Planning the Season

I) Theory of Specificity - - As we get closer to our time of desired peak performance, practices should more closely resemble a matches.

II) Goals of Drills & Practices

A. Technical
B. Tactical
C. Motoric
D. Physiological
.....i) Conditioning; Changing Dynamic Stereotypes

E. Psychological
.....i) Match/Mental Toughness; Social/Fun

F. Don't violate one skill when working on another (a common, major coaching mistake!)

III) Discuss and Plan Styles of Play

A. Based on Percentages (unforced errors/forced errors/winners)
.....i) Newer Players = defensive, baseline tennis
.....ii) Better Players = forcing errors
.....iii) Advanced = forcing errors and producing short balls; attacking tennis & winners
.....iv) Individual, pre-season development plan for EACH player.

B. Based on Technical Ability
.....i) Speed and footwork
.....ii) Strokes
.....iii) Mental Toughness

C. Work Backwards
.....i) Strategies dictate tactics
.....ii) Tactics require shots and shot combinations
.....iv) Shots require stroke mechanics -- (Work on strokes last, not vice versa; another common, major coaching error!!!)

D. Teach Forcing Tennis
.....i) Singles tactics
.....ii) Doubles tactics

IV. Planning a Season

A. Pre-Season (Preparation Phase)
.....i) Technical work (strokes) -- Dead-ball drills to Cooperative drills

B. Pre-Competitive Season
.....ii) Shotwork -- Cooperative drills to Competitive drills

C. Competitive Season
.....i) Match-play environments (NOT just sets and tie-breaks!)
.....ii) Improving strokes without changing them (Dynamic Stereotypes)

D. Off-season (Transition phase or Active Rest)
.....i) Cross-training
.....ii) Technical work

V. Warm-up drill to use throughout the season