Serve and Catch , Intro to Serve Plus One
Tactics & Point Construction
Legend
- player
- coach / parent
- cones
- ball
How it works
Introduce the concept of planning what to do after the serve by pairing a simple serve motion with an immediate catching or hitting action.
What you need
- foam tennis balls
- junior racket
- mini court
- cones (4)
Your focus
Very young players think of the serve and the rally as disconnected events; this drill builds the idea that the serve is the first move in a plan. Connecting the serve to a ready position and a catching action teaches the child that they must prepare immediately after serving. Early exposure to serve-plus-one thinking establishes a tactical mindset that develops naturally as skills grow.
Player stands at the baseline of a mini court and performs a simplified serve (drop-hit or full motion with foam ball).
Immediately after the serve, player sprints to a designated 'ready cone' positioned 2 feet behind the service line center.
Coach hand-feeds a simple ball to the player at the ready cone; player catches or gently taps the ball back.
Repeat 10 times; coach praises the sprint to the cone as much as the serve itself.
Goal
You've got it when your serve lands in and your catching or hitting move happens right after, no pause, it's all one connected idea.
Helpful cues
- Serve, then MOVE!
- Get to your cone before the ball bounces.
- Every serve has a next step, what's yours?
Adjust the challenge
Make it easier
Strip it back
Remove the sprint component and simply have the player say 'ready!' and adopt the ready position after the serve.
UpLVL it
Add the next challenge
Coach feeds to either the forehand or backhand side of the cone, requiring the player to react and return the ball directionally.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.