Tennis is a great activity for young kids who are looking to stay active and have some fun during the summer. In fact, tennis lessons for kids in Toronto not only help children develop life skills and improve their agility and coordination over time, but they also help with player development and team building. If you’re thinking about enrolling your child in a kids’ tennis summer camp in Toronto, here are some fun tennis lessons for kids that will make learning the sport a breeze!
Hungry Crocodile
A fun volley drill for young kids to play at tennis camp, hungry crocodile teaches novice players how to concentrate and anticipate the ball.
Start by lining up each player in front of the net. At any moment, the coach could hit the ball in their direction, and they must be ready to volley it back. If they miss a feed, they lose a “limb!”
First, they’ll lose a hand, meaning they’ll now have to hit the ball with their non-dominant hand. If they miss another feed, they’ll lose a leg, meaning they’ll now have to go down on one knee.
The last player not to be “eaten” wins!
Count Dracula
Played in pairs, this repetition game helps younger kids get used to hitting the ball back and forth.
As each pair hits the ball, have them count how many volleys they are able to do without missing the ball. To make it a fun tennis lesson for kids, have them count using the voice of “Count Dracula.”
Partner Ball Pass
A popular team-building exercise often used at tennis summer camps for kids is the partner ball pass.
It’s rather simple: players team up in groups of two or more and practice tossing the ball from their racket to another player’s racket.
The goal of the game is not to let the ball touch the ground.
For younger players who might have trouble keeping the ball on their racket, they can use a bean bag instead.
Squash Ball
This game is ideal for young players between the ages of four and six.
Have the kids pair up. They take turns rolling the ball to their partner by hitting it with their racket (pretend they are playing mini golf, but instead of using a club, they are using their racket). Then the partner squashes the ball on the ground with their racket.
It’s a simple game that helps kids develop hand-eye coordination and improve their reflexes.
Target Practice
Build a pyramid out of tennis balls and have your kids take turns trying to knock it down by hitting balls at the “target.”
It’s not as easy as it seems, but it’s a great way for kids to practice their hand-eye coordination and ball skills. Plus, what kid doesn’t like knocking stuff down?
Dribblers
This game is great for kids of all ages and skill levels to play at a kids’ tennis camp.
Have your players line up along the center line and dribble the ball (bounce the ball up and down between the court surface and their racket). To increase the difficulty, have the more advanced players move toward the net and then back to the center line, while dribbling, or challenge them to increase their speed.
Hit and Catch
This is a fun tennis lesson for older kids.
In pairs, one player serves the ball using their hands and the other player must hit the ball using their racket. The player that served then must catch the ball in their hands. After about 10 minutes, have them switch places and repeat the game.
This helps the player with the racket improve their aim when hitting the ball and helps the catcher improve their hand-eye coordination.
Tidy/Messy
This game helps kids build endurance and strengthen their dynamic balance.
Set up six tennis ball cans with the lids facing downward on the court and then six cans with the lids facing upward on the court. Divide your players into two teams. One at a time, members from each team will compete against each other to see who can flip over the most cans in one minute.
Ball Balance
Ball balance is a standard balancing game that can be played by all kids, regardless of their age or skill level. Not only does this improve balance and coordination, but it also helps strengthen the players’ legs!
Start by having each child stand upright and balance the ball on their tennis racket. To make it more challenging, have intermediate players practice walking around and balancing the ball, or have advanced players perform squats or lunges without dropping the ball.
Simon Says
Everyone knows how to play the classic game “Simon Says,” which is why it’s a great game to incorporate in your tennis lessons for kids.
Ask your kids to perform certain tasks by saying “Simon says” before each command (e.g. “Simon says do a backhand swing”). The participants have to listen carefully to make sure you always say, “Simon says.” If you don’t say it before your command and a child still performs the task, they will be eliminated from the game.
Learn Fun Tennis Drills for Kids at Bayview Village Tennis Camp
If your child is interested in learning to play tennis, but needs that extra push, enrolling them in a tennis summer camp for kids is a great solution. At Bayview Village Tennis Camp, your child will learn not only how to have fun with tennis, but also how to play smart and safe. We offer one of the best kids’ tennis camps in Toronto and provide your child with the opportunity to meet other local children their age and make lasting memories. For more information about our beginner, intermediate, and advanced tennis programs, call us at (905) 889-7293 or e-mail pnielsen889@rogers.com.