End-of-game pressure points

Setup

1. Two pairs per court. The coach deals a score card for each game, for example 9-10-2, 10-9-1, 8-10-2 or 10-10-1, so every game starts near the end.
2. Use traditional side-out scoring to 11, win by 2, unless your event plays rally scoring; check your competition's rules and practise the format you will play.
3. Outdoors, keep water at the court and take a shade break between games in the heat.

How it runs

1. The server reads the card, lines the pair up correctly for that score and calls it aloud: serving team score, receiving team score, server number.
2. Play it out from that score to the end of the game. A game usually lasts only a few minutes.
3. Between games, each pair gets 20 seconds to agree one plan for the next game, for example 'serve deep to the backhand' or 'drop every third shot'.
4. Rotate opponents after each game. Keep a tally of games won from behind and games closed out from in front.
5. Every wrong score call or wrong server costs the pair the point. Getting the call right is part of the pressure.

Coaching points

• Call the score clearly and only once everyone is ready. It slows the game down for your own team too.
• When serving for the game, serve in: a deep, safe serve is better than an ace attempt.
• Under pressure, play the higher-percentage shot: middle rather than lines, drop or reset rather than a risky speed-up.
• Breathe out between points and use the same routine every time: ball, breath, call, serve.
• If behind, be patient. Side-out scoring means the opponents can't score on your serve.
• Fast exchanges still follow the safety rules: eyewear on and attacks below the shoulders.

Common mistakes

• Losing track of the server number at the end of a game.
• Rushing the serve or the third shot to get the point over.
• Changing the plan after one lost rally.
• Going for lines at 10-10 instead of the middle.