Defend, build, attack
Ready when: Rally consistency and direction (i1) started.
What you are learning
Choosing the right shot for each ball. A wide ball means defend: a high, safe shot cross-court and back to the middle. A middle ball means build: a long ball deep. A short, soft ball means attack: hit into the open court.
Words on this card Red, Mini court, Baseline, Rally, Cross-court, Deep, Defend, Recovery, Set
- Red
- The stages of tennis balls, from the slowest and softest to the normal ball, each with its own court size.
- Mini court
- A small court for young children, about 11 m by 5.5 m.
- Baseline
- The back line of the court, the line that ends the service boxes, and the box the serve must land in.
- Rally
- Hitting the ball back and forth.
- Cross-court
- Hitting diagonally across the court, or straight along the side.
- 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.
- Recovery
- Getting back to the middle after each shot.
- Set
- A group of games; a format where everyone plays everyone.
Set up
A net; cones marking a zone 1 m inside the baseline; orange or green balls.
Weather: dry ground
Show it first for the one teaching
- Feed a wide ball and play it high and cross-court, then run back to the middle.
- Feed a middle ball and send it deep into the back zone.
- Feed a short, soft ball, step in and hit it into the open court.
Your part while they practise
Feed the ball wide (defend), to the middle (build) or short and soft (attack); later only watch and confirm the call.
Step by step
- Defend: a high, safe ball cross-court and back to the middle.
- Build: a long ball into the back zone.
- Attack: finish into the open court.
- First you call it, then the player calls it before hitting.
How much: 10 balls, 3 sets 15 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: Attack call
The player shouts "attack" on a short ball and must win the point.
Who plays: the player and a feeder, or 2 players rallying.
How to play, turn by turn
- Turns
- Rally or feed
- When a short ball comes, the player shouts "attack" and goes for it
- Play the point out
- 10 points
- Fair play
- A grown-up must call every ball aloud.
- Points
- 2 points for a right "attack" call that wins the point; 1 point for a right defend or build ball.
- Fouls
- Minus 1 point
- Calling "attack" on a ball that was not short
- Hitting a wide ball hard instead of defending
- Staying out wide after the shot
- Winning
- Beat your best from 10 points.
- 6 points for 1 star
- 11 points for 2 stars
- 16 points for 3 stars
Easier or harder
Defend and attack only.
Rally with a partner instead of a feed.
What you will see, and what to say
- a wide ball is hit hard
Wide ball: high and cross
Safe first. - the player stays out wide
Back to the middle
Recover.
Self-check
8 of 10 calls right; 6 of 10 defending balls landed past the service line.
Stop and get a coach when
The player wants match plans built on it (i3).
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 the situation, shot choice, recovery.
awiseathlete.com/sports/tennis/tennis-i4