Pupils line up at the baseline and doubles sideline to walk and then jog the lines. The pattern is as follows:

• forward along the doubles sideline to the net,
• sidestep across to the singles sideline,
• backward along the singles sideline to the service line,
• sidestep across the service line almost to the T,
• up the center service line to the net,
• sidestep to just across the center service line,
• backward along the center service line to the service line,
• sidestep to the singles sideline,
• up to the net,
• sidestep to the doubles sideline,
• backward along the doubles sideline
• and sidestep across to the center hash mark

Use spots and position parents to help direct children.

Have the children count aloud while doing the following stretches:

• Neck rolls -- roll six times to the left and six times to the right
• Arm swings -- do six rotations forward and six rotations backward with each arm
• Wrist rolls -- do six rotations forward and six backward with both wrists
• Windmill toe touches -- alternate touching right hand to left foot, then left hand to right foot

To practice the service toss, have children toss the ball into the air with the non-dominant hand. While the ball is in the air, they should clap once before catching the ball. Also place a target on the ground the children can aim for.

1. Demonstrate and have the class shadow the underhand toss.

2. Demonstrate the four-step progression starting from the sideways ready position. In this lesson, the full serve will only be demonstrated for the purposes of awareness and future implementation; it will not be practiced.

3. At a fence, demonstrate the first three steps in the progression:

a) Step 1: trap -- Students extend their arms reaching their racquets upward, use an underhand toss and trap the ball against the fence as it reaches its peak.

b) Step 2: tray -- The forearm and palm of the hand are laid back so that the racquet face is in the position of a tray carried above the head of a waitress. The toss is made and trapped against the fence as it reaches its peak.

c) Step 3: V position -- The elbow is high with the racquet hung back from the wrist (almost in back scratch position). The toss is made and trapped against the fence as it reaches its peak.

• Practice the progression at the fence, where the toss is controlled and the ball can be trapped.
• Be sure the parent-coaches understand the first three steps before they begin individual work with the children, including the need for a full arm extension and the correct underhand toss.
• Have pupils practice the first three steps and increase their progression as they are capable of completing each step. If each student does not work through the three steps, you should not let him or her feel disappointed since this lesson will carry over into the next one.

Hang up to five dangling balls on each teaching cable and place spots to correctly position kids. Adjust the ball line to the maximum length, allowing children to hold the ball low and toss it up for the serve. Stress contact point in front of the children as they hit the ball using the style (progression step) each was most successful with in the previous drill against the fence.

A good ratio for this game is one assistant or parent-coach who can control the ball well with four or six students. The coach stands across the small net from a doubles team and pupils take turns using the serve style (progression step) they were most successful with in the above drill. The group plays out each point.

• A parent-coach can keep waiting children occupied at a safe distance and rotate them in to play.
• Spots can help children understand their positions on the court.
• If children are unsuccessful at starting points with serves, have them drop-hit to start.

Choose between the following two games or divide the time between them.

Place up to six small nets on a full-size court. Place one child on each side of the net to play singles points with one parent-coach supervising (umpiring) each court. Play can begin with the coach tossing in the ball to players alternately, by drop-hitting or even serving. The two can play a single point or for 2 out of 3 points, depending on how many children are waiting. Points should be played cooperatively and as consistently as possible. The winner stays on the court and his or her opponent is replaced by another pupil who was waiting at a safe distance. Have no more than four children at one court.

Have enough small courts set up to accommodate all of the children with playing skills, designating one of the courts the highest (mountain top) and one the lowest (base). A parent-coach should supervise each court. Children should be set up for singles, playing for 2 of 3 points or 3 of 5 points. When each court has finished one game, the winners move up one court and their opponents move down one court. Points can be started with coaches tossing in the ball alternately to players, or players can use a drop hit or serve.

Parents should participate in practices with their children, and everyone should warm up before playing:

• No-net tennis -- volleys and groundstrokes with lots of footwork
• Bump-up tennis with and without a bounce, with and without a partner -- go for the "World Record"