Staying on the ball – Practice
Allow your players to develop confidence and technique in this three-part session. By HANNAH DUNCAN MORE
Cushion Tennis
The Rules
You act as the umpire.
The object of the game is for the attacking team to drive a low ball through the opponent’s zone. If the ball exits the zone because of a poor touch or without a touch a point is scored.
Players should work off two touches, one to control and then one to return the ball. Alternatively, the player can choose to pass to a team mate who then must hit the ball first time.
If a point is scored, possession returns to the scoring team who then serves the ball.
Objectives
Improves ball control both on the ground and in the air. Limited pressure fun game.
Key Skills
Eye on the ball, judging weight and angle of pass and flight when the ball is in the air. How to take pace off the ball (cushion) and set up for return.
Set Up
Area: Two 10×20 yards long split in two with 10 yards between the channels
Players: 4
Equipment: Cones, balls
You act as the umpire. Teams use low drives
through the opposition’s zone.
Develop the game with chip shots and swerves.
Encourage lofted balls by increasing the distance between zones from 10 to 20 yards.
What To Call Out
“Change serve”
“Take a touch”
“First time”
“Relax”
Development
- Set up in the same way as in the initial game but allow chip shots and swerves.
- Increase the distance between the zones from 10 yards to 20 yards to encourage lofted balls. This will demand greater accuracy from passing players as over-hit balls will not count.
