Core Skills

Question 1

What should a bases posture be like during play?

Answer 1

Shoulders back, head up, look forward, feet shoulder width apart, hands held low behind back with elbows tucked in

Question 2

What should you be like during play?

Answer 2

Remain still and be alert

Question 3

What position should the centres be in?

Answer 3

Be in the sprint start position head up alert, hands on ground in front of leading foot and slightly wider than shoulder width apart, fingers form bridge with thumbs inwards, weight forwards

Question 4

How many balls should be in the feeding hand?

Answer 4

One ball in feeding hand ( dominant hand) other balls behind back

Question 5

Where should you stand when feeding?

Answer 5

Belly button facing player when feeding

Question 6

How should you approach to feed the player?

Answer 6

You must pivot to face them, the foot you pivot on stays on the floor and the other one is lifted and put down In the appropriate position. Feet always remain the same distance apart. As you pivot your feeding arm should travel up the side and be straight

Question 7

Where should the ball be held during feeding?

Answer 7

Held in the palm not on the fingertips

Question 8

How should you throw the ball?

Answer 8

Arm travels up the side of the body bent and knuckles pointing upwards and wrists straight then push ball downwards keeping arm straight, release ball downwards so it lands 2 thirds of the way between you and the player

Question 9

Where should the ball arrive on the player?

Answer 9

At waist height

Question 10

How will you feed the ball if the player is at different places?

Answer 10

You will need to adjust the flight path

Question 11

How do you feed the player if they are far away?

Answer 11

Take your arm behind your ear keeping straight and adjust the flight path to a higher and longer trajectory

Question 12

How do you feed a player that is really close?

Answer 12

Place the balls on the players Racket with a bent arm

Question 13

How do you feed a moving player?

Answer 13

Keep adjusting yourself by pivoting so you are always facing the player

Question 14

How do you indicate you have no tennis balls ?

Answer 14

Pivot to face the player and stretch your arms out 20 degrees making sure arms are straight in line with body, palms flat fingers touching and thumbs in line with palms not overlapping in a strong position rigid not over-tensing

Question 15

What must all rolling be?

Answer 15

Fast, flat and parallel to the court

Question 16

How do you roll a ball down court?

Answer 16

Step forward on opposite foot to rolling hand, ball gripped in fingers not in palm, only ever having one ball in hand. Take rolling arm backwards to you coming forward in a fast pendulum action

Question 17

How do you release a ball ?

Answer 17

Release ball with relatively straight arm close to ground, released in line with leading foot. Use non rolling hand to hold other balls transferring them to the rolling hand one at a time. When rolling more than one ball should arrive in order released. Arm should always follow through

Question 18

What are you doing if the ball is bouncing?

Answer 18

The release point is likely to be to early eg before the foot

Question 19

What are you doing if the ball is not touching the ground?

Answer 19

The release point is too late so the ball is traveling upwards

Question 20

What are you doing if the ball is not going straight ?

Answer 20

Look at where your rolling hand is following through to and where your leading foot is pointing

Question 21

What are you doing if the rolls aren’t consistent ?

Answer 21

Look at your lung position it needs to be stable, don’t over stride as you will lose balance

Question 22

How do you receive a ball?

Answer 22

You must adjust your position so your in line with the ball
Crouch down in squat position bottom tucked in and place heels together
Position soft hands together in front of feet ready to revive ball
Fingers together in a downwards cupped shape gathering balls with outwards shape