5-MINUTE JOG
Jennifer: We start off with a 5-minute jog off site. It’s just a
normal jog, but we add in a side-step and cross-step as well.
Alex has got a little bunny hop she likes to throw in there, and I
have a got a butt-kicking jog I like to do where you literally jog
while hitting your behind with your feet.
Alex: It doesn't just help warm us up and get our blood moving,
but it helps us connect as a team. We can catch up a little bit
if we haven't seen each other, and also, we can get ready by
talking strategy about who our opponents are going to be.
WRIST STRETCHES
Jennifer: We also like to do a few wrist stretches. We use
our paddle to help stretch out our wrists and hands. The
reason I personally like to do this stretch is because, for
work, I use a computer a lot which can make my wrists
tight. So, when warming up, we want to keep our hands
happy.
DINK WARM-UP
Alex: Next we move to the court and start with the dink.
We hit the ball back and forth, straight across from each
other in the center of the court. And from there, still
dinking, we both move right, putting us at opposite ends of
the court. We go back and forth doing that for a while.
Jennifer: We want to get a feel of the ball and also get our
legs moving and working that kitchen line. And once we're
comfortable with that, we go to volleys, and we do the
same thing.
VOLLEY WARM-UP
Alex: We often ask ourselves at this point, "How's it feeling?"
Sometimes it might be, "You know, I've missed a few
forehand dinks in a row. I need to do a few more." Or Jen
might say, "Hit my backhand volley." And so, we just see how
it feels and go from there.
Jennifer: And then it's a wrap, and it's game time! •
MAY/JUNE 2018 |
MAGAZINE
17