Game version
Volley rally: a pair volleys back and forth and counts clean volleys in a row, then swaps.
Ready Position Catches
Stand at the net in a ready position and catch gentle tosses with your hand, to learn to meet the ball in front.
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, knees bent, hands in front of your chest.
Core: Medium. Beat your own longest run of volleys.
- Ages
- 7 and up
- Time
- 6 min
- Players
- You and a partner
- Space
- Gym or court
- Bring
- Soft balls, partner
- Level · skill
- Beginner · Net Play
The steps
How it works
- Stand two steps from the net, knees bent, hands in front of your chest.
- Your partner tosses gently to either side.
- Step toward the ball and catch it out in front, no swing.
- Do 20 catches.
Coaching point
Meet it in front, 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
Play it, don't drill it
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 count
Beat your own longest run of volleys. Only your own number counts: today against last time.
Practice makes progress
Print it now, or save it free
Free for families and teams
Save this drill to your child or team, free
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.