Cooperative volley rally

Keep a soft volley exchange within easy reach.

Cooperative drill · Volleys · Consistency · Minimum 6 minutes

Equipment: rackets, balls
Space: One tennis court with clear run-off space
Suggested block: 12 minutes; allow at least 6

Drill instructions

● Letter = player → Ball ⇢ Movement T = targetA and B volley gently across the net from inside their service lines. No bounce is used.Starting positions are schematic; follow the written setup.

Purpose & setup

Keep a soft volley exchange within easy reach.

A and B face one another on opposite sides of the net, each just inside their service line. Keep a comfortable distance; do not crowd the net.

How to play

A starts with a gentle underarm racket feed to B.
Both volley without a bounce, keeping the ball within easy reach of the other player.
A bounce, miss, out ball or difficult ball ends the exchange. Retrieve and reset.
Alternate the feeder after each exchange; pause after five exchanges. End the current exchange at block time.

Scoring or success

Count consecutive controlled volleys together, excluding the feed. Aim for six before increasing the target.

Rotation & roles

Swap feeder each exchange. Keep the same ends; both rest after every five exchanges.

Make it easier

Move closer and use a slower, comfortable ball speed.

Add a challenge

Use a smaller target while keeping the same rotation and scoring.

Mixed levels

Use a larger target for the less experienced player and a smaller one for the stronger player.

Safety & spacing

Keep spare balls and equipment outside playing routes. Call shared balls, leave room for swings and retrieve only after the ball is dead. Use a comfortable pace and stop rather than chasing into another player or court.

Follow the illustrated instructions. No video has been published for this activity.

Sources & editorial status

Editorial review needed: original practice rules and diagram, not coach-approved. These are optional practice rules, not official competition rules. References support general tennis guidance; they do not endorse this format.

USTA: Tennis tips and instruction — General coaching reference; does not validate these custom games.
LTA: Improve your game — General learning resource; custom rotations and scoring require review.