Tennis Drills: Large Groups

1. First Cone Down

Setup

The players are divided into two teams and line up behind the baseline (one line on the ad, one on the deuce side), ready to serve.
Each team has 3 cones next to them; the basket of balls is placed just behind the baseline center, between the two teams (see graphic above).

Drill

Players, in each team, take turns one at a time, serving one ball.
For every serve in, the respective team scores 1 point.
As soon as one of the teams scores 10 points, the last player to serve the ball in will take the 3 cones and place them randomly inside the service box the team was aiming for. From that point on, as soon as a player hits any one of the 3 targets, their team wins the game; at this time, the other team will try to catch up and place their cones as well inside the service box and knock a cone before their opponents.
Once the game is over, the teams switch sides and play again.

Note

This is a fun competitive serving game that can be played by beginning as well as advanced players.

2. Fear No Volleys

Setup

There is a team A-B at the baseline; on the opposite side baseline, the rest of the players line up in teams: C-D ready to play and the rest waiting their turn. The coach (F) is on the same side as team C-D, ready to feed from the basket – see the graphic above.

Drill

1. The coach will feed a short ball for team A-B to move up toward the net; at the same time, team C-D approaches the net too. They play the point out while the coach reminds all players to move up and take all the balls in the air.

2. For the second point, all teams are now at the net; the coach feeds a volley to team A-B. They play the point out.

3. For the third point, the coach will send a lob for team A-B; C and D move back quickly to defend against the overhead.

The team that wins at least 2 out of the 3 points stays and plays against the next team in line: if team A-B wins, they move back to the baseline; if team C-D wins they replace team A-B.

Notes

– If the number of players waiting in line is an odd one, the first two players form a team.
– This drill is recommended for intermediate and advanced players.

3. King of the Doubles Court

Setup

Two players (A, B) on one side in a one-up/one-back formation (they are the kings/queens of the court). On the other side, two other players in a one-up/one-back formation also (challengers). The rest of the players line up behind the baseline waiting for their turn, on the challengers’ side.
The coach is on the side of the challengers, feeding balls from the basket to the kings of the court to start the point.

Drill

Teams play best of 3 points.
– If the kings/queens win, their team stays put; the challengers will then rotate one spot clockwise, and the new team will challenge the kings.
– If the kings lose, they will move to the end of the line on the challengers’ side.
The team that beat them will take their spot as the new kings. Two more challengers will step up to play the new kings.

These are part of Tennis Drills and Lesson Plans for Coaches, with 900+ drills and lesson plans that coaches need.