Choose your age group, find a drill or prepare a session. The guides explain the sources and age-specific guidance.
Sources and overview
A free knowledge base built on the ITF Rules of Tennis (2026 edition), the OFSPO mobilesport practice booklets written with Swiss Tennis and J+S, the FFT Galaxie Tennis and the DTB, ÖTV and USTA youth programmes cited side by side. For young players, tennis is adapted by ball stage (red, orange, green, then yellow), court and net, never by an invented load number: no federation read publishes a serve-count or a training-hour limit.
Côté Coach · Tennis
What the federations actually publish about youth tennis
The ITF, FFT, Swiss Tennis, DTB, ÖTV and USTA side by side. Ball stages, reduced courts, the five game situations, doubles at every age, match formats, load: sourced, dated, comparable.
44published drills
8guides
6federations compared
Pick an age group
Priorities change from one band to the next. For the youngest the constraint is the ball stage and the court size, and doubles is played at every age once court, racket and balls are adapted.
Do
The ball stage first: red ball recommended up to 8 (court 10.97 to 12.80 m, net 0.80 to 0.84 m), orange from 8 to 10 (court 17.68 to 18.29 m), per Appendix VIII of the ITF Rules of Tennis. In France, the child’s Galaxie Tennis colour; in Switzerland, their Kids Tennis level.
Play before exercise: the GAG method (global, analytic, global) starts and ends with the game. Throwing from above the head prepares the serve, catching the ball in an upturned cone after one bounce prepares the return (the red-level Kids Test in 2005).
Doubles from day one: the Swiss doubles booklet says doubles knows no age or level restriction once court, racket and balls are adapted. At red level, two to four mini-courts across one full court keep the whole group playing at once.
Avoid
Putting the child straight onto the full court with the yellow ball: the ITF keeps the green ball and the full court for advanced 9–10 year-olds, red and orange balls are played on a reduced court.
Treating ball ages as an eligibility rule: for the ITF they are recommendations attached to the balls, and the Galaxie Tennis ages differ between two 2019 FFT versions (they remain disputed). In France, a level change is validated by the club teacher at « Jeu & Matchs ».
Feeding too fast or with extreme grips: slow, precise balls, close to the net, three or four balls in hand for continuity, hand-feeding if needed (the feeding advice of the 2005 mobilesport booklet).
Do
The move to the full court: green ball on the full court for advanced 9–10 year-olds (ITF), then yellow. In Switzerland, since 1 January 2016, a 10&U licence requires Kids Tennis level Green.
The five game situations as the through-line, in Swiss Tennis’s words: I start the point (serve), I return the serve, we both play from the baseline, I come to the net, I play a passing shot. The Swiss Tennis / J+S programme builds its exercises in three steps: Erwerben, Anwenden, Gestalten (acquire, apply, create).
The traffic light taught from childhood: red, defend (slow, high ball, buy time); yellow, build (long, fast, placed, angles); green, finish (winner or forced error).
Avoid
Imposing one threshold for the yellow ball: each federation has its own gate (ranking 30/4 for under-10s in France since 2025, level Green for the Swiss 10&U licence, LK entry in the year a player turns 11 in Germany). Do not invent a shared one.
Treating « u13 » as a federation category: this Paak band spans the end of the Swiss 10&U and the 12&U, the Galaxie Tennis orange and green. It is a Paak grouping, not an official category.
Splitting technique from play: when a task is too easy or too hard, adjust the space (court, net, target), the rules (scoring, handicap, one serve), the equipment (slower balls, lighter rackets) or the feed, and keep « the spirit of the game ».
Do
Match formats in training: deciding point (No-Ad), games started at 30:40, the 7-point tie-break, the 10-point match tie-break. The Swiss doubles booklet trains them directly; Appendix VI of the ITF rules describes them all.
Doubles as a discipline of its own, with the ten Swiss tips: play as a team, make the first serve, keep adjusting, isolate the stronger opponent, play between the opponents, advance side by side to the net, find the gaps, vary the angles, talk in the pauses, stay active even when the ball is not yours.
Speed and footwork: the split-step before the opponent’s hit, net coverage, reaction. The Swiss Tennis / J+S programme sets physical competencies by age band (11–15, 16–20).
Avoid
Inventing a serve-count or training-hour cap: neither the FFT, Swiss Tennis, the DTB, the ÖTV nor the USTA publishes one. The only competition limit found is two matches a day for 11–16 year-olds in some FFT formats.
Preparing for best of five sets: no amateur competition read plays it. Clubs play best of three, and most FFT formats replace the third set with a match tie-break.
Chasing the winner at any price: in the traffic light, green (finish) comes after yellow (build). The doubles booklet puts it its own way: a team wins by playing to the opponents’ feet rather than going for outright winners.
Do
Rehearse the real format of the tie: in Swiss Interclub, doubles is played No-Ad with a 10-point Champions-Tiebreak; in France, most formats replace the deciding set with a match tie-break.
Doubles at every age and in every shape: classic (one up, one back), both back, both at the net, Australian, in line. The pauses between points are for talking.
Watch load through its variation: in the review of 37 studies, an acute:chronic workload ratio of 1.3 or more is the strongest injury predictor identified. The lower limb carries 48 to 56 % of injuries, the lumbar spine 12 to 39 %.
Avoid
Presenting a maximum volume as a federation rule: no federation read publishes a serve-count or hour limit. Prevention programmes report reductions « up to 21 % / 26 % », weak evidence to be presented as such.
Waiting for a temperature threshold before acting: the FFT allows an optional 10-minute rest « en cas de très fortes chaleurs », at the referee’s decision, with no figure; no federation read sets one.
Forgetting the regulation time: 25 seconds between points, 90 seconds at changes of ends, 120 seconds between sets (ITF Rule 29). Coaching is never allowed during a point (Rule 30).
Session generator
Age band, duration, theme, and a minuted outline. The 44 drills come from the two OFSPO mobilesport practice booklets written with Swiss Tennis and J+S (« Tennis », 2005; « Tennis, Doubles », 2009).
The drills
Filter by theme. For u9 and u13, the ball stage (red, orange, green) and the reduced court are written into each drill’s coaching points.
The generator above also lives inside the app, on the session itself: pick the age band, the duration and the theme, and Paak builds a five-block minuted outline from this same library of 44 drills: warm-up, two blocks, a game and a cool-down. Edit it, save it to the session, that is free. Printing the session sheet and club-authored drills beyond 5 are in Paak One.
Targets hung or placed around the court: hoops, other balls, the ball cart · a mix of balls
What it trains
The overhead throw the serve grows from: the child aims at targets, always throwing from above the head, and points the free arm at the target before throwing.
Published frame
Red or orange ball, on a reduced court. Easier: move closer, use bigger targets and lighter, larger balls.
playerstroke or ball path
Set out
Side-on stance, left foot forward for right-handers · racket held above the head · a target zone or a hanging ball beyond the net
What it trains
The first overhead hit: the racket already starts above the head, like a roof, so the child only has to swing forward. The toss leaves the hand at chest height and the racket draws an arc.
Published frame
Who lands five in a row in the zone? Who hits the hanging ball? Ball and court follow the child: red, orange or green. Easier: stand closer to the net, enlarge the zone.
playerstroke or ball path
Set out
Server on the baseline · the crosscourt service box or a smaller marked zone · hoops for the variant
What it trains
The crosscourt serve as a counted task: the most correct serves in a row, then the most out of ten, keeping the same rhythm every time. Shake-hands grip, arcing swing.
Published frame
Zone and ball sized to the level: orange on the orange court, green on the full court, then yellow. Easier: serve from inside the baseline, bigger zone, lower-compression ball.
coach or feederplayerstroke or ball pathmovementthe other choice
Set out
Teacher with a basket of balls · each child holds an upturned cone · red court
What it trains
Reading ball flight: the child catches the ball in the cone after one bounce, moving to meet it instead of waiting, then recovers to the middle. It is the perception base of the return.
Published frame
Swiss Tennis uses it as the red-level Kids Test: 10 lobbed balls alternately left and right, recovering to the middle after each; 8 of 10 caught passes, three attempts.
coach or feederplayerstroke or ball paththe other choice
Set out
A feeder with balls · the player with their back to the feeder, in the return position
What it trains
Turn, find the ball, set the feet, in that order, then play the ball as instructed: down the line, crosscourt. Naming the target before the signal makes the choice early.
Published frame
Signal: whistle, ball hitting the ground, etc. Harder: call the direction only after the turn. Easier: hand-feed slower, higher balls.
opponent or partnerplayerstroke or ball paththe other choice
Set out
A server and a returner on a full or stage-sized court · scoring zones: the service box, beyond the service line
What it trains
The scored return: ten returns, and depth pays. The returner stands well behind the bounce, on the bisector of the possible angles; a beginner takes the ball on the way down to have time to read it.
Published frame
+1 in the service box, +2 beyond the service line, −1 in the net or out. Easier: the server uses an underarm or second-serve pace.
opponent or partnerplayerstroke or ball paththe other choice
Set out
Four players in classic doubles positions: one back, one at the net on each side
What it trains
In doubles the serve and return matter even more, because play moves quickly to the net. The teacher presents the return options; the returner uses them to keep surprising the serving team.
Published frame
Return options: long crosscourt, down the middle, short crosscourt, at the feet, fast and flat down the line, or a lob down the line. Practise each one separately first.
playeropponent or partnerstroke or ball path
Set out
Two players, one either side of the net · an open double page of newspaper on the ground in front of each
What it trains
Precision as a duel: aim at the opponent’s newspaper with the racket face at the end of the swing, not the arm alone. A higher, slower ball is easier to place than a fast one.
Published frame
Every hit folds the opponent’s newspaper in half: who scores most? Ball and court follow the child: red, orange or green. Easier: throw the ball by hand over a line.
playeropponent or partnerstroke or ball pathmovementcone
Set out
Pairs facing each other, one metre behind the net · a mark sets the furthest point
What it trains
Adjusting swing length to distance: short near the net, fuller further back. The rally stretches and shrinks, and the ball stays playable for the partner, because the goal is shared.
Published frame
Harder: a hoop in front of each player, moved back a metre once both have landed a ball in it; as a duel, who reaches the baseline first? Easier: stop at a nearer mark.
playeropponent or partnerstroke or ball pathmovement
Set out
Pairs on the forehand or backhand diagonal · starting in the middle of the court
What it trains
Crosscourt only, opening the angle step by step like a fan, then closing it again. The wider the angle, the earlier the contact point; after every shot, recover towards the bisector.
Published frame
At the sideline, come back to the centre to close the fan. Easier: stay in the middle third, or play in the service boxes only.
playeropponent or partnerstroke or ball pathmovement
Set out
Pairs on a full singles court
What it trains
Direction change as a fixed pattern: A always plays crosscourt, B always down the line, and both run. Down the line crosses the high part of the net: give it margin.
Published frame
Recover after every shot, the next ball goes to the other side; swap roles. Harder: all slice or all topspin. Easier: three-quarter pace, inside the service line.
playeropponent or partnerstroke or ball paththe other choice
Set out
Pairs · a rectangle marked in the middle of one half, sized to the players’ level
What it trains
A placement constraint: the player facing the rectangle must never return into it. The target is chosen before the opponent’s ball bounces, and height and spin reach the corners safely.
Published frame
Harder: a rectangle in each half. The rectangle’s size is set to the players’ level.
opponent or partnerplayerstroke or ball paththe other choice
Set out
Pairs: a thrower on one side, the catcher just behind the net with an upturned cone · reduced court
What it trains
Before the volley: catching thrown balls out of the air in a cone. The child reads volley and smash trajectories, catches in front of the body, where a volley is met, and adjusts with small steps.
Published frame
Red or orange ball. The thrower varies: high, flat, fast, slow, short, long. Easier: throw slower and straight at the cone; catch with two hands.
coach or feederplayerstroke or ball pathmovement
Set out
Pairs: the net player and a feeder with a basket
What it trains
The net sequence: three volleys and a smash, counted as clean repetitions. Volley: short block, racket head up, step towards the ball. Smash: turn sideways and point the free hand at the ball.
Published frame
How many clean sequences? Harder: another sequence, e.g. forehand volley, backhand volley, smash. Easier: the feeder takes a new ball from the cart for each shot.
playeropponent or partnerstroke or ball pathmovement
Set out
Two players · the attacker serves underarm
What it trains
A first serve-and-follow: an underarm serve landing behind the opponent’s service line, a straight run in, a stop as the opponent hits, and the point finished at the net. First volley deep; the point is won with the second.
Published frame
Ball and court follow the child: red, orange or green. Easier: serve from the service line; the opponent may only return softly.
playeropponent or partnerstroke or ball pathmovement
Set out
Two players on a singles court
What it trains
Recognising the short ball early: any ball landing short of the service line is attacked and followed to the net. Move forward before the bounce, hit the approach deep and follow its line.
Published frame
Harder, «Advantage attack»: approach only to the opponent’s backhand. Easier: the teacher feeds the short ball and the point starts from the approach.
playeropponent or partnerstroke or ball pathmovement
Set out
Two players, full singles court · the server comes to the net straight behind the serve
What it trains
Compulsory serve-and-volley: place the serve to reduce the return angle (body or T), split-step as the returner strikes, then move to the ball and play the point out.
Published frame
Harder: come in behind the second serve too; a winning volley or smash scores two points. Easier: serve from inside the baseline or allow one bounce before the first volley.
playercoach or feedermovementstroke or ball path
Set out
Player at the baseline or the service line · feeder or coach opposite
What it trains
Run in, land the split-step as the feeder hits and volley twice: the first, long and crosscourt, opens the space; the second, short crosscourt or through the middle, uses it.
Published frame
Harder: start with a serve, or play it crosscourt in twos on half a doubles court and count points. Easier: balls put into play by the coach, from a basket.
playeropponent or partnerstroke or ball pathmovement
Set out
Three players on a line · the two outside players throw a ball to each other
What it trains
Passing learnt by throwing: the two outside players pass the ball past the middle player, who tries to intercept. Watch where the middle player is, then throw low and firm to the free side.
Published frame
No lobs; the middle player stands one arm’s length from the line of the pass. Red or orange ball. Easier: widen the gap between the middle player and the pass.
coach or feederplayeropponent or partnerstroke or ball pathmovement
Set out
Two players facing each other · the coach outside the court with balls
What it trains
Reading the attacker: he covers one side on purpose; the defender looks at the net player, not only at the ball, and plays a passing shot low over the net, to the open side.
Published frame
After ten balls, who has the most passing shots? Harder, «Winning run»: the same player keeps passing, alternating short crosscourt and down the line. Easier: the attacker moves to the side slowly and early.
playeropponent or partnerstroke or ball path
Set out
One player at the net, the other at the baseline · target zone between the service line and the baseline
What it trains
The lob over a net player: open the racket face and finish high, height first, then depth. The ball must land between the service line and the baseline.
Published frame
Play for three minutes and count the successful lobs. Harder, «Into orbit»: normal play, a successful lob scores three. Easier: allow the lob to land anywhere in the court.
playeropponent or partnerstroke or ball pathmovementthe other choice
Set out
Two players, full singles court
What it trains
A serves and comes in to win with a volley, B answers with passing shots. The returner keeps the ball low at the incoming player’s feet, then passes; the server’s first volley goes deep, not for the winner.
Published frame
Scoring: passing shot 3, winning volley 2, any other winner 1; first to 12. Easier: serve from the service line, volley after a bounce allowed.
playeropponent or partnerstroke or ball paththe other choice
Set out
Two players, full singles court · normal play
What it trains
The lob over an opponent who has come in, rewarded: three points for the lob, one for any other winner. Disguise it behind the same preparation as the passing shot and aim over the backhand shoulder.
Published frame
First to ten. Harder: the defensive lob must be high and deep enough to recover; add a smash reply for the net player. Easier: the net player stands closer to the net.
playeropponent or partnerstroke or ball path
Set out
Four players in the two service boxes on each side, with or without the doubles alleys
What it trains
Two against two with team-mates hitting alternately, like table-tennis doubles: take turns, clear the space for the partner after your shot and call early so they know it is theirs.
Published frame
Every stage, adapting court, racket and ball. Harder: alleys for one team only, vary the hitting moment, alternate left and right hand. Easier: no alleys, a softer ball.
playeropponent or partnerstroke or ball pathpass
Set out
Four players in the service boxes · one racket per team
What it trains
Two against two with one racket per team: after every shot the racket goes to the partner, who must be ready and close. Hand it over by the handle, quickly and safely, and keep the ball high to give them time.
Published frame
Harder: one team plays in a single service box; hand over after two shots. Easier: play cooperatively and count the longest rally.
opponent or partnerplayerstroke or ball pathmovement
Set out
Classic doubles positions: one up, one back on each side
What it trains
The net players’ job: while server and returner rally crosscourt, they adjust their position and poach to finish with a volley. Move on the opponent’s contact, not before, and poach through the middle, between the two opponents.
Published frame
Leaving too early opens the line. Harder: count points, the server’s partner must intercept the return. Easier: without a ball, rehearse the net moves.
playeropponent or partnercoach or feederstroke or ball pathmovement
Set out
All four players at the net · coach with balls
What it trains
The doubles answer to the lob: the lobbed player leaves the ball to the partner and runs back too; the pair crosses and switches sides. The call «Switch!» comes from the player taking the ball, and the partner running back protects the open side.
Published frame
Easier: walk the switch without a ball first. Harder: count points; start the point with a ball other than a lob.
playeropponent or partnerstroke or ball pathmovement
Set out
Two players behind their baselines, their partners at the net
What it trains
The baseliners rally crosscourt forehands; their partners at the net try to «disturb» the opponent and finish with a volley. At the back, low crosscourt to the net player’s feet; at the net, feint within the limits of fair play.
Published frame
Harder: backhand crosscourt; if the net player moves too early, the baseliner may go down the line. Easier: singles court only.
playeropponent or partnercoach or feederstroke or ball paththe other choice
Set out
Two players at the baseline, two at the net · teacher with a basket
What it trains
The traffic light of doubles: the teacher feeds so a team is in a defend (red), build (yellow) or finish (green) situation. Name the colour aloud before hitting; in match play it is the result that counts.
Published frame
Red: send the ball back slowly and high, gain time. Yellow: long, fast or placed balls. Green: a winner or a forced error. Easier: the same colour every time until the answer is stable.
opponent or partnerplayercoach or feederstroke or ball pathmovement
Set out
Six players in three teams of two · one pair at the net, the other two pairs behind the opposite baseline · coach with balls
What it trains
Holding the net in doubles: one pair defends its place at the net, two pairs take turns from the baseline to knock them off. At the net, move together on the same line; the waiting pair watches and agrees the plan for its next point.
Published frame
A baseline team that passes both net players or wins two points in a row takes their place; the two baseline pairs play full points in turn. Harder: the net pair must win three points in a row to stay.
playeropponent or partnercoach or feederstroke or ball pathmovement
Set out
Lines 1 to 4 marked on each half (1 near the baseline, 4 nearest the net) · two pairs · coach feeding
What it trains
The doubles ladder game: the pair winning the rally moves forward a line, the losers move back; reach line 4 and win the next point. The further forward, the shorter the backswing, and partners move together, on the same line.
Published frame
Both pairs start on line 2 and the coach puts the ball in play. Harder: a serve instead of the feed, extra pairs as challengers. Easier: start on line 1 with slow feeds.
opponent or partnerplayermovement
Set out
Players spread on the lines of a half court, the net counts as a line · a ball on each player’s strings · one «wolf»
What it trains
Ball control, orientation and quick feet in a tag game: each player keeps the ball balanced on the racket, face level and wrist soft, looks up to see the wolf and only moves forward, along the lines.
Published frame
Anyone tagged, stepping off a line or dropping the ball becomes the wolf. Red or orange ball. Harder: several balls on the racket. Easier: walking only, a bigger foam ball.
playeropponent or partnerstroke or ball paththe other choice
Set out
Two pairs · each player volleys with the player opposite
What it trains
Volley to volley, counting: quick hands and reaction, the main physical factors of doubles according to the source. Short punch, no swing, and a ready position between every ball.
Published frame
The teacher sets the number of exchanges to reach (20, 30 or more). Harder: cross volleys on the diagonal, both very close to the net. Easier: both at the service line.
opponent or partnerplayerstroke or ball path
Set out
Half court including the doubles alley · one player at the baseline, the other at the net
What it trains
Net-coverage conditioning: from the baseline a feeder sends «extreme» balls that force hard volleys, half-volleys and constant movement. After every volley, recover to a ready position before the next ball.
Published frame
Stop the series when footwork quality drops. Harder: add the smash and the jump smash, crosscourt feeds. Easier: the feeder takes a new ball from the basket each time.
playeropponent or partnercoach or feederstroke or ball pathmovement
Set out
Two players behind the baseline, two at the net · coach with a basket
What it trains
A doubles speed game: the coach puts a new ball into play, and as soon as a net player plays a drop volley the point is open and played to its end. The baseliners take the first step forward on the net player’s contact.
Published frame
Short sprints, full recovery between points. Harder: play it as a tiebreak. Easier: allow the baseliners two bounces on the drop volley.
opponent or partnerplayerstroke or ball pathmovement
Set out
One player behind the baseline, the other at the net
What it trains
Down, down, up, like an elevator: two low balls at the net player’s feet, then a defensive lob to smash at full stretch. Low volley: bend the legs, not the back; on the lob, turn sideways at once, side-step back, point at the ball.
Published frame
Harder: play the lob to the net player’s backhand side. Easier: only one volley, then the lob; in columns, the coach feeding a new ball each time.
In Paak
These drills are in Paak
The generator is right on the session: plan by the players’ age band and the duration, pick a theme. Paak builds a minuted five-block outline — warm-up, two work blocks, a game and a cool-down — from this same library of 44 drills.
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