With the rollout of some Red and Orange stage programmes at Blockhouse Bay, as well as the continuation of our Red and Orange programmes at Next Generation and Pompallier, we figured that now would be the best time to answer some FAQs.
With the rollout of some Red and Orange stage programmes at Blockhouse Bay, as well as the continuation of our Red and Orange programmes at Next Generation and Pompallier, we figured that now would be the best time to answer some FAQs.
Why are so many Red and Orange exercises done without a tennis racquet?
There are many, many tennis exercises that are done without a racquet, and they are this way for a variety of reasons. Firstly, we have to develop the physical literacy of young athletes! In order to be successful a tennis player, you will need a wide variety of physical skills. Tennis is one of the most skill diverse sports in the world. Racquet skills are useless if you can't get to the ball and stop on time, in the right place! However, we do think there is a large place for racquet-work, even in Red Stage. We will continue to balance it with all of the bodywork and footwork skills necessary to help tennis players play and compete.
Why isn't their technique being fixed every time?
We understand that watching Red or Orange players rally for the first time looks really messy, and not very 'technical' at all! However, we think this is the best path to having the most technically competent form in the future. It's important to note here that technique is not just following the model of what a pro swing or a 'correct swing' looks like. The technical advice we give here will be the input that is necessary for a desired output. We will make technical corrections that help with tennis skills, even if the players don't look like mini pros in the short term. The more that players understand how changes in their swing and their body affect what they can do with the ball, the more their strokes will look like the swings that we see on the pro tour. Remember that good technique is adaptable!
Why are there competitions for Red and Orange Stage? Aren't they too young?
We are firm believers that no one is too young to enjoy tennis. Competition should be at the heart of everything we do - the reason that we have tennis lessons is so that we can get better at playing tennis! The competitions that we run (like the one on the 31st of August) will be an easy to understand format that kids can enjoy without pressure. At younger ages they will win points for their team rather than for themselves, and will get to play many matches regardless of whether they win or lose! We will also play a series of themed warm up games to start, easing the players into their first competitive environment. The tournament will provide context for all our lessons. The whole point of playing tennis is to play tennis!
