✕ Close Setup
Before you start
  • 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.

Setup · 1 minute

Is the space marked?

  • A net line (knee height for beginners)
  • A service box
  • A target square on the wall
  • A baseline

A net; cones marking a zone 1 m inside the baseline; orange or green balls.

Warm up · 3 minutes

Three minutes to get warm.

Easy jogging on the spot, then arms and legs. How to warm up well is explained at workonfitness.com.

3:00
Show it · 1 minute
  1. Feed a wide ball and play it high and cross-court, then run back to the middle.
  2. Feed a middle ball and send it deep into the back zone.
  3. Feed a short, soft ball, step in and hit it into the open court.

Show it once from the front and once from the side, slowly. Then let your child try.

The skill · 15 minutes
  1. Defend: a high, safe ball cross-court and back to the middle.
  2. Build: a long ball into the back zone.
  3. Attack: finish into the open court.
  4. First you call it, then the player calls it before hitting.

How much: 10 balls, 3 sets

Wide ball: high and cross

15:00
The game · 5 minutes

Attack call

The rules

The player shouts "attack" on a short ball and must win the point.

  1. Rally or feed
  2. When a short ball comes, the player shouts "attack" and goes for it
  3. Play the point out
  4. 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
Win
Beat your best from 10 points.
Score
0
  1. 6
  2. 11
  3. 16

5:00
Finish · 2 minutes

8 of 10 calls right; 6 of 10 defending balls landed past the service line.

0/8

End on one that works. If it was hard today, finish with the easier version.

Finished

Well played.

Saved in this browser only. Next time, "What should we practise today?" picks up from here.