Optimal Training Schedule for a Junior Tennis Player

I spent a couple of hours researching dozens of sites of tennis programs for junior tennis players during the summer months.  I was wondering what kind of programs they offer to junior tennis players. I was not surprised, unfortunately, that some of them try to sell full-day programs that consist of 4 to 6-hour practices a day.

A more rational and optimal approach is demonstrated through tennis camps that are organized by tennis clubs and the city’s programs. Most of them offer 1.5 – 2.5 hour tennis workouts. Those programs are better (and cheaper) for junior tennis players and their health.

In this post I want to talk about heavily advertised programs that offer 4-6 hour a day workouts in the summer.

Do you really think that 12-15-year-old kids can train for 4-6 hours a day efficiently?  Why do some tennis programs offer professional training schedules for kids so young?

The answer is very simple: They do that because more hours mean more money.

This schedule has very little in common with the scientific approach to training. If you remember, I wrote about the ITF recommendation for the organization of tennis training for junior tennis players in the article How much should a junior tennis player train? An average kid cannot play tennis and do fitness for 4-6 hours a day like some (not all) professionals do.  Two hours of a good and balanced workout is more than enough for most kids who are under 15 years old.

I have talked to many sports specialists and I have read books that sports scientists wrote. I have never discovered evidence that an average junior athlete like a tennis player (under 15 years old) needs more than 2 -2.5 hours of right training a day.

For parents who want to use the time during the summer to improve their kid’s tennis skills. Find a good tennis coach (look at the article How to find a good tennis coach). Remember that 2 -2.5 hours a day of high-quality training is more than enough for most junior tennis players. Do not risk your kid’s health.

However, if a tennis coach or tennis specialist can come up with good reasons for the 4-6-hour practice, I will gladly post them here on my blog.

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