Myth
Beginning kids should be taught to stand sideways in a neutral to slightly open stance with the front foot directed towards the net post.
Truth
Little kids can and should be taught to stand extremely sideways with a very closed stance.
Getting them sideways as early as possible helps promote body rotation—a key element in advanced serves.
Most pros don’t point their foot towards the net post anymore. Both feet are near or past parallel to the baseline as the players try to achieve more body rotation.
Pointing the front foot to the net post is a relic—a tip from the 1970’s and earlier—that should be discarded. The advice comes from a bygone era before the rule change that allowed jumping on the serve.
Coaches—please teach your beginners to get super sideways with their stance and don’t worry if the feet are parallel to the baseline.
When kids jump up to the ball, the feet come off the ground and turn in midair easily anyway.
Let’s try to bring some fresh ideas to teaching young kids how to serve and not get stuck in old patterns borne from tradition.
Please share your thoughts.
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