The First Step to Loving Tennis? Draw a Court and Play Catch.
That’s it.
You don’t need a real racket. You don’t need a court. (You Don’t Need a Tennis Ball)
All you need is a small open space, any bouncy ball you can catch, and a little imagination.
Start by drawing a tiny tennis court on the ground (draw a square with a line through it, about 2 strides for each line is a great way to start) — with chalk, tape, or string.
Grab any ball that bounces.
Stand across from your child and begin tossing and catching.
That’s SMART Tennis™ simplified…
It’s not about perfect strokes or fancy gear.
It’s about tracking, moving, and understanding the rules & context of the game through play.
And you don’t need to be a skilled tennis player to teach it.
You just need to be positive, patient, and playful.
When you start this way, your child is learning the foundations of tennis and other racket sports — without even realizing it.
And if they’re loving it (or ready for the next challenge)…
you can introduce tools like the SMART Racket™ to scale the game and start real rallies right at home, while also building a strong athletic foundation for racket sports.
That’s how you help your child love tennis from day one.
1. Let Them Experience the Joy of Rallying Early
Racket sports like tennis and pickleball are hard at first — especially for little hands and growing bodies.
That’s why we always say…
Play first. Technique comes later.
Instead of focusing on “perfect swings,” focus on experience passing the ball back and forth.
- Start with gently tossing (pocket toss) from both sides of your body
- Follow the toss bounce catch pattern while keeping the ball inside of the court
- If someone breaks the pattern or send the ball out of bounds, they give the point to the other player.
That’s it!
Once your child can send and receive with success, they’ll feel the rhythm of the game — and that’s when the fun really begins. That joy and confidence is what will help your child love tennis naturally, without pressure.
2. Make It a Family Activity (Not a Chore)
You both don’t need to be great tennis players to have fun!
You just need to show up.
- Rally in the hallway
- Toss into a laundry basket
- Cheer them on when they catch or play a great point of keepaway
- Set silly challenges or try to set a new high score while doing a self rally
When tennis feels like connection time — not practice time — kids naturally want more of it.
That’s exactly why we designed the SMART Start Bundle —
So families could begin rallying and bonding together, even before setting foot on a court. By making tennis a joyful, low-pressure family experience, you naturally help your child love tennis for life.
3. Celebrate the Little Wins (Even the Weird Ones)
Did they track a bounce and touch a ball?
Swing with two hands?
Hold a ready position before the toss?
Celebrate it!
Confidence doesn’t come from doing everything perfectly.
It comes from realizing, “I’m getting better.”
That’s what tennis teaches — and your home can reinforce that.
4. Use the Right Tools to Make It Stick
When a child is handed a stiff adult racket and told to rally…
they often struggle — and that leaves a negative first impression.
That’s why we created tools specifically designed for kids, such as:
- The SMART Racket™ – soft frame, adjustable rebound, made for indoor play
- The SMART Tennis Makes SMART Kids Book – helping parents understand the mindset and method
- The full SMART Start Bundle – your complete intro to rallying at home
When tools are sized for success, kids experience wins early. And early success builds love — which is exactly what will help your child love tennis and keep loving it.
This Is Bigger Than Tennis
When your child learns to rally…
They’re also learning how to focus, move with purpose, and adapt quickly.
They’re learning to be part of a team — even if that team is just you and them in the living room.
They’re learning how to handle frustration, bounce back, set goals, overcome obstacles, and stick with something hard.
That’s why we believe that rallying with your child at home is one of the most powerful things you can do — not just for their tennis skills, but for their confidence, discipline, and overall joy.
It builds a growth mindset — and it all starts with a simple game.
Ready to Rally?
Your child doesn’t need to be “good at sports.”
They just need the right tools and the right encouragement.
Explore the SMART Start Bundle
Rather work with an experienced Coach and Curriculum?
Book a Free Trial Class to experience SMART Tennis in action
Let’s help your child fall in love with tennis… one rally at a time.
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