Partner Ball Push

This fun and challenging warm-up helps young players build coordination, teamwork, and balance before tennis practice. By pressing balls between their hands while moving together, kids develop body control and cooperation with a partner. The activity can be kept simple for beginners or turned into a competitive race to add excitement and energy.

Setup

• Pair up players so they face each other
• Two balls per pair (tennis balls, foam balls, or larger balls depending on age/skill)
• Space to move within the doubles alley or across the baseline

Rules & Objectives

• Each pair presses one ball between their right palms and one between their left palms
• Keeping the balls squeezed in place, players shuffle side to side together within the doubles alley
• Emphasize staying balanced, keeping knees bent, and working as a team to keep the balls from dropping
• After practicing side-to-side movement, extend the challenge into a race: start at the baseline and move forward to the net and back without dropping the balls

Repetition

• Begin with short distances to let players get comfortable
• Increase the distance or speed as pairs improve
• Use different types of balls—foam balls for easier control, larger balls for added difficulty
• Turn it into a competition by timing pairs or having them race against others

Coaching Points

• Builds teamwork and cooperation
• Improves balance and lateral movement
• Develops hand control and coordination
• Provides a fun and interactive warm-up for kids’ tennis lessons

Drill Tutorial