“Miniaturizing” the games helps young girls. Mini-tennis, or even
quarter-court tennis, teaches early understanding of the importance of
movement. A basic pattern I’d used for young stars was essentially:
• Explain with demonstration
• Have them “mimic” or imitate, the shot (air stroke)
• Drop them the ball
• “Mini” toss them the ball
• Back up at their pace; if you lose it, move back in
Someone called it the graduated-length method (GLM). It works with
youngsters. Rallying also benefits from this method. Start up close to the
net and work back, controlling the ball. If you lose control, move back in
where you can control it.