First Practice Fundamentals Tennis Practice Plan

Tennis·Elementary·Beginner·60 min·Skill Development·PassingTeam Communication

By the Practice Plan App Coaching Team · Published November 2026

1.Day-One Setup (So You’re Not Chasing Balls)
2.What You’re Teaching Today
3.Court Management Notes
4.The 60-Minute Practice Plan
5.What You'll Need
6.Run The Key Period: Partner Rally Ladders
7.Common Breakdowns And Exactly What To Do
8.Real-World Adjustments (Numbers, Space, And Equipment)
9.What To Do Next Practice
10.Frequently Asked Questions

Practice context: Tennis · youth · 60 minutes · Goal: get every player holding the racket correctly, finding a ready position, and rallying a few balls with a partner.

Day-One Setup (So You’re Not Chasing Balls)#

This is a first-practice script for younger kids who are brand new. The win today is organization: clear start/stop signals, short lines, and lots of touches. Plan on using the service boxes and shorter distances so they can succeed early and you can coach technique without kids getting frustrated.

Stop signal: when you say “Freeze,” players stop and hold their finish like a statue. If anyone keeps swinging, everyone does 3 “statue freezes” before the next rep.
Ball rule: balls stay in pockets or in a basket until you say “Go.” If a ball rolls, nearest player traps it with their foot and holds it—no chasing.
Spacing rule: rackets stay below shoulders unless you’re in your hitting spot. Kids swing high when they’re excited—own this from minute one.

What You’re Teaching Today#

We’re keeping it to four pieces:

Grip: “Handshake” grip for forehand, then show a basic two-hand backhand hold (top hand helps steer).
Ready position: split step/athletic stance with the racket in front like you’re “holding a tray.”
Forehand/backhand shape: short swing, contact in front, finish up.
Rally behavior: hit it to a partner, recover to ready, and try to keep it going.

Court Management Notes#

Use mini-tennis in the service boxes first. If you have more than one court, mirror the same stations on each court so you can move between groups. If you only have one court, run two groups on each half (deuce box and ad box) and keep feeds controlled (drop-hit or gentle underhand toss).

The 60-Minute Practice Plan#

9-period beginner elementary practice · 60 min

0:00–0:06

Welcome, Safety, Court Rules

▾

Bring players to the net in a half-circle with rackets down by their knees. Keep a ball basket behind you so nobody grabs balls early.

Coach script: “When I say Freeze, you stop and hold still.” “Rackets stay low unless you’re in your hitting spot.” “If a ball rolls away, trap it—no chasing.”
Watch for: eyes on coach and players copying the freeze signal quickly.
Common issue: kids start swinging while you talk. Fix: stop, demonstrate ‘racket on the ground’ position, and restart your sentence only when every racket is down.

End by assigning partners (or numbers) so you can transition fast into the first skill block.

0:06–0:14

Dynamic Warm-Up With Ready Position

▾

Use the doubles sideline as your running lane. Put 4 cones spaced out for: jog, side shuffle, high knees, and backpedal.

After each movement, call “Ready!” and they snap into athletic stance: feet wider than shoulders, knees bent, racket in front.

Cues: “Quiet feet, athletic knees.” “Racket in front like a tray.” “Freeze your ready when I say stop.”
Watch for: racket head up and hands in front of the belly button, not hanging by the side.
Adjustment: if they’re wiggly, make it a game—last one to hit ready does 2 quick hops and resets.

0:14–0:24

Grip Check and Shadow Swings

▾

Players spread out on the baseline with at least an arm-and-racket length between them. No balls yet—this is about safe spacing and shape.

Teach forehand “handshake” grip first. Then show a basic two-hand backhand: bottom hand stays, top hand goes above it and helps steer.

How it runs: on your count, they do 3 forehand shadows (turn, swing, freeze finish), then 3 backhand shadows. You walk the line and physically point to the correct hand position (no grabbing the racket for them unless needed).
Cues: “Turn sideways.” “Contact in front.” “Finish up—freeze.”
Common issue: panhandle grip (palm behind the strings) makes the face open. Fix: have them show the strings to the ground, then rotate to a handshake and re-freeze.

Quick add-on: 10 seconds of “split step” hops, then freeze in ready.

0:24–0:34

Forehand Drop-Hit to Targets

▾

Set two lanes inside each service box using cones. Put 3–4 flat discs on the opposite side as big targets (middle and crosscourt).

Players self drop-hit: drop the ball in front, let it bounce once, then swing and freeze the finish. After the hit, they recover to ready behind their disc.

Watch for: contact happening in front of the lead foot, not beside the hip.
Cues: “Drop in front.” “Hit by your front foot.” “Finish high, show me your strings.”
Common issue: kids rush the drop and hit while it’s falling. Fix: make them say “bounce” out loud before they’re allowed to swing.

Adjustment: if they’re missing, move them closer to the net; if they’re cruising, require they land the ball on a specific disc.

0:34–0:37

Water Break and Quick Reset

▾

Water at the fence. While they drink, you move discs for the backhand lanes.

Keep it short and specific: ask two players to demonstrate the ready position and one forehand finish.

Coach script: “When we come back: same drop-hit, now backhands. Two hands stay on the racket.”

0:37–0:46

Backhand Drop-Hit and Catch Finish

▾

Same lanes as forehand, but start closer (near the service line) so the backhand feels manageable. Discs go straight ahead as targets.

Players do a two-hand backhand drop-hit. After they swing, they must “catch the finish” by freezing with the racket up and both hands still on it.

Cues: “Turn your shoulders.” “Two hands through.” “Freeze and catch your finish.”
Watch for: shoulders turning sideways before the swing starts.
Common issue: they let go with the top hand and slap. Fix: stop the lane, have everyone do 3 slow-motion backhands with both hands glued on, then restart.

0:46–0:56

Partner Mini-Rally Ladders

▾

Pairs in the service boxes, one pair per half-box if possible. Start with one player feeding underhand after one bounce, then switch to drop-hit rallies if feeds are too wild.

How it runs: pairs try to reach a ladder: 3 in a row, then 5, then 7. When they miss, they go back one step on the ladder and restart counting from 0.
Cues: “Hit it so they can catch it.” “Soft hands, smooth swing.” “Hit, then ready.”
Watch for: after contact, they recover to ready before the partner hits.
Adjustment: if rallies die fast, allow the receiver to catch after one bounce and toss it back—keep the rhythm and spacing.

0:56–1:00

Rally Game: King/Queen of the Box

▾

Use one service box as the court. Two players rally mini-tennis; everyone else lines up as challengers with a ball.

Start each point with a drop-hit to keep it controlled. Play to 3 points, then rotate: winner stays, challenger comes in.

Coach job: keep the line moving—if a rally ends in one hit, replay the point and remind them: “Give them a ball they can hit back.”
Watch for: players aiming into the box instead of swinging harder.

1:00–1:00

Cool-Down and Day-One Recap

▾

Time	Period	Coaching Notes
0:00–0:06	Welcome, Safety, Court Rules	Bring players to the net in a half-circle with rackets down by their knees. Keep a ball basket behind you so nobody grabs balls early. Coach script: “When I say Freeze, you stop and hold still.” “Rackets stay low unless you’re in your hitting spot.” “If a ball rolls away, trap it—no chasing.” Watch for: eyes on coach and players copying the freeze signal quickly. Common issue: kids start swinging while you talk. Fix: stop, demonstrate ‘racket on the ground’ position, and restart your sentence only when every racket is down. End by assigning partners (or numbers) so you can transition fast into the first skill block.
0:06–0:14	Dynamic Warm-Up With Ready Position	Use the doubles sideline as your running lane. Put 4 cones spaced out for: jog, side shuffle, high knees, and backpedal. After each movement, call “Ready!” and they snap into athletic stance: feet wider than shoulders, knees bent, racket in front. Cues: “Quiet feet, athletic knees.” “Racket in front like a tray.” “Freeze your ready when I say stop.” Watch for: racket head up and hands in front of the belly button, not hanging by the side. Adjustment: if they’re wiggly, make it a game—last one to hit ready does 2 quick hops and resets.
0:14–0:24	Grip Check and Shadow Swings	Players spread out on the baseline with at least an arm-and-racket length between them. No balls yet—this is about safe spacing and shape. Teach forehand “handshake” grip first. Then show a basic two-hand backhand: bottom hand stays, top hand goes above it and helps steer. How it runs: on your count, they do 3 forehand shadows (turn, swing, freeze finish), then 3 backhand shadows. You walk the line and physically point to the correct hand position (no grabbing the racket for them unless needed). Cues: “Turn sideways.” “Contact in front.” “Finish up—freeze.” Common issue: panhandle grip (palm behind the strings) makes the face open. Fix: have them show the strings to the ground, then rotate to a handshake and re-freeze. Quick add-on: 10 seconds of “split step” hops, then freeze in ready.
0:24–0:34	Forehand Drop-Hit to Targets	Set two lanes inside each service box using cones. Put 3–4 flat discs on the opposite side as big targets (middle and crosscourt). Players self drop-hit: drop the ball in front, let it bounce once, then swing and freeze the finish. After the hit, they recover to ready behind their disc. Watch for: contact happening in front of the lead foot, not beside the hip. Cues: “Drop in front.” “Hit by your front foot.” “Finish high, show me your strings.” Common issue: kids rush the drop and hit while it’s falling. Fix: make them say “bounce” out loud before they’re allowed to swing. Adjustment: if they’re missing, move them closer to the net; if they’re cruising, require they land the ball on a specific disc.
0:34–0:37	Water Break and Quick Reset	Water at the fence. While they drink, you move discs for the backhand lanes. Keep it short and specific: ask two players to demonstrate the ready position and one forehand finish. Coach script: “When we come back: same drop-hit, now backhands. Two hands stay on the racket.”
0:37–0:46	Backhand Drop-Hit and Catch Finish	Same lanes as forehand, but start closer (near the service line) so the backhand feels manageable. Discs go straight ahead as targets. Players do a two-hand backhand drop-hit. After they swing, they must “catch the finish” by freezing with the racket up and both hands still on it. Cues: “Turn your shoulders.” “Two hands through.” “Freeze and catch your finish.” Watch for: shoulders turning sideways before the swing starts. Common issue: they let go with the top hand and slap. Fix: stop the lane, have everyone do 3 slow-motion backhands with both hands glued on, then restart.
0:46–0:56	Partner Mini-Rally Ladders	Pairs in the service boxes, one pair per half-box if possible. Start with one player feeding underhand after one bounce, then switch to drop-hit rallies if feeds are too wild. How it runs: pairs try to reach a ladder: 3 in a row, then 5, then 7. When they miss, they go back one step on the ladder and restart counting from 0. Cues: “Hit it so they can catch it.” “Soft hands, smooth swing.” “Hit, then ready.” Watch for: after contact, they recover to ready before the partner hits. Adjustment: if rallies die fast, allow the receiver to catch after one bounce and toss it back—keep the rhythm and spacing.
0:56–1:00	Rally Game: King/Queen of the Box	Use one service box as the court. Two players rally mini-tennis; everyone else lines up as challengers with a ball. Start each point with a drop-hit to keep it controlled. Play to 3 points, then rotate: winner stays, challenger comes in. Coach job: keep the line moving—if a rally ends in one hit, replay the point and remind them: “Give them a ball they can hit back.” Watch for: players aiming into the box instead of swinging harder.
1:00–1:00	Cool-Down and Day-One Recap

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What You'll Need#

Tennis balls (36–60, depending on group size)
Ball basket or hopper (1–2)
Flat agility discs (12–20) for contact/target spots
Cones (8–12) to mark lanes and boundaries
Mini-net or court tape (optional, for smaller kids)
Stopwatch/phone timer and whistle

Run The Key Period: Partner Rally Ladders#

The rally period is the whole point of day one: kids need to feel a “real” exchange. Keep it in the service boxes and start with drop-hit (self drop) before you allow live feeds. Your job is to keep the ball speed low and the reps high.

Set the target: tell pairs, “Your job is to hit it so your partner can catch it on the bounce.” That cue fixes pace and direction instantly.
Use a loud count: partners count out loud: “1, 2, 3…” If the count stops, they restart at 0. You’ll hear who is actually rallying.
Coach one fix at a time: pick either contact in front or ready position recovery for that round. Too many corrections kills the rally.
Rotation: every 90 seconds, call “Switch jobs” (feeder becomes hitter, or forehands become backhands). Kids drift—your timer keeps the energy up.

Common Breakdowns And Exactly What To Do#

Breakdown: kids swing like baseball and miss. Why: they’re trying to hit hard. Coach action: walk in, stand 6–8 feet away, and have them tap the ball to your strings 5 times in a row. Then back them up one step at a time.
Breakdown: contact is beside/behind the body. Why: they wait for the ball. Coach action: put a flat cone “contact spot” in front of their lead foot and say, “Hit it by the cone.” If they hit late, physically move the cone farther forward.
Breakdown: no ready position—racket drops, feet stop. Why: they watch the ball like a show. Coach action: make it a rule: after every hit, they must “touch the throat of the racket” with their non-dominant hand and show you the racket in front before the next ball counts.
Breakdown: backhand turns into a slap. Why: two hands feel awkward. Coach action: do 5 shadow swings where the top hand pulls the racket through and they freeze the finish with both elbows up (no one-handed finishes today).

Real-World Adjustments (Numbers, Space, And Equipment)#

Small group (around 6–8): go mostly partner-based. One basket at the net, partners self-drop and rally. You can coach every kid quickly—keep the pace moving with 60–90 second rounds.
Medium group (around 10–14): use two boxes per half-court. While one pair rallies, the next pair is “catch-and-toss” behind them (no standing still). Rotate on your whistle.
Large group (15–20+): station it: (1) grip/ready shadow lane, (2) forehand drop-hit lane, (3) backhand drop-hit lane, (4) mini-rally lane. Keep lines to 3–4 kids max; if a line grows, split the station in half with extra cones.
Only a few balls: run “one-ball tennis” per pair. One ball forces control and cuts chaos. Everyone else shadow-swings while waiting for their turn.
One court only: live in the service boxes. Do not start at the baseline on day one—too many misses and too much chasing.
A player can’t hit yet: they stay in the rally game as the “catcher” first (catch after one bounce, then underhand toss to partner). After 5 good tosses, they try 5 drop-hits.

What To Do Next Practice#

Next time, protect the same start (grip + ready) and add one new piece: a basic underhand serve/serve-start rally from the service line. The first thing that will break down is spacing—kids will creep too close—so keep your “contact cone” trick and keep rallies inside the service boxes until they can control direction.

Frequently Asked Questions#

What if I only have one court and a big group?▾

Stay in the service boxes and run two lanes on each half (deuce box and ad box). Put a rally pair in front and a catch-and-toss pair behind them so nobody is standing still. Rotate every 60–90 seconds on a whistle.

How do you keep kids from chasing balls nonstop?▾

Make a ball rule: nearest player traps the rolling ball with their foot and holds it. Everyone else freezes. Restart with a controlled feed (drop-hit or underhand toss) so the next 3–5 reps stay on the court.

Some kids can’t rally at all—what do they do instead of sitting out?▾

They play as the catcher first: catch after one bounce, then underhand toss to the partner’s strike zone. After 5 good tosses, they switch to 5 drop-hits. They’re still part of the rally game and learning spacing and ready position.

How many swings should each kid get in 60 minutes?▾

If you keep everything in the service boxes with short lines, most kids should get 60–100 controlled contacts (drop-hits, gentle feeds, and mini-rallies). If you see long lines, split the station immediately.

What’s the fastest way to teach grip without a long lecture?▾

Do it with a check: walk the line and give a thumbs-up only when the player shows you a forehand handshake grip and then a two-hand backhand hold. Anyone not ready does 3 shadow swings next to you, then re-joins.