- 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?
- A net line
- The wide corners of the table
- A target (a paper square) on the far half
A ball; a wall; a line on the wall.
Three minutes to get warm.
Easy jogging on the spot, then arms and legs. How to warm up well is explained at workonfitness.com.
- Stand a step from the wall; hit the ball gently above the line with the forehand, swinging from the elbow.
- Let it bounce once and hit again; then backhand only; then alternate.
- At the table, hit over the books, finishing with the bat face pointing at the spot.
Show it once from the front and once from the side, slowly. Then let your child try.
- Hit against the wall above the line, forehand only.
- Then backhand only.
- Then alternating.
- Then over a row of books on a table, pointing the bat face where you want the ball to go.
How much: 30 hits
Swing from the elbow, finish in front
Over the books
The rules
Play points across a table with a row of books as the net.
- One player drops the ball and hits it over the books to start
- Each hit must bounce once on the other side
- Play to 11 points; swap the starter every 2 points
Fair play: A grown-up plays backhand only.
- Points
- 1 point when the other player misses, hits the books or hits off the table.
- Fouls
- The point goes to the other player: hitting before the ball bounces on your side; touching the table with the free hand; a ball hit off the table on purpose
- Win
- The first to 11 points.
Child
Grown-up
- 4
- 8
- 11
10 hits in a row on a wall or over the books.
End on one that works. If it was hard today, finish with the easier version.
Well played.
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