Tennis Drills for Preschoolers

Drills are essential for every tennis player's development. All players, regardless of their age or level of development, must practice tennis drills in order to progress to the next level of skill. When coaching small children, such as preschoolers, it is important to use interesting drills and promote an environment of fun to keep the child engaged during practice.

  1. Two Touch

    • The "two touch" drill is useful for developing a player's control of the ball as well as the player's backhand and forehand volleys. Set up the drill by instructing the player to stand in one of the service boxes between the service line and the net. The trainer will then stand on the other side of the net in the opposite service box. The trainer will gently volley the ball to the player and the player must first bounce the ball off the strings and volley the ball back to the trainer on the second contact. Continue the drill until the ball drops.

    Agility Ladder

    • The agility drill is useful for helping players increase their agility and speed when moving around the court. This drill requires an agility ladder, or a flexible ladder with up to 19 squares that lies on the ground, used to enhance and increase lateral movement, flexibility and balance. Position the agility ladder on the ground. Instruct the player to jump with both feet inside of the square and immediately jump with both feet outside of the square. Jump both feet inside of the next square and continue the jumping forward until reaching the end of the ladder.

    Plyometrics

    • The plyometric drill is useful for helping players develop speed around the court. When teaching the plyometric drill, avoid practicing on hard surfaces; instead, practice on a smooth patch of grass for outside training or on a gym mat for inside training. To perform, set a small plastic cone, approximately 6 inches high, on the ground. Using both feet, the player must jump sideways over the cone, continuing to jump side to side until completing a certain amount of jumps.

    Tips

    • When teaching young children tennis, always warm up and be sure to use age-appropriate equipment such as large foam balls or beach balls. Avoid referring to practice as "lessons" or "drills;" instead, refer to each session as "play." Avoid teaching for long periods at a time as a child can quickly lose focus and concentration. Keep the instructions simple and use words that are easy for a small child to understand.