MY DADDY / MY COACH
How to Teach Kids to Play Tennis
– Section 3 of 3 –
In this section, you’ll follow the tennis journey of Cosmin Miholca, a certified coach, as he teaches his two daughters how to play tennis. The series begins with their very first lessons, where they learn the fundamentals, and continues as they develop their skills and progress toward competitive tournament play.
My Daddy / My Coach is unique because it gives you an inside look at how a professional tennis coach teaches his own children—from complete beginners to confident, competitive players. You’ll see their development over time, including the techniques, drills, progressions, and lessons that helped them improve.
*These videos are intended to supplement, not replace, on-court tennis instruction. Tennis is a fast-paced sport that involves movement, balance, and equipment, and like any physical activity, it carries inherent risks. Always take responsibility for your own safety and work within the limits of your experience, physical abilities, and comfort level. Before attempting any skills or drills demonstrated in these videos, make sure you are properly prepared and avoid taking risks beyond your current level of training and ability.
Tennis Lesson no. 37: Learning the Kick Serve – Technique & Drills
(8 videos / 55 minutes)
– kick serve technique analysis
– contact drills (fence, at net)
– toss drills (trajectory, height)
– swing up / follow-through
– differences and practice: flat, slice and kick serves
Tennis Lesson no. 38: Court Coverage & Footwork at the Net
(9 videos / 60 minutes)
– net and transition basket drills
– court coverage at net: board analysis
– court coverage at net: positioning
– court coverage at net: footwork
– court coverage at net: drills
– hand-eye, quick reaction exercises
Tennis Lesson no. 39: Physical Strength and Stamina
(7 videos / 50 minutes)
– warm-up and footwork exercises
– ground-strokes drills: legs strength, stamina
– ground-strokes practice: target, put-away
– short ball speed / lob retrieving, drills
– fun competitive game: ground-strokes marathon
Tennis Lesson no. 40: Don’t Let the Ball Bounce!
(8 videos / 59 minutes)
– new warm-up exercises
– serve practice (to target)
– volley drills (deep, close, on the run)
– overhead drills
– tips for teaching kids tennis
Tennis Lesson no. 41: Drills & Competitive Games
(8 videos / 57 minutes)
– ground-strokes, footwork drills
– accuracy, put-away practice drills
– competitive rally games
– tactics, technique tips
Tennis Lesson no. 42: Drills & Tactical Play
(10 videos / 70 minutes)
– hand-fed / basket drills
– net game: volley & overhead
– baseline to net / transition
– quick reaction and control drills
– practice game for tactical thinking
Tennis Lesson no. 43: Positioning, Footwork & Tactics at the Net
(9 videos / 67 minutes)
– Bianca’s new racquet (technical details)
– positioning at the net (court coverage tips)
– footwork at the net (technique, tips)
– drills for court coverage and footwork
– volleys, passing shots: tactics and drills
Tennis Lesson no. 44: Rally Drills & Match Play
(8 videos / 57 minutes)
– creative warm-up drills
– secret: why my daughters do their best in practice 😉
– ground-strokes & volley practice
– short ball & overhead practice
– serve return: positioning, footwork
– match play
Tennis Lesson no. 45: Consistency Under Pressure
(7 videos / 52 minutes)
– warm-up exercises (footwork, speed, shadow strokes)
– basket drills (hand-fed) / technique check
– ground-strokes consistency under pressure (drill)
– rally consistency under pressure (game)
– short angle put-away (drill)
– overhead consistency under pressure (drill)
Tennis Lesson no. 46: Confessions of a Tennis Parent
(9 videos / 64 minutes)
– message for coaches & parents – important!
– technique and warm-up
– basket tennis drills / hand-fed
– lesson & drills: recovery footwork & court geometry
– lesson & drills: drive volley
– speed & quick change of direction drill
Tennis Lesson no. 47: Spring Is Here!
(9 videos / 60 minutes) – last lesson 🙂
A simple lesson players can do after taking a long break from tennis:
– footwork and stretching exercises
– ground-strokes technique and practice drills
– serve technique and practice drills
– hand-eye coordination exercises
– skills building / fun games / touch shots