“GREEN TENNIS” tennis program designed for 9+ year old kids and enables them to learn tennis through a series of fun activities, based on the fundamental areas of balance, co-ordination, agility, movement and racket and ball skills. All lessons are 2 hour long and include tennis and fitness.
There is 3 stages in this program: “FUNdamentals stream”, “Developing stream” and “Performance stream”
“FUNdamentals stream”. Kids learn basics of tennis such as forehand, backhand, volleys, serve and footwork. Players play 2 hours a week in a group. Coaches use basic teaching tools like cones, vertical and horizontal targets.
“Developing stream”. Players play 4-6 hours a week in a group. Coaches use more advanced teaching aids like FitLight, skipping ropes, vertical and horizontal targets, medicine and swiss balls. Kids have more time to work on speed, agility, flexibility, balance, tactics and technique. Learning process is 3 times faster then in a recreational stream. Private lessons, house league and tournaments recommended.
“Performance stream” – Future professional and college players preparation stage. Players play 8-10 hours a week in a group. Coaches use more advanced teaching aids like FitLight, ball machines, agility ladders, skipping ropes, vertical and horizontal targets, medicine and swiss balls. Fitness classes introduced. Kids have more time to work on speed, agility, flexibility, balance, tactics and technique. Learning process is 3 times faster then in a recreational stream. Private lessons, house league and tournaments recommended.
In all streams players play on the full court, use green balls and regular 27 inch rackets. The focus is about making it as much fun as possible during tennis lessons. Game-based approach is used.
This is a critical stage of development for the athlete/tennis player, as it sets the foundation for learning to be a competitive junior. In addition, this stage can determine if an athlete has an opportunity to compete at a high international level in the future. This is the stage where “you make or break an athlete” by doing the right things at the right time of the athlete’s development.
The development of perception skills is fundamental to long term success in the sport. Players, parents and coaches can work on these skills both on and off the court.
General Objectives
• Monitor player’s growth spurt through frequent anthropometric measurements in order to optimize the development of flexibility, speed, strength and aerobic endurance in all the physical skills.
• Consolidate learned skills from practice and apply in competitive situations.
• Balance the increase in training demands with lifestyle issues.
• Become increasingly competent in the selection and care of tennis equipment.
• Continue to develop and refine technical skills in practice.
• Consolidate a specific game style emphasizing the execution of skills in a game situation.
• Use the sport sciences in the areas of physical preparation and psychological routines to produce the ideal performance state.
• Introduce the concept of recovery and pre-habilitation through sleep, good hygiene, sport massage, hydro -therapy, nutrition, and effective warm-up in all aspects of preparation.
• Develop necessary decision making skills to practice and compete effectively.