Adaptive tennis: The 'stack of pancakes' drill

Tennis can easily be adapted so that everyone can participate, and so people of any age and environment, or social, intellectual and/or physical ability, can enjoy the benefits that the game provides. Drills such as this one can help teach adaptive athletes the skills necessary to thrive on court, and enhance their physical, mental, social and emotional health.

Have one adaptive athlete and one buddy put a ball between their racquets, which are both parallel to the ground. Set a goal of walking to the net or fence, and back to the starting position, without dropping the ball.

Read more at usta.com: How and why we adapt tennis

Once this is accomplished, buddy-athlete teams can combine to go from two, to four, to eight and so forth, as seen in the video. This drill is a great ball-and-racquet drill to foster teamwork, coordination, communication and fun.

Conversation can be encouraged by asking: “What do you put between your pancakes? Butter, jelly or fruit?”

For more tennis tips, news and information, explore usta.com.