- 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 tub or paper targets on the far half.
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 behind the end line; rest the ball on an open, flat hand where the other player can see it.
- Toss it straight up, let it fall, and hit it so it bounces on your side, then on theirs.
- Play a few points and call the score, swapping the serve every 2 points.
Show it once from the front and once from the side, slowly. Then let your child try.
- A legal serve: from behind the end line, the ball visible, tossed up, bouncing on your own side first.
- Serve to paper targets; the child chooses the size.
- Play a game to 11, two serves each, two clear points at 10 all.
How much: 20 serves and 1 game
Toss it up and let it fall
Serve and third ball
The rules
Serve, the partner pushes it back, then attack the third ball; score from 20 tries.
- The server serves
- The partner pushes the ball back gently
- The server attacks it with a drive onto the table
- 20 serves each
Fair play: A grown-up serves backhand only.
- Points
- 1 point for a legal serve; 2 points for a third-ball attack that lands on the table.
- Fouls
- No points for that try: the ball dropped, not tossed up; serving from over the end line; the serve skips your own side
- Win
- More points after 20 serves each.
- 25
- 40
- 52
6 of 10 serves land on the target.
End on one that works. If it was hard today, finish with the easier version.
Well played.
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