Read the bounce, find the rhythm
Ready when: Racket and ball control games (b1) started.
What you are learning
Judging where the ball will bounce and when to hit it. Saying "bounce" when it lands and "hit" when you hit builds the rhythm every rally needs.
Words on this card Rally, Deep, Defend
- Rally
- Hitting the ball back and forth.
- Deep
- A ball that lands near the baseline, or one that lands near the net.
- Defend
- A safe, high ball when under pressure; a steady deep ball; going for a winner on a short ball.
Set up
A soft ball; a racket; a hoop or a chalk circle.
Weather: dry ground
Show it first for the one teaching
- Throw the ball with one bounce; catch it as it falls after the bounce.
- Before the next throw, put the hoop where you think it will land.
- In a short rally, say "bounce" at the bounce and "hit" at the hit.
Your part while they practise
Throw the ball with one bounce.
Step by step
- Catch the throw after the bounce, first as it falls, then at the top.
- Put the hoop where the ball will land before the throw.
- A short rally, saying "bounce" at the bounce and "hit" at the hit.
How much: 10 throws and 2 rallies 10 min a session 3 days a week
Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.
The game: Where will it land?
The child places the hoop; you throw; a point for each bounce inside the hoop.
Who plays: the child against you; swap roles.
How to play, turn by turn
- Turns
- Stand 4 m apart
- Say how you will throw: "high", "low" or "fast"
- The child places the hoop, then you throw
- 10 throws, then swap
- Fair play
- A grown-up places the hoop before hearing the throw.
- Points
- 1 point for each bounce inside the hoop; 1 more point for catching it after the bounce.
- Fouls
- No points
- Moving the hoop after the throw
- Standing right under the bounce to catch
- Catching before the bounce
- Winning
- More points after 10 throws each.
- 6 points for 1 star
- 11 points for 2 stars
- 16 points for 3 stars
Easier or harder
A big soft ball, always falling.
Catch at the top; a faster throw.
What you will see, and what to say
- the child stands under the bounce
Stay behind where it lands
Step back. - the call comes after the hit
Say bounce when it lands
Bounce, then hit.
Self-check
7 of 10 catches where you asked; 10 rally hits with the calls on time.
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 judging the bounce, timing, rhythm.
Basic is done when the child meets the self-checks on b1 to b5.
awiseathlete.com/sports/tennis/tennis-b5