Split Step: The Hop That Beats the Ball

A partner warm-up built around the split step: a small two-foot hop right as the opponent strikes. It trains reaction and the first steps toward the ball.

How to play

1. Partners face each other four meters apart with two cones beside the receiver; easy side shuffles between the cones (2 min).
2. The tosser fakes a throw; at that moment the receiver does a small hop and lands with feet apart (2 min).
3. The tosser bounces the ball toward one cone; the receiver hops, moves to that side and catches after one bounce (3 min).
4. Switch roles and add a short toss that pulls the receiver forward (2 min).
5. Ankle, knee and hip mobility to finish (1 min).

Rules

• Toss underhand with a bounce, never at the face.
• Each pair stays in its own lane so no one crosses paths.
• Keep the hop small and land with soft knees.

Variations

Adaptations

• Deaf or hard-of-hearing students: the tosser exaggerates the arm fake so the cue is visual.
• Limited mobility: replace the hop with a trunk sway and receive tosses within arm's reach.
• Knee recovering from injury: no hop, just an active stance on the balls of the feet.

Learning goals

• Learn when to split step.
• React faster to the ball's direction.
• Activate the legs before net games.

Equipment for a class of 25

• tennis balls: 15
• cones: 30

Teacher tip

The common mistake is hopping too early or freezing on landing: cue it as "hop when their arm moves." It carries over to tennis, padel and pickleball.

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