Net Anxiety

We all have students who are unwilling to approach the net. For these players, just playing doubles or singles will give them neither enough touches on the ball, nor enough encouragement to approach with confidence and effectiveness. Here are a couple of drills to help your student become more comfortable approaching and playing at the net.

Played cross court on half the doubles court, alleys are in. The court is center line to doubles sideline.

Player 1 serves [or feeds] cross court and rushes the net. Player 2 returns trying to get the ball at Player 1’s feet. Player 1 hits the volley from around the service line, after that anything goes. Players can score and change deuce and ad courts as usual. Or 2 doubles teams can play 2 cross court matches on the same court, at the same time.

Variation: In order to encourage the net rusher, play “Pity” style. If the net rusher losses a point, they move up for the next feed. If they win a point, they move back. Points are fed from either the baseline, middle of no-man’s land, the service line or the middle of the service box. Feeds must be underhand for this version. It’s “Pity” as in, “I feel so bad for because you lost that point. I’m going to have pity on you and let you move up for the next feed.” This adds a little humor to losing a point.

This is a volley-to-volley drill. Everyone is at the net. It is a challenging, somewhat advanced drill. But it is one of the best ways to get players comfortable at the net!

A great way to ease players into this drill is to use transition balls and to play cooperatively. Start out with red or orange balls around the middle of the service box. Move back as they improve. Challenge players to have a sustained cooperative rally. “First team to 5 in a row” or “First team to get 20 volleys over the net (not in a row)”.

As your students become more proficient at this drill cooperatively, you can have them play points. The pro can feed. The players can feed. Or a 5th student can feed with an underhand toss from behind the service line.

We will leave it up to you to come up with volley-to-volley game formats, Kings & Queens of Court, games to 4, games to 7, lobs ok, lobs not ok, 2 on 2, 2 on 1, … etc. etc.

Many pros think volley-to-volley drills are too advanced for a lot of their students. We think if you try it, you may be surprised. You will have to give them a little more encouragement and be a little more patient at the beginning. But if you stick it out, we feel there is a lot of benefit to be had from these drills!

We all have students who will simply not become comfortable at the net unless we decide to push them. We hope these drills can help you get your students get there!

You can also suggest that your students occasionally play these games on their own, instead of a set of doubles.

With the return of team competitions and USTA tournaments, it’s important to remember that we need to prepare properly for match play. As we start to prepare for a team match or tournament you will want to set aside time to both mentally and physically get back into the swing of things.

I’m sure you have all heard a coach say that you need to “practice the way you want to compete”. They aren’t wrong! You should try to create as many high pressure situations as you can in practice to help calm the nerves during match play. You will also want to practice your routines and rituals, this includes your between point routines. Do you have between point routines? If not, get some now! Learn to accept the mistakes you have made, learn from them, and move on.

Losses are painful. Losses hurt. Losses are inevitable. The journey is not always fun and not always easy. The journey is not about the wins and the losses. It is about who you become along the way.

Show your character by the way you handle defeat. Hate to lose, but know you will. Use this setback as an opportunity for a comeback. Use the disappointment of defeat to help you get stronger, to get better. Use it to develop grit and toughness. See the opportunity for growth and progress.

It is ok to feel bad (for just a little while), because you care, and this was important to you. But lingering too long in disappointment and frustration is harmful to progress.

Use the experience as a learning opportunity. Use it to motivate you to evaluate, to get back to practice, and to make necessary changes. Let the loss help you to improve. If you fall, fall forward!

Reset! Release any disappointment, frustration, and anger. Turn disappointment into determination. Turn frustration into focus. Turn anger into positive action. Find the positive - “the silver lining in the dark cloud.”

TM

Bill Adkisson, Chicago, IL Conner Annis, Stevensville, MI Anna Baronayte, Solon, OH Naomi Bhhagat, Elk Grove Village, IL Alexander Boyer, Elkhart, IN Zoy Brown, Indianapolis, IN David Bubenicek, Carmel, IN Todd Buenting, Moline, IL Joshua Cole, Big Rapids, MI Brandon Day, Allegan, MI Timothy DeRosia, Hamtramck, MI Gwen Finnegan, Baraboo, WI Jennifer Gerling, Traverse City, MI Adam Hawley, Oshkosh, WI Blake Helminiak, Toledo, OH Jerry Hewitt, Rockford, MI Konrad Hsueh Troy, MI Madeleine Kobelt, New Albany, OH Solomon Korringa, Otsego, MI Greg Kusneir, Chicago, IL Christopher Landauer, Columbus, OH Nathan Matthews, Cincinnati, OH Griffin Mertz, Farmington Hills, MI Andrew Morrison, Big Rapids, MI Mario Mousoupetros, Big Rapids, MI Jesika Musall, Carmel, IN John Mysz, Glenview, IL Sarah Neale, Chicago, IL Nelson Nguyen, Zionsville, IN Colton Norsworthy, Walla Walla, WA Daniel Pampel, Grafton, WI Tina Pisnik, Mundelein, IL Casey Ramirez, Big Rapids, MI Casey Reynolds, Empire, MI Josh Schwanger, Sandusky, OH Jacob Shelton, Zionsville, IN Andrew Shipp, Clarkston, MI Krzysztof Slomski, Brunswick, OH Jen Turek, Geneva, IL Riley Wilton, Grand Haven, MI Elijah Wisser, Kalamazoo, MI

Preparing your body to compete

The week prior to competition you want to make sure that you are creating a sleep schedule. A study conducted at Stanford University demonstrated that increasing sleep to 10 hours per night for a period of time improved athletic performance for tennis and basketball players. Additionally, banking extra sleep ahead of time, will reduce the impact of restricted sleep the night before the big game or competition. The day of competition you will want to give yourself plenty of time to acclimate and wake up (ideally 2-3 hours). Hydration is also key. I live by the motto of “you will pay tomorrow, for what you did today.” The American Council on Exercise recommends drinking 17 to 20 ounces of water two to three hours before beginning your workout. About 20 to 30 minutes before your workout, drink another 8 ounces. While you are exercising, drink 7 to 10 ounces every 10 to 20 minutes. Within 30 minutes of completing your workout, drink an additional 8 ounces. Weigh yourself before and after your workout and drink an additional 16 to 24 ounces. for each pound you lost during your workout. (livingstrong.com)

Preparing your mind to compete

If you have been keeping a journal this is a great time to use that journal for reflection. What have you been working on in practice, new tactics, and goals setting? Your goal might be hitting kick serves for our second serve or setting up favorable patterns. Maybe you have been working on your return footwork or have committed to a fitness goal. Whatever it is, you should write these down and focus on them before, during and after the match. Prior to the match starting you should find a quiet place (without devices) where you can read or listen to music. Visualization is so very important, and you can use this time to visualize the shots you want to hit and get excited for the match. During the match, use your journal to remind yourself of goals, and the positive affirmations that you have writing in it!

Don’t forget your dynamic warm up!

You may only get a 7-10 minute match warm up so try doing this prior to taking the court. I encourage you to pack a jump rope and get your feet moving.

Now you are ready! Many of you have waited almost a year for this moment. Enjoy the process and trust the training. You are ready, have fun!

The John and Fay Menard YMCA Tennis Center is a 501 (3c) non-profit 8 court indoor tennis facility in Eau Claire, WI. We are seeking a qualified full-time assistant tennis professional position. The ideal candidate should be rated 4.0 or higher, enthusiastic, self-motivated and willing to teach all levels youth and adult in group and private lessons, assist with special events, racket stringing and coaching our junior teams during the summer. Foreign applicants must already have the proper visas before applying for this position. Applicant must be USPTA or PTR certified, Safe Play approved, detail oriented, have strong communication skills, and excellent customer service skill with a high level of professionalism. We offer competitive wages, including medical, dental and retirement benefits for employees working 35+ hours per week. Please email resume to Matt Boughton at Mboughton@ymca-cv.org Spring 2021 Midwest Connection 5