Soccer Tennis
Attackers Defenders Neutral Goalkeeper Pass Run Dribble Shot
Soccer Tennis turns volleying and aerial control into a game older kids genuinely love. Two teams trade flighted balls across a shared court, using touches and a single bounce to tame each delivery. It needs almost no equipment, works virtually anywhere, and quietly develops the first touch that separates good U11-U16 players from great ones.
Browse the full technique drills library for more like this, or explore every soccer drill for U14 players.
Setup
- Mark a 12×24 yard court made of two 12×12 squares, with a clear center line between them.
- Assign a team of three players to each square.
- Adjust the court size to suit the number and age of your players.
How It Works
- One team serves: a player behind their own back line volleys or half-volleys the ball into the opponents' square.
- The receiving team may let the ball bounce once and use up to two touches before playing it back over - though no bounce and a first-time return are both allowed.
- The serving team wins the point if the ball bounces twice or is knocked out of the court.
- Keep score exactly as in tennis, and rotate the serve.
Coaching Points
- Have fun - this game should feel like a reward.
- Let players experiment with judging flighted balls: reading spin, drop, and bounce.
- Encourage cushioned first touches that set up the return.
- Push for team play - a controlling touch, a set, then the return over the line.
Variations
- Adjust the touch and bounce limits to match skill level - stricter for advanced groups, looser for learners.
- Require the return to be headed or volleyed for an aerial challenge.
- Play king-of-the-court with three or more teams rotating on.