Tennis Exercises for Kids

Tennis is an active sport for individuals and teams that is enjoyed by participants throughout life. Beginning tennis as a young person lays the groundwork for competitive play in leagues and school teams. Coaches or parent leaders can incorporate a number of activities in addition to match play at practices and meetings to improve players' skills.

  1. Serving

    • In tennis, successful serving becomes the foundation for scoring points. When serves land out of bounds or fail to go over the net, the opponent scores points without ever having to make contact with the ball. Exercises that improve a student's serving skills give her confidence and enable her to enjoy a longer, more competitive game.

      Have beginning players toss the ball straight up in the air and catch it in the same hand, with as little body movement as possible. Teach students that the proper maximum toss height for a serve is just above where the racquet hand can reach overhead. Teach students that when serving, if the toss is crooked or too high or not high enough, they do not have to swing the racquet to serve that toss, and can toss again without penalty.

    Conditioning

    • Kids playing tennis run almost constantly to return the ball during games. For this reason, conditioning exercises put students in prime condition to play the fast-paced game. Begin practices with basic stretches to prevent injury to major muscle groups.

      Break students into relay teams. Standing to the side of the court, parallel to the net, the first student in each relay team runs to the first line, stops and bends down to touch it, then runs back to the court boundary. He then runs back to the center line, touches it, and runs back. That student then runs to the next line, the far singles box boundary, touches it, and runs back, and then goes to the outer court boundary, touches it and runs back. The next student in line repeats this drill until all students have run. This exercise not only teaches the students sprinting, but also precision stopping and starting.

    Ball Return

    • To teach students varying methods for returning the ball, place a coach or parent leader on one side of the net with a hopper of balls. Line students up behind the court on the other side. One by one the students approach center court in ready position. Throw the ball to bounce just to the right and in front of the student, then toss a second ball to the left and in front of the student. The student hits the two balls with a forehand and a backhand shot in succession, then runs up to the net. Throw the ball to the student and allow the student to hit a volley shot close to the net. Then the student goes back to the end of the line and the next student approaches and does the same thing. This drill, when played in quick succession, exercises three major shots in the game. More advanced students can add an overhead volley to the drill.