Game version
Volley rally: a pair volleys back and forth and counts clean volleys in a row, then swaps.
Catch a tossed ball on your strings at the net to learn a still, firm volley.
By Coach Evan Waechtler Youth coach (U11, Cache Valley, Utah) and founder of SSTracker Updated October 30, 2026
Set up
Stand two steps from the net with your racket up.
Core: Medium. Beat your own longest run of volleys.
The steps
Coaching point
Racket up, no swing.
Safety: Keep your racket up in front of your face at the net, and only take feeds from a partner who feeds gently.
Make it fun
Game version
Volley rally: a pair volleys back and forth and counts clean volleys in a row, then swaps.
Challenge
Pick a level: Less (close and slow), Core (medium), More (a step back). Beat your own longest run of volleys.
Story
You are a castle guard at the net, keeping every ball in play.
My best
Beat your own longest run of volleys. Only your own number counts: today against last time.
Practice makes progress
Free for families and teams
Sign up and the free tennis week for this age opens in your child's planner, kept to healthy limits. A coach can send this drill to the whole team as homework, and parents see every session logged.
14 days free for a family, no card · Running a team is always free
Does your child's coach know about this?
An email from you to the coach, with the words ready. Nothing is tracked and nobody is rewarded.