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Teaching Younger Juniors, Part IV More of my favorite stroke games David Brouwer In this series, my intention has been to introduce you, the parent or the teaching pro, to some games and concepts to get young children fired up about the game of tennis. Starting with some basic concepts about young children and how they learn, we’ve discussed some warm-up games, some teaching philosophies, and some beginning stroke games. In this month’s article, I’d like to introduce you to some more of my favorite games to teach strokes to children ages 4-6. Before I do that, however, let me remind you of a few things.
First, remember that the more you try to “teach” strokes to children this age, the more paralyzed they become. Let them explore and try their strokes out without you telling them what’s right and what’s wrong. Second, use simple cues to teach them technique such as the back scratch on ground strokes, or yelling out the color on the ball to get them focused. Third, remember that fun and success are the name of the game if you’re going to retain their interest in tennis. There are simply too many things pulling at children’s time these days and too many opportunities for parent’s to spend their time and money on things other than tennis. Keep it fun and keep your enthusiasm up! More Stroke Games This game, designed to teach young juniors the flow of serving and scoring in a game, works well if you’ve spent some time on scoring in previous sessions. Remember, I told you that I spend the last three minutes or so of every class going over how to keep score.
Have kids form two lines on the service line. Based on age and ability, have them either throw or serve overhand into the diagonal box, working on their service motion. “Jimmy” is their imaginary opponent on the other side of the net. They get two chances to get their serve or throw into the correct box. If they do, they get a point. If they miss both, “Jimmy” gets a point and they switch to the other side (deuce side to ad side just like in a real game.) Based on age and awareness of scoring, use 1-4 to determine a game, or 15,30,40, game. Popcorn (for volleys) Line all the kids up at the net in the “high five” volley position. Teach them the open face and how to high five the ball gently. Begin tossing volleys to the players. If they make their volley, they stay standing. If they miss their volley, they bend their knees and crouch down into sitting position. Then they have to stay in this position until another kid misses their volley. When this happens, the kid who missed “pops” down and the kid who was already down “pops” up! When this one gets going, it’s a lot of fun.
Goof Balls and Magic Balls Set a hopper of balls on the corner where the service line and the singles sideline meet. Set another hopper of balls on the opposite corner where the service line and the singles sideline meet. Set one more hopper of balls on the baseline hash mark. Form two teams on the baseline. The first kid on each team takes a ball out of the hopper on the baseline (a goof ball) and drops and hits it over. If they make it over, they get to run up and get a ball out of their hopper on the service line (called a “magic ball”). If they miss their hit from the baseline, they go to the back of their line. The object is to empty your “magic ball” hopper first so it’s a race. The balls on the baseline are goof balls because if you miss, you don’t have the chance to hit a magic ball! This game is excellent to reinforce their finishes on ground strokes. A variation would be to have the pro or parents throw the child the first ball to either their forehand or backhand and if they make it, they have to come up and serve a magic ball. First team to empty the magic ball hopper wins the game!
Dodge ball or Peewees in the Pen Line 3-4 players up in a single file going back from the service line. Set up a “pen” in the doubles alley using cones or spots. If the first hitter makes the shot, with a back scratch, they go to the back of the line. If they miss, they go in the pen. Once a player is in the pen, they may be freed if another player makes their shot. If the coach gets all the players in the pen but one, and that last one makes their shot, they run over and “free” all the kids from the pen. At this point, the kids have to run all the way to the other doubles alley without being hit by a tennis ball, which the coach lightly pitches at them. If they make it, they’re safe. If they get hit, they’re back in the pen! Kids form a line in the alley. There are five hitting spots, each of increasing difficulty and distance from the net. Child hits a ball from spot #1. If they make it, they go to spot #2. If they miss it, they can chance it or stay. If they stay, they just go to the back of the line and the next time they come up, they get to start on that spot. If they chance it and make it, they get to move to the next spot. If they chance it and miss, they have to start over completely the next time they come up. The goal is to make a shot from the most difficult spot on the court. Once they do that, they’ve made it “around the world!”
Speed Racer This is absolutely one of the favorite games that my little stars play. They just love it! Once students are proficient in ground strokes, line them up on one side of the net and feed the first player in line forehands and backhands. As soon as they make three shots in a row with a back scratch, they have to run all the way around the opposite side of the court (the side that the pro’s on) without being hit by a tennis ball (the pro is bumping soft balls at them as they run). If they make it all the way around to the back of the line without being hit, they are declared a speed racer. This is a great drill to have them focus on making three shots in a row as well as the movement and quick change of directions that it takes to avoid being hit by a ball as they run around the court. Everyone wants to be declared a speed racer! Your comments are welcome. Let us know what you think about David Brouwer's article by emailing us here at TennisOne.
David was voted the USPTA Michigan Professional of the year in 2002 and has won two USPTA Outstanding Education awards. David has been a speaker at the USPTA Midwest and National conventions and is the Director of the West Michigan Tennis Academy. David coaches USTA league players of all levels and finds great joy in coaching strategy and tactics to build smarter tennis players. |
David Brouwer, USPTA is the Director of Tennis for three major health clubs in Grand Rapids, MI.