Five-Day Tennis Curriculum
THURSDAY
MONDAY
Session #1
This curriculum is developed for a five-day tennis camp. Each day consists of three sessions approximately 35-40
minutes in length.
Session #1
The Forehand
Introduction
Introduce your coaching staff to the campers.
Review the “Rules on the court.”
Introduce the forehand.
Drills and Skills Legend
Coach
Ball Hopper
Cone
Continued
Skill #1: Trapping the ball - Practice ball toss
1. Spread the campers out along the fence - each with a
racket and ball.
2. The campers then toss the ball toward the fence at the
one o’clock position.
3. The campers then trap the ball against the fence with the
racket.
4. Be sure the campers have full extention with the racket
when trapping the ball.
Skill #2: Practice Serving
Camper X
1. Line the campers up in two lines on the service line.
2. Have each player serve two balls and change lines.
3. Set up targets for the campers to aim at.
4. Have a reward of some sort for hitting the target.
Rules on the court:
1. Always give encouragement to other players.
2. Be safe and handle equipment with care.
3. Listen to and obey your coaches at all times.
4. Never say “I can’t”.
5. Play hard and play fair.
6. Have fun!
x x x
x x x
Forehand Technique:
1. Demonstrate the proper grip.
2. Review the ready position.
3. Take the racket back.
4. Step with left foot.
5. Swing low to high.
6. Finish high on opposite shoulder.
Session #2
Introduction
Overhead Technique
Drill
Divide the group/“court
Divide the campers into groups
according to age and ability level. Have the campers line up on half of
the court in “court lines” as shown
above. With larger groups you will
continued on page 2
The Overhead
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
1
x
x
x
x
1. Place your left foot in front.
2. The racket is placed in the back scratching position.
3. The left hand points at the ball in the air.
4. The racket contacts the ball at the one o’clock position.
5. Follow through on the left side of your body.
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THURSDAY
MONDAY
Session #2
Continued
(continued from page 1)
need to use more than one court. This is the position
campers will take for instruction. Next explain the
“listening position” (hugging the racket with both arms
while the racket is held against the body). When the
campers are on the court lines and in the listening
position they are ready for instruction.
.........
x
x
x x x
Skill #1: Tracking the Ball (No racket)
Skill #3: Overhead Practice
1. Form a line on the side of the court.
2. The first campers starts at the net strap.
3. The camper touches the net with his racket and shuffles
backward with the racket in position.
4. The coach tosses a ball and the camper hits an overhead
and quickly runs back to the net.
5. The camper taps the net with his racket.
6. The coach tosses a second ball and the camper hits an
overhead at the net and returns to the end of the line.
1. Break campers into partners
one on each side of the net.
2. One camper has a ball and
tosses it to his partner (the ball
can bounce).
3. After the ball is caught each
partner takes one step backward. If the ball is dropped the campers
return to the net and start again.
4. Objective: Both players reach the
baseline
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
Session #2 The Forehand - Practice
Game #1: Defender
1. Two campers begin on one side of the court at the net and
two others on the other side at the baseline.
2. The coach hits a ball high into the air to the team at the
net.
3. Both teams then play out the point.
4. If the team at the net wins, they stay on the court to defend
their title.
5. If the team on the baseline wins, theyrun to the net side
while the coach hits ahigh ball over the net.
6. Two new player rotate in each point.
x
x x x x
x
x x x x
12
Skill #2: Practice Hitting the Forehand
1. Form two lines at the service line.
2. The coach feeds campers two
balls. The campers hit the balls and
then switch lines.
3. The coach moves to the baseline
after the campers have caught on.
4. Have a contest between courts
- 1 point for each ball in the court.
5. Objective: First court to reach 15 points wins.
2
THURSDAY
MONDAY
Session #2 Continued
Session #3
Game #1: Twenty-one
3 points
Triple
1 pt
1 pt
x x
x x x
1. Form one line at the baseline 2. Campers drop hit the ball.
1 point - service box 2 points - backcourt
Session #3
Double
2 pts
Game Time
3 points - alley
Game Time
Game #2: Ice Cream Cone
Catch
1. Form one line at the baseline
at the “T.” Each court has one
x x x
cone.
2. Coach is at the net post with
a hopper of balls. He tosses a ball to the first camper.
3. The camper catches the ball with the cone and returns it to the
hopper and runs to give the cone to the next camper in line.
4. Objective: First court to 15 wins.
5. Move the campers to the right corner and then to the left to vary
the angle of approach.
x x
single
x x x x
x x x
single
x x x x
Game #2 Tennis Baseball
1. Divide into two teams - one batting and the other on defense
spread out on the court.
2. The coach tosses a pitch to the first batter who tries to hit it
over the net within the court boundries.
3. A ball caught in the air by the defense is an out.
4. The batter gets three tries to hit a fair ball. If he fails, he is
out.
5. A ball that drops in the: • service box = single • backcourt = double
• alley = triple. 6. Batters run the bases. Baserunners must be forced to
advance. 7. Teams switch after three outs. Game #3: Racket Relay
1. This game is played court vs. court.
2. Form one line at the baseline with racket.
3. The first camper in line balances the ball on the racket, runs
to the net, touches the net, and returns to the line. The camper
gives the racket and the ball to the next person in line and sits
down at the end of the line.
4. Objective: The first team with all players sitting wins the
game.
3
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Five-Day Tennis Curriculum
Five-Day Tennis Curriculum
FRIDAY
TUESDAY
Game Day
Friday is a game day. Choose from the following games
to fill up each of the three scheduled sessions.
Game #1: Popcorn
1. The coach tosses (one) ball into the air and the first camper in
line tries to hit the ball over the net. The ball can bounce many
times and the camper can do anything to get it over the net.
2. The camper returns to the end of the line and awaits his
next turn.
3. The coach tosses one ball to each camper in line until
everyone has had a chance at one ball.
4. The number of balls the coach tosses keeps increasing. When the camper gets to the front of the line he tells the coach
what level he is at.
5. Objective: Get to the highest level (6 balls is the record).
Game #2: Jail
Session #1
Backhand
Introduction
• Begin the session with stretching exercises
• Review the “Rules on the court”
• Review the forehand
Backhand Technique:
1. Review grip
2. Ready position
3. Taking the racket back
4. Step with right foot
5. Swing low to high
6. Racket to opposite shoulder
Skill #1: Backhand practice
1. Form two lines on the service
line.
2. Coach tosses two balls to
each camper.
3. Campers hit the balls and
switch lines.
x x x
1. The campers form a line at the baseline.
2. The coach tosses one ball to the first camper in line who tries
to hit it over the net into the court.
3. If the camper hits the ball in, he returns to the end of the
line.
4. If the camper does not hit the ball in, he goes to jail on the
other side of the net. 14
x x x
x x x
Game #1: Court Competition
1. Use the same alignment as Skill #1.
2. Coach tosses one ball to each camper.
3. 1 point for every backhand into the court.
4. First court to 15 points wins.
4
TUESDAY
FRIDAY
Session #2
Backhand practice
Session #3 Continued
Skill #2: Backhand placement - Twenty One
Game #2: Jail Continued
5. In order to get out of jail a camper must catch a ball
in the air.
6. Objective: Stay out of jail.
3 points
1 pt
x x x
2 pts
Jail
1 pt
1. Form one line on the baseline.
2. Coach tosses the first camper one ball.
3. Camper attempts to hit the ball into the court.
1 point - service box
2 points - back court
3 points - alley
4. First court to twenty-one wins.
x x x
Game #3: Add a player
Game #2: King/Queen of the Court
1. One camper is the king/queen of the court and is stationed
alone on one side of the net.
2. Boundaries are set in the service box areas.
3. All other campers form a line at the service box “T”.
4. The coach tosses a ball into play.
5. King/queen plays a point with the opposing camper.
6. If the king/queen wins they stay on the court.
7. If the opposing camper wins they assume the king/queen
position.
8. Objective: To remain king/queen as long as possible.
X
x
x
x
1. Divide the campers into two teams A & B.
2. The first players from A & B play a point.
3. If team A wins the point they get to add a player to their
side. It is now 2 on 1.
4. Team A continues to add a player as long as it keeps
winning.
5. When team B wins a point all the players from team A must
return to line and team B adds a player.
6. Objective: to get all your players on the court. Team A
x x x
x x x
Team B
x x x
5
15
TUESDAY
FRIDAY
Session #3 Continued
Session #3
Game #3: Tennis Volleyball
(play until the ball rolls)
Game #4: Play it until it rolls
See Session #3 Game #3 on Tuesday for a
description of this game.
Game #5: King of the Court
See Session #2 Game #2 on Tuesday for a description of this
game.
Game #6: Mini Tennis
See Session #3 Game #2 on Wednesday for a description
of this game.
Game #7: Around the World
1. Seperate the campers into two groups, one on each side
of the court.
2. The coach tosses a ball to one side.
3. The first camper in line hits the ball over the net and runs to
the end of the line on the other side of the court.
4. The camper on the other side hits the same ball back over
the net and runs to get in line on the other side of the court.
5. The point is continued until someone makes a mistake. A
mistake = an out.
6. Each player keeps track of his outs. When he reaches three
he leaves the court
7. Objective: To be the last one on the court. x x x
Game Time
1. Group game - put all campers on one court
2. Put half of the campers on one side of the net and half on
the other side.
3. Coach tosses a ball into the air to start.
4. The players on one side of the net can hit the ball as many
times as needed to get it back over the net - there are no
boundaries.
5. The ball may bounce many times as long as it does not
roll.
6. One player cannot hit the ball twice in a row.
7. The point is over when the ball rolls. x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x x x
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Five-Day Tennis Curriculum
NOTES
WEDNESDAY
Session #1
Forehand / Backhand Volley
Introduction
• Begin session with stretching exercises.
• Review the “Rules of on the court”.
• Review forehand, backhand, eyes on ball.
“Eyes on the Ball” - Tell the players that the most important
thing in tennis is to “watch the ball.” Have the players repeat
after your question. What is the most important thing in tennis? WATCH THE BALL! Then have the campers line up on the
baseline shoulder to shoulder. The coach has a ball in his hand
and wherever the coach moves the ball the players must shuffle
in that direction.
Volley Technique
1. Review the grip. 2. Turn the racket with left hand.
3. Keep your wrist firm.
4. Step with left foot.
5. Punch the racket, no swinging. “Push the furniture”.
6. Same routine for backhand, just switch to the right foot.
Skill #1: Volley Practice
1. Form two lines at the
service line.
2. Have the deuce side hit
forehand volleys.
3. Have the add side hit
backhand volleys.
4. The coach tosses two ball
to each camper.
5. The campers switch lines after hitting.
x x x
x x x
Backhand
7
NOTES
WEDNESDAY
Session #1 Continued
Game #1: Court Competition
1. Use the same alignment as Skill #1.
2. The coach tosses one ball to each camper.
3. Score one point for each volley in the court.
4. First court to 15 points wins.
Session #2
Volley Practice
Skill #2 Continuous Volley
1. Form one line at the service line.
2. The coach hits one ball to first camper.
3. The camper hits a volley back to the coach and returns to
the end of the line.
4. The next camper jumps in and tries to keep the rally going. Keep the volley going until a mistake is made.
x x x
Split Step Technique
1. The campers form a line on the baseline.
2. The campers run toward the net with their racket in front
of their body.
3. The campers take a short hop with their feet shoulder
width apart.
4. The campers end up in the ready position - ready to
volley.
8
WEDNESDAY
NOTES
Session #2 Continued
Skill #3: Put it all Together
x
x
x x x
1. The campers form one line at the baseline.
2. The coach tosses a ball to the campers forehand side.
3. The campers hits a forehand and runs toward the net.
4. The camper makes a split step at the service line.
5. The coach then tosses a ball to the camper’s forehand side
to hit a forehand volley.
6. Objective: To hit both the forehand and forehand volley into
the court.
7. After the players have mastered this move to the backhand
side.
Session #3
Game Time
Game #2: Mini-Tennis (Four Square)
1. Form a line off of the court.
2. Place one camper in each service
box.
2
3
3. The coach tosses the ball to the
camper in box #4.
1
4
4. That camper must hit the ball over
the net to either camper 1 or 2.
x x x
5. The boundries are the four service
boxes.
6. Play continues until the ball goes into the net or out of play.
7. The camper who misses returns to the line.
8. The empty box is filled by the player in the box number below
them.
9. The new camper goes in to box #4.
10. Objective: to get to box #1. 9
NOTES
Five-Day Tennis Curriculum
THURSDAY
Session #1
The Serve
Introduction
• Begin the session with stretching exercises
• Review “Rules on the court”
• Review forehand, backhand and volley
• Learn the areas of the court
Areas of the court
The coach should point out the following areas and lines of
the court to the campers: baseline, service line, “T”, singles
line, doubles line, back court, alley, deuce side, add side, and
service box. After the campers know the areas and lines,
the coach calls out an area and the campers run to it.
Service Technique
1. Place the left foot in front with the left shoulder facing the
net.
2. The starting position has the ball and racket together in front
of the body.
3. Take the ball and racket down together.
4. Take the ball and racket up together.
5. Drop the racket behind your back (back scratching position)
as you toss the ball up in front of you at the one o’clock
position.
6. Reach up with the racket at full extention.
7. Shift your weight from the right foot to the left.
8. Follow through on the left side of your body.
10