Topic: Off season/Pre season/ Competitive season
Why? History
IN THE BEGINNING - 4 courts/no equipment/12 players/practice based on experience
Variables – Is there 1 correct practice schedule?
New Coach or Old
Congratulations-you’re the new tennis coach!
Am I doing what is needed?
Changes based on talent, or lack of
Boys Tennis / Girls Tennis
Short intense season
Preseason that lasts for ever
Practice differences between sexes.
Court Space
Courts available, sharing, private or public
Reserving courts
Assistant or helpers
Assistant coach-use, volunteers, student helpers
Ability/Experience
Homogeneous groups / heterogeneous
grade
Athlete’s Ability/Expectations
Conflicts, Club sports, Quality Time,
Equipment - Budget
Tennis Balls, Hoppers, Ball Machine,
Roll Dries, Wrenches, Center Straps,
Score Cards, Flip Cards, etc.
Driver’s License / Bus License
Physical, Insurance, Class, Yearly Renewal, Class
I.
II.
III.
SUMMER SEASON-June and July
A.
Organized Hitting Time
B.
Clinics, Camps, Tournament
C.
Weight sessions - Day/Evenings
D.
Parent Letter/Meeting
1.
Important Dates
2.
Responsibilities
3.
Expectations
E.
Senior (leaders) Responsibilities
1.
Team Cohesion
2.
Uniform Selection
PRESEASON CONDITIONING– no coach supervised hitting allowed-NSAA
A.
Week 1 - 1 hour/day (8 AM) supervised
1.
Paperwork
2.
Organized session - 1 hour (8 AM)
a.
Stretching
b.
Running
c.
Footwork drills
d.
Practice drills introduction/review
B.
Matches on own
PRESEASON COMPETITION SEASON BEGINS
A.
Week 2 - 2 practices/day, first practice - 2 hrs
1.
conditioning/stretching/announcements (15-30 min)
2.
drills 1 ½ hrs basic skills emphasized 6 cts, 6 hoppers
a.
circuit routine-different drill/ct & rotate, skill grouped (6/ct)
example: serve/return ct, ball machine-lob ct, feed baseline ct,
feed net ct, 2ball-3 ball ct, triples ct
b.
skill grouped-everyone stays on same ct, call out drill 10 min,drill
c.
skill grouped-everyone stays on same ct competitive drills
comment-hit 6, pick up 6 or pick up balls 2 at a time and rotate
3.
running (15 min)
B.
Second practice – 2 hrs, designate recorder and give score card (they pick the time)
1.
matches-all scores turned in, sets/6
2.
doubles , rotate partners, 3 matches
3.
singles, 4/group, rotate opponents, r. robin
4.
variations, no add, 4 games total, 21, 31, etc.
C.
End of preseason-team scrimmage – 2 days before first match-public event
1.
2.
Singles/doubles matches for position of 1st match
a.
use flip cards, conduct
b.
use uniforms
c.
make match as official as possible
Social picnic/ final parent information meeting, real opportunity for coach to visit
with parents in no threatening environment.
Comment: Some schools may have an entire week of 2/day, others fewer or none.
Lack of 2/day – big disadvantage, scrimmage most important practice of season
IV.
V.
COMPETITION SEASON
A.
After school practice - 1 ½-2 hrs
1.
conditioning/stretching/announcements (15 min)
2.
drills ½-1 hr *
3.
competitive play ½-1 hr *
4.
running (15 min)
5.
announcements
B.
VARIATIONS
1.
practice(s) before dual
a.
based on opponent
b.
based on format
c.
based on need or weakness
2.
practice(s) before tournaments
a.
specific drills/opponent
b.
travel information
3.
weather adjustments
a.
wind – head, tail, cross
b.
rain – practice location/meeting
4.
school adjustments/teacher meetings, etc.
OFF SEASON DURING SCHOOL YEAR
A.
B.
C.
Other Sports
Weights
Indoor Activities/Play