Creative Movement & Reaction Drill

This playful drill builds body awareness, coordination, and adaptability in young players by incorporating athletic movements beyond standard strokes. Kids are challenged to use different parts of their body—kicking, catching, batting, or blocking—before mixing in regular forehands and backhands. The variety keeps the activity fun and creative while developing essential motor skills.

Setup

• Low-pressure or foam balls for safety
• Coach with a basket of balls for feeding
• Kids lined up on the opposite side of the net, ready to react

Rules & Objectives

• Coach feeds a ball and calls out a specific action (e.g., “Kick with your left foot,” “Catch with your right hand,” “Let it roll through your legs”)
• Player performs the action as directed
• Coach feeds the next ball with a new instruction (e.g., “Bounce off your chest,” “Forehand groundstroke,” “Backhand groundstroke”)
• Continue until each player has completed multiple turns
• Rotate players quickly to keep the game dynamic and engaging

Repetition

• Play in short rounds of 2–3 minutes each
• Increase variety with more creative instructions (e.g., “Tap with your head,” “Hit with your palm”)
• For older kids, add scoring: 1 point for each successful task
• Transition to a mix of athletic tasks followed by rallying with forehands/backhands

Coaching Points

• Improves body coordination and awareness
• Develops agility, balance, and reaction skills
• Reinforces adaptability and listening skills
• Keeps kids engaged with creative, fun activities

Drill Tutorial