The coach’s racquet is a huge magnet and the children are attracted to it. They must follow its path going right, left, forward, backward, up and down.

Spread the children a safe distance apart or place them at pre-positioned spots for the following stretches:

• Windmills -- alternate reaching the right hand to the left foot and the left hand to the right foot
• Reach for the sky and down to your toes
• Ready, set, stretch -- in a starter’s block position, first with the right leg extended, then the left

Form two or more single-file lines (instructors and parent-coaches can mix in) and use a large rubber ball or beach ball, passing it backward from player to player:

• Over the head
• Between the legs
• Alternating the pass from over-the-head to through-the-legs

Set up a line of spots starting near the net or target (e.g., hula hoops, inflatable targets) and moving straight back. Have one child at a time start on the spot closest to the target and toss or throw at it. When the child hits the target, he or she moves one spot back for the next throw. When unsuccessful, the child moves one step forward (unless already at the first position).

Use the same targets as the previous throwing drill. Set up tees for groundstrokes or have coaches toss balls for volleys. Give the children a specific number of chances to hit the target, changing the target (from close up to far away) according to their success.

After a few minutes of practice, divide the children into teams and do relay races counting the number of target hits by each team. Parent-coaches can move the targets appropriately.

When children can keep a balloon or beach ball in the air with their hands, let them try it with a racquet. As they have done with their hands, have them try to:

1. Keep it afloat by themselves

2. Keep it afloat with a coach

Review the lesson and have the children use their imaginations and practice motor skills. Simon may ask them to:

• Go to a specific line on the court and then back to their spots
• Pick up their racquets by a particular part, such as the throat, grip or strings
• Shadow swing a forehand
• Pass the racquet around their legs or waist
• Use the racquet as a guitar, spoon, canoe paddle or saw
• Jump three times in place

Have the child work with a parent or sibling to practice the following:

• Catch or trap a ball after it bounces
• Catch a ball in the air
• Toss up a beach ball and catch it after the bounce
• Toss up a beach ball or balloon and catch it in the air
• Toss a ball with two hands underhand to the parent