Warmups for junior lessons?

[Bergboy123]

I'm about to start teaching a summer program for kids in a local neighborhood. I have ages 6-13 in various age categories. I was just wondering what some fun/good warmups for them are? The lessons are in 1 hour increments so nothing long. This is mostly a fun thing for the kids, not something to seriously get better at tennis, so I'm not looking for like sprints or anything hardcore.

[BMC9670]

Originally Posted by Bergboy123

I'm about to start teaching a summer program for kids in a local neighborhood. I have ages 6-13 in various age categories. I was just wondering what some fun/good warmups for them are? The lessons are in 1 hour increments so nothing long. This is mostly a fun thing for the kids, not something to seriously get better at tennis, so I'm not looking for like sprints or anything hardcore.

If these are groups of 4 or more, I've had success with a game called "trash in my yard". Some kids might know it from PE class.

Divide the kids up equally and each team starts touching the net. Place 3-5 balls (depending on size of the teams) at each baseline. On go, each team is trying to clear all the balls from their side of the court by throwing them over the net to the other side - or "clean the trash in their yard". When all balls are on one side, you have a winning team.

It gets the kids running, throwing, catching, and is a ton of fun as a warm up and ice-breaker.

[Bergboy123]

I like that, but there is also a games portion of the lesson in which we sometimes do something very similar, "Clean the junkyard." I might use that, but I was thinking of simpler things. Thanks though, I like it!

[Lovely_Bone]

Play rush and crush! It's a great warm-up, and it warms up pretty much every stroke. I do this for warm ups and love it, here are the rules.


http://www.addvantageuspta.com/defau...ookieSupport=1

You can do it in a doubles format also, where they both start at the baseline and just move up together, if you know what I mean.

[slice bh compliment]

Originally Posted by BMC9670

... "trash in my yard". ....

Oh cool, yes, back when I was a tennis coach/club pro in the 90s I would do this exact same game the morning after a party in my backyard. One Hefty bagful per kid (it's only a warm-up, but it's important for kids to have goals). Then we'd walk back over to the courts and start hitting.

Nowadays, we call it 'trash and recycling in my yard'. But it's basically the same game. Great ice-breaking kind of warm-up. My wife likes it, too.

If you guys want a good transition drill or a great cool-down, ask me about 'pressure wash my driveway' or 'detail my Ford Expedition'.

EDIT: I was just kidding about 'detail my Ford Expedition'. I got rid of that thing years ago. Now I have an orange Humvee.

Okay, yeah, anything with throwing, catching and moving is solid. Then maybe a lap or a line run just to get warm and focused. Then some buttkicks, cariocas, soldiers...any dynamic stretch. Then some half--court rallies and hand-fed drills before the full-court lesson plan begins.

[gunnd5000]

This is great http://www.littletennis.com/default....ookieSupport=1
It says 6 to 10 but its great for every age