Rolling Ball Relay

This warm-up drill is a fun and engaging way for kids to prepare for tennis practice while improving agility, reaction time, and teamwork. It can be used in youth group classes or adapted for older beginners who need an active warm-up. By rolling and retrieving balls in different ways, players practice movement fundamentals, coordination, and quick reflexes before starting more advanced drills.

Setup

• Players pair up and line up on the court facing the same direction
• One player stands directly in front of their partner
• One tennis ball per pair (more for variations)
• Enough court space for pairs to spread out safely

Rules & Objectives

• The front player rolls a ball backward between their legs and their partner’s legs
• The back player quickly turns around, retrieves the ball, and returns it to the front
• The sequence repeats, with players alternating roles
• Encourage players to stay in ready position—knees bent, light on toes, and low center of gravity—before sprinting to retrieve the ball

Repetition

• Repeat several times, then switch roles so both players practice rolling and retrieving
• Add conditions, such as retrieving the ball before it crosses the doubles line
• Variation 1: The front player rolls two balls simultaneously; the back player must collect both quickly
• Variation 2: Switch directions—have the back player roll the ball forward through the front player’s legs
• Variation 3: Players stand back-to-back, rolling the ball through legs with retrieval in opposite directions
• Optional: Have players stop the rolling ball with rackets or different body parts (hands, feet, knees) for variety

Coaching Points

• Warms up the body in a dynamic way
• Builds agility, speed, and reaction time
• Reinforces proper athletic stance and balance
• Encourages creativity and teamwork in warm-up routines

Drill Tutorial