If you’ve ever stayed behind to watch your young athlete participate in their tennis clinic, you may have noticed that the students are not hitting tennis balls for 100% of the class. Perhaps even 80% of the class. In fact, this is a common question our coaches receive from parents – “Why is my child not hitting more tennis balls?”
It’s an understandable observation. You signed your son or daughter up to play tennis, so it would make the most sense that they hit tennis balls for the duration of the class. While this model may apply in some cases, such as school or team practices with a very specific goal for increasing repetitions on court, a performance-driven junior program will follow a slightly different structure.
In order to build a successful, lasting and enjoyable tennis career for young players, a junior class should also develop the “intangibles” – hand-eye coordination, footwork and athleticism are just a few examples. Perhaps most importantly, especially among younger or newer players, a successful junior program should also prioritize FUN. While hitting tennis balls is certainly fun (our entire team would agree!), junior players who are still building their tennis game may not have the consistency to keep a ball in play, or understand the enjoyment of a multi-shot rally quite yet. As a result, it’s important for tennis professionals to find ways to keep young or learning players engaged with fun activities that, while not necessarily driven by repetition, develop other areas of their game in a fun, pressure-free environment.
This philosophy also means there are always opportunities for your child to improve their tennis game, even when they are not on court! For example, try out this “Bunny Hop Drill” from our team at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara, to improve footwork and leg strength. More advanced players may benefit from this quick footwork routine to build cardio endurance and warm up before their next match or lesson.
In short, any tennis player can benefit from a hefty dose of repetition on the court. However, tennis is also a very physical game that also demands a fair share of mental toughness. When working with junior players that are striving to develop a strong foundation for years of tennis to come, it is therefore especially important to find a balanced training program that also builds their athleticism and physical endurance, as well as fosters a genuine passion for the sport – a passion that most often can only result from having FUN as they’re learning.
Do you have questions about at-home drills to try with your junior player? Curious where to find a Cliff Drysdale Tennis program near you? Send us a message!
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