Each student has a racquet and a ball in a defined playing area. Remind students to have a flat racquet to ensure the ball bounces straight and not off to the side. Students will practice a set of different racquet skills such as the following; hitting the ball up and down on the racquet. Bouncing the ball on the ground. Racing track (moving the ball around the edge of the racquet). A,B,C - air, bounce, catch. (In place of catch is hit when using a racquet.) Domino's (students stand in a circle and roll the ball onto the next person's racquet.

Modifications

Get the students to count how many they can get in a row and then try and beat that score each time. Get students to come up with some skills of their own to practice.

Special Needs Modifications

Use an orange circle tennis ball as they will bounce slower. The use of a balloon can also be good for hitting up in the air as it is slow moving.

Hand Tennis

The game is played by 2 children - 1 v 1, on a small court with a net or something to divide the two players. The games will be mini, 5-6 steps length and 4-5 steps width.

Play the game using throwing and catching skills.  For students year 3-4 I recomend using a big ball like a netball (easier to catch), for students year 5-8 you can use a tennis ball

Round 1: The aim is for students to work together in their pairs to throw the ball over the net and into their partner's space for them to catch, the ball must bounce before a catch is made as this helps with them moving their feet. If the catch is successful that pair will score a point. The pair with the most points wins that round.

Round 2: The aim is to make the ball bounce twice in your opponents area to score a point, the pair will now be playing against each other. If the ball goes out on the full or is failed to be caught after one bounce in the area, then the person that didn't make the mistake would get the point.

Round 3: The students will now verse someone new.

Keep playing the game keeping track of the points scored.

Remind students: 

•  Aim for space

•  Move quickly

•  Watch the ball

•  Underarm throws

•  Get in line to catch the ball and stop it bouncing

Modifications

Make area bigger or smaller. Use a bigger or smaller ball. Add in over arm throws too.

Special Needs Modifications

Make area smaller without a net to throw over. Use a bigger ball.

Developing the hit

The game is played by 2 children - on a small court with a net or divide. these are small games 5-6 steps length & 4-5 steps width.

Each pair needs one tennis racket and ball between them. One child stands on one side of the court with the racket & ball with their partner on the other side

Round 1: Students will drop the ball for themselves to hit over the net/divide for their partner to catch.(coach will decide type of hit for students to play e.g. forehand, backhand) if the ball is caught on the full or after one bounce that pair get a point. 

Differentiation – Allow the ball to bounce twice, for year 3-5 start them off with hitting a stationary ball of a tee that is mid height or along the floor (if you have older tennis racquets) taking away the divide between the two players and asking the students to stop the ball rather than catch the ball before it goes out.

Round 2: The child with the ball throws (feeds) the ball over the net/divide for their partner with the racket

The aim for the child with the racket is to hit the ball back over the net/divide for their partner to catch

Swap roles after every 5 minutes

Students to focus on:

• Get into position to hit the ball

• Controlled shot back to partner

• Good underarm feed

•  Allow the ball to bounce before it is hit

• Swing the racket back as the ball comes towards you

•  Swing the racket forward to strike the ball

• Speed the racket is swung at effects how hard the ball is hit – experiment with this

Modifications

use the slow bounce tennis ball, make the playing area bigger/smaller

Special Needs Modifications

use the slow bounce tennis ball, make the playing area bigger.

Students pair up and stand on either side of the net. The first student will bounce the ball on the ground and then hit the ball over the net to their partner (air, bounce, hit). Their partner will firstly let the ball bounce, and then hit the ball back to their opponent (air, bounce, hit).

If this is too hard get the students to play "two tap" tennis. As the ball comes over the net the student will let the ball bounce, then with a flat racquet hit the ball in the air allowing the ball to bounce again before returning it over the net (two taps). Students will see how many hits they can get in a row using the two tap method.

Modifications

Students can move further back from the net. Increase or decrease the playing area (sidelines). Take out two tap and only let the ball bounce once before returning.

Special Needs Modifications

Use an orange circle tennis ball as they will bounce slower. The use of a balloon can also be good for hitting up in the air as it is slow moving.