Player Development and coaching
syllabus 2015
Written by Stephen Whelan
LTA Level 4 Performance Coach
LTA Coach Education Tutor
T:07989162851 e: stephen@protennisacademy.org.uk w: www.protennisacademy.org.uk
1. Our Mission statement:
Our vision is to promote the health and social benefits of Tennis to the masses.
Our mission is promoting and encouraging the playing and enjoyment of tennis for all ages,
abilities and backgrounds. We aim to do this by offering players, parents, coaches and clubs
advice, support and coaching services.
2. Program Aims and Outcomes:
Pro Tennis Academy is aiming to produce:
“SELF RELIANT PERFORMERS who are FOCUSED, COMPETITIVE and ATHLETIC playing SMART
tennis with EFFECTIVE strokes”
Tennis is a sport that should be enjoyed by everyone and we aim to ensure players can be the very
best they can be no matter what level of tennis they compete in.
This player program guide and syllabus will outline our coaching philosophies and our structure to
help meet the needs of our players.
Specific Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this course, our players will be:




Self Reliant –Takes responsibility for their tennis, their performance and results
Performers –A player that can produce the goods when under pressure
Focused – Maximum focus on the task in practice or matchplay
Competitive- Plays to beat an opponent, but is also competitive with their own
performance. They are constantly looking to achieve personal bests
 Athletic- Physically conditioned to the highest level, but also engages physically in every task
or point to the best of their ability
 Smart- Identifies best strategies to achieve a task or beat an opponent and makes decisions
within drills and points to implement those strategies
 Effective – Strokes that are repeatable and do not fatigue or cause injury through repetition.
Strokes that achieve their intended outcome and that have the potential for future
development
3. The coaching process
A definition of the coaching process is:
‘The purposeful engagement of the athlete and the coach for the purpose of improving
performance’
(Lyle & Cross, 1999; Lyle, 2002)
There are 5 stages in the coaching process:
Identifying the teaching area which will make the biggest impact on the development of the player is
perhaps the most important part of the coaching process. The two stages during which this happens
are called observation and analysis.
Observation
We will observe a player to obtain specific information on their experience, background and why
they wish to play tennis and receive coaching. Our coaches will gather this information from you the
player of your parents either informally or via a short player goal sheet. The coach may observe you
in a ‘taster’ session and see what standard of play you’re currently at. You will in your first lesson be
taken through a quick ‘on court player assessment.
These drills are designed to test your tennis ability in key ‘tactical situations’ under some pressure.
The assessment will consist of four simple drills.


Forehand – Player must hit forehands cross court, player scores a point for every
successful shot. Player has three attempts
Backhands- Player must hit backhands crosscourt, player scores a point for every
successful shot. Player has three attempts


At or approaching the net – Player hits 25 shots in blocks of five, they include a midcourt ball, two volleys, a smash and a drop volley (x5). Player scores a point for every
successful shot.
Serve – Player hits ten serves (5 each side), player scores a point for every successful
serve
Analysis
Analysis is identifying how a player will achieve the improvement that has previously been observed.
It is this analysis that ultimately identifies the teaching areas that the coach will work on with the
player.
Using the information collected via the observation sheet and on court assessment you will be
awarded a ‘playing standard level’ based on the chart below. This will help give you an
understanding of where you are on the spectrum of players at Pro Tennis Academy and what areas
you need to improve to progress.
What level are you?
Level
Award
Forehand
Backhand
1 (Can be
performed
mid court)
2
Newbie
Less than 5
Challenger
player
Tour
player
Master
series
player
Grand
Slam
player
3
4
5
Serve
Less than 5
At or
approaching
the net
Less than 5
5-9
5-9
5-9
5-6
10-14
10-14
10-14
6-7
14-19
14-19
15-19
7+
20+ all shots
are past the
service line
20+ all shots
are past the
service line
20+ all shots
are past the
service line
7+ Player
must
nominate
forehand or
backhand side
to serve too
Less than 5
At the end of the observation and analysis process the coach and player will be in a position to set
meaningful goals for the player to work towards. These will be presented in the form of a goal
setting sheet (Week two of a new term).
Improvement
By the end of this stage:
The player should understand the information that they are being given by the coach to improve
their game. They should be able to produce the new skill with some consistency, but perhaps only in
a relatively simple more closed practice situation.
Things the coach will do:
-
Give the player the information they need to make the improvement
Give the information in the most effective way possible. A demonstration of the skill is
perhaps the most important was to give the information
Give the player the opportunity to perform the new skill in a simple practice situation
Give the player precise and encouraging feedback so that they know whether they are
achieving the new skill
Things the player will do:
-
Work hard mentally to understand what they are doing and what they need to do
Shadow / copy the coach to get an initial feel for the new skill
Make a lot of mistakes while they are trying something new
Feel frustrated – and possibly lose confidence
Development
By the end of this stage:
The player will be more confident and able to produce the new skill on a regular basis. The will also
be able to assess whether or not they have produced it correctly – they may still make mistakes but
they will be able to self correct. They will be able to produce the new skill under more time and
movement pressure and in situations with more variety.
Things the coach will do:
-
Set the player up in more open practice situations that involve more movement and variety
Give the player lots of repetitions so they have the opportunity to develop the new skill
Not give so much information, the coach may not say anything for several repetitions
Occasionally give feedback that is specific to the skill being developed. The feedback can be
quick as the player should have a good understanding of what they are trying to do
Work with the player in matchplay situations as well as practice situations
Things the player will do:
-
Give input into how they would like to practice the new skill
Give feedback to the coach as to how they feel they are progressing towards achieving the
new skill
Ask the coach for further information and advice in specific areas if they need more help
Start to self correct when the make mistakes
In the development stage of the coaching process coaches will also be charting practice and match
play performances in order to measure progress.
Evaluation
By the end of this stage:
The coach and player will have reviewed the progress made towards achieving the new skill. They
will also agree further steps such as what the player could practice in the following days and what
they need to remember during upcoming matches.
Things the coach will do:
-
Ask the player how they feel they are progressing towards achieving the new skill
Ask questions to check the player’s understanding of key areas
Praise the player for their effort and application during the session
Give specific feedback on the progress made and the areas need to be remembered
Help the player set further goals for the next time they play and the next session
Things the player will do:
-
Work hard mentally to reflect on how they’ve done and where they want to go next
Ask for more help if they need it
Challenge the coach to push them harder if they feel up to it
Ask for clarity on further and related areas
Basic Term Structure
We use this coaching process over the course of a term (usually 12 weeks) to help develop Long
Term Athletic Skills.
Week
Coaching process
1
Observation and analysis
How….
-
New player information
sheets
On court assessment
2
3
4
5
6
Improvement
-
Give the player the
opportunity to
perform the new skill
in a simple practice
situation
7
8
9
10
Development
-
Set the player up in
more open practice
situations that involve
more movement and
variety
11
Evaluation
-
12
Match Play
-
On court player
assessment
Fun session
4. We teach you how to play THE GAME
Tennis is an ‘open’ game, this means the ball is ‘live’ and can bounce anywhere on the
court, at different heights, speeds and spins.
At Pro Tennis Academy we teach players how to play ‘THE GAME’ of tennis, this means a
focus on knowing the different situations you will find yourself in, hitting the ball with
intention and having an overall a strategy to win.
‘Every shot you hit should have a purpose. Every shot you hit has a consequence or
provides an opportunity ‘Steve Whelan, Head Coach
Playing situations
In tennis (singles) a player will find themselves in 1 of 5 game situations at any time during a point.
The game situations are:
-
Serving
Returning
Both back
Player going into or at the net
Player’s opponent coming into or at the net
A player may change between several game situations in any one point.
Tactical Intentions
In any game situation a player will select a tactical intention for that stroke as the ball comes
towards them. These are:
-
Trading:
maintaining the 50 – 50 nature of the rally
Building:
attempting to gain an advantage from a more neutral situation
Finishing:
winning the point with that stroke
Neutralising:
returning the point to 50 – 50 when in a defensive situation
Staying:
making the opponent play another shot when in a defensive
situation
Turning around: switching the point back into an advantage situation when in a
defensive situation
The intention that a player chooses is determined by:
-
the preceding ball that they hit
the ball they receive
their position
their opponent’s position
Strategies
A player can hit an effective stroke (i.e. achieve the tactical intention) by maximising one or several
strategies. The core strategies are:
-
Consistency
Control space: hit to spaces / make the opponent move / maintain a good court
position
Control time: hit the ball hard / take the ball earlier
Play to an opponent’s weakness
Maximise their strengths
During our coaching we will cover all these areas and encourage players to develop their own
unique game styles and patterns of play
Game style and patterns of play
A player’s game style represents everything they are on the court. In other words, it is their tactical
intentions and strategies, technical ability, physical ability, and personality all rolled into one. Often
referred to as a player’s ‘signature’, a game style is not something that can be altered immediately.
Instead, it is a constantly evolving tennis identity that each player ‘grows’ into over time.
For example, players with strong groundstrokes who attack mainly from the back court possess
‘aggressive baseline’ game styles. Andy Roddick and Maria Sharapova are good examples of this type
of player. They are physically strong, their technique allows them to produce power and control, and
they are prepared to take risks in order to dominate their opponents.
Patterns of play represent the actual sequence of shots that are used to execute each strategy.
These patterns can be altered between points and matches without the player changing their game
style. These shot selection decisions will be based upon such factors as the opponent’s strengths and
weaknesses, match conditions, court surface, etc.
For example, Andy Roddick will vary between hitting the serve down the middle and the serve out
wide when using the serve and groundstroke attack tactic. The serve out wide allows him to create
more space to hit his second shot into (controlling space), whereas the serve down the middle
allows him to use his inside-out forehand more often (controlling time + maximising his strength).
In other words, he changes his patterns but his game style remains the same.
Pro Tennis Academy – Annual Plan
As there is so much to cover in terms of situations, intentions and strategies we use an annual plan
to work on key areas at certain times of the year. The goal is to cover all the situations, intentions
and strategies in 12 months enabling a player to get a more complete game.
Current Annual Plan 2015-16
Program
Winter
Program
Number of
weeks
(Approx.)
13 weeks
Term
Situation’s
Jan –
Feb
-
When
Serving
Both Back
Intentions
-
Building
Finishing
Strategy’s
-
Mar –
Apr
-
Returning
Both Back
-
Neutralising
Staying
-
Summer
Program
16 weeks
Apr –
May
-
Serving
Approaching
or at the
Net
-
Building
Finishing
-
Jun Aug
-
Both Back
Opponent
approaching
or at the net
-
Trading
Neutralising
-
Autumn
Program
16 weeks
Sept –
Oct
-
Returning
Opponent
approaching
or at the net
-
Staying
Turning
-
Nov –
Dec
-
Serving
Both Back
-
Building
Finishing
-
Control
Space
Control
Time
Attack
weaknesses
Control
Space
Control
Time
Control
Space
Control
Time
Attack
weaknesses
Consistency
Play to
opponents
weakness
Control
space
Consistency
Play to
opponents
weakness
Control
space
Control
Space
Control
Time
Attack
weaknesses
5. Technical effectiveness
It is widely accepted that technique is not the crucial issue in terms of which of the group of players
at the top of the rankings becomes the very best. Physical condition, tactical awareness or mental
toughness are more likely to be the deciding issues at this highest level. At Pro Tennis Academy we
will not have you standing in lines and looking for perfect technique, we understand that everyone’s
technique will be different therefore we teach you how to be technically effective.
Increasing technical effectiveness means improving a player’s ability to win points by improving their
ability to achieve intended stroke intentions. The improvement is achieved through development of
one or a combination of the 5 ball characteristics:
-
speed
spin
direction
height
depth
We teach players the ‘effectiveness’ of changing one or a combination of these characteristics will
have an effect on their ‘tactical intention’. Example if a player is struggling to control space by hitting
a ball too short we will look to increase height, speed and spin of the shot.
To be successful we will have to develop players in three key areas
-
-
Footwork Skills (Influence the ball characteristics, as they create the environment
for the players to use the correct body skills that influence the path, angle and speed
of the racquet) –
Body Skills (Influence the ball characteristics by creating the environment for the
racquet to move with a correct path, angle and speed)
Racket Skills (The Path, Angle and Speed of the racquet are determining factors of
the ball characteristics)
In these three areas we may look at the underpinning factors such as set up, timing, feel and
mechanics
Set up:
-
Is the player in the right position to achieve the PAS goals and hence the intention?
Have they got into that position in enough time?
Have they reacted to the ball early enough?
Have they judged the incoming ball correctly?
Have they used the most efficient and effective footwork to get to the ball.
Timing:
-
Is their contact point in the best position in relation to their body?
Is the contact point consistent?
Are they attempting to make contact at the appropriate point in the balls trajectory?
Feeling:
-
Is their racket action and swing appropriate to their intention?
Building groundstrokes require a swing action with acceleration before and through
contact
Neutralising returns of first serves require a shorter jabbing action
Mechanics:
-
What does the player need to change at contact to achieve their intention?
Does the player need to change Path, Angle or Speed of the racket at contact?
Compare racket and body shapes to ranges of acceptability
Assess biomechanical efficiency of stroke production and consider
developments related to intention
6. Feedback
Your coach will constantly communicate with you as the player on your progress. This
communication will also be passed onto parents of younger players. This communication
will take form of the following
Term reports – Term reports will be produced three times per year. These reports will
highlight your current playing standard grade, update your goals and have general
comments about your progress.
55 Minute rule – Lessons will always finish 5 minutes early, this gives parents the chance to
quickly ask our coaches advice, quick progress reports or give our coaches the ability to
feedback to players and parents.
Award scheme – Players can track their progress via our award scheme, a player will be
aware of what is required to reach the next playing standard award. Players are given two
opportunities each term to achieve the next playing standard award.
Parents meetings – Our coaches will provide the opportunity to meet and discuss your
progress three times a year (normally after a report has been issued). These meetings will
be arranged by your coach at a time that is suitable to you.
Casual meetings – If you wish to speak to your coach about your progress or seek advice
you may wish to arrange a casual meeting. These meetings can be arranged outside
coaching hours.
7. Standards
What to expect from Pro Tennis Academy
1. Pro Tennis Academy maintain a strict player to coach ratio of 8:1 or 6:1 at Mini
Tennis Red. This maintains quality in all sessions.
2. The playing area and equipment will be checked prior to play for safety under a risk
assessment
3. Pro Tennis Academy operate under Child Protection and Data protection polices set
by the Lawn Tennis Association
4. All our lead coaches are qualified to a minimum Level 3 standard and hold a LTA
accreditation and public liability insurance
5. All our coaches are DBS checked
6. Effective communication via SMS, email and social media on events and sessions on
a need to know basis
7. In the event of a session cancelation, your coach will contact you ASAP. In order to
let people know efficiently please ensure we have a mobile number to send you a
SMS text
8. All cancelled sessions will result in a credit if you have paid in advance. Credit notes
will be issued at the end of the term
What we expect from you the player
1. Players arrive on time for lessons
2. Players come with the correct equipment and clothing suitable for tennis. It is the
player’s responsibility to be prepared.
3. Players are fully aware and clear of their own personal goals and targets set out for
them in the program. This will come in the form of their player goal sheet.
4. Players step onto court with a positive attitude and a willingness to learn and
improve. This includes listening to demonstrations, asking appropriate questions,
and trying to the best of their ability in each session.
5. Players enjoy playing the game and are able to react to the pressures of winning and
losing in a positive manner. At Pro Tennis Academy we do not accept racket, ball or
verbal abuse at any time.
6. Players are focused during lessons and activities
7. Players are competitive and play to win or play to improve personal goals and
targets. Winning is important, but winning comes in many forms not just winning a
match.
8. Players are athletic, not only in performance but in terms of physical effort during
activities
9. We are a team here at Pro Tennis Academy, we help each other, support each other
and encourage each other. T.E.A.M =TOGETHER , EVERYONE, ACHIEVES , MORE
10. Be the best you can be
What you can expect from the coaches
1. Professional – Our coaches aim to be the very best in terms of their behaviour and
appearance
2. We are here for YOU – are goal is to make you better, your coach will work with you
as an individual and help you achieve your goals
3. Your coaches will be prepared and have the appropriate equipment and resources
each session
4. Every session will be planned, organised and delivered with the goal of making you a
better player.
5. The coach will make it clear at the start of the lesson the learning objectives of each
session and how you’re going to achieve them.
6. The coach will ensure each lesson is challenging enough so your progress but not too
difficult so you lose confidence
7. The coach will feed back to you your progress as and when appropriate
8. The coach will end each session with a recap of the learning objectives and what you
have learnt
9. The coach will keep you up to date with events, sessions and activities you may wish
to take part in
What we expect of our parents
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
All coaching fees are paid upfront and prior to a lesson
All invoices are paid within 14 days of receipt
Parents are asked not to come on court unless asked to by a coach
Parents are asked not to comment or advise players during a lesson, that’s our job.
Parents should maintain communication with coaches regarding players progress
Parents are asked to discuss any issues with a coach or the head coach promptly and
efficiently
7. If a player is unwell or on holiday please let the coach know asap or contact the Head
Coach
8. If your running late for a session please let the coach know asap
9. If you’re unsure that a lesson is running due to severe weather, please contact your
coach
10. If you make a booking and not show up you will be billed, private lessons require 24
hours’ notice of cancelation.
11. If you are on a weekly Pay and Play basis it will be assumed you will be attending the
session, if you are not attending you must give 24 hours’ notice or you will be billed
for the session. This is because we keep strict coach: player ratios in all lessons.
10.
Pay and Play policy
We are limiting all squads to 8 players. This will maintain quality and value for money in lessons.
Therefore we have introduced some a policy for players who wish to Pay and Play.
1. Pay and Play players may book and secure their place 7 days in advance. This can be done at the
end of your session or during registration.
2. If the player cannot make the session 24 hours notice is required so we can offer your place to
someone else.
3. If you give less than 24 hours notice or 'no show' you will be billed for the lesson.
4. No discounts will be applied to Pay and Play players such as family bookings . If you have a
number of children please speak to Steve and receive a substantial family booking via a block
booking.
11.
Contacts
Stephen Whelan
Head Coach
T: 07989162851
E: stephen@protennisacademy.org.uk
Sasha Jones
Academy Coach
T: 07891129757
E: sasha@protennisacademy.org.uk
Twitter: @SWHELANTENNIS
Facebook: Pro Tennis Academy: Steve Whelan Tennis
Coaching
Website: www.protennisacademy.org.uk