In the first lesson, I focus on building comfort and confidence. We start with a quick warm-up and then assess the studentās current athletic ability and coordination. I introduce basic grips, stance, and simple hand-eye coordination drills like drop and hit or shadow swings. The goal is to keep it fun, engaging, and positive while laying a solid foundation.
Now the player is ready to play full matches. We shift to match play strategy, decision-making, and improving mental toughness. Serve variations, return of serve, and patterns of play are introduced. We build tactical awareness through situational games and weekly match simulations. The focus is on becoming a confident, competitive, and independent player.
By this stage, we develop consistency and confidence. We refine forehands and backhands, introduce volleys and overheads, and begin learning the serve. Drills like cross-court rally patterns, approach shots, and basic point play help solidify technique. Footwork drills and conditioning are added lightly. Players begin playing short sets and structured points.
We begin rallying with control using short-court tennis. I introduce basic groundstrokes (forehand and backhand) with focus on footwork, balance, and timing. Drills include mini rallies, cone targets, and cooperative hitting. Students will start recognizing rhythm and technique. We also touch on scoring and court awareness.