- Check the space and the kit.
- Get your child's attention first.
- Show it from two sides.
- Say one thing only.
- End on one that works.
Put the phone down where you can see it. Tap Next with your thumb, or use the arrow keys.
Is the space marked?
- The net line across the middle of the strip
- A service line on each side, 2 m from the net
- A circle about 1 m wide in each far corner (chalk or tape)
The base strip and a plain wall with nothing breakable near it. A racket, and a balloon or a foam shuttle.
Three minutes to get warm.
Easy jogging on the spot, then arms and legs. How to warm up well is explained at workonfitness.com.
- Forehand grip: hold the racket out with the frame on its edge, like an axe, not flat like a tray.
- Shake hands with the handle: the "V" between thumb and first finger sits on top, the fingers wrap round, and the first finger sits a little apart, like on a trigger.
- Backhand grip: from there, turn the racket a little and press your thumb flat on the wide back of the handle.
- Show each grip slowly, then hold the racket out so your child can copy your hand.
Show it once from the front and once from the side, slowly. Then let your child try.
- Forehand grip. You throw to the racket side; the child hits the balloon back to you with the palm side of the racket leading. 10 hits.
- Backhand grip, thumb flat on the back of the handle. You throw to the other side; the child hits with the back of the hand leading. 10 hits.
- Now mix them: as you throw, call "forehand" or "backhand", and the child changes grip before the hit. 10 hits.
- No balloon: hold the racket in front and change from one grip to the other and back, as fast as the grip stays right, for 10 seconds.
How much: 3 rounds of 10 hits and 10 seconds of changing grip
Hold it like a handshake
Wall count
The rules
Drop the shuttle and hit it at the wall, forehand then backhand, and count the good hits in 30 seconds.
- Stand 2 m from the wall with 5 shuttles or 1 foam ball at your feet
- The grown-up says "Go" and starts 30 seconds
- Drop a shuttle and hit it at the wall with a forehand. Hit the next one with a backhand. Keep changing
- Pick each shuttle up by hand, never with the racket
- Stop when the grown-up says "Time"
Fair play: A younger child stands 1 m from the wall.
- Points
- 1 point for each hit that reaches the wall with the right grip for that side.
- Fouls
- No point for that hit: the frying-pan grip; two forehands or two backhands in a row; picking the shuttle up with the racket
- Win
- Beat your own score from last time. With two children, the best of 3 turns each wins.
- 3
- 6
- 9
10 balloon hits, alternating the two grips, with no drop.
End on one that works. If it was hard today, finish with the easier version.
Well played.
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