Parent-coaches and their roles in tennis development

Transcription

1 The parent-coach Parent-coaches and their roles in tennis development The most important role any parent will play is that of a life coach to his or her child. T he most important role any parent will play is that of a life coach to his or her child. Parents coach their children in all of life s lessons from using proper etiquette and getting the right nutrition to completing school work and interacting socially. For this reason, parental involvement and support is necessary for a child s success in tennis or any endeavor in life. Simply said, parents are always, to some degree, a parent-coach in the life of the vast majority of successful young tennis players. While the qualifications of a USPTA-certified teaching professional are indispensable for developing a child s six major components of learning the physical, technical, tactical, strategic, mental and environmental a parent generally plays an equally important role in a child s lifetime tennis journey. If we follow the premise that the six critical components of learning include 43 subcomponents (analyzed later in this chapter), it is indisputable that it takes an involved parent for every child to gain the maximum learning and playing experience from tennis. This insert launches a series of articles that can be useful to both the coach and the parent, also taking into account that some professional coaches are also parents who take on both jobs. It s important that this person understand that any successful athlete must navigate two major pathways: Learning and Playing. First, the Learning Pathway of tennis or any sport requires the successful integration of six general components of learning. Secondly, the skills acquired in the Learning Pathway must be used to play the sport and transition to the various competitive levels within the Playing Pathway, regardless of how far the player progresses. The Playing Pathway has historically been one of the most difficult of continued next page

2 all topics for most parent-coaches to understand. Outlined in this insert are the nine distinct levels of competition, from the beginning stages of 10 and Under Tennis all the way up to the ATP and WTA professional tours and everything in between. It s important for all parent-coaches to understand the importance of the Learning and Playing pathways and how they can influence the overall development of their child as a tennis player. The degree to which each parent chooses to be involved in a player s life is unique to their own parent-child relationship and level of tennis knowledge. Some parents simply drive their child to and from practice. At the other end of the spectrum are those who serve as the primary coach, completely involved in every aspect of their child s athletic life. It all depends on the interest and expertise of the individual. Either way, the parent plays a vital role. With a beginner, the parent needs a basic understanding of how to help the child progress. As the player becomes more competitive, a parent must learn more about meeting the child s growing needs. One of the most important things a parent-coach should know is that helping a player become proficient at tennis requires a great amount of time, dedication and persistence. It is said to take 10,000 hours of serious practice and playing to reach the professional level of any sport or artistic endeavor, whether it s becoming a pro tennis player or a concert violinist. Therefore, it is important for parents to decide how far they want their child to go in the game. It is even more important for the parent (if he or she is not a teaching professional), to find the right teaching pro to guide both the player and parent in this quest. In this insert, we have recognized distinct levels of commitment that will not only explain potential achievements for parent-coach and child but also how to attain these goals. The five levels of parent-coach There are five distinct levels of the parent-coach, ranging from the least involved to most involved. These are outlined below to help parents assess where they are and to make the transition toward their desired level, based on their tennis knowledge, commitment and goals for their child. 2 Level 5 (least involved) Hands-off Parent-Coach: This parent does not know much about the game of tennis and places everything in the teaching professional s hands. He or she offers no technical advice but remains a vital part of the child s support system. Typically, the responsibilities of the hands-off parent-coach are to transport the child to practice and/or tournaments and take care of the player s basic financial needs (arranging for equipment, lessons and tournament fees). At the 10 and Under Tennis or QuickStart Tennis Playing Format levels, they play a parallel volunteer role similar to parents in other young children s sports. Level 4 Off-Court Parent-Coach: This parent is not adept enough to teach tennis and allows the teaching professional to provide all technical tennis advice. He or she supports the child s decision to pursue tennis and will even stay and watch practices or matches. The off-court parent-coach also provides a supportive home environment and supervises off-court concerns such as proper nutrition, hydration and sleep, as well as equipment needs. He or she is more focused on performance than results and actively works at understanding the game and how the child progresses. At the 10 and Under Tennis level, they play the same volunteer role as above. Level 3 Secondary Parent-Coach: This parent can understand the highly technical aspects of the game but is not a teaching professional. Therefore, this parent provides a small amount of technical coaching. The child primarily receives all training from a private tennis professional or high school coach, but when that coach is unavailable, this parent feels confident enough in his or her tennis knowledge to step in and provide advice. This parent is responsible for all off-court parent-coach responsibilities (i.e., nutrition, equipment, sleep, etc.), watches the majority of the player s practices and matches, and might provide post-match or practice critiques. At the 10 and Under Tennis level, they are capable of team management. Level 2 (most involved) Primary Parent-Coach: In most cases, this parent is or has been a player with expertise in the game and has the capabilities to serve as the child s main professional coach/trainer. In most cases, this parent is actually a teaching professional and conducts the player s private and group instruction. The parent is in charge of not only planning a tennis schedule (warm-ups, drills, practice matches), but also feeding drills, supervising drills, watching and critiquing matches, determining which tournaments the child will enter, scouting opponents, off-season workout plans, training, conditioning, and all off-court responsibilities. The primary parent-coach is more results-oriented, discusses tennis with the child even off the court, provides advice on all elements of the game, and might defer only to other high-performance coaches or experts for further advice. At the 10 and Under Tennis level, they are capable of full team management and technical training. Level 1 (full-time involvement) Touring Parent-Coach: This parent is the player s sole coach, and training that player is the parent s primary job. By this stage, the player has probably started to play major national and international tournaments. The coach travels with the player to these tournaments and manages everything in his or her tennis life, including the on- and off-court schedule. The touring parent-coach is very results-oriented, attends every practice and match, facilitates practices, and critiques every aspect of the child s game.

3 The Two Pathways Much like every sport, there are two major pathways in the development of a tennis player: Learning and Playing. The following graphic demonstrates how these two equally important pathways work together to create a total player. The Learning Pathway involves all that a player needs to know to build an all-around game, and it is centered on periodization and the six general performance components (physical, technical, tactical, strategic, mental and environmental) and 43 subcomponents that are described later in this insert. The Playing Pathway involves implementing all that is acquired through the Learning Pathway and applying it in competitive match situations. As progress is made in performance, a player will gradually advance through the levels of competitive tennis until he or she reaches the desired level of play. It should also be noted that as a player begins competing, the competition itself becomes a learning experience. The Learning Pathway Periodization As a parent-coach begins or continues to guide his or her child down the path of the 10,000-hour journey, it is important to organize a player s development with specific goals in training and competition. This organization is called periodization, which is intended to generate peak performance for both short- and long-term goals in the player s career. Short-term periodization would have a player peak for an upcoming match or tournament. Long-term periodization requires understanding and establishing goals with a player s entire tennis career in mind, whether the end is high school, college tennis or the professional tour. This topic has been discussed in depth in previous ADDvantage inserts. It is important to re-emphasize this topic so that a parent-coach can create an organized periodization plan and assess his or her child s short- and long-term goals. Consider the following: Where do you want the player to be in six months? In one year? In five years? What goals should the player accomplish in a specific amount of time? These are some of the questions parent-coaches need to ask themselves as their child develops his or her game. The Six General Performance Components When mapping out a periodization plan, parent-coaches need to remember the six elements that play the most critical role in the player s training. Those elements are the six general performance components (GPC) that a player needs to develop in order to become a complete player. They are physical, technical, tactical, strategic, mental and environmental. The physical component, the basis of any player s ability to play the game, includes all that is needed for a player to develop 3 fitness, health and injury prevention. The technical component involves all of the elements and skills that go into shot execution and technique. The tactical component takes into account all of the variables a player implements during a point, such as power, spin and placement. Under the strategic component, a player learns how to adjust in certain situations based on outside variables, such as an opponent s style of play, the physical environment and particular game or match scores. This component usually incorporates two or more of the tactical elements. The mental component is important because, as an individual sport, tennis requires a player to be mentally tough. Developing this component means developing a player s on-court focus, how the player carries himself or herself during competition and how he or she handles certain situations. The environmental component includes everything affecting the player off of the tennis court, particularly his or her social, personal and home life. A positive environment is key to a successful child and player. Each of these components to one degree or another applies to players at all levels, from 10 and Under Tennis to world-class competitors. It is essential to construct a clear and extensive periodization plan that places each of these six training elements in a logical, comprehensive progression based on the player s ability and mental and physical maturity. As a player develops, each of the general performance components should improve. The player and parent-coach need to know how they all relate and be able to develop them, keeping them in mind with respect to the periodization plan. Both short- and long-term periodization require making constant adjustments. For example,

4 General performance components for periodization Physical Technical Tactical Strategic Mental Environmental Motor skills Tracking skills Consistency Repetition Self-esteem Fun Conditioning Racquet skills Placement Recognizing strengths Confidence Home Speed, agility, quickness Shot fundamentals Patterns Game style Independence Social Strength Ball control Spins Surfaces Discipline Economic Nutrition Movement & footwork Power Game situations Temperament Competitive Flexibility Modern shot technique Shot selection Match situations Concentration Medical Developing weapons Competitive situations Tournament situations Goal setting Developing game styles Sportsmanship Competitive readiness based on a child s playing results or behavior patterns, a parentcoach might notice in a tournament or series of tournaments, that the player s lesson or training program should be adjusted and rebalanced to emphasize the components that need more development. For instance, a parent-coach may notice that his or her child is struggling with the backhand during a tournament. In the next lesson, the parent-coach will focus on (or suggest to the player s primary coach) developing a more technically sound backhand. This scenario may have the player balancing the components in the following manner: 60 percent technical 10 percent tactical 10 percent mental 10 percent physical 10 percent strategic 4 Once the player has made progress and begins final preparation for the next tournament, the short-term periodization plan might change the lessons to include the following balance: 40 percent tactical 30 percent strategic 15 percent mental 10 percent technical 5 percent physical A parent-coach, no matter how involved in the player s training process, should be aware of the player s needs, know how to recognize which of the six components need more attention, and understand how they relate. Try to be sure each of these components is incorporated into the child s lessons and training programs.

5 The 43 Subcomponents Each of the six general performance components includes a number of subcomponents. There are 43 subcomponents on the chart on the previous page. The following is a brief definition for each of the subcomponents of learning. Physical Tactical Motor skills Training and coordination of both gross and fine motor skills. (e.g., running, hops, skips, jumps, carioca and eye-hand skills such as catch, dribble, throw, etc.) Conditioning Aerobic and anaerobic conditioning (i.e. endurance and sprint training in conjunction with tennis-specific training) Speed, agility, quickness Drills related to reaction, change of direction, all types of tennis movement, footwork and plyometrics Strength Exercises using own body weight (e.g., push-ups, sit-ups, etc.),free weights or machines, plyometric drills Nutrition Hydration before, during and after matches, eating a healthy diet based on age and training demands Flexibility Warm-up, cool down and stretching principles, for injury prevention and training demands Medical Knowing basic injury prevention and treatment (e.g., RICE), seeking appropriate medical attention and treatment when required Technical Tracking skills Gauging an incoming ball s characteristics and flight path (e.g., spin, pace, depth, direction, etc.) Racquet skills Learning to use a racquet as the extension of the arm and adjust the racquet face to control the ball Shot fundamentals Learning the foundations of all shots from anticipation to execution Ball control Learning to control spin, pace, depth and direction of various shots Movement and footwork Perfecting footwork for prediction, interception, preparation and recovery within specific shots or sequences Modern shot technique Understanding the specifics and complexities of the modern angular game Developing weapons Developing one or more punishing shots that are hit as winners or that force errors with great regularity Developing game style Understanding one s strengths and creating a playing style to capitalize on them Consistency The ability of a player to get the ball back more times than an opponent using optimum pace and control Placement Selecting a target and hitting the ball there Patterns Combinations of shots that help achieve a strategy (e.g., hitting crosscourt to open up the down-the-line shot) Spins Developing offensive and defensive spins for control and power Power Imparting pace on shots for both offensive and defensive purposes Shot selection Deciding placement and type of shot to be hit (offensive, defensive, neutral) Game situations Ability to execute all of the above in a competitive situation Strategic Repetition The ability to reproduce tactics that have proved successful against an opponent Recognizing strengths Knowing one s strengths and weaknesses and using that knowledge to develop a game plan or tactics against different opponents Game style Understand and distinguish between game styles and knowing how to use them and defend against them Surfaces Knowing all types of playing surfaces with their individual playing characteristics and the ability to adapt to each of them appropriately Game situations Adapting to typical playing conditions that occur during a game in a match (e.g., playing ad points, etc.) Match situations Adapting to playing situations that occur during a set in a match (e.g., when to change a losing strategy) Tournament situations Adapting to the variety of challenges that occur in the normal course of a tournament 5

6 Mental Self-esteem Building players who have confidence and satisfaction within themselves Confidence Developing self-assurance and trust of a player s selfsufficiency Independence Building self-reliance in players to meet the arduous challenges in an individual sport such as tennis Discipline Training that is expected to produce a desirable character or patterns of behavior most suitable to the game of tennis Temperament Developing an ideal manner of thinking, behaving, and reacting that is characteristic of a successful tennis player Concentration Developing players who can control the direction and attention of their thoughts and focus on the primary task at hand Goal setting Training players in goal setting and how to periodize their goals and accomplishments based on level and aspirations Sportsmanship Reinforcing in players the qualities and conduct befitting competitors who react to victory and defeat graciously Competitive readiness A combination of the eight aspects above to create a supreme level of mental and physical performance Environmental Fun An enjoyable and pleasurable atmosphere must be created in all aspects and levels of learning, training and playing (e.g., even world-class players have fun playing and winning) Home Importance of support mechanisms that include the immediate family and geographical environment. (e.g., competitive players generally have a very supportive family structure and live in a city or state with a strong tennis environment) Social Structuring a social environment that enhances the likelihood of a player reaching the desired level of play (e.g., if a player has friends who play only other sports, socializing takes time away from tennis) Economics Economic resources affect player development in that they may increase opportunities for coaching, travel, etc. Coach or parent should know where economic aid is available for less privileged players Competitive Analyzing and producing the best competitive conditions for players by managing (or training the players to manage) the challenges both on court and off (e.g., periodization of key elements of training, arranging competitive practices, tournament selection and travel, etc.) At first glance, these 43 subcomponents appear to be independent areas of training, but when a player s strengths and weaknesses are evaluated and his or her game develops, one can see that all of these areas are integrated across the six GPCs. Many subcomponents can be connected to one or more other subcomponents, and oftentimes the development of one subcomponent can affect or change another. For example, if during a match a player is having trouble getting to the ball in time and seems to be moving slowly, that would be an indication to the parent-coach that the child needs to work on his speed, agility and quickness (Physical) in relation to movement and footwork (Technical). Now that the parent-coach realizes where the root of the problem lies, he or she can adjust the next lesson to focus on activities that develop quick movement and footwork. Similarly, the subcomponents listed under each GPC are purposely placed in a particular order from top to bottom. In most cases, the development of one subcomponent naturally builds toward the development of the next. For example, under the tactical component, consistency is listed first. Once a player develops consistency in his or her shots, that tactic helps to work on placement. When the placement tactic is mastered, the player begins to develop patterns, which are dependent on both placement and consistency. This chain continues through 6 the last four subcomponents of spins, power, shot selection and competitive situations. The same principle can be applied to the mental component. Selfesteem must be developed first, not just for an individual sport like tennis, but for all endeavors in the child s life. Self-esteem then builds to confidence, which enables the child to stay relaxed while playing, and confidence leads to independence, which is a critical factor dependent on the previous two subcomponents. This chain also continues down through the remaining six subcomponents. Parent-coaches should look at this chart and ask, What is my child s current level in each of these components during each progressive stage of overall development? Which subcomponents need work or development? How do these subcomponents fit into the periodization plan? It is important that a parent-coach understand how these 43 subcomponents are related, how to recognize a player s problem, which subcomponents are related to the problem, and how to fix it. The general performance components are a guideline of skills that players have to learn either through training, example or necessity. It is not just one subcomponent that helps develop a player, but it is the combination of all of them that helps to build a solid, well-rounded player.

7 The Playing Pathway It s important that parents educate themselves on the Playing Pathway, including the point system that allows players to move from one competitive level to the next. Knowing and using the pathway effectively will allow parent-coaches and their children to set realistic tennis goals. Setting goals will allow parents and children to easily assess their progress toward a desired level, whether it is playing high school tennis, earning a college scholarship or competing at the tour level. The chart on Pages 9 and 10 outlines the nine levels of competitive tennis, starting with 10 and Under Tennis, for beginner children, and progressing all the way up to the professional level. Note: Rules and tournament eligibility for the following levels of play (especially those following 10 and Under Tennis and unsanctioned tournaments) may vary. It is important for the parent-coach and player to study these regulations to learn how to earn entry and points into certain events and how to progress to higher levels. 10 and Under Tennis Learning Program with QuickStart Tennis Playing Format Beginners ages 3 to 10 start with 10 and Under Tennis programs, in which they learn the basics of tennis through the development of warm-up skills, motor skills, racquet skills and playing skills. Development is achieved through fun activities, and parents are often involved in helping the professional during lessons and playing sessions. 10 and Under Tennis uses graduated equipment as children progress in the game, allowing them to practice what they learn on smaller courts before moving on to full-court play. For a more detailed description of 10 and Under Tennis, visit the website at Unsanctioned junior tournaments Unsanctioned tournaments may include any events in which players do not earn sectional or national ranking points. For example, the USPTA Junior Circuit, Junior Team Tennis tournaments, junior high and high school matches and any other competitive tournaments organized through a club, park or organization. These players are competing at a local level with other players of the same age and ability. They are also beginning to use regular-size equipment and balls, and they often use alternate (or shortened) scoring in match play. As novice players, they have the opportunity to learn the rules of the game, the basics of scoring, sportsmanship and fair play. Sectional junior tournaments Rules, points and number of levels will vary for these events, depending on the area of the country in which you live. There are 17 different USTA sections, and each is governed by a different set of rules. Competitive levels may also vary. Some sections have only one level of competition, whereas others have up to seven levels. In order to advance at this stage, players must win a certain number of points, which are earned based on the number of wins at sanctioned events. Players who compete at the highest level of sectional tournaments can also win national points and may qualify for national tournaments (see the Levels of Competitive Tennis chart following this section for further details). Rules and point systems for your section can be found under the Find Your Section link on the USTA Web site. For more junior competition information, visit and click on the Junior and Collegiate Competition button under the Future Champions section at the top of the page. National junior tournaments There are six levels of junior national events, from L1 (the highest) to L5 (the lowest). A significant number of national tournaments are dual events that offer both national and International Tennis Federation (ITF) points, which can help a player gradually move up into higher ITF tournaments. For example, the USTA Waco, Texas, ITF Junior Classic is both a National Level 4 event and an ITF Grade 4 event, so players earn Level 4 national points as well as Grade 4 ITF points. Likewise, the Orange Bowl International Tennis Championships is a National Level 1 event and an ITF Grade A event, where players can earn Level 1 national points and Grade A ITF points. A select number of the higher-level sectional events also offer national points, which is an ideal way for sectional players to make the transition to national tournament play. Still there are some national events, such as the USTA National Championships, that only offer national points and no ITF or sectional points. For a complete list of the breakdown of these tournaments, as well as a detailed explanation on national tournaments and national junior ranking rules, visit click on Player Information at the bottom of the left toolbar and open the PDF document titled 2007 USTA National Junior Tournament Schedule. 7

8 ITF junior tournaments These international tournaments are divided into eight levels, Grades A, B and C and Grades 1-5, with Grade A being the highest and Grade 5 being the lowest. Grade C is team competition. See the Levels of Competitive Tennis chart following this section for a description of how these sublevels progress. Any players wishing to enter Grade A through Grade 3 will certainly need a world ranking. Players interested in competing in Grades 4 and 5 may qualify based on their national or sectional ranking. In some cases, if a tournament receives a low number of initial entrants, there is space available in the draw for national or higher-level sectional players. All ITF junior entrants must be age 18 and under. For detailed information on ITF tournaments and rankings rules, visit and click on ITF Junior Rules under the High Performance topic. College tennis The majority of college tennis players earn some scholarship money to play on a school s team. There are various college-level events and tournaments, depending on the conference or division. For a list of the top team and individual college events, see the Levels of Competitive Tennis chart following this section. In addition to other eligibility requirements, college players who have played in pro-level tournaments must not have kept more than a certain amount of tournament prize money or endorsement money (in addition to their actual expenses) to remain eligible for collegiate play. For a full list of eligibility requirements based on division, visit the following NCAA Clearinghouse Web site: Futures and Challengers/ITF Women s Circuit For the men s circuit, Futures events are known as the entry level to the professional events. These tournaments offer the least prize money, starting at $10,000. At the Challenger level, also known as the minor leagues of pro tennis, men begin to work their way up toward joining the ATP tour. Challenger events begin at $37,500 and reach as high as $150,000. The women s equivalent to the Futures and Challengers is referred to as the ITF Women s Circuit, and includes events ranging from $10,000 to $100,000, not including hospitality. Some men and women who compete at this level might occasionally receive a wild card or qualify for various ATP and WTA events. ATP/WTA Tour events Players at this professional level rank among the world s best. Most or all of their income comes from tournament wins and endorsements. With tennis being their full-time job, it requires them to travel the world to play in tournaments. The rankings cutoff for every tournament varies. For Grand Slams, the top 104 players receive automatic entry. For other tournament cutoffs, see the charts below: Event Avg. ranking cut-off Cut-off range based on all tournaments ATP Masters 50 No. 36 to No. 78 ATP Intn l Series Gold 80 No. 50 to No. 116 ATP Intn l Series 90 No. 52 to No. 150 Event Avg. ranking cut-off WTA Tier I 60 WTA Tier II 50 WTA Tier III 80 WTA Tier IV 90 8

9 Levels of Competitive Tennis Event 10 and Under Tennis, QuickStart Tennis Playing Format governed by the USPTA, USTA Unsanctioned junior tournaments governed by the USPTA, USTA Sectional junior tournaments governed by the USTA National junior tournaments governed by the USTA Event sub-levels (beginning with sectional events, levels are listed weakest to strongest) USPTA 10 and Under Tennis lessons with USPTA certified professionals and coaches QuickStart Tennis Playing Format and tournaments USPTA Junior Circuit Junior Team Tennis National Junior Tennis League Middle school and High school tennis Sectional tournaments that offer only sectional points (multiple graduated levels in most sections) Sectional tournaments that offer national points in conjunction with sectional points. Each section has up to: 8 events that earn Level 5 national points (lowest) 3 events that earn Level 4 national points (higher) 1 event that earns Level 3 national points (higher) (Every USTA section is organized by its own set of rules, rankings and tournament structure. Check directly with your section or on its Web site for more comprehensive information on the junior tournament rules of your section.) Level 5 tournaments (lowest level) Level 4 tournaments Level 3 tournaments Level 2 tournaments Level 1A tournaments Level 1 tournaments (highest level) Refer to Page 16 of the USTA National Junior Tournament Schedule 1 for a complete list of tournaments at each level. Explanation Personal goals Approx. time commitment USPTA 10 and Under Tennis: ages 3-10, developing motor, racquet and playing skills on a smaller court with graduated equipment QuickStart Tennis Playing Format: events played with graduated equipment and courts Tournaments on a local level where players are introduced to competitive play without earning national or sectional points or rankings This is where the most formative competitive play takes place. Tournaments are point-based, and each of the 17 USTA sections has complete autonomy over how to administer these events in its own section. Sections have from as few as 1 to as many as 7 graduated competitive levels. Each section has up to 12 tournaments at its highest level of competition that offer national points in conjunction with sectional points. These tournaments are the home of the elite American junior players. This is the highest level at which U.S. junior players are separated by age groups. National events require a greater amount of travel and time commitment. Many of these tournaments coincide with ITF events and earn both national and ITF points. For a list of these, as well as a detailed explanation of each level and its requirements, refer to the USTA National Junior Tournament Web site. 1 These are beginner children who are acquiring early motor and playing skills in a simple format through the sport of tennis. These are young players just starting out in competitive play and have not fully determined their future tennis goals. This level includes a graduated scale of competitive players from the earliest to advanced levels. Players range from the most ambitious who seek high school and college recognition, while others enjoy athletics as healthy competition and a way to a healthy lifestyle. These players compete against the country s best juniors and have a high ambition of climbing the tennis ladder. Many will earn college scholarships and have the talent and potential to pursue tennis as a career. 2+ hours/week 1+ hours/day for at least 3 days a week 1.5 to 3+ hours/ day, depending on the player s level One or more tournaments a month 3+ hours/day including fitness, weight-training, etc. One or more tournaments a month ITF junior tournaments governed by the ITF Grade 5 tournaments (lowest level) Grade 4 tournaments Grade 3 tournaments Grade 2 tournaments Grade 1 tournaments Grade C International Team Events (Jr. Davis/Fed Cup) Grade B Regional tournaments Grade A tournaments & Grand Slams (highest level) Players must be age 18 and under to enter ITF Junior events. Grade A to Grade 3 tournaments hold the elite junior players in the world, and you must have a world ranking to enter. Grades 4-5 are more accessible to U.S. juniors with a modest national ranking. Most players who excel at this level will go on to play in college or on the Futures and Challengers and the ITF Women s circuits. ITF tournaments require players to play only one match a day and entail a greater time commitment. Players have begun to compete at the international level and have a high ambition of climbing the tennis ladder. Many have also earned college scholarships and still have the option to make tennis their career. 3+ hours/day including fitness, weight-training, etc. One or more tournaments a month

10 Levels of Competitive Tennis Event College tennis governed by the ITA, NCAA, NAIA, NJCAA, and individual athletic conferences within each division Event sub-levels (beginning with sectional events, levels are listed weakest to strongest) ITA National Small College Championships NAIA Team Championships Conference Championships ITA National Summer Championships ITA Regional Championships ITA National Indoor Championships ITA National Team Indoor Championships ITA All-American Championships NCAA Team and Individual Championships Explanation Personal goals Approx. time commitment There are a number of different divisions at the college level, including NCAA Division I, II and III, NAIA and Junior College. Many college players earn some scholarship money to play on a school s team. In addition to academic eligibility requirements, college players who play in pro-level tournaments must be aware of amateurism issues regarding competition, prize money, team affiliation and endorsements to be eligible for collegiate play. Consult the NCAA eligibility rules and regulations 2 for more information. At this level, players have the ambition to play the highest amateur level of competition while earning a college degree. In the 6,000 hours (2.5 3 hours/day for 6 years) plus fitness and training Futures events governed by the ITF Challenger events governed by the ATP Men $10,000 tournaments $15,000 tournaments $37,500 tournaments $50,000 tournaments $75,000 tournaments $100,000 tournaments $125,000 tournaments $150,000 tournaments Women ITF Women s Circuit governed by the ITF $10,000 tournaments $25,000 tournaments $50,000 tournaments $75,000 tournaments $100,000 tournaments Futures are the entry level of the men s pro circuit, and Challengers are the minor leagues of professional tennis. To make the main draw of a Challenger, one would need to be around No. 260 in the world or higher. Futures are easier to enter, as most have open qualifying, but still need a world ranking. Women compete on the ITF Women s Circuit, which is the equivalent to the men s Futures and Challengers. These players have high hopes of becoming top ATP/WTA players but still have the option to pursue other careers should they not continue on the path of a pro tennis career. 8,000 to 10,000 hours (3+ hours per day for 8 years) plus fitness and training ATP/WTA Tour events governed by the ATP and WTA Men Women WTA Tier IV WTA Tier III WTA Tier II Entrants in these tournaments are world-class tennis players. They travel to tournaments year-round and derive most or all of their income from tournament winnings. You must WTA Tier I have a world ranking to enter ATP and WTA events. Approximately the top 100 men Grand Slams (highest) and women are automatically entered in the Grand Slams. The other event sub-levels have varying ranges of allowed entrants. See Pages 7-8 for details. ATP International Series ATP International Series Gold ATP Masters Series Grand Slams (highest) This is the highest level of tennis, at which the world s best players compete as professionals. 10,000 hours (3+ hours per day for 10 years) plus fitness and training

11 Finding practice opportunities to prepare for competition Regardless of the level of any parent-coach, there s still a critical component of daily competition and training that must be addressed. Finding others with whom your child can practice and compete against is one of the most difficult aspects of tennis development for a player or parent-coach. Some players may be able to arrange local competition, and some attend academies run by teaching professionals in order to participate in organized practices. Obviously, the latter is easier and more consistent. However, academy attendance is often too expensive for some families to sustain, especially when their players reach a level that requires practice five to seven times a week. Of course, playing on a high school tennis team often provides inexpensive practice opportunities and a certain amount of training. But if competitive players have serious ambitions, talent and playing potential, they may quickly surpass the abilities of high school teammates, who can no longer offer them strong enough competition to consistently challenge them. Therefore, unless the player is attending an academy or some form of group practice where he or she can easily find competition, part of the responsibility of finding games will likely fall into the hands of the parent-coach. This means the parent-coach may have to help organize the player s tennis schedule, complete with practice matches. And, of course, school and other life concerns must be considered. Scheduling includes arranging practices, signing up for tournaments, and making all the preliminary arrangements for both. Among other things, this means finding competitors and making reservations for out-of-town tournaments. Though it is not a fun job for any player or parent, it is necessary for a player s development. While there are bound to be a number of other players at the child s level who also find themselves in need of practice opponents, the job of locating those players and breaking into their schedule can be difficult and frustrating. Not everyone is easily accessible and willing to work around someone else s schedule, and some potential practice opponents may feel they are on too high a level to sacrifice their time. Given these challenges, it is best that a parent-coach regularly place his or her child in camps or group practices, if possible. This will give the child access to a number of other players at his or her level with whom to practice. It also takes the pressure off the parent-coach to find available opponents. Generally, there are training groups or academies in every city. One simply has to find them and become convinced that they can help. In many cases, parents allow their players to attend elite academies away from home that have strong reputations for developing top players. Some avid parents have actually moved their homes and jobs to be in an area closer to these academies for the benefit of the child s playing career. It s ultimately up to the parent to determine just how far his or her child should progress as a player. Following the chart, Levels of Competitive Tennis, will help parents and coaches understand how to navigate the tennis hierarchy, from 10 and Under Tennis to the professional level, and make sound decisions on behalf of their players. 11

12 Resources The following additional resources for coaching young players are available from USPTA s extensive educational DVD library and are produced by the USPTA Education Committee and Multimedia Department. Competitive Player Development 2005 USPTA Competitive Player Development Series (Physical, Technical, Strategic and Tactical) The Spanish model for developing players (Technical Shot fundamentals) Developing players (Technical Modern shot technique) Movement and footwork (Technical Movement and footwork) OnCourt with USPTA Secrets of today s forehand (Technical Developing weapons) Tennis in the balance (Technical Movement and footwork) The shoulder-level dip drive (Technical Developing weapons) Mastering the dirt playing on clay (Strategic Surfaces) Volley secrets the lost art (Technical Racquet skills) Winning patterns and drills (Technical Patterns) Zone it to own it (Technical Shot fundamentals) Hit me with your best shot (Tactical Shot selection) Blueprint for junior success (Technical Shot fundamentals) Take it easy relax and win (Tactical Power) Component s of the two-handed backhand (Technical Modern shot technique) Meet the topspins (Tactical Shot selection) Rock-solid volley game (Technical Shot fundamentals) Playing smarter tennis (Tactical Shot selections) Drills to improve your athletic ability (Physical Speed, agility and quickness) The aggressive swing volley (Tactical Power) Components of the modern forehand (Technical Modern shot technique) Rip your return like the pros (Technical Developing weapons) Developing young players (Technical Shot fundamentals) The modern backhand (Technical Modern shot technique) The modern forehand (Technical Modern shot technique) Singles strategies and tactics Transition shots and serve and volley (Strategic Game style) Singles strategies and tactics Playing the percentages to win (Strategic Game situations) Footwork for the open-stance forehand and backhand (Technical Modern shot technique) Becoming a champion (Technical Shot fundamentals) The serve (Technical Shot fundamentals) The backhand (Technical Shot fundamentals) The forehand flat, topspin, slice (Technical Ball control) The volley (Technical Ball control) The overhead (Technical Developing weapons) Seminars Teaching the modern game in a modern way Stan Oley (Technical Modern shot technique) Analyzing stroke production Rick Macci (Technical Shot fundamentals) How to understand point development Luis Mediero (Technical Developing game styles) Keep it out of the strike zone! Brenda Schultz-McCarthy (Strategic Game style) The modern game: teaching the mental and emotional component Bryce Young (Mental/Emotional) From sports beverages to vitamins Page Love (Physical Nutrition) TenX Fitness-tennis exercise for everybody Adam Brewer (Physical) The Strategy Zone: There is more to the game than just hitting the ball Nick Bollettieri (Strategy Game situations) Footwork technique: the base of on-court problem solving Lorenzo Beltrame (Technical Movement and footwork) Winning points: engaging your students Jack Groppel, Ph.D. (Mental/Emotional Competitive readiness) Singles strategies and patterns of play Hank Pfister (Tactical/Strategic) Preparing like a pro David Wheaton (Mental/Emotional Competitive readiness) Building and molding a world-class player Rick Macci (Technical Shot fundamentals) Get fit with drills Jay Berger (Physical Conditioning) Systems for training players Emilio Sanchez (Technical Shot fundamentals) The mind/body connection Gary Sailes (Mental/Emotional) On Court with Nick: his drills, techniques and theories Nick Bollettieri (Tactical Competitive situations) USPTA is the world s largest producer of broadcast quality tennis instruction on DVD. Browse more than 100 titles at usprotennisshop.com.