- 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 (knee height for beginners)
- A service box
- A target square on the wall
- A baseline
A rope or cones as a net; a soft ball.
Three minutes to get warm.
Easy jogging on the spot, then arms and legs. How to warm up well is explained at workonfitness.com.
- Throw the ball underarm over the rope; the child catches after one bounce.
- Throw to the child's forehand side; the child steps so the ball is beside them, then hits it back.
- Hit gently racket to racket inside a wide channel of cones.
Show it once from the front and once from the side, slowly. Then let your child try.
- Throw and catch over the net.
- You throw; the child hits with the racket, moving the feet so the ball comes to the forehand side.
- Then racket to racket in a wide channel.
How much: 30 hits
Stand sideways, racket back
Keep it going
The rules
Rally over the rope with any number of bounces; count the hits.
- Start with an easy underarm hit
- Hit back and forth inside the channel; any number of bounces
- Count the hits until it stops
- 5 rallies
Fair play: A grown-up plays with one bounce only.
- Points
- 1 point for each hit in the best rally.
- Fouls
- The count stops: the ball goes outside the channel; catching the ball; the ball goes under the rope
- Win
- Beat your best rally.
- 4
- 8
- 15
5 racket-to-racket hits in a row over the net.
End on one that works. If it was hard today, finish with the easier version.
Well played.
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