The first task is to divide the group into two groups.  I often just count "one" - "two" as I point to each child as I move around the group.  I designate the "ones" as tossers and the "twos" as hitters.   Next have the "ones" stand in a line facing a line of "twos." 

The person directly in front of another is their partner.  The hitters should line up with their backs to a wall or a fence, but about 3-4 feet away from the fence (you will need some walkspace to help the hitters later).  The tossers are facing them in a line about 15 feet or so away.  Have everyone spread out so there is room to swing a racquet without hitting a neighbor.

Tossing and hitting drills work best when everyone knows how to toss properly.  Don't assume everyone can.   Show them how to toss the ball correctly.   For right-handers, they hold the ball in their right hand, step with their left foot, and then toss the ball underhand with a long follow-through out toward their target.   Have the two groups toss the ball back and forth.  The ball should bounce once, a little more than half way between the players, before they catch it.

Once they can toss and catch the ball accurately, you can have them begin to practice a tennis skill.   I usually do forehands first, then backhands; later drop feeds and volleys.  If I have an hour lesson and am working with really young kids, one session with forehands is enough; I'll review the forehand and introduce the backhand in the next session.   Older kids can probably absorb both forehands and backhands in the same lesson.

In VJTTA we use the "Show The Logo" concept, and all these tossing and hitting drills should re-enforce that concept.   I like to have my tossers act as assistants, by issuing commands to the hitters before they toss the ball to them.  For example, the tosser would say to the hitter standing in front of her:  "ready?"  "unit turn" and "show the logo" before tossing the ball.  If the hitter does not perform these commands first and correctly, the tosser does not toss the ball.

While the group is tossing and hitting, you can walk around and assist the players.  Most of your focus will be on the hitters, but you will probably also have to help some tossers improve their delivery.   I like to replace little Billy by saying, "let me show you how to toss better."  Then I toss several balls to Billy's partner, who finally gets a couple of good tosses to hit so he can practice his swing.   Then I let Billy resume his tossing.

After the tossers have tossed for 5 minutes or so, have them change roles, so the tossers are the new hitters and the hitters are now tossers.

After doing the toss and hit on the forehand side, you can do it on the backhand side, following the same procedure as above.  When walking around the hittings, watch for the correct grips, good shoulder turn and "showing the logo," short low backswings, long follow-throughs, etc.  It is easier to spot these things and correct them quickly when someone else is feeding and you are standing nearby the player stroking the ball.  Nip the bad habits early, and the kids will progress rapidly.

You can have the kids practice volleys by again dividing them into hitters and tossers, but this time have them on opposite sides of the net.  The hitters or volleyers will stand a few feet away from the net; the tossers will be a few feet further away.  The volleyers will present their racquets as targets for the tossers.  Have the tossers call out instruction to the hitters: "Ready position, turn, show the logo," before they toss underhand toward the target racquet face.

You as the coach can walk behind the volleyers and help them turn their shoulders 45 degrees to the net, get their racquet strings parallel to the net, and their racquet tilted slightly backwards.  A recommended method is to reach around them from behind and actually hold on to their racquet on the forehand side (your hand above theirs on the handle) and volley the ball for them.  This gives them a feel for how the volley should be stroked.

Have the hitters volley the ball up so that the tossers can catch the ball.  To do this, they will have to lay their racquet back a little, which will facilitate learning the proper volley stroke.  After several hits, have the two groups change positions (i.e., volleyers are now tossers and vice versa).  There is more on teaching the volley here.

You can also use the tossers and hitters format for a self-feed drill.  Once you have taught the self feed (click here), you can divide the group in two, with one group the feeders and the other group the catchers.   The feeders will stand on the service line and do a drop feed over the net into the service box opposite them.  Catchers will stand behind the service line on the other side of the net and catch the ball that is being fed to them.  Have them catch it after the first bounce if they can.

It is more orderly if you have the kids feed one ball all at the same time. Station a basket between the service line and the baseline and have them come back and take just one ball for feeding from the service line. The catchers on the other side can catch the ball and then set it down behind them between their service line and the baseline.  The feeders can hit several balls each, or until they are out of balls.  Then you can have the catchers pick up their racquets and hit all the balls they have gathered back to the former feeders, who are now catchers.

This is a good drill for everyone involved. The self-feeders will have to swing properly (low-to-high, long follow-through, etc.) in order to get the ball over the net and into the service box.  The catchers will get valuable experience judging the ball's flight and direction in order to catch it on the first bounce.

The self-feed and catching drill described above lends itself to a nice progression into mini-doubles.   After the kids can feed and catch satisfactorily, you can have the catchers hold a racquet in their hand and do a "show the logo" and then just stop or block the ball with their racquet (no swing).  Once they can do this successfully, you can have them stop the ball but push it back; that is, swing forward from the "show the logo" position as the ball reaches the racquet.  You might need to sub-divide the group so only four people are on the court, two on each side of the net.  The final step would be for the kids to begin rallying the ball back and forth over the net.

Tossing and hitting drills are good because they keep everyone busy practicing tennis-related skills.  Most importantly, it allows the coach to move freely among the players correcting basic elements of the grip, footwork, "show the logo" position, swing, and follow-through.   In many instances, you can guide the students' racquets through the swing, helping them develop the critical feel and muscle memory needed for good stroke production.

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