Primary School Sessions

Objective: Introduce children aged 4-11 to tennis, focusing on fun, engagement, and learning new skills including tennis strokes, agility, balance, and coordination.

Age Group: 4-11 years old

Duration: 45-60 minutes per session

Frequency: Weekly

1. Warm-Up (5 minutes)
   
   • Dynamic Warm-Up:
     • Age-appropriate exercises such as jogging, jumping, and dynamic stretches.
   • Fun Activities:
     • Games like "Simon Says" or "Red Light, Green Light" to get children moving.

1. Skill Development (15-20 minutes)
   
   • Agility and Balance Drills:
     • Obstacle courses with cones and agility ladders.
     • Balance activities like standing on one foot or balancing a ball on the racket.
   • Coordination Drills:
     • Hand-eye coordination exercises such as catching and throwing tennis balls.

1. Basic Tennis Skills (20-25 minutes)
   
   • Racket and Ball Control:
     • Holding the racket properly and basic racket swings.
     • Dribbling the ball with the racket and balancing the ball on the racket.
   • Tennis Strokes:
     • Forehand and backhand strokes for older children.
     • Modified strokes for younger children (e.g., gentle underhand swings).

1. Mini Games and Activities (15-20 minutes)
   
   • Balloon Tennis:
     • Using balloons to keep the activity slow and manageable for younger kids.
   • Target Practice:
     • Hitting stationary balls to knock over cones or hit targets.
   • Rally Drills:
     • Partnering up to practice short rallies.

1. Cool Down and Reflection (5-10 minutes)
   
   • Fun ending game:
     • Finish with a fun group game.
   • Group Discussion:
     • Briefly discuss what they enjoyed and learned during the session.
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• Younger Children (4-7 years old):
  
  • Focus more on basic coordination, balance, and simple fun games.
  • Use larger, softer balls and lighter rackets.
  • Keep instructions simple and activities short to maintain engagement.
• Older Children (8-11 years old):
  
  • Introduce more advanced skills and techniques.
  • Incorporate more structured drills and longer rallies.
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By structuring the sessions to accommodate different age groups and skill levels, all children can enjoy the activities and progress in their tennis skills. The emphasis on fun, engagement, and learning ensures that children develop a positive attitude towards physical activity and sports.

Objective: Introduce children aged 10 and 11 to Pickleball, focusing on fun, energetic, and fast-paced activities that improve hand-eye coordination, teamwork, balance, agility, and speed. Teach the rules, scoring, paddle handling, and various strokes.

Age Group: 10-11 years old

Duration: 60 minutes per session

Frequency: Weekly

1. Warm-Up (5 minutes)
   
   • Dynamic Exercises:
     • High knees, kicks, arm circles, and light jogging.
   • Agility Drills:
     • Ladder drills and cone weaves to improve footwork.

1. Introduction to Pickleball (10 minutes)
   
   • Basic Rules:
     • Brief explanation of the game’s objectives, court layout, and basic rules.
   • Scoring System:
     • Simple overview of how to score points and win a game.
   • Paddle and Ball Familiarisation:
     • Proper grip and stance.
     • Basic ball control exercises.

1. Skill Development (15 minutes)
   
   • Serving Practice:
     • Demonstrate and practice different serving techniques.
     • Focus on accuracy and consistency.
   • Basic Strokes:
     • Forehand and backhand strokes.
     • Drills for hitting the ball with proper technique.

1. Practice Drills (15 minutes)
   
   • Rally Drills:
     • Partner up and practice maintaining rallies, focusing on control and consistency.
   • Net Play:
     • Volleys and dinks near the net to develop soft touch and precision.

1. Mini Games and Activities (10 minutes)
   
   • King of the Court:
     • Short matches where winners stay on the court.
   • Doubles Matches:
     • Emphasize teamwork and communication during play.

1. Cool Down and Reflection (5-10 minutes)
   
   • Gentle Stretching:
     • Stretch all major muscle groups.
   • Group Discussion:
     • Reflect on what they learned and enjoyed about the session.

1. Fun Wrap-Up and Rewards (5 minutes)
   
   • Encouragement:
     • Motivate kids to practice at home and come back for the next session.

1. Warm-Up:
   
   • Dynamic Exercises:
     • Perform each exercise for about 30 seconds to 1 minute.
   • Agility Drills:
     • Set up an agility ladder and cones. Have children perform quick feet drills and zigzag runs through the cones.

1. Introduction to Pickleball:
   
   • Basic Rules:
     • Explain the court dimensions, how to serve, and the non-volley zone ("kitchen").
   • Scoring System:
     • Explain the first team to reach 11 points wins, but they must win by 2 points.
   • Paddle and Ball Familiarization:
     • Show how to grip the paddle correctly and control the ball with gentle hits.

1. Skill Development:
   
   • Serving Practice:
     • Practice serves from the baseline. Emphasize an underhand serve.
   • Basic Strokes:
     • Forehand: Focus on swinging from low to high.
     • Backhand: Use two hands for control if needed.

1. Practice Drills:
   
   • Rally Drills:
     • Partners stand across the net and hit the ball back and forth, aiming for 10 consecutive hits.
   • Net Play:
     • Practice dinks and volleys close to the net, focusing on control and placement.

1. Mini Games and Activities:
   
   • King of the Court:
     • Set up a mini-tournament format where winners advance and stay on the court.
   • Doubles Matches:
     • Pair up the children and have them play short games to practice teamwork and strategy.

1. Cool Down and Reflection:
   
   • Gentle Stretching:
     • Stretch arms, legs, and back muscles gently to relax.
   • Group Discussion:
     • Ask questions about what they enjoyed and any challenges they faced.

1. Fun Wrap-Up and Rewards:
   
   • Encouragement:
     • Encourage children to share their experience with friends and family and practice at home.

This structured session plan ensures that children not only learn the fundamentals of Pickleball but also enjoy themselves and develop a love for the sport. The combination of skill development, games, and positive reinforcement will help keep them engaged and motivated.