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Junior Coaching
Children begin to play Tennis for a variety of reasons; they have seen mum and dad play, watched an older sibling, seen it on television or have been encouraged by a friend. Ultimately most children want to compete and trends are suggesting that the age that children are beginning competitive tennis is getting younger.
The road to competition at our club is for the most part age reflective, but we must remember that children may take up the sport for a lifetime at any age and as such we have programmes to cater for all levels and abilities.
Chronologically our coaching programmes are as follows:
- PeeWees (4-6 year olds)
This is a programme for beginners using modified equipment and played on a smaller court area. The emphasis here is, from within a games based framework, building Tennis fundamental motor skills. These are:
- Movement fundamentals . . . side skipping, jumping, balance, running (backwards and forwards), ball flight
recognition, agility.
- Striking skills . . . basic swing paths
- Reception skills . . . tracking a ball and attempting to return it over a net.
- Midgets (7-9 yrs)
Programme emphasis here is on moving the children to the full court and helping them cope with the demands that the increased court area poses. Again, from within a games based framework, the technical aspects of the game are introduced in more depth. These are:
- Understanding of and familiarization with grips.
- Serve swing pattern
Basic strategies of the game are also taught at this point:
- Move your opponent
- Hit to space
- Hit with depth
- Pre Interclub (10 yrs +)
Once children reach this stage they can rally competently and are able to serve with a degree of consistency. There is a doubles emphasis at this point as well as a focus on the formal side of the game; rules and scoring.
- Interclub (8 yrs +)
Children at this stage are playing in competitive Interclub competition, which occurs on Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the season. All Interclub players at the club receive one hour team coaching per week for the duration of the season.
How you can help?
As a parent, there are many ways in which you can help support your child’s Tennis development; practicing with them, watching them at matches or helping out at committee level are a few simple steps to becoming involved. For more advice in the development of your child’s tennis, contact our club coach Stu Chalmers 021 2286772 or stu.chalmers@yahoo.co.nz
E-mail: admin@waimairitennis.com
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