Listen and Copy Rally
Coachability
Legend
- player
- coach / parent
- movement path
How it works
Develop attentive listening and immediate skill implementation by asking young players to copy one specific technique the coach demonstrates before each rally.
What you need
- tennis racket
- tennis balls
- court
Your focus
Young players learn by imitation, and framing coachability as 'copy the coach' makes the concept concrete and accessible. Immediate repetition after a demonstration locks in the coached behavior through action rather than verbal instruction. Celebrating successful copying builds a positive association with receiving and acting on feedback.
Coach demonstrates one simple technique (e.g., 'watch how I hold my implement with a handshake grip') and performs it three times.
Player copies the technique and shows the coach before any ball is hit.
Coach hand-feeds five balls and player tries to apply the technique during each hit.
After five balls, coach gives one piece of simple feedback and player demonstrates they heard it by repeating it back before the next set.
Helpful cues
- Eyes on the coach when I show you something
- Try it even if it feels different at first
- Tell me back what I told you, that's how I know you heard it
Adjust the challenge
Make it easier
Strip it back
Use a very simple technique (e.g., 'hold the racket with two hands') and provide only verbal confirmation without physical demonstration.
UpLVL it
Add the next challenge
Introduce two techniques in the same session and ask the player to self-identify which one they are applying during each feed.No account needed
Build a practice plan
Add drills, keep the plan in this browser, then share a link with your staff or parents.This library helps you find the right drill. Inside UpLVL the right drill finds the player.
This library helps you find the right drill. Inside UpLVL the right drill finds the player.After every practice, UpLVL automatically surfaces the drills each player needs to work on most. See it for yourself.