At home: parent and player

The practice, block by block

1. Minutes 0 to 33 min

   Pick a goal and warm up

   Note

   For a child learning the basics, roughly age 8 and up. Ask what they want to practice today. Take one ball, a towel and water to a flat, clear patch of yard with room for soft tosses. Walk together, circle your arms and take a few easy side steps. Use a lighter youth ball if needed. Keep clear of roads, windows and obstacles. Stop if anything hurts.

2. Minutes 3 to 63 min

   Move to the ball

   Drill, a child and a grown-up

   Point left or right and let your player shuffle one or two steps, then return to the middle. Start slowly. Change direction only once they are balanced. Swap roles for the last minute so the child gets to call the directions.

   Watch it in 3DSetup and coaching points
3. Minutes 6 to 115 min

   Toss, set, catch

   Drill, a child and a grown-up

   Toss gently above the forehead and catch the set. Begin with a catch in the setting window, then try pushing the next toss back to your hands. Count returns you can catch comfortably. Move closer whenever the player needs it; catching is fine.

   Watch it in 3DSetup and coaching points
4. Minutes 11 to 121 min

   Water and a breather

   Break

5. Minutes 12 to 186 min

   Pass back to your parent

   Drill, a child and a grown-up

   Make a soft underhand toss to the platform and catch the return. Try three rounds of ten, resting between rounds. Count passes you can catch without stepping. If that gets easy, toss one step to either side. Give one cue at a time: move behind the ball, then point the platform at the catcher.

   Watch it in 3DSetup and coaching points
6. Minutes 18 to 224 min

   Land the toss on a towel

   Drill, 1 player

   Outside only for this block. Lay the towel just ahead of the front foot on the hitting-arm side. Lift the ball and let it land; there is no serve or jump. Try two rounds of ten tosses with a pause between. For a player still learning to control the ball, toss and catch instead. Count towel hits together.

   Watch it in 3DSetup and coaching points
7. Minutes 22 to 286 min

   Finish with a rally game

   Drill, a child and a grown-up

   The parent may catch every return and toss again. Let your player choose passing, setting or a mix. Pick a shared goal, such as five returns before the ball drops, then try to beat it together. Skip the hit if either of you cannot control it. Rest whenever you want.

   Watch it in 3DSetup and coaching points
8. Minutes 28 to 302 min

   Let your player pick next time

   Note

   Walk, drink some water and ask which part they liked. Name something specific you noticed, such as moving their feet before a pass. Next time, repeat this session or spend more time on their chosen skill. A shorter session is fine; stop while they still want to play.