Pattern poaching
Ready when: Fed volleys (i1) and Triples, then doubles (i4) done.
What you are learning
Poaching: the net player crosses over to cut off a ball meant for the back player, but only on agreed cues, such as when the partner's first serve goes in or when the opponent's back player runs round for a forehand. Going on the cue, not on a guess, is what makes it work.
Words on this card Forehand, Volley, Cross, Receiver, Umpire, Front player, Poach
- Forehand
- Hitting the ball on your racket-hand side, or on the other side.
- Volley
- Hitting the ball before it bounces; a volley from below the net height.
- Cross
- Hitting diagonally, diagonally the other way across the body, or down the line.
- Receiver
- The player returning the serve.
- Umpire
- The person who calls the score and the lines.
- Front player
- In doubles, the partner near the net and the partner at the baseline.
- Poach
- The net player crossing over to cut off a ball meant for their partner.
Show it first for the one teaching
- Agree the cue with the partner: "first serve in".
- Serve; when the first serve goes in, the net player waits until the receiver commits to the shot.
- Then the net player crosses and volleys the return.
Your part while they practise
As partner, serve and say when the first serve goes in.
Step by step
- The net player crosses to cut off the ball only on agreed cues.
- Cue one: the partner's first serve goes in.
- Cue two: the opposing back player runs round to hit a forehand.
- 10 points per cue, then add one.
How much: 10 points per cue 20 min a session 2 days a week
Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.
The game: Poach doubles
A doubles game where a poach that wins the point scores double.
Who plays: 2 pairs; one player umpires by turns.
How to play, turn by turn
- Turns
- Play doubles with the soft tennis scoring
- A point won by a poach on the cue counts as 2 points
- First pair to 7 points
- Fair play
- The umpire says aloud whether the cue was there.
- Points
- 1 point for a normal point; 2 points for a point won by a poach on the cue.
- Fouls
- The point goes to the other pair
- A poach without the cue
- Crossing before the receiver commits
- Both partners going for the same ball
- Winning
- The first pair to 7 points.
- 2 points for 1 star
- 4 points for 2 stars
- 7 points for 3 stars
Easier or harder
One cue only.
The net player chooses the cue.
What you will see, and what to say
- chasing every ball
Only on the cue
Wait for it. - going early
Move as they commit
Then go.
Self-check
5 poaches on cue in one game.
Stop and get a coach when
Always at this level; a club coach sets the patterns.
Fitness for this
Warm up first: how to warm up, at workonfitness.com. For strength and stretching, its exercise library shows each exercise step by step, with an easier version.
This card trains reading, net play, partnership.
awiseathlete.com/sports/soft-tennis/soft-tennis-a1