Tennis Practice Plans for Ages 13–14
Age-appropriate tennis practices for 13–14 year olds (U14) — built to keep every kid active and having fun. Racquet on ball constantly — rallying, not waiting.
By thirteen and fourteen, kids can train much like older athletes — structured warmups, focused skill work, tactical drills, and competitive game situations. They can handle repetition and correction, and many are genuinely committed. Push the intensity and the details, but keep the environment positive: this age quits fastest when practice becomes a joyless grind.
What a great 13–14 practice looks like
What to work on in tennis
Groundstroke fundamentals fed rapidly so kids get real reps, not one ball a minute.
Movement and tracking games that make contact easy and fun.
Simple serves and cooperative rallies to keep the ball in play.
Mini-court games and points so skills show up in real competition.
Gear: A racquet per kid, a big basket of balls (low-compression for young kids), and cones.
A sample 13–14 tennis practice plan
Here's a real 75-minute plan Coach Coach generated for a 13–14 tennis team. Yours is customized to your kids and ready in under 30 seconds.
🏆 Tennis Practice — Ages 13-14 — 75 min
⏱️ Warmup (10 min)
- Dynamic Court Laps — Have the kids jog around the tennis court while you call out different movements: high knees, butt kicks, side shuffles, and karaoke (grapevine). Keep it light and fun. Finish with a quick game of "shadow tennis" where they mimic playing a point without a ball.
🎯 Skill Work (40 min)
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Groundstroke Stations (20 min) — Split players into pairs. One player feeds balls from the service line, the other hits forehands and backhands from the baseline. Rotate feeder and hitter every 2 minutes. Coaching cue: "Focus on your footwork and follow through." Success looks like consistent contact and good form.
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Serve and Return (20 min) — Divide the group into two; half practice serving from the baseline, while the other half practices returns. Swap roles after 10 minutes. Coaching cue: "Start slow and aim for consistency, not power." Success is making 3 serves or returns in a row.
🏃 Game Time (20 min)
- King of the Court — Set up one mini-court on each half of the main court. Play 3v3 games with one player serving and the others rotating in after each point. Winners move up to the "king" side, while the other team rotates out. Modified rule: Play points up to 3, then switch roles. Look for teamwork and communication.
🧊 Wrap Up (5 min)
- Rally Challenge — Pair up and challenge each pair to see how many consecutive shots they can rally without missing. Finish with high-fives and ask, "What's one thing you improved today?"
🎒 What to Bring
- 12 tennis balls · 4 cones · 12 rackets · Water bottles
- Use cones to mark mini-courts for King of the Court.
📋 Coach's Cheat Sheet
- "Move your feet! Stay light on your toes."
- "Keep your eyes on the ball all the way through the shot."
- Common mistake: Kids often rush their serves. Encourage them to slow down and focus on technique.
- Loudly praise: "Great rally! Way to keep it going!"
✅ Coach Coach Check
- Every kid hits plenty of balls in each drill
- No standing in long lines
- Includes a small-sided game
- Age-appropriate intensity with a mix of fun and development
Coach your best practice tonight
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Build your tennis planTennis practice questions
What should a tennis practice for 13–14 year olds look like?
By thirteen and fourteen, kids can train much like older athletes — structured warmups, focused skill work, tactical drills, and competitive game situations. They can handle repetition and correction, and many are genuinely committed. Push the intensity and the details, but keep the environment positive: this age quits fastest when practice becomes a joyless grind.
How do I run a group tennis lesson for kids?
Use lots of balls and a rapid feed so nobody stands waiting. Set up mini-courts and stations so multiple kids hit at once, then finish with point play.
Should young kids use smaller courts and softer balls?
Absolutely — red, orange, and green low-compression balls and smaller courts (the Net Generation / 10-and-under setup) let kids rally and succeed from day one.
What should beginner tennis players focus on?
Contact and rallying first — forehands, backhands, and keeping the ball in play. Fancy technique matters less than lots of successful hits.