All tennis players sometime during their career will go through a slump whether it is a couple bad days of practice, a stretch of bad tournaments, or even a year or more of bad tennis. As a result, players begin to get frustrated and many players, in particular junior players, feel like the world is coming to an end. Players then begin to tighten up on their mechanics and rush their shots a bit. Their confidence in their game decrease and they begin to get more nervous before their next match. A slump could even go as far as leading a player to quit the sport.
Relax! Breathe! Slow Down! The faster players are able to relax, take deeper breathes, and slow down their play, the faster they will get out of their slump. Ball machine practice is a great way for players to relax. They do not have the pressure of winning a match but rather can focus on regaining confidence in their mechanics. While on the ball machine, the player can practice their slow breathing by making sure they exhale during the shot and feeling their body relax through impact. Slow down your play by taking some time off whether it is a day, week, or more. Taking time off will help will help the player come back fresh and forget about what caused the slump. Slow down your play, whether it is practice or a match. Playing fast will cause you to rush your shots and in many cases will cause the player to have shallow breathing.
Players have to realize this slump is not the end of the world and they will eventually break through. Believe it or not, there is more to life than tennis. Players will come to many crossroads in their life that will outweigh this slump. You will get through this, how fast is up to you. Enjoy tennis and do not let a little bump in the road discourage you. See you on the court!
David Minihan, director of tennis, is author of upcoming book Coaching Your Tennis Champion (Mansion Grove House). He is in his 10th year operating Westwood Tennis Center in Norman, Okla. His junior programming reaches hundreds of students each year and has prepared several for collegiate play. Minihan has been recognized with many awards as a member of the Oklahoma District and Missouri Valley Division of USPTA. He is certified by USPTA at the P-1 level.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
It All Begins With Your Feet
Whether you are a beginner or an advanced player, footwork is where it all begins in hitting effective ground strokes. The key to hitting successful ground strokes is putting your body in position to be successful. Below are a few tips that will aid you in future matches:
1) Understand the high percentage shots for your opponent. For example, if you hit a deep penetrating backhand crosscourt, the high percentage shot for your opponent is back crosscourt. Knowing the high percentage shot from your opponent will give you a head start in your positioning.
2) Knowing the proper recovery position. Staying with the example above, your recovery position after hitting the backhand crosscourt (for a right-handed player) would be just to the left of the center mark. Watching the professionals on television is a great learning tool to see where they recover after hitting the ball.
3) Follow the ball to the ground. A test I use frequently in my private lessons for all levels is to have my student point to where my ball bounced on their side of the court after they hit it. Test yourself! You’ll be amazed how much this is a challenge at first, but very manageable with practice. If you master this you will be in better position especially when retrieving shorter balls.
Check with your local teaching professional. They can help you with understanding high percentage shots from your opponent, proper recovery positions, and knowing where the ball is going to bounce before it lands. If you can master these three tips, you will be on your way to successful ground stokes. See you on the court!
David Minihan, director of tennis, is author of upcoming book Coaching Your Tennis Champion (Mansion Grove House). He is in his 10th year operating Westwood Tennis Center in Norman, Okla. His junior programming reaches hundreds of students each year and has prepared several for collegiate play. Minihan has been recognized with many awards as a member of the Oklahoma District and Missouri Valley Division of USPTA. He is certified by USPTA at the P-1 level.
1) Understand the high percentage shots for your opponent. For example, if you hit a deep penetrating backhand crosscourt, the high percentage shot for your opponent is back crosscourt. Knowing the high percentage shot from your opponent will give you a head start in your positioning.
2) Knowing the proper recovery position. Staying with the example above, your recovery position after hitting the backhand crosscourt (for a right-handed player) would be just to the left of the center mark. Watching the professionals on television is a great learning tool to see where they recover after hitting the ball.
3) Follow the ball to the ground. A test I use frequently in my private lessons for all levels is to have my student point to where my ball bounced on their side of the court after they hit it. Test yourself! You’ll be amazed how much this is a challenge at first, but very manageable with practice. If you master this you will be in better position especially when retrieving shorter balls.
Check with your local teaching professional. They can help you with understanding high percentage shots from your opponent, proper recovery positions, and knowing where the ball is going to bounce before it lands. If you can master these three tips, you will be on your way to successful ground stokes. See you on the court!
David Minihan, director of tennis, is author of upcoming book Coaching Your Tennis Champion (Mansion Grove House). He is in his 10th year operating Westwood Tennis Center in Norman, Okla. His junior programming reaches hundreds of students each year and has prepared several for collegiate play. Minihan has been recognized with many awards as a member of the Oklahoma District and Missouri Valley Division of USPTA. He is certified by USPTA at the P-1 level.
I’m Playing Horrible! What do I do?
Everyone has played one of those matches which they are having an “off” day. You are not alone! Now, how do you handle these situations? What separates the average players from the top ranked players is how they respond when they are having a bad day on the court. The key is not being stubborn. Don’t continue to play the same type of game which you have been struggling with during the match. If it’s not working, change your game. Begin to do such things such as hit more topspin loop balls, slice more, take pace off the shots, and hit more 2nd serves for your 1st serves. Remember: don’t panic, fight and play smart tennis!
David Minihan, director of tennis, is author of upcoming book Coaching Your Tennis Champion (Mansion Grove House). He is in his 10th year operating Westwood Tennis Center in Norman, Okla. His junior programming reaches hundreds of students each year and has prepared several for collegiate play. Minihan has been recognized with many awards as a member of the Oklahoma District and Missouri Valley Division of USPTA. He is certified by USPTA at the P-1 level.
David Minihan, director of tennis, is author of upcoming book Coaching Your Tennis Champion (Mansion Grove House). He is in his 10th year operating Westwood Tennis Center in Norman, Okla. His junior programming reaches hundreds of students each year and has prepared several for collegiate play. Minihan has been recognized with many awards as a member of the Oklahoma District and Missouri Valley Division of USPTA. He is certified by USPTA at the P-1 level.
Know the History of Your Match
As your match progresses it is important to study the history of the match. Does your opponent like to hit sharp angle forehands? Does your opponent like to hit kick serves? Where has he/she returned your wide slice serve? What has been their typical pattern of play? Players have a tendency to only worry about where they should hit the ball rather than understanding where their opponent has historically returned their shots. If you can study your opponent’s history, you will anticipate better and know where and where not to hit your shot. This will give you a major edge during the match especially if the match is becoming tight during the 3rd set. Play smart tennis and study the history of your match and you will find success! Good luck!
David Minihan, director of tennis, is author of upcoming book Coaching Your Tennis Champion (Mansion Grove House). He is in his 10th year operating Westwood Tennis Center in Norman, Okla. His junior programming reaches hundreds of students each year and has prepared several for collegiate play. Minihan has been recognized with many awards as a member of the Oklahoma District and Missouri Valley Division of USPTA. He is certified by USPTA at the P-1 level.
David Minihan, director of tennis, is author of upcoming book Coaching Your Tennis Champion (Mansion Grove House). He is in his 10th year operating Westwood Tennis Center in Norman, Okla. His junior programming reaches hundreds of students each year and has prepared several for collegiate play. Minihan has been recognized with many awards as a member of the Oklahoma District and Missouri Valley Division of USPTA. He is certified by USPTA at the P-1 level.
Managing Your Junior Player
As teaching professionals we have an obligation to make sure we manage our junior players properly. Sometimes in this profession, we can get in a rut and simply go through the motions. Admittedly, sometimes I get a little burned out while feeding balls and catch myself thinking about what my wife is cooking for dinner or how much I cannot wait to play with my daughter that evening. When this occurs, we have to make sure to take a step back, remember why we are here and focus on our student. We need to manage our player.
We attend USPTA conferences to learn and get new ideas from speakers and our colleagues. I wrote this article in the effort to give you new ideas that you can take and expand. Managing your junior players is extremely important in the development of their game. It is your responsibility to make sure your players not only have the proper mechanics, but also that they are playing the correct tournaments, keeping the correct practice schedule, and making sure their mental game is intact. Below are some tools that will help you manage your junior players.
Player-to-Watch Ladder
I know what you’re thinking – “not another ladder.” This one is a little different and works great with junior players. This ladder was designed with developing a work ethic as the main focus. The players get rewarded with points for their on-court activities and performances. The box below contains a point breakdown. Unlike a traditional ladder, players do not challenge other players. This ladder is based primarily on work ethic. All types of players, beginner through advanced, can participate in the same ladder. The first step is to make postcards that list the point categories shown below. After players finish the training, they get the postcard from the pro shop and check off which activity they have completed and on which date. In addition, players learn responsibility for turning in their cards. If they do not turn in the card, they do not get credit. The professional updates the ladder every Monday morning and posts the ladder results on the bulletin board. Another bonus to this ladder is that the player’s personal coach can observe the ladder progress and note which areas his or her player is and is not working on. For example, if five weeks have passed and John only has 30 points (one match) in the practice match category, then the coach would be able to let John know that one practice match in five weeks is not enough. At the end of the season, the pro should award the winner who had the most points with a trophy or some type of prize. In addition, it is a good idea to turn in the results to the high school and/or college coaches to show how much work their players put in for that season. This accountability to the other coaches encourages the players to work harder.
Professional journal
When a medical doctor comes in your patient room, he brings your personal file for reference. Often my doctors will come in and ask how the tennis business is going or about another aspect of my life. Similarly, all teaching professionals at my facility have their own teaching cart with a clipboard and notebook attached to the basket. After each lesson, the professionals write down what they worked on and what their player’s assignment is before the next lesson, such as hitting three baskets of serves. They also make note of personal events, such as the player having a soccer game or going on vacation before the next lesson. When that lesson arrives, the professional can review the notes and remember to ask about the student’s soccer game or vacation. In addition, the professional can ask if the student fulfilled the lesson assignment and hit three baskets of serves. By writing down notes, it shows your student that you care and it will impress parents as well. Another benefit to this is that it provides a way for the director to check the assistants’ notebooks and make sure the professionals are not just “going through the motions.”
Staff meetings
It is important to have weekly meetings with your staff to make sure your assistants are managing their players as well. A couple of guidelines you might follow:
• Professionals need to work together to ensure players are being directed correctly.
For instance, when professionals are working the players out in drills/clinics, one pro might see something that the players’ personal coaches have not seen, such as hitting their forehand on their heels. That needs to be brought up in the staff meeting to the players’ personal coaches and then resolved on the court in the next private lesson. Professionals need to work as a team and by doing this a player has a much better chance of succeeding in match play.
• This is also a great time for the director to review the staff members’ journals (see Page 12) and make any suggestions for future assignments.
• Discuss the lesson plan for the week’s beginner, intermediate, and advanced drills.
• This is the time to discuss “problem players.” Every club/tennis center will come across a player who is distracting to the rest of the juniors during drill sessions. This is the time to discuss as a staff how to handle this junior in the most effective way.
• You should discuss the player’s performance in the past weekend’s tournament. This is a good time to encourage the staff pros to recognize the players who finished well during group drills.
Parent-player conference
A parent-player conference is always a good idea, whether you meet with them once a year or more often. A few points of interest:
• Educate the players and parents on certain areas the players need to work on to get to the next level and what “homework” they need to do in order to address those issues.
• Inform the players and parents which tournaments to play or when the players are ready to play tournaments. This is very important. Parents and players rely on their teaching pro to give them guidance on when they should start playing tournaments. They also rely on us to guide them on the right path to receive a USTA district, sectional, or national ranking. While all tournaments are online, most sections are not sending out hard copies of the tournament schedule. Print off the season’s tournaments and guidelines on how to sign up for a tournament online. This is a great service for your junior development program and the parents will appreciate it as well. Make sure you are educated on the USTA rules and regulations. This is the time when you can explain which programs the player needs to sign up for, whether it be group drills, team tennis or private lessons.
• It is also a great way to sit down with a player you are having discipline problems with and discuss your concerns with the player and his parents.
• This is also the time to discuss future and past goals.
Player’s packet
A nice addition to your junior development curriculum and player management is providing the players with a packet that includes the following:
• The season’s tournament schedule
• Procedures on how to get a district, sectional, or national ranking
• How to register for a tournament online
• The programs offered at your club: Make sure you add fliers that might not apply to your target student, but might apply to a younger brother or sister.
• Include the tension and string your player plays with so he will know if he needs a racquet restrung at a tournament. Also, include how often the racquet should be restrung.
• Include a call list of all the players in your junior development program to aid them in scheduling practice matches.
Junior players and college tennis
Teaching professionals who are working with students who want to play collegiate tennis should help them find the best school to fit them. The following are a few guidelines:
• Have the players start looking for schools by the start of their sophomore year or before. They should compile a list of potential schools and give them to you.
• As the player gives you a list of schools, begin to do research on the schools. Is the school NCAA Division I, II, III, NJCAA or NAIA? Does your student fit into that level?
• Communicate with the college coaches and ask them about their tennis program and what type of player they are looking for.
• Write a letter of recommendation for your student.
• Make a video of your player for college coaches.
Most college coaches are looking for what players achieve through their USTA rankings rather than high school accomplishments. While high school tennis is important, USTA tournament rankings give the coaches a better indication of where the player stands in relation to their team and their expectations. You want to stress the importance to your players of playing USTA tournaments and achieving the highest ranking possible. Most college coaches begin looking at players and their rankings by their sophomore year or sometimes sooner. They will begin research on players during this year because they can begin written communication with them after Sept. 1 of their junior year. However, sometimes you need to help a player get a college coach’s recognition. Don’t let a player get discouraged. More times than not, there is a college out there for a student. Make sure that student stays persistent and on the right path.
Managing your junior player properly and giving 100 percent to that student will reap you rewards as an instructor. Not only will you feel good about yourself, but it shows that you truly care about your student and you will develop a friendship for years to come. Players and parents will see how much you care and will spread the word, resulting in more business for you. Remember, do not just go through the motions. The lesson does not end after that hour is up.
David Minihan, director of tennis, is author of upcoming book Coaching Your Tennis Champion (Mansion Grove House). He is in his 10th year operating Westwood Tennis Center in Norman, Okla. His junior programming reaches hundreds of students each year and has prepared several for collegiate play. Minihan has been recognized with many awards as a member of the Oklahoma District and Missouri Valley Division of USPTA. He is certified by USPTA at the P-1 level.
Credit: Article by David Minihan, reproduced with permission from ADDvantage Magazine.
We attend USPTA conferences to learn and get new ideas from speakers and our colleagues. I wrote this article in the effort to give you new ideas that you can take and expand. Managing your junior players is extremely important in the development of their game. It is your responsibility to make sure your players not only have the proper mechanics, but also that they are playing the correct tournaments, keeping the correct practice schedule, and making sure their mental game is intact. Below are some tools that will help you manage your junior players.
Player-to-Watch Ladder
I know what you’re thinking – “not another ladder.” This one is a little different and works great with junior players. This ladder was designed with developing a work ethic as the main focus. The players get rewarded with points for their on-court activities and performances. The box below contains a point breakdown. Unlike a traditional ladder, players do not challenge other players. This ladder is based primarily on work ethic. All types of players, beginner through advanced, can participate in the same ladder. The first step is to make postcards that list the point categories shown below. After players finish the training, they get the postcard from the pro shop and check off which activity they have completed and on which date. In addition, players learn responsibility for turning in their cards. If they do not turn in the card, they do not get credit. The professional updates the ladder every Monday morning and posts the ladder results on the bulletin board. Another bonus to this ladder is that the player’s personal coach can observe the ladder progress and note which areas his or her player is and is not working on. For example, if five weeks have passed and John only has 30 points (one match) in the practice match category, then the coach would be able to let John know that one practice match in five weeks is not enough. At the end of the season, the pro should award the winner who had the most points with a trophy or some type of prize. In addition, it is a good idea to turn in the results to the high school and/or college coaches to show how much work their players put in for that season. This accountability to the other coaches encourages the players to work harder.
Professional journal
When a medical doctor comes in your patient room, he brings your personal file for reference. Often my doctors will come in and ask how the tennis business is going or about another aspect of my life. Similarly, all teaching professionals at my facility have their own teaching cart with a clipboard and notebook attached to the basket. After each lesson, the professionals write down what they worked on and what their player’s assignment is before the next lesson, such as hitting three baskets of serves. They also make note of personal events, such as the player having a soccer game or going on vacation before the next lesson. When that lesson arrives, the professional can review the notes and remember to ask about the student’s soccer game or vacation. In addition, the professional can ask if the student fulfilled the lesson assignment and hit three baskets of serves. By writing down notes, it shows your student that you care and it will impress parents as well. Another benefit to this is that it provides a way for the director to check the assistants’ notebooks and make sure the professionals are not just “going through the motions.”
Staff meetings
It is important to have weekly meetings with your staff to make sure your assistants are managing their players as well. A couple of guidelines you might follow:
• Professionals need to work together to ensure players are being directed correctly.
For instance, when professionals are working the players out in drills/clinics, one pro might see something that the players’ personal coaches have not seen, such as hitting their forehand on their heels. That needs to be brought up in the staff meeting to the players’ personal coaches and then resolved on the court in the next private lesson. Professionals need to work as a team and by doing this a player has a much better chance of succeeding in match play.
• This is also a great time for the director to review the staff members’ journals (see Page 12) and make any suggestions for future assignments.
• Discuss the lesson plan for the week’s beginner, intermediate, and advanced drills.
• This is the time to discuss “problem players.” Every club/tennis center will come across a player who is distracting to the rest of the juniors during drill sessions. This is the time to discuss as a staff how to handle this junior in the most effective way.
• You should discuss the player’s performance in the past weekend’s tournament. This is a good time to encourage the staff pros to recognize the players who finished well during group drills.
Parent-player conference
A parent-player conference is always a good idea, whether you meet with them once a year or more often. A few points of interest:
• Educate the players and parents on certain areas the players need to work on to get to the next level and what “homework” they need to do in order to address those issues.
• Inform the players and parents which tournaments to play or when the players are ready to play tournaments. This is very important. Parents and players rely on their teaching pro to give them guidance on when they should start playing tournaments. They also rely on us to guide them on the right path to receive a USTA district, sectional, or national ranking. While all tournaments are online, most sections are not sending out hard copies of the tournament schedule. Print off the season’s tournaments and guidelines on how to sign up for a tournament online. This is a great service for your junior development program and the parents will appreciate it as well. Make sure you are educated on the USTA rules and regulations. This is the time when you can explain which programs the player needs to sign up for, whether it be group drills, team tennis or private lessons.
• It is also a great way to sit down with a player you are having discipline problems with and discuss your concerns with the player and his parents.
• This is also the time to discuss future and past goals.
Player’s packet
A nice addition to your junior development curriculum and player management is providing the players with a packet that includes the following:
• The season’s tournament schedule
• Procedures on how to get a district, sectional, or national ranking
• How to register for a tournament online
• The programs offered at your club: Make sure you add fliers that might not apply to your target student, but might apply to a younger brother or sister.
• Include the tension and string your player plays with so he will know if he needs a racquet restrung at a tournament. Also, include how often the racquet should be restrung.
• Include a call list of all the players in your junior development program to aid them in scheduling practice matches.
Junior players and college tennis
Teaching professionals who are working with students who want to play collegiate tennis should help them find the best school to fit them. The following are a few guidelines:
• Have the players start looking for schools by the start of their sophomore year or before. They should compile a list of potential schools and give them to you.
• As the player gives you a list of schools, begin to do research on the schools. Is the school NCAA Division I, II, III, NJCAA or NAIA? Does your student fit into that level?
• Communicate with the college coaches and ask them about their tennis program and what type of player they are looking for.
• Write a letter of recommendation for your student.
• Make a video of your player for college coaches.
Most college coaches are looking for what players achieve through their USTA rankings rather than high school accomplishments. While high school tennis is important, USTA tournament rankings give the coaches a better indication of where the player stands in relation to their team and their expectations. You want to stress the importance to your players of playing USTA tournaments and achieving the highest ranking possible. Most college coaches begin looking at players and their rankings by their sophomore year or sometimes sooner. They will begin research on players during this year because they can begin written communication with them after Sept. 1 of their junior year. However, sometimes you need to help a player get a college coach’s recognition. Don’t let a player get discouraged. More times than not, there is a college out there for a student. Make sure that student stays persistent and on the right path.
Managing your junior player properly and giving 100 percent to that student will reap you rewards as an instructor. Not only will you feel good about yourself, but it shows that you truly care about your student and you will develop a friendship for years to come. Players and parents will see how much you care and will spread the word, resulting in more business for you. Remember, do not just go through the motions. The lesson does not end after that hour is up.
David Minihan, director of tennis, is author of upcoming book Coaching Your Tennis Champion (Mansion Grove House). He is in his 10th year operating Westwood Tennis Center in Norman, Okla. His junior programming reaches hundreds of students each year and has prepared several for collegiate play. Minihan has been recognized with many awards as a member of the Oklahoma District and Missouri Valley Division of USPTA. He is certified by USPTA at the P-1 level.
Credit: Article by David Minihan, reproduced with permission from ADDvantage Magazine.
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