Workshop: Planning Practices

A consistent practice format offers players a routine that allows them to effectively manage their on-court time and provides the best possible workout.

I. Elements of a Model Practice

…A. Pre-practice housekeeping.

   B. On-Court WarmUp
…….i) Light hitting; mini-tennis; Graduated Length Method

…C. Warmup and Stretch
…….i) Dynamic, not static, stretching
…….ii) Medicine ball
…….i) Mini-tennis

…D. Practice Previously-Learned Skills

…E. Teach and Practice New Skills

       i) Start with dead-ball and cooperative drills

…F. Practice Under Matchplay Conditions
…….i) Competitive, live-ball drills with points
…….ii) Tie-breaks
…….iii) Matches

…G. Conditioning
…….i) Sprints, plyometrics, footwork, jump ropes, medicine balls, ab rollers etc speed, agility, power, etc.

…H. Cooldown
…….i) Walking, jogging or stretching
…….ii) Static stretching here

  I. Post-practice review/questions

II. Build Tactics into Practices

During “E” above…

Step #1 — Tactical Set-Up
……i) Show players a common tactical situation they’ll see in matches (e.g., One-up/One-back; mid-court volley; approaching opponent)
……ii) Have them play points or drill trying to solve the tactical situation, without instruction from the coach

Step #2 — Break and discuss tactical solutions to this problem

Step #3 — Go back to drill, with players practicing the new tactical solutions

Step #4 — Break for technical work related to the new tactical solution (e.g., Tactical solution requires groundstroke depth. Technical work on this.)

Step #5 — Go back to drill, having players use their new tactical and technical skills

Move to “F” above and finish practice progression