What Parents Should Know About Player Development

April 16, 2013 | By Tom Clear
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What is development? A buzzword? A marketing tool? The USTA Player Development’s mission is "to develop world-class American players through a clearly-defined training structure and competitive pathway as well as through the implementation of a comprehensive coaching philosophy and structure." In my opinion, development is gradual growth where a student progresses from dependence to independence.

I feel some coaches and parents are obsessed with a quick fix, a “win by Friday approach,” rather than development. They want a short cut. They want all "problems" solved without the growing pains, but true growth/development is gradual. It takes years to develop tennis players.

My teaching style focuses on four components of development: Physical, Technical, Tactical and Mental. I will add meaning to the four components.

►Physically: The tennis player must PERFORM physically. They must perform a physical task like a sprint or an endurance run.

►Technically: I am asking my student to EXECUTE or hit the ball technically correct.

Tactically (Strategy/Game Plan): I am asking my student to apply or implement tactics that will lead to success. An example … hit your backhand down the line to your opponent’s weak forehand.

►Mentally: My students must ACHIEVE mentally. Achieving things mentally brings all the components together. As many people say, "You are only as strong as you are mentally strong."

All components of development are needed for success. In a perfect world, the components would be in a specific order (Physical, Technical, Tactical and Mental) and the student will be proficient in all four areas. But we all know this is not a perfect world.

As a coach, I must understand that there is no perfect player. All players have limitations. My student can only execute technically that which they can perform physically. My student can only apply tactically that which they can execute technically. However, the most successful players compensate for their limitations. A student may be limited technically, but extremely proficient tactically, and as a coach, I must recognize that and build from that standpoint. I will work on improving my students’ limitations, but understand I have to help compensate for that limitation.

There are many other variables in a student’s growth including parents, facility, environment and medical care. As you can see, development is a long process with many fluctuating forces.


Tom Clear
Centercourt
USTA NTC

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