There are two doubles teams – A-B and C-D. 

The first point of the game will begin with player A receiving serve (on the deuce side), player B (A’s partner) at the service line, player C serving from the deuce side, and player D (C’s partner) at the service line (see graphic below). 

The purpose of this drill is to get team A-B in a situation where they have to defend against a net player. For this we’ll have the following drill:

As soon as player C serves, player D will move up from the service line toward the net; the return of serve (executed by player A) must be hit toward player D. From there on, the point is played out with players being allowed to hit anywhere in the court. 

(The reason we recommend player D to begin the point from the service line is so that she does not get too close to the net when the return of serve comes to her – that would make it too easy to put the ball away). 

Note to player D: She must practice proper footwork (split step) as she moves up to the net following the sound of her partner’s serve. 

Note to players: This drill will teach the receiving team how to handle the point when the returner is forced (or chooses) to hit the first ball to the opposite team’s net player. 

Play games to 7 points; after each game, the players can rotate clockwise one spot so that each player gets to experiment with every situation.