HomeTennis academyIdeal tennis academy. Is it possible?

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Ideal tennis academy. Is it possible? — 5 Comments

  1. I certainly agree with much of the above. High level former players often teach by saying just do this, because they really don’t know how they produced their tennis, or they repeat those things coaches said to them without understanding why these teaching tools were used. I have had a dozen kids who i have coached into the upper end of their USTA age group sectionally and nationally and a half dozen that made it into the top 100 in ITFs. I have solid teaching techniques, but no great playing pedigree. I do have a good diverified coaching pedigree. If i need to bring someone into the picture to discuss how they felt in a particular scenario (playing your first supernational) I take the route of looking to contemporaries of the player and having them discuss their feelings and how they handled it or looking to articulate legends in our sport to talk about it. There is never a shortage of people to add that piece to the coaching equation. Play more train less. So many juniors have solid technique but have no decision making skills precisely because decisions are made for them. Parents can help in this area by refraining from simply making decisions for their child and guiding the child to making good decisions. Granted it takes more time but this is one of the biggest contributions parents can make to a kid’s development as a tennis player, and I would argue as a well rounded person that reasons their way through problem solving. Ideal tennis academy would mean that there is one right way to teach, or more importantly one right way to learn and we know that’s rubbish. I do feel the USTA could do FAR more to support diverse ways of training players as opposed to the route force method of saying our way is right. My view of the USTA is an organization that supports the various coaching outlets in our sport, runs a large variety of tournaments, develops through dialogue a set of rules and they vigorously enforces those rules. My dream of course, but I’m afraid in many cases what’s happening is exactly the opposite

  2. Please define “tennis academy.” In the US, it seems anyone can call themselves a tennis academy. Should there be basic requirements to call yourself a ‘tennis academy’ such as having a certain method of teaching, staff qualifications, etc. Or is it just a matter of hit and miss – i.e., if you produce a champion or two, you’re now a bonified academy . . . I know of one local Miami Beach facility in particular that calls itself a tennis academy and I have no idea why, as I’ve never seen any grooming of future champions, etc., or any system of teaching or program offerings. Also the facility is publicly owned, and I would think most academies are privately owned from facility to management. Any opinion on this?

  3. There is a good question Rebecca. You can find some answers for your question in my article “Tennis academy. What is it?” http://wp.me/p2iyrR-3t

    I wanted to add that some tennis academies have nothing with “academy” as well as with “tennis”. For some owners of a “tennis academy” is just a tool to make more money from inexperienced tennis parents.

    In my opinion, a tennis academy is a team of well known tennis and fitness coaches (most of them are certified by USPTA or RTP), with experience of producing good players, including top 100. At least 10-20 tennis hard and clay courts. Better if an academy has its own courts. Constant medical control. Nutritionist specialist. No advertisement, but the tennis academy has a waiting list from the good players.

    I do not know any academy that matches this description. But I know private coaches and team of coaches which are very good and have waiting lists.

    • “I do not know any academy that matches this description. But I know private coaches and team of coaches which are very good and have waiting lists.” Dear Valery, god gave us daughter(she is 12 years old) and now she is in love with this sport. Please, if you would be so kind to share that list with me, three things will happen: we will really appreciate your help, we will be your alive reference, when she will become a pro player, we will be honored to invite you as the highest guest to her title match. Respectfully.

  4. Evgeniy. My point is that you need to find a really good tennis coach, who is able to understand your kid and her potential as a tennis player. I do not know all coaches in the world 🙂 I just want to give you one example: I live in Irvine, CA. Irvine has a large number of really good junior tennis players, like Mayo Hibi and Gage Brymer. Also there are more than a dozen players who are in the top 50-100 in America. Most of these players play tennis at Woodbridge Tennis Club with Chris Lewis, Chuck Brymer and some other really good coaches. When I tried to send my son to the club last summer, I was told that they did not have room for him and I was supposed to place him on the waiting list.

    This club never advertises or spends money for aggressive sales and marketing, like many others do. Think why, because they have had a strong reputation and really good players for many years.

    I cannot give you any specific advice, but if you are ever in So Cal, let me know and we can meet and talk.