VOL. 13, NO. 1
Philosophy is based on teaching and developing
the fundamental skills that enable the player to have
the most complete game possible. At an early age
this means teaching basic fundamentals such as
proper grips, sound characteristics related to stroke
preparation and a proper swing path.
Tennis coaches and teachers who work with high
performance players of any age have the responsibility
to help develop the full potential of their players and
to enable them to become the best players possible.
The long-term development of a world class player
does not take place in a vacuum, but rather, in a
dynamic environment that is influenced by many
things, including teaching and coaching philosophies,
growth and development of the player and the nature
of competition itself.
teaching and coaching philosophy that encompasses
the entire continuum of Player Development and is
applicable to athletes at all stages of development. The
foundation of the philosophy is the belief that coaches
should teach and develop the fundamental skills that
enable the player to have the most complete game
possible. When working with children under 10 years old
the focus should be to develop the correct fundamental
skills for future success. We believe that early in the
learning process, elements of grips, preparation and
swing path need to be learned.
progressive nature of teaching and training challenges
the player to apply the fundamental skills in a more
dynamic environment where movement, decision-making
and shot selection can be assimilated. This parameter-
based, progressive teaching and coaching methodology
spans the player's years of development and is based
on the underpinnings of motor learning and athletic
movement. Gross motor skills, agility, balance and
coordination are learned in an open play environment,
and then tennis-specific skills are refined in a closed
environment where precise repetition and deliberate
practice is necessary. Finally, these skills are tested and
developed in an open play-based environment.
learning and recent studies on how myelinization (The
Talent Code by Daniel Coyle) occurs around nerve cells
and reinforces the importance of deliberate practice.
Based on this model and utilizing the premise of
deliberate practice throughout the training continuum,
new skill teaching (skill acquisition) occurs in a controlled
environment (drills), while training of existing skills (skill
refinement) is done in a more open environment.
courts, racquets and balls all with the purpose of
creating an environment where children can experience
success and fall in love with tennis the first time
they walk on the court. The format contributes to
more effective and efficient learning. Another equally
important contributor to the long-term success of
10 and Under Tennis will be the quality of teaching that
takes place on the court.
Coaches not only need to understand how to teach
children through appropriate teaching modes and
methods of lesson planning and organization, they also
need to know what to teach. In addition to teaching
the fundamentals of movement, sending and receiving
skills as well as competencies related to tactics, there
will come a time when fundamental tennis skills will
need to be taught.
Within the framework of 10 and Under Tennis, the USTA
believes that all children need to be taught fundamentals
related grips, preparation and swing path (GPS) in a
manner that children can understand and apply in
both practice and play. We believe that by providing
young children with an opportunity to learn the basic
fundamentals of tennis in a fun, engaging environment
that their tennis journey will begin in a manner that will
give each child an opportunity to become the best
player they are capable of becoming.