What’s in Your Bag?

Depending on your conference or state rules, there may be times when your players need help you aren’t allowed to give them. Being prepared with a variety of essential items in their gear bags will allow your players to respond to many different emergencies and let them keep their focus and match momentum.

If each player can’t carry the following, make sure that you, as the coach, are prepared, by having these basic items at every match.

Shoelaces
— Ever try to find an extra shoelace when you’ve broken one during a match?

Grip and/or overwrap
— Do your players know how to properly (and quickly) wrap their handles?

Tennis towel, wrist band, head band or bandana

Energy Bar
— Rain delays, long, between-match waits or just plain poor eating prior to a match can be remedied with an extra energy bar. Don’t lose matches because you run out of fuel!

Tape measure or net check
— Know the correct heights for a tennis net (at the middle and sidelines) for singles and doubles, and get into the habit of checking the net height before the warm-up every match.

T-shirt
— Once clothes become so wet that they stick to the body, your skin can’t breathe and this can lead to heat problems.

Socks
— New or borrowed shoes, wet socks or blisters can be remedied with an extra, dry pair of socks.

Hat
— In cold weather, a majority of the body’s heat is lost through the head; in hot weather, an uncovered head can similarly lead to serious problems.

Sunscreen
— A bad burn can have both short and long-term effects for a player. The FDA does not recognize SPF’s over 15, but at least get one that high. Get one that is water resistant and won’t sweat off.

Vibration Dampener
— Although they don’t do much, if you’re used to a shock absorber on your strings when you play and you lose yours during a match, it can drive you crazy tyring to play without one.

Official rules of tennis, Code of Conduct (USTA rules for unofficiated matches)

Band-Aids, ACE bandage, athletic tape

Net strap
— High school is often played at public facilities, which frequently have at least one missing or broken net strap.

Key phone numbers
— Coach, school, police, fire, etc.

Money
— Keep a few dollars on hand for phone calls, drinks, tolls or other unforeseen emergencies.

Water Bottle
— If you forget your jug and there’s no water on the court, an extra cycling bottle can save your day.

Sunglasses

Can of balls

Aspirin, allergy medicine, etc.

Jump rope
— A great way to keep loose between matches; don’t overdo it!

Kleenex or moist towelettes

Pen or pencil

Personal match play check-list
–What are the player’s recurring strengths and weaknesses, technically, tactically and mentally?

Book
— This can break the monotony during an unexpected rain delay, default into the next round, etc.

Strings
— If you break a string on the road, you can save time and money by having an extra set of strings.