Plain-English definitions and on-court coaching cues for players, parents, and coaches across all development stages.
How players move to the ball, set up and recover.
How a player moves to the ball, sets up, hits and recovers. In the orange stage it covers acceleration, stopping, stance and recovery steps.
“Good tennis starts with the feet.”
A small hop landing on the balls of the feet as the opponent hits. It loads the legs so the player can push off in any direction.
“Hop when they hit.”
The athletic stance between shots: feet about shoulder-width apart, knees bent, weight on the front of the feet, racquet in front, eyes on the ball.
“Ready position: triangle feet, low, racquet up.”
A teaching image for the ready position: feet shoulder-width apart, so legs and ground form a triangle and the centre of gravity stays inside the base. The best set-up for reacting.
“Make a triangle with your legs.”
Teaching images for poor ready positions: feet too wide (square) or too narrow (rectangle). Players compare how each one slows their first step.
“Try the square. Now the triangle. Which one lets you move faster?”
The body's balance point. Keeping it low by bending the knees makes it easier to move and stay balanced.
“Get low. Sit into your legs.”
The area between the feet. Balance is stable when the centre of gravity stays inside it.
“Feet under you, not way out to the side.”
Staying on the balls of the feet, not flat on the heels, so the player can react quickly.
“Light feet. Heels just off the ground.”
The steps a player takes after hitting to get back to a good position for the next ball.
“Hit and get back. Don't watch your shot.”