Long Term Player Development

All of us know that developing tennis players is a long process (even if we forget sometimes!) We know that: –much scientific research tells us that developing top athletes in any sport is a long term process. –Tennis requires ‘underpinning’ skills – (balance etc) as a basis for higher level skills –there are ‘windows’ of development opportunities which we should use – these are prime opportunities –we have responsibility to young players in the long term to give them a sound skills base –with young players competition must complement development and training, not the other way round –young players need time to learn the wide variety of skills We also know what we don’t know: –which 5 year old will be the one who gets there – so we have to get it right for all of them!

FUNdamental 5-10 boys 5-9 girls Athletic skills +Athleticism Body Awareness Co-ordination/balance Basic tennis ‘shapes’ Learning to score FUN Team challenges/comps FUN Intra /Inter club teams Matches 4 (at 5) – 40 max (at 10) Other sports 30 –35% Structured, but flexible programme Learning to Train boys 9-12 girls Physical skills (4 S’s) according to puberty Motor (tennis) skills with technique solid Tennis specific (technical, tactical and fitness) Begin individual competition Matches 40 (at 10) – 80 (at 14)pa 25% of time Training games unlimited Other sports 5-30% of time in sport Double peaked year Learning to Compete boys girls Physical development very important Developing games style Tennis specific (technical, tactical and fitness) Individual competition Matches 80 (at 14)- 90 (at 17)pa 50% of time Training games unlimited Other sports 5% Double or triple peaked year Training to Win 17+ boys 16+ girls Physical programme Individualised with high intensity programme Tennis specific sessions Individualised matchplay 75% of time Matches 90+pa Triple peaked year At each stage the ‘windows for development’ need to be used – we cannot do the same thing all the time with players

Some of the implications of the ‘windows principle’ - trainability Players need to develop specific tennis abilities – for example: – to serve, the ability to throw and then throw overarm must be built up – and started 6-10, especially for girls –to slide on a clay court the player needs to learn balance, co- ordination, body awareness from 6-10 –to be a matchplayer, the player needs to learn the court, the rules, respect, what competing means through fun challenges and games – from –physical development is different from 12 (puberty) –hitting (motor) skills are best learned from 8-12

The ages and stages into our current tennis structure FUNamentals (6 – 9/10) is Mini Tennis Red, Orange and Green  Performance coach Learning to Train (10 – 12/13)  Senior Performance coach Learning to Compete (12/13 – 16/17)  Senior performance + Master performance coach Training to Win (17+) – Master performance coach

The Schedule for hours and 10 years TrainingCompetitionYear total Year Year Year Year Year Year Year Year