.
-Ghosts must go to the same end as the feeder. If they catch a ball before it bounces they come back to life again (swapping with the person who hit that ball).
-The winner is the player who is last one alive!!

Coordination / Fun Games

Round the World 2:

-Pick two teams, one team are the hitters, the other the runners.
-The hitters take it in turns to hit the ball over the net, back to the feeder or to a designated area.The coach has to choose the target according to players level of ability.
-The team scores a point each time a shot is hit to the agreed target.
-The runners take it in turn to run around the outside of the court, back to the team like relay race.
-Once all of the running team have done a round they shout stop, and the points of the hitting team freeze.
-The teams then swap sides and the new hitting team has to beat their score.

Coordination / Fun Games

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