Koosh ball passStand with your child holding your racquets, and with one Koosh ball or
beanbag.Try passing the Koosh ball back and forth from one racquet to the other. After several successful trials, move back so you have to make a gentle toss to get the Koosh ball from one racquet to the other. Add a challenge by tossing the Koosh ball low, high and even adding a creative catch, such as standing on one leg, between the legs, just above the ground, on one knee, etc. Let your child be creative with their catch. |
Bungee JumpHave your child balance a ball on the strings of his racquet. While he is
walking around, have him stop, drop the ball off the racquet, let it bounce and catch the ball back on the racquet. Kids may have to use their hands to trap the ball on the strings, but with practice they can just use the racquet face. |
Roll Ball TennisStanding about 5 feet apart, roll the ball back and forth with your child. Each
player will roll the ball with his or her racquet and stop it before rolling the ball back. See how many rolls and stops you can get in a row. As a variation, use your foot to stop the ball before rolling it back, or change the size of the ball. A larger ball, like a playground or soccer ball, is easier to track and stop. |
One Bounce - Two BounceUsing a playground ball, toss the ball up in the air so your child can catch it
after the bounce. To develop tracking skills, call out one, two or three and have your child catch the ball after the announced number of bounces. Make sure you toss it high enough to give your child time to move and catch, especially when using multiple bounces. |
Throw BallUsing a playground ball and a rope or string as a net, throw the ball back and
forth with your child using two hands and a release from the side. The rotation will be similar as when hitting a forehand and backhand. You can allow multiple bounces if necessary. As your child improves at this activity, throw the ball on either side to create movement before catching the ball. |
Racquet QuicknessStand facing your child, with each of you balancing a racquet so that the head
of the frame is on the ground and the handle is pointing up. At the count of three, switch places so that you catch your child’s racquet and he or she catches yours without letting the racquet fall on the ground. After several successful trials, move back a half step at a time and see how far you can go without letting the racquets drop. |
Ball DropThe parent faces his child and has a ball in both hands and arms extended at
shoulder height. The parent drops one ball, and the child runs and catches the ball after one bounce. Move slightly back after each successful drop, bounce and catch. |
Call My NameThis time the parent has one ball and the child is standing 6 feet in front of
the parent and facing the same direction. (The child’s back is to the parent.) The parent tosses the ball up and calls out the name of the child. The child has to turn around and catch the ball after one bounce. |