10 and Under Level 3 Orange Ball Grade 4 & 5 - Lesson 1 Racquet and Ball Handling Skills

Making USTA Jr. Team Tennis easy and fun for kids

Coaching Tips – Make sure you position yourself in the group so that you are able to make eye contact with each child. This allows for behavior observation and so that kids know they have your attention. When a signal is made to stop an activity, all eyes should be on the coach. Stay positive and enthusiastic, HAVE FUN! Safety – Kids should to “hug their racquets” when they are listening to a coach. Make sure balls are cleared away from hitting area to avoid falls. Allow enough space for kids to swing racquet safely. Sportsmanship – Kids should always start a match with and introduction and handshake. Remember you are teaching children first – tennis second!

Supplies – Name Tags, Marker, Orange Balls, Koosh Balls or Bean Bags, Poly Spots, Pop Up Nets

Welcome and Introductions – Introduce yourself and any other coaches who are helping. Coaches should learn players’ names or use name tags to help on the first day.

Movement Activities: Jog Ball – While players are jogging in a large circle, they toss the ball up and catch it after a bounce with two hands, then with only the right and left hands. Have them practice jogging while ball between right and left hands.

Ball – While keeping a ball balanced on the racquet strings, the player must walk 36 ft., touch the ground with their opposite hand and return to the starting point without dropping the ball. Once this skill has been practiced, make it into a race to see who can make it back to start without dropping the ball. You can also use Bean Bags.

Skill Activities: Lobster Trap – Players work with a partner, one player holding two racquets and one player tossing the ball underhand. Player with the racquets will try to trap the ball in their “claws”. Do 5 times and switch. Try using just one racquet and trap the ball with racquet and hand on strings.

Koosh Ball Pass – Use one Koosh ball or for each pair. Have the players begin by standing close together with their racquets, the Koosh ball back and forth from one racquet to the other. After 4 or 5 successful trials, have them move back to use a gentle toss. Let the players be creative with their catch.

Partner Toss/Rally – Have players find a new partner. One is tosser, one is hitter. Use poly spots as a target for tosser to toss underhand with ball landing near target. Hitter bumps it back to partner. Do 5 times and switch. Then have both players hit back and forth trying to get ball to land on the target. Keep track of how many times you hit the target. Team with the most hits wins!

Rally Over a Net – Start at the net and have players match up racquet faces forehand to forehand and move 3-4 feet away from the net and play all shots from the forehand side. To assist them with control and focus, add a target for the ball to land on 3 ft. from the net on either side. Count how many times a team can rally over the net.

Wrap Up Game: Tag Team Singles – Split players into two groups on opposite side of the court. Coach can feed ball or players can self feed. Players will hit the ball once and then go to end of the line for teammate to hit once, opposite side will return and go to end of the line. Play out the point. Team to win 10 points first wins the match.

Take Home Tennis – 50 Ups and 50 downs on the driveway!

Match Play – See suggested formats on Match Play lesson plan.

Focus is on Fun! Tennis is a sport for a lifetime!