High School Tennis Team Practice Ideas

"If you don't practice, you don't deserve to win," states formerly ranked #1 tennis great Andre Agassi. Carry that same mentality over to your team when you create a practice schedule. Fill practices with drills that improve the fundamentals of the game, augment the skills of each player, and create a team mentality focused on winning.

  1. Service

    • Service drills are designed to improve speed and accuracy so that the opponent is kept off-balance during match play. One team drill idea is named "Accuracy by Cans." Instruct the players to break into four equal groups. Send one group to each corner over the court along the baseline. In each service court, place two cans a few feet apart. Instruct the teams on each side to serve a tennis ball into the service court between the two cans. Inform the sides to alternate turns so only two balls are struck into the opposing court at once. Players in each group rotate to the opposite side of the baseline after their turn. Change the location and distance between the cans with each turn to make the drill more difficult.

    Ground Strokes

    • Ground strokes refer to either a forehand or backhand shot made after the ball has hit the court; usually played along the baseline. One idea includes practicing crosscourt down-the-line ground strokes. Pair up two players of equal ability, and instruct them to stand diagonally across from each other along their respective baselines. Player A strikes the ball crosscourt to player B. Player B returns the shot using either a forehand or backhand ground stroke down the line. Player A races to the opposite end of the baseline and returns the shot using a ground stroke across court to player B, who has now moved to the opposite baseline as well. Continue the volley for three to five minutes, and then instruct the players to switch roles.

    Conditioning

    • Conditioning drills combine tennis skills while building the endurance of the player. One drill is named "Eight Ball." Instruct player A to stand in the center of the court near the baseline. A coach stands on the opposite side of the court with a basket of balls. The coach feeds the players eight consecutive balls in various locations of the court at a quickened pace. Each ball should be tough for player A to return, with the tennis ball seemingly out of reach. The goal is to return all eight balls over the net while at the same time building up the skill of changing direction on a dime. After eight balls, the next player in line takes his turn.

    Group Games

    • Group games are designed to work on the fundamentals of tennis while involving more players on the team at one time. This is ideal if court space is limited. One idea is a game called "Triples." Between six and 12 players may participate. Split the teams evenly. Instruct each team to make a triangle on the court with one player in the middle of the court around the service line and two players on each side of the baseline. The remaining players wait behind the baseline on their respective sides. The coach serves the ball to one side. The point is played normally using the doubles court boundaries. After a point is won, an awaiting player from each side rotates into the game while one exits. Continue playing and rotating players until one team reaches 10, then switch-up the teams.