Everything you need to run a Rippner clinic - fundamentals, level-specific game plans, semester guidelines, and summer camp lesson plans - all in one place.
This guide keeps our coaching consistent while leaving room to adapt to the group in front of you. Treat every plan as a starting point and adjust ball, pace, and format to the group's actual ability and energy.
The core principles that guide every clinic we run, regardless of level.
We want fast-paced clinics, but if a ball is somewhere that could be unsafe, pause and make sure the court is clear before continuing. Stop the point if a ball rolls in midway, and always check both sides of the court before starting a point.
Lower levels get plenty of second chances on feeds. 3.0s to 4.0s get a few. 4.0s get minimal. 4.5s and above only at the very start of class or on a bad feed.
A great way to keep track of player rotations is to hold as many balls in your hand as you feed before rotating. If you rotate players every 4 feeds, take 4 balls in your hand.
Caveat: if you give a second chance, refill your hand with one more ball so you do not lose track of the rotation.
A clinic with six 30-year-olds and a clinic with three 30-year-olds and three 60-year-olds will run a little differently. With mixed fitness levels, avoid leaning too much on King of the Court, since the running pace will vary too much between players.
Especially for lower-level classes and juniors, think of skill progress in four stages:
Start players as low as possible and move them up quickly when they are ready, rather than starting them at a higher stage and having to walk them back. It is always easier to advance a player than to undo a stage that was too hard.
Players more often keep repeating a good habit because you told them they do it well than they fix a bad habit because you told them they do it badly. Catch and name what they are doing right.
When you are not sure how long a game will run, timing it keeps things on schedule. Example: with 4 players and 13 minutes left, play a game in two 5-minute rounds where one side is offense and the other is defense, and only the offense side counts points. Team A counts points in the first round, Team B in the second.
Assume these players know nothing about tennis etiquette. They may not know to leave space when they form a line so they do not hit each other, or to kick a stray ball out of the way when one is next to them. Use the dots on the court to direct players and be specific about where each one should go, rather than saying something like "go find a spot," and teach the basics as you go.
Clear, named instructions keep a clinic moving:
Avoid stacking the three strongest players against the three weakest.
When splitting into 3 vs 3 or one up / one back, use the setup to balance the matchup. For example, put your two strongest players back on the forehand side and your two weakest up on the backhand side, so the levels even out across the court.
Telling a young player to "pick up the balls" or "finish your follow-through" rarely sticks. The trick is to turn instructions into visuals and stories.
Keep every game simple and consistent:
Every clinic should balance three elements.
Players learn proper technique, strategy, and decision-making at their level.
Intensity stays high, with maximum repetitions, movement, and fitness.
Energy, connection, and competitive excitement keep players engaged and coming back.
Keeping players moving is what keeps a clinic high-energy. Using six players on a court as an example, here are three ways to control your rotations.
Rotate to the left every 4 feeds, or run "if you miss, you are out." Play a single game up to a target (for example 30), or play best out of 3 rounds of the same game with the same teams.
Play 3 rounds of the same game where one team holds the "king" side for a full round, so they get the most play time. On the other side, teams rotate every 4 feeds. When the round ends, the next team comes over and takes the king side for the next round.
Remember to switch the king-side players halfway through the round so both get forehands and backhands.
Play best out of 5 points to take over (or a clean winner). This usually gives the best pace. You can run it to a goal score, or alternatively play it timed at the end of practice. It is usually a good game to finish on.
A quick reference for how much instruction versus point play a group should get. The relative emphasis of each clinic element by level.
Focus heavily on groundstrokes.
Purpose: Build recognizable stroke production before adding movement.
Goal: String 3-5 balls together. Rally ability starts forming here.
Goal: baseline rally plus simple doubles awareness.
Focus heavily on groundstrokes.
Purpose: Build recognizable stroke production before adding movement.
Goal: String 5 or more balls together consistently.
Keep in mind that at the lower end of this range you will need to give more tips while the clinic runs.
A general structure that works well is:
For a 4-person class, you can finish with another cardio game instead.
The core games and competitive drills that anchor most clinics. Each entry lists how many players you need plus the rules and scoring so you can run it straight off the page.
Great for 5 (fit) players as a finisher. Remaining players queue by the net post.
First player or team to reach 32 points wins.
Both run as 12-week semesters. Pick the age group and ball color you're coaching.
First exposure or limited experience. Hand-eye coordination, simple swing shapes, jailbreak-style games. Advanced concepts layered in for ready campers.
Open program →Orange and green for ages 9-11; yellow for 12+. Builds rally tolerance, footwork, tactics, serve & return, and matchplay through a round-robin closer.
Open program →First exposure or limited experience. Advanced concepts in bold green* can be layered in for advanced campers.
First exposure or limited experience. Learning grips, swing shapes, and basic rules. Points are introduced but not emphasized.
Rally focus: attempts, not counts.
Previous knowledge. Working toward short rallies. Beginning variety and decision-making.
Rally focus: consistency with purpose.
Reinforces fundamentals while introducing rally tolerance and simple tactics. Cognitive load increases gradually and remains age-appropriate.
Rally focus: tolerance plus recovery positioning.
Ages 9-11: Orange (Beginner + Intermediate), Green (Advanced). Ages 12+: Yellow Ball. Advanced concepts in bold green*.
Rally focus: attempts, not rally counts.
Rally focus: consistency with purpose.
Rally focus: rally tolerance plus recovery positioning.
Both target beginner adults (USTA 2.0-2.5) with intermediate add-ons. Pick the semester length.
A compact four-week introduction: forehands, backhands, volleys & overheads, serve and matchplay. Best for short-form intro sessions.
Open program →A full eight-week build with rally work, approaches, transitions, matchplay prep, and a closing point-play recap.
Open program →A compact four-week introduction. Intermediate / Advanced add-ons in bold green*.
A full eight-week build with rally work, approaches, transitions, and matchplay. Intermediate / Advanced add-ons in bold green*.
Both run Mon-Thu, 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM. Pick the age group you're coaching.
Max 12 campers. Movement, coordination, racket skills, teamwork, and cooperative games over match play. Hitting wall, 2 mini nets, 1 full court.
Open camp →Max 16 campers. Stronger fundamentals, movement, controlled repetitions, cooperative rallying, skill-building games. 2 full courts.
Open camp →This camp focuses on movement, coordination, racket skills, teamwork, confidence, and character development through fun tennis activities and games.
Most campers are beginner recreational players, so camp prioritizes:
…rather than match play.
Keep kids active immediately.
Keep stations short and active.
Focus on movement and fun over competition.
Keep discussions short, positive, and interactive.
Keep conversations simple and interactive for younger campers.
This camp focuses on building strong fundamentals, movement skills, coordination, confidence, and consistency through structured drills and cooperative activities.
Most campers are beginner to intermediate recreational players, so camp prioritizes:
…rather than formal match play.
Focus on repetitions and athletic movement.
Competition should stay light and skill-focused.
Keep conversations short, practical, and interactive.
