Ready position and split step

Setup

1. Players start on a cone in the middle of the baseline; others wait behind.
2. Coach stands across the net near the service line with the basket.
3. Cones mark a wide forehand and a wide backhand spot.

How it runs

1. Shadow first: in ready position, players do a small hop as the coach swings, then move the way the coach points.
2. Land on both feet, push off to the cone, shadow a swing, then side-step back to the middle.
3. Next, the coach feeds a ball wide. Split as the coach hits, move, hit it back, recover.
4. Five balls each, alternating forehand and backhand, then the next player.

Coaching points

• Ready position: feet wider than the shoulders, knees bent, weight on the balls of the feet, racket in front.
• Small hop as the coach makes contact; land just as you see where the ball is going.
• First step towards the ball with the outside foot turned out.
• Side-step back to the middle and split again before the next hit.

Common mistakes

• Jumping too high or too early, so the feet are in the air as the ball comes.
• Standing flat-footed and upright.
• Turning the back to the net when recovering.