[tennisbiz] Re: Stopping student from leaning in too early on serve

Jamie and Miguel:

I feel the need to clarify my dancing recommendation. Think about the
teaching progressions you use. Sometimes, looking outside of tennis
for help is the answer. When teaching a student a wrist snap for more
power, for instance, what's the best analogy, especially for a young boy?
It's just like a quarterback, deep in the pocket, throwing a football! Do it
and you will see. I actually have a nerf ball in my teaching supplies.
Ladies taking up the sport later in life especially have difficulty getting
the arms up and hips forward into the
serve at the same time. But usually they have danced at some point. When you
make tennis less of a foreign completley new activity, it's easier to
understand. Golf- if you golf, you shouldn't ever have a death grip on the
racket, it's just like driving a ball down the fairway. You must find out
what your student does without effort outside of tennis, and make tennis
analogies towards your goal. Think of it as cross training, at least you'll
have a better all around athlete. Lets keep in mind too, the kid is 13, his
game has to evolve as he grows. We must be wary of how much pressure you are
putting on a young body. If he develops stress injuries from too much too
soon, or incorrect movements, you've failed at your job. Our primary job (no
matter what the parent or kid is
pushing for) is to build the ground work for a healthy happy adult, who will
play this game forever. Sometimes less is more, instead of, "don't do this,
don't do that" grab your football and throw it around. Find a way for your
student to see and learn almost accidentally.

Cher Peretin

  
Received on Thu Oct 23 2003 - 13:32:25 CDT