Since the name “Smash the Bug” was receiving some negative feedback based on an assumption of violence directed toward insects, we have renamed our 8 & Under focused serving game to Catchy Bug (thanks to Cillian T of Dacula, GA). Once a child is to a point in their abilities where they can accomplish two separate tasks simultaneously, like patting your head and rubbing your belly, we can move to Catchy Bug as a fun and even competitive game. We can either count how many times a child successfully ‘catches the bug’ or we can set a minimum production number before they are permitted to move on to the main event.
Here is how it works:
Tennis for Children Games – Catchy Bug
- Stand the child perpendicular to a fence that is taller than you can reach up with their racquet
- With the racquet held behind their head and the dominant elbow pointed 180 degrees from the fence, the ball is held in the non-dominant hand in preparation for the ball toss (aka Throwing Up)
- The arms should be straight across the body in the shape of a T
- The child tosses the ball up the fence as high as they can reach with their racquet and then attempts to catch the ball against the fence with the racquet strings
So now you can require the children to do twenty successful Catchy Bugs in total, however long it takes, or you can have them attempt to do five in a row having to start over each time they are unsuccessful. My favorite way to use Catchy Bug is to use it as a ‘warm up’ before they go attempt to hit a serve over a net. Once they accomplish five Catchy Bugs they are then allowed to go attempt a real serve over a real net. If they miss their serve, they must do five more Catchy Bugs however if they make their serve, into whichever target area is expected for their abilities, they are not required to do more Catchy Bugs.
Here is why this is interesting:
- Their non-dominant hand is well practiced by playing Bonk
- Their elbow is back, like they are throwing a ball
- When they catch the bug, they can physically see the Point of Contact which is above their head and slightly out in front
Good luck, and remind your child of Rule #1 of Tennis for Children:
- Never try to hit the ball with your face!
Point of Clarification: as I use the terms, the word “throw” assumes an overhand motion while the word “toss” uses an underhand motion.
