Why Junior Players Should Stick to Closed Stance

The post by Allistair McCaw

My philosophy on why closed stance MUST be taught in juniors:

Let me start with this:

Before anyone accuses me of not being a ‘certified tennis coach’, well I am, for 13 years now. Not that it makes me ‘better’, but Anyhow, I will focus on my passion – movement & performance:

I teach footwork patterns that promote:

1. Getting to the ball early.
2. Early = better preparation and time to step in.
3. Stepping in = better weight transfer and energy transfer.
4. Weight transfer = more power behind the ball and less impact on the shoulder, rotator and hip than staying open. Less injury risk.
5. Stepping in or closed stance teaches players to be ‘proactive’ in footwork and not reactive (staying open) and ‘lazy’.

Enough proof?

Most coaches like to argue the point that most of the best tennis players in the world stay open stance and I agree totally, however junior players are NOT the best players in the world, and are not yet fully physically and bio mechanically developed like the best tennis players in the world.

Ever wondered why there’s more shoulder and hip injuries in junior players than ever before? – playing open stance, forcing shoulder and upper torso to do ‘the work’, instead of ‘total body’.

It gets back to my point of some coaches watching professional players and trying to copy or imitate their techniques and training programs. Simply put, It is not realistic and conducive to a junior tennis player who is still growing and developing physically.

Coaches need to learn the pathways of the development of an ATHLETE, not a player.
You might know your X’s and O’s in coaching, but do you know how an Athlete develops???

I apologize if it might sound attacking, but I say it how it is.

I have seen the consequences in many junior tennis players, believe me – many that could have reached higher, but were injured too early.

In the words of a good friend and great coach, Kevin Braun: “The open stance chooses you, you don’t choose it.” In other words, every ball you can step into..you step into – period.

Remember my article “Don’t Train Like a Tennis Professional?” Well, don’t, rather develop the ethical way and then you can train like the tennis professionals.

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