Last week, I attended the Tennis Europe Coaches Conference in Antwerp, Belgium. The theme for the workshop was ‘Transitioning successful juniors into professional tennis players’. Many of us don’t work with players at that high level, but it got me thinking about how some of the key messages given out by the experts during the conference can be applied to lower level or younger players in our clubs.
What I heard
Why this a great quote for all junior players
Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t come with hard work! Banner on the courts at the Flemish National Training Centre in Antwerp.
So, so true. We see this all the time.
Anticipation is what a player IS going to do, and what a player is NOT going to do. Dermot Sweeney (ZAM/ITF)
Teach players to predict what the opponent will do or not do. Play points with your player. Freeze in the middle of the point to ask your player what you will do and what you won’t do next and why?
“Find a balance in the type of tournaments your players enter so that They win 25% of matches:
– They win 25% of matches
– They have a very close match in 50% of matches
– They lose 25% of matches”
Dermot Sweeney (ZAM/ITF)
Ensure that your players enter the right level of competition so that these percentages are achieved. Educate players and parents about the importance of the 50%!
“In the transition from junior to pro, the player should “be the CEO of the small enterprise (business) which consists of the player and his support team.”
Bernard Pestre (French Tennis Federation)
At what age do you start to teach players to take responsibility for their training and their lifestyle? These key messages can start at a young age and should involve the coach-parent-player team
“It’s not the drill but the quality and intensity. The attitude makes the difference.”
Hans Peter Born (German Tennis Federation)
When you run drills, stop and think: What’s the purpose? How can the player perform the drill to the best of their ability?
“A lot of players hit fast-paced balls, but not so many play tactically smart.”
Hans Peter Born (German Tennis Federation)
When and how do you introduce tactically smart tennis? Do you teach technique with a tactical purpose (effectiveness and efficiency)?
One of the reasons for the improvements in junior international and senior tennis in Canada is because of a change in mentality. “We will play to win” and to have effective repeatable technique.”
Jocelyn Robichaud (Tennis Canada High Performance)
Whilst winning matches isn’t a priority at a young age, “winning” in the broadest sense also means trying your best and working hard to achieve process (not outcome) goals. As players get older winning becomes more important. Are your players equipped to win?
Iain Bates (LTA)
How can you start to instil these qualities in your young players? Think about match IQ and how your players can learn to play smart tennis.
“Look at the drill, the skill and the will of the player.”
Louis Cayer (LTA)
When you run drills, stop and think: What’s the purpose? How can the player perform the drill to the best of their ability?
“Dominate the bounce.” Louis Cayer (LTA)
Use explosive first steps. Get behind the ball and stop before the bounce. Recover and stop before the opponent’s strike.
Leave a Reply