This is an interesting article about life on tour

Blog - Oct 2010

I hope everyone has had a great month of September and those in the tennis world have had a well deserved break before starting up their training/tournament load again.

All is fantastic at SotoTennis - the boys went up to Cordoba on Friday to sign in for the qualifying of a Futures there. It was a really valuable weekend for them all, particularly Dave Hodgetts. At 16 years old, it was his first senior professional tournament, and he won two matches to make it through to the last round of qualifying, beating two experienced players.

Unfortunately though, one of our boys did not get in. Six spaces were left for the taking, with seven players having signed in. The names were drawn from a hat, and Rob Carter’s was the only one not picked out. He was naturally disappointed, but it’s another great `character builder` for these guys and all part of the `pro tennis players` life. I spoke to him on the phone and tried to pass on some of my experience, wow I am getting old! I told him about a good friend of mine Lee Childs, who is a former top 5 player in Great Britain and Davis Cup player. Lee left home early morning Boxing Day one year to travel to Qatar for the season opening tournament. In tennis we `sign in` at events to prove we are there as tournaments are all over the world. He ended up being one ranking place from getting in the tournament, so it would seem, wasted £2,000 on flights and hotels. He practiced there all week though then flew to Sydney for the next event on the calendar, but again he was 1 or 2 ranking places from getting in. So, another £2000 down the drain. Onto Brisbane next, where the same happened, and then again at the big event, the Australian Open!  So four weeks, £8,000, thousands of air miles and he never played a match! BUT, Lee gained 4 weeks of experience at big events, hitting and socialising with top 100 players in the world, and while he didn’t play, he learned how tournaments like this ‘work’, and settled into that environment.  He went on to have a fantastic 6 months including winning a main draw match at Wimbledon! A great example of a true professional, and while there are not many sports where this would happen, he didn’t mope around feeling sorry for himself,  but came away having still gained valuable experience. I am confident my guys will react the same in this, and similar situations in the future.

All else is good here in Sotogrande! We are coming to the end of a 4-5 week hard training block where the guys fitness levels have soared and their games have developed nicely. They will get to put all their hard work to the test next week when they travel to tournaments in Barcelona, Libya, and Japan.  No, I wont be at all of them unfortunately – the ITF at Barcelona it is for me, with Josh, James, and Rob. Matt Kirby from Cambridge is also joining our travelling team which is great. I hope I have some good news next week and I’ll be able to write about what fantastic attitudes our players showed and that they did everything they could both on and off court, within their control. That is all we can ask…

Please feel free to e mail any topics you want us at STA to talk about in future…

Play to Win

The best coaches are the best teachers - 11 keys to effective teaching

Effective Teaching

Use the right language

Tell athletes what is right rather than what is wrong. Tell them what to do rather than not what to do.

Remember the brain thinks in images and can not differentiate between positive and negative. For instance instead of saying 'don’t keep so upright' sending this image to the brain, it would be better to say bend at the knees. You could also think of a pink elephant or in fact don't think of a purple elephant!

Assume the athlete doesn’t know

Better to repeat something known than omit something unknown. Teach them, tell them what you have taught them then tell them again!

Limit the information given in a coaching session

Keep the session to the main teaching point along with anything the student realises or attains himself. This is the best time to teach students when they have just discovered a particular task or skill themselves.

Be objective and purposeful

When working in a group or squad environment use examples that have just happened but be careful not to single out negative examples that individual members of the team may have made.

Ensure any assistant coaches use the same language

This speaks for itself conflicting language is inconsistent and may cause confusion. Ensure you both speak the same coaching lingo!

Gain Rapport

When teaching the group ensure you make eye contact with all the group not just single people.

Watch for reactions to what you say negative and positive this can give you valuable information on what players think.

When coaching with individuals connect by touch. A hand on the shoulder or pat on the back will suffice this ensures the message gets through.

Connect with the whole team not just the best, they all need your time and energy.

Encourage feedback with the group

Ask open ended questions about the tasks and skills you have been working on. At the end of the lesson ask the students what the biggest impact for them personally was.

Set goals within tasks

This maintains purpose and helps with everyone individually. Whereas the group maybe working on a set task via the teaching point, each student may have an individual aspect to focus on.

Use mistakes as a vehicle for teaching

A player who doesn’t make a mistake is one who isn’t achieving.

With mistake management have players understand what was I trying to do? What should I have done? How can I do better next time?

Reinforce effective learning and great behaviour

A great way to reinforce is on the approach of the task not the outcome. This will spill over into match play when we want players to continually perform better over the outcome of winning being the be all and end all.

Introduce the mental game of tennis at all times

For this you need my 12 week course. Shameful plug but there you have it!

www.andytennis.co.uk

British Tennis Latest News

British LTA Failed to Reach its Targets

The much criticized reign of Roger Draper as chief executive of the cash-rich but far from successful Lawn Tennis Association has suffered another massive knock with the revelation the governing body has failed to meet any of its own targets.

Draper, who took control four and a half years ago with a confident insistence that he was the man to finally turn British tennis around, and has signed off the spending of hundred of millions of money bequeathed to the LTA by both the All England Club and the British Government.

Now Draper has been forced to admit the failings of his regime when obligated to address the LTA Council with a “State of British tennis” address.

The most apparent failing is the dearth of British players in the respective top 100’s on the men’s and women’s tour. Draper prophesied by now there would be at least four British men figuring in the ATP World Tour’s top 100 and the same of the WTA Tour. Instead there is just Andy Murray and Elena Baltacha.

“Despite many encouraging performances in recent months [Murray contesting January’s Australian Open final and more recently Baltacha reaching the top 50 for the first time] we are unlikely to hit our target of eight players in the top 100,” admitted Draper, who initially put great faith in paying top dollar for a list of big name coaches such as Paul Annacone, Brad Gilbert, Carl Maes and Peter Lundgren. “Whilst we are on track for our doubles target, we only have two players in the top 100 singles, not helped by Anne Keothavong’s long-term injury.

Draper also said Britain would by now be a fixture in the Davis Cup’s World Group. Instead they only avoided relegation to the depth of Euro/Africa Zone Group Three by beating Turkey at Eastbourne.

Earlier this year Britain lost to a team of teenagers in Lithuania, prompting Captain John Lloyd to resign.  “The Davis Cup performance against Turkey was encouraging and we need to begin the long way back to higher groups,” continued Draper.

Another of the LTA’s wishes was that the average ranking of Britain’s leading five men would be 160, but this week it is 204, and they also did not come close to reaching the target for the women’s game either, which was that the leading five British players would have an average ranking of 113. This week, that average is 151.

Draper added: “We have also revised our year-end target for the number of people aged 16+ playing weekly. For the period from the end of September until mid-December, we have revised the target to 530,000, which represents a growth of 37,000 compared with the same period in 2009, which is what we need to achieve each year to reach our target of 150,000 more people playing weekly over the four-year plan period.”

Most worrying for Draper is the fact 16 year-old Liam Broady, probably Britain’s most promising junior player, currently ranked the 35 ^th best under 18 player in the world and winner of the Wimbledon junior doubles titles this year, is not available to represent his country in any LTA backed team. Broady’s father Simon is so disgusted by the Draper regime he will not allow his son to be selected while the current management team is in place. 

The BIG Secret

Okay first and foremost check this out and give me some feedback on Facebook if you can......

http://hudson.megabyet.net/#

Okay having worked with many players at club level and got them to a good standard whereby consistency and effectiveness is key i realised that when it came to playing matches (and for some for the first time!) it turns out they are shocking!

So the key is to give them a confidence word, image or feeling on the shots that they struggle with along with an intensity number.

Lets take the serve for instance, when in practice it looks, feels and works great. This is when our student needs to describe what it is about the shot that makes it work. On a scale of 1 to 10 (1 relaxed, 10 tense) where do they sit when hitting great serves?

Now put this into point play and see if it can be adhered to.

Every shot they feel important can be utilised in this way, one key trigger word or image when it comes to it. Remember the brain thinks in images not words! Words get changed to an image taking longer!

My next article in a few days will be on the workings of the mind

Till then!

The Secret to maintaining confidence in your first ever match

Stay tuned for this important report i will publish tomorrow and the powerful exercise that you simply cannot miss out on.
Andy

Tennis Psychology E-course hits America!

This course has been so well received that i have had interest from America to start pushing it over there.

Don't forget you get the following...

Week 1 - Knowing your game
Week 2 - The Art of Confidence in your game
Week 3 - Power goalsetting for performance
Week 4 - The ultimate pre training confidence exercise
Week 5 - The importance of crossing the line for a winning mindset
Week 6 - Personalised Serve Routines
Week 7 - Personalised Return of Serve Routines
Week 8 - End of point play and scenarios to keep you on track
Week 9 - Staying activated and towards the zone
Week 10 - Pre match planning and game plans
Week 11 - After match evaluation and never ending improvement
Week 12 - Free Question and Email Session

The next intake is at the end of September to apply copy and paste the link below

http://tiny.cc/1ia8d

Look forward to hearing from you

Andy

Routines...

Whilst writing my new ecourse i was just putting these in and decided to share along with you all, i am sure they will be a great help!

Serve Routines in 5 easy steps

1. Go to the B.A.R. (Breathe and Release)

This is a centering breath to prepare the body for battle

2. Question what’s my best plan of action now?

This helps with understanding your last play, your game plan and visualisation of the next step

3. Cross the line - (Look opponent in eye)

This is to happen only when (and only when) you have a clear, concise idea of your next play

4. Visualise to Realise

Understand what your mind sees your body will adhere to

5. Let it rip

One last power breath and do not wait a moment longer, go for it

Return of Serve in 5 easy steps

1. Go to the B.A.R. (Breathe and Release)

          Centering Breath

2. Visualise returns of both sides

          The server is in control so maintain the correct mindset ‘this ball is going back’

3. Cross the line - (look opponent in the eye)

          Mentally re-emphasize this ball is going back

4. Look for clues on serve early on

          Scouting will help this but if not try to pick up cues early in the first set

5. Trained Instinctive Response

          This is from hours of practice, self-doubt is of no use now, go for it

THE LIFE OF A TENNIS COACH AND VET PLAYER: USANA

THE LIFE OF A TENNIS COACH AND VET PLAYER: USANA: "http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1508123976357&ref=n"

USANA

A busy week since my last blog, can too many 8-10 hour days be healthy?
I am just about to sign a contract with USANA to supply suppliments to athletes and coaches in the UK.
Having used these for a whole week i can say i have more energy to do what i need to.

Many top tennis players are using it and i can understand why click on the title above for more info

Enjoy!

Rafa's Press Conference quote...

 'my goal has always been the same for all my life. I want to keep getting better every year and feel I am playing better tennis this year versus last year'


You gotta love this! Certainly something to put on a poster and show all the juniors who play at your club.

Trigger Word Drill

This drill will help you apply self-talk to help you stay focused on different tasks in tennis. The goal of this exercise is to help you stay focused in the moment. Firstly, select 3 tasks in tennis. When you have done this, select a word or short phrase that describes the correct action in each. I.E. serve you may say - hit up, return of serve – stay low. You should try and use these words or phrases before the execution of a task. When you have mastered your cue word statement for each task move on and select a new statement to help you focus on a different aspect of the same task. You might want to change the task and develop new cue word statements!

Good Luck

Return of Serve Training

Return of Serve Training

Andy Dowsett

"OK, do you want to get broken first, or do you want to let me hold?" —What cheeky world No. 1 Martina Hingis quipped at the coin toss before a 1997 match against Lindsay Davenport.

Advantages of returning serve

• If your opponent is a slow starter, you have a better chance of getting an early service break.
  
• If you are a slow starter, you have a better chance of avoiding an early service break.
  
• If you serve on even-numbered games, you serve immediately after every changeover. Then you are physically and mentally rested—albeit your opponent also is—and that gives you a better chance of holding serve, especially in the latter stages of grueling matches.
  
• If you choose return of serve to start the match, you still have about a 50 percent chance—depending on whether sets total an even or odd number of games—of serving to start the remaining sets. And if you start the match returning serve and you play a first-set tiebreaker, you will serve to start the second set.
  
• If you boast an excellent return of serve and your opponent has a poor serve, you may want her to serve first so you can try to gain an early service break and get off to a fast start.
  
• The same thinking holds true (in reverse) if you have a weak, attackable serve and your opponent has a terrific service return. You can avoid a demoralizing early service break by selecting return of serve.
  
• If your opponent wins the toss and selects a side of the court so that you're looking into a bright sun and/or you're against a heavy wind, you may not want to risk losing your serve in the opening game.
  

THE TECHNIQUE
Basics
Athletic Stance - Positioning towards the ball - Grip

Work out opponents range of serves zone
Set up your Y-formation in relation to the above


THE TACTICS
Utilise the following tactics to enhance your return of serve game

• First, stand far behind the baseline. This often encourages your opponent to overhit the serve in an effort to get it past or through you.
  
• Second, stand closer to the service line. Many players take this as a sign of disrespect for their serve and become unnerved. Often it triggers a more aggressive, riskier serve than the server might otherwise attempt.
  
• Third, a variant of the previous tactic, stand close to the service line before your opponent serves. This can create pressure on the server, then just before the serve, move back to a safer position to actually make the return.
  
• Four, stand nearer to one side. Invite the server to serve into the open area of the service box. This tactic can often force a serve to your stronger side.
  

Return Targets using the 4-Square basic routine

Tactical choices for the receiver in terms of 4-Square.

• If you don't know the server's capabilities, at the beginning of the match, it's wise to use percentage tennis and target the back two squares using topspin or well-struck underspin shot that drives the ball deep into the court.
  
• As the match progresses, you should start varying your return locations. To hit to the wider squares.
  
• If you're looking at a slow, shallow second serve into the service box, you can also use a drop shot to 1 or 4.
  

Consider the following tactical points also…

Borrow pace from the big first servers

Make something happen when returning second serves. Here, patterns of play enter the picture. Either drive the return deep into the corner or chip and charge and take control of the net. When driving the return of the second serve and remaining on the baseline, simply play the ball crosscourt. No real reason to return down the line, for in that case the net is high, the court is shorter, and most importantly, the recovery footwork is magnified.

Approach up the line

THE PSYCHOLOGY

Pay attention to what happens after double faults (3 in a row is winner)

Now consider the server who double faults, and then misses the subsequent first serve – assuming they would not care to deliver consecutive double faults they generally let up on that next second serve. The aggressive receiver knows this is coming, steps in and makes something happen, working always to apply more and more pressure against the second serve.


Overall aim - to play at 60-70 percent of return stroke capability so you can get a high percentage of returns in.

Psychology Help....I Accept.....

The day before a match i want you to unburden yourself with thoughts. Make your self an 'Acceptance List'...

Accept things that you know will happen to you in the match, a great coach of mine once said ''Imagine everything that could go wrong in a match and you would be just about right''

I will start you off

1. I accept that i will get some bad line calls in the match

2. I accept that my opponent will hit some superb winning shots against me

3. I accept may double fault more than my usual twice in the match

Your turn

Tennis coaching via internet is here!

I have had the pleasure of working with a few players via what i call e-link. This is whereby they send a cd or trailer of themselves for me to look at and i comment back again with drills and suggestions on where and how to improve. Along with a mail back again when the data (which is normally the case) is too big.

Take a look at this on my web http://www.andytennis.co.uk/Tennis%20Videos

While the mistake is there until i can correct it with pricing on one if you email me quick enough you can have the service for that price! You have about 5 hours from now!

A fine line between love and hate!

In a News of the World or tabloid kind of way i would like to personally apologise to Clive Carrigan for venting my emotions to a situation that should be kept outside of blogs and anything else!
I think the situation could have been handled better from both sides but Clive's integrity and standing is as good as it has ever been and will carry on so.
We will as always remain the best of mates and for the record we never really broke up just took a 14 week vacation!

The worst job in sports? Is tennis coaching all it is made out to be?

Check this article out, certainly makes interesting reading about the trade of Tennis Coaching!

Mind over Matter also known as the power of belief in oneself!

When Roger Bannister broke the 4-minute mile within a year 37 more runners completed this feat also. 300 more the year after and nowadays it happens all the time!

When an Australian basketball team wanted to improve more they divided their team into 3 groups
1. Practiced taking foul shots 30 minutes every day and noticed a 24 percent improvement
2. Did nothing and improved by zero, zilch, nada.
3. Practiced mentally via visualisation only. They improved by a 23 percent margin!

In 1976 the Russians trained their olympic team in the following ways
1. 100% physical training, 0% mental training
2. 75% physical training, 25% mental training
3. 50% physical training, 50% mental training
4. 25% physical training, 75% mental training

Group 4 SHOWED the most improvement!

Many top athletes use mental training....Does your coach? Do you?

Start your visualisation programme with my free 'Refridgerator Technique'.
Email enquiries@andytennis.co.uk

I QUOTE...

Changes do not happen in a day, they happen Daily! 

The Playability Scale

The Playability Scale

This was an ‘aha’ moment for me one day in the bath!! How can something so simple not be utilised in a game plan, certainly at low levels however higher level players would do well to do the same when it is all going wrong! Mentality at pro level is totally different but should still be kept simple.

This scale can work at all levels from beginner to touring pro and is a guideline as to what to do in various situations, commonly found in tennis matches. A player must quickly recognise where he is on the following scale, with suggested 'positive action plans' (PAP) for each scenario:

Many Pro Players today try to play and base their games around their own particular strengths. For them this is the most comfortable way to try and win, so in essence they are in their ‘comfort zone’.

The Art of Tactics is to take your opponent out of this comfort zone generally by one of Four ways:-

1. Play your game well and hopefully this will do the job

2. Change what you are doing by using changes of pace or more subtlety like varying spins

3. Playing utilizing  tactical patterns or strategies using certain targets and placements on the court

4. Mentally by breaking your opponent down so that he begins to think too much

Review this only in circumstances of trouble, when playing well the art is not to think too much. With enough practice you will become automated in this area.

1-2          Nightmare scenario, being completely outplayed or playing badly

Two-ball survival kit e.g. serve and next ball or return and next ball. Keep looking and acting the part in order to have a chance of doing better. Clear your mind of negative thoughts using thought changing techniques. Keep your awareness in the now, 1 point at a time by focusing on one part of your body or the ball.

3-4          Playing average, but not well enough to win

Keep your emotions and body language in check, to stand a chance of moving up to the arenas of 5-8. Once again keep yourself in the now and in the job at hand by maintaining focus as above.

5-6          Even situation, no clear winning

Compete with controlled ability, be aware of opportunities, and maybe take a gamble to create one. These are the matches that are won via tiebreaks and the ability to notice ‘opportunity balls’ and ‘opportunity situations’. If a match is consistently going to Deuce, then understand who is doing what to whom and help plan future points. (I.E. are you winning points, losing points or is your oppoenents forcing mistakes?)

7-8          Ahead in the match.

Don't change a winning game - Finish the job, But be aware of tactical switch by opponent.             Remember mindset should not be to protect the lead but to carry out the work that got you to this position. Remember, think in images not words.

9-10        Playing in the zone.

To think too much now will place you back at worst to 7-8, make the most of it by collecting as many points as possible whilst you can.

You will have to let me know how you get on. Good visualisations and the use of anchors throughout the body can take you to a mindset of 7-10 before you even perform. This forms part of your pre-match routine that will be discussed later in the book. However poor emotional control and you can find yourself in the 1-4 area, a loss in the 5-6 of your emotions will also send you spiralling down.

I QUOTE...

ATHLETIC TALENT IS THE ABSENCE OF MENTAL, PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL OBSTRUCTIONS.

12 Week Tennis Psychology E-Programme

Starting on 5th September 2010 i will be starting the first 12-week tennis psychology e-programme.
This will take the form of the following information.....

Week 1 - Knowing your game
Week 2 - Power goalsetting for performance
Week 3 - The Art of Confidence in your game
Week 4 - The ultimate pre training confidence exercise
Week 5 - The importance of crossing the line for a winning mindset
Week 6 - Personalised Serve Routines
Week 7 - Personalised Return of Serve Routines
Week 8 - End of point play and scenarios to keep you on track
Week 9 - Staying activated and towards the zone
Week 10 - Pre match planning and game plans
Week 11 - After match evaluation and never ending improvement
Week 12 - Free Question and Email Session

If you would like to take part in this programme that will ultimately improve your game then email enquiries@andytennis.co.uk. Cost is a mere £30.00!

Best of luck and here's to taking your game to another level!

Tennis is a LARGE ball

Ever since the grass court coaching with the Army team i have been seeing the ball like a beach ball!
How? For me just a great deal of hitting on a fast surface!
I have taken this confidence into the club matches and have managed to make the finals of the mixed doubles and men's doubles. As it stands i am in the semi's of the men's singles and have this scheduled for Monday.

There are many exercises that can be used to help with seeing the ball easier! Take one small sized mini ball ( http://tiny.cc/n8koi ) and hit with this first in the service area then the whole court for upto 5 minutes. From here you will find the normal ball to seem bigger!

I will fill you in on the tournaments when i have done however i am looking to complete the triple this year!

The greatest footwork news ever!

Check this out!

An ATP stat not that long ago stated that up to 70% of unforced errors were down to poor footwork.

That's a lot of points to just throw away!

It's also something that can be avoided.

My great pal Paul Gold has some free videos to help you with just that, including the one drill he tells me that "every single tennis player regardless of their level can do and should do on a regular basis".

I've asked him to share those with you, so before he changes his mind pop along to http://footwork4tennis.com and grab them.

I bought a copy of his footwork report a while ago and I can tell you he knows what he is talking about!

Here's the link again 

http://footwork4tennis.com


Andy Dowsett

A total update

So whats news? Wow so many questions and well wishers!
Okay this is where i am at......
For those that keep asking with suprisement (new word from the andy book of words) i left the PTR due to a many family goings on and the ability to get my kids to and from school. Certainly not  a decision i took lightly but nevertheless had no choice.
I got a job as head coach at a big club in Essex, although this was big in the 90's definitely needs building up again  but therein lies the challenge.

I have great and fond memories of the thousands of coaches i have trained, tested and put through the PTR 5-day courses which will always remain. Don't worry alas i will continue with my job to educate like i did within the PTR whereby i wrote many of the courses and programmes. These will be in the form of e-books and will be posted on my main site andytennis.co.uk

The club i am at is building greatly however a major downfall was the foresight of not realising that because many owned holiday homes, boats and chalets abroad that their would be an exodus throughout the Summer month of August! Onwards we stride however and plot and plan accordingly. The schools programme will be big in September so much so that i have hired another coach and possibly a third that has come to the foreground. I have also managed to gain the job of tutoring school teachers on how to teach tennis. Therein lies the tutoring that i am back into! Along with the scholarship coaching programme sitting in the winds.

SCHOLARSHIP COACHING PROGRAMME....
This starts in March 2011 and consists of 6 months (ending on August 31st) of playing, coaching and gaining experience in every aspect of coaching. Very similar to the Stonebridge Academy before his retirement! Students will gain a qualification and LTA licence by the end of the course and i am sure will obtain a great amount of knowledge that will set you apart from other coaches, this will be via the LTA and the PTRuk although this still has to be confirmed but the price of the courses will be included in the fee. If you are interested then let me know! I will update my site with more information on this soon.

I digress.....
I have had some offers to work indoors a few days a week throughout the winter and am contemplating taking this offer up whilst the club i am at continues to take shape and build.

But as a coach looking to build don't forget to look at all ventures and ideas outside of the box! For instance today i coached 78 young kids from the local Catholic Church. They had a week long bible club that i have to say was well attended and looking at it the attraction was certainly fun and making friends over anything else. Something we need to look at in our coaching programmes when building! At the end of the 3 hours all had a taster session and went home with a flyer explaining the club programme and a ticket for a free session if they take it up. For the adults there was also a invite for an 8 week coaching course funded from Sport Essex.
The next few weeks will see a visit from the Brownies and Beavers, along with a group from Ford the major business 2 minutes down the road. As they say build it and they will come!

I have come across a great wee talent in the form of a young county sprinter. My god can she move, her poise and balance second to none and has an eye for the ball! In 3 sessions she can rally around 20 balls from the baseline and put at least 1 in 4 serves in. Not too dusty! On top of this i am helping her with her psychology work for both sports ready for the Olympics in 2016! So talented, hard working and enthusiastic ability to learn. What more can i ask for?

On top of this i am just finishing a club doubles e-book for you all with more in the pipeline. An advanced serving download is in progress and Tennis 90 coming along.

This just leaves the club doubles, mixed doubles and singles to play and win on bank holiday Monday. I will keep you posted..................

Army Tennis Training Sir!

I had the tremendous job of coaching the Army Ladies, Mens and Vets tennis team at the All England Grass Courts this year at Raynes Park. Mission to prepare the teams for the inter services championship to be held at Wimbledon the following week.
My expectations of the event were - 0. My knowledge of what to expect - 0.
The idea was to learn from the first day and plan and prepare from this day forward for the following week.
The mens team consisted of a rebel band of 16 players headed by the team captain Roger. All great guys and all hard workers. Now if you have a problem, if no one else can help and if you can find them, then maybe you can hire.....oh hold on wrong scenario!
The ladies team as nice as pie and in need of some renovated coaching work. Vets team great bunch but dammit if i could find time to multi-task 3 different groups at the same time and keep them happy whilst differentiating a the same time. I did however mange to find a way but not without much duress!
Day 1 on grass saw me playing ridiculously out of sorts with my timing and managed to get by with hitting with the lower level guys that i soon figured out within the 20 minute warm up. The aim was to get the team used to hitting on grass. In periodisation terms this was the preparation phase.
Day 2 as a coach saw me playing about 8 foot behind the baseline but hitting with anyone. The aim here was to get used to moving on the grass and playing specific tactical scenarios in doubles as well as singles.
Day 3 outstanding, hitting, seeing and feeling the ball better. Confidence of hitting on grass as a whole for all was better and here we have hit the pre-competitive phase of life.
Day 4 again pre-competitive and my version of pressure point tennis to get the players playing under duress.
Day 5 active rest until competition on Monday and Tuesday.

The experience as a coach was outstanding, how many coaches can say they have coached the Army team? I felt privileged and overwhelmed. But at the same time looking back now have a better understanding of how to train the team in the week leading up to the tournament.

At Wimbledon my job was to prepare all players for ensuing matches and hit with them at the penultimate time on the courts they were to play. Matches were dispersed at Aorangi Park and the sacred courts of 14 to 19 on the grounds itself. The other job pick the matches that mean most and sit down for on court coaching between changeovers. Prognosis at the higher levels? Keep it simple with what you do well and not to try anything you don't really own. On the lower levels attack the weaknesses with plays that work and stick to it until such times the opponent changes their game.

Overall results Navy 1st, Army 2nd, Air Force 3rd.

Personally i would like to thank all those that trained and put the effort in and made me feel welcome to the team. I look forward to training the B team for the indoor championships and the A team again next year for Wimbledon.

A world of continuing learning!

Amazing how even at 40 years old i have never stopped learning! and this has to apply to you.
I am currently reading a great book about the Talent Code. This is just an amazing read and as coaches for sure you need to check this out!

I have spent the last month building even more and hiring two assistant coaches. This will prove fruition in September in our ever growing schools programme. I am looking now to do pre-school, lunchtime and after school tennis sessions as well as in school tennis. The target is to reach 27 primary schools and 3 secondary schools. We are 40% of the way there and will get this to 70% in September!

I have been busy with other ventures which means i am back in the tutoring market again and on the way to setting up an academy at the club in Brentwood. I am after some talented young juniors about the age of 7/8 and will utilise the Modern Tennis way of thinking. A great product and run by some great friends of mine.

I have also managed to corner the market for teaching primary school teachers to coach tennis. Funding is amazingly about if you go searching for it! Although admittedly it helps to know the right people and this can only be done via networking! DONT be one of these coaches that turn up for lessons and then walk away again. I believe once you are at the club you are there for the day! Meet and greet people commit to other projects and make the phone calls required!

I had a great skype chat with America which could see some work from that direction via the Tennis Industry Association and writing articles. Many things in the pipeline and the future is looking bright!

Lets hope for a great and easy winter!

Signing out
Andy

Catch up

Wow times flies when you are busy.
Since we last spoke i have been busy with the coaching and continually setting up new ideas and programmes. Adding schools and more importantly preparing schools to continue in September.

Remember this helps to build the club up from the ground up and from here you can start to bring the parents into the tennis equation. I have entered the Frinton Vets Grass Court Tournament and my training began a few months back. 4 Sets a week, 2 on court workouts and 2 five mile bike rides. Not forgetting a Sainsbury look alike trolley load of balls to serve each day.

With over 15 hours of hitting in lessons a week i am feeling confident which is vitally important. This key ingredient is of some importance when playing matches. You have to prepare yourself and know you are not week in any particular area when you enter the arena.

When i practice i try to just zone in on one key aspect of each shot, forehands maybe the footwork, backhands the space between body and racket, Serve the takeback......i think you get the picture.

A few weeks from now i shoot to West London to coach the Army Team ready for the Inter-sevices at Wimbledon. In the meantime, i am on the lookout for another tennis coach to work alongside me in September having built an adequate business already and also on the look out for young talent to work with in my potential performance programme.

Its been a while but........

Okay so since 'moving on' and becoming a trench coach i think this will pretty much be the last blog on how to build a club. I have been answering many of you via email regarding coaching and playing and now i think it is best i get back to blogging some of the questions and answers that i have for you all.

However, as it stands within 3 weeks (cant really count the weeks holiday to Lanzarote!). My work is now 25 hours and growing. The club is about to launch into an extensive schools programme with 4 schools currently attached to the club and a further 8 schools to start in September. I have managed to gain funding for adult coaching and schools coaching so nothing gets accomplished for free although i was going down the route of sowing in the schools with work and reaping the benfits at the club!

The club programme is now set in stone and summer camps ready to go. Leaflets are flying out the door as we speak and this is why school work is important to help fill these up for you.

So within one month, two weeks planning, plotting, printing, negotiating and meeting, one week holiday and one week full time work we have a viable business in the club that now requires another coach to help with the ongoing coaching that is to build from here on in.

If you want me to help set up something similar for your club just ask and i can do a makeover for your business as well.

Doing what needs to be done

Its always difficult to step into a club first off and build it up into a viable business. But stick with it and get yourself known. Join in social sessions, set up invitation mornings and play matches for the club to get people talking about you.
Don't forget to attach schools to the club and bring the kids back again.
I have manage to hit on funding for getting adults back into sport, you can claim upto £40 per person for an 8 week course, the one i have planned already has 17 attendees and growing. Be sure to speak with your local sport funding centre and work your way into the school sports rep book!
Every district within the county has one so ask around.

I have come to the conclusion that many clubs fail to have a set in stone programme for all range of standards and ages. Produce a brochure for existing and also prospective members to take and look at. Before long your programmes will be full and you can be planning how to double up on sessions by hiring another coach.

FINALLY, run some tournaments at the club to let the kids know about your services and club. I have managed to get hold of a yearly schools mini red tournament for our club. Use the time to sell drinks and coffees whilst you are there as well as anything else that kids may eat! Then ensure every kid has a copy of the summer camps programme.

On a personal note, i have managed to acquire the coaching services of the Army Tennis Team. This is only for 6 days whereby they will play the inter-services at wimbledon. I guess my ex-army background has helped but like everything its also helps with who you know. Very similar to all the examples i have given above.

Network, network, network and once you have enough contacts, network some more!

Time waits for no one!

Why put off tomorrow what you can do today?
''Lets just have one lesson on the serve''.....''Sure''......''I must warn you i have had many lessons and no one has managed to sort out my serve!''.....''Oh that was good, i enjoyed that lets do some more''

Once you have someone for there first ever lesson, make sure for certain its not the last! I always say if something cannot be fixed within 2 minutes or 20 serves then its not worth fixing or you don't really know what you are doing!

Make sure at the end of the lesson that your student no matter who has an understanding of what to do and how to do it. Ask them when they will next practice this in a live situation and constantly check. You may have fixed it but its easy to slip back if the practice isn't constant. Set some practice homework for your students to commit to and you will be fine.

Don't forget word of mouth is more powerful than any advertising! Brochures and posters just back up your on court work and skills.

If you have spare time ensure you get the letters out to the more talented students in other groups inviting them back for more sessions at a later date.

On a personal note my book Tennis Psychology made Easy is starting to sell well, eclipsing the famous book Smart Tennis on Wednesday as we write. Although this may be because everyone has got a copy at this stage! My efforts to get the book in to local shops in Wimbledon have paid off i now get to provide them with copies on demand. I want thousands to be sold over Wimbledon infact more. Maybe this can be the start of something new.

After all time waits for no one!

What is talent?

My second Saturday at the club.
Many things are planned for the future and it sounds like the tour coaching series of courses for coaches will be going ahead. I will plan these dates and subjects by the end of the month and all will be run with ex top 50 WTA or ATP players along with myself as host!

Today was good, my old friend and ex student from the late 90's is improving at a great rate and will  be back playing tournaments. The kids sessions were great but have this ingrained need to play silly games! I must remember that tennis is a game and sometimes they want to play for fun not just try and learn all the time. I guess 10 years away and just lecturing has made me realise that not everyone needs to be a champion lol.

However my main aim is to improve everyone to the best of their abilities. You have the workers and grinders, the lazy ones and the ones who just want to learn until they are hooked.

To me talent is when a student enjoys hard work, enjoys improving and learning whilst listening and is athletic. Our job as coaches is to facilitate the improvement of technique and tactics but more importantly and this is a key missing ingredient with alot of coaches, empower the students and players with the ability to problem solve and think.

This week i set up a performance programme which includes 1.5 hours coaching, 1.5 hours drilling and 1.5 hours of pressure point matchplay and psychology. All for £50 per week for a maximum of 8 students. Alongside this the players will get two individual lessons per month and programming and planning for the journey ahead. As coaches this is a great programme and beneficial for all. But for potential players this for sure is not enough, so make sure that set matchplay sessions and practice sessions throughout the week when you have to work with other groups and individuals.

With all plans and programmes now in place, all that is required is to start the school work and add the extra secondary and primary school and we are good to go, full steam ahead and a fill a club that actually loves to have an outstanding junior programme and membership.

Dont forget to email if you want more advice. Right now i still keep in touch with many of you even regarding PTR issues. Just because i have left this part of my life behind me doesn't mean i wont help when needed.

So just holla

More days, more planning and more meetings

So with the passport fiasco behind me and on its way, i can settle back into planning and re-arranging.
Remember when planning your sessions ensure that groups are set for just after school hours so the kids get used to leaving school and coming straight to tennis. Some schools have the ability to take a mini bus of kids from the school to the club which is even better! Parents who work would love this and are willing to pay.

Sometimes, programmes need rearranging along with times to maximise your potential earnings. Work out when the club has quiet times and work out why. Perhaps, this is then key to add in extra coaching sessions. Try not to interfere with social tennis, although to set a group just prior to this will ensure that this also fills quite well.

Now is the time to plan the summer programmes and get them out, the earlier the better. Get them into schools you work in, around the club and anywhere else that maybe fruitful.

Today i had a meeting about funding for schools bar the short deadline to get applications in i can help with this side of life for those interested. After all it all helps and don't forget schools help build the programme and the club. Email me if you want details, the deadlines for primary and secondary schools for next year are October this year.

Now i need to plan the club tournament. Ciao

Well that's another fine mess you got me into Stanley......

So here is an unusual chain of events...
Sunday print tickets for holiday on 22nd well in advance - Good
Notice member of family has extinct passport - not good
Book 7 day super fast passport appointment in london - good
Turn up and forget birth certificate - not good
Worse still walk off train at stop and leave 3 x passports, cheque book, potential already signed other passport for said person of forgotten birth cert and holiday clothes on train - super not good!
Find passports and related stuff after jumping on next train and chasing train in front to Shoeburyness! - Stroke of luck
Get back in time to continue coaching at club for rest of night - Phew
Beat mens team captain to stamp playing authority on club - Job Done

and tomorrow i  get to go upto the passport office again to try again

but.....if you have the ability always stamp your playing standard on a club as soon as possible 'just do it'. With your coaching ability becoming known adding a playing ability makes for a sound grounding and a slight gain of respect has been earn't. But never ever rest on your laurels, remember clients are doing YOU a favour by hiring you, not the other way around.

Next job is to arrange a fun day so everyone gets to 'meet the coach'. I will set out an outline and again post this for you on my web.

Glad this is helping some of you and your emails are always welcome. Even if they are about pathway courses and things that you still need as a PTR member. Always a pleasure, never a chore!

Note to self....

Must stretch more!

Right now Mondays are slower days but with the plan now in place and posters on the wall we shall see what happens. Don't forget to put up a poster about your coaching abilities, details and some business cards underneath! This works great and then the only thing to do is get out there and promote yourself in socials, matches and in your coaching! I will add my current poster to my website for you to copy and use yourself.

Hope this all helps!

Day 5 and first week complete

Okay Saturday at the club is complete two high level individuals and three groups of mini red, orange and green.
The groups are okay the green group however reminds me of the County squad i trained years back. 7 potential county class girls and another i will pull in from mid week. Perfect!

This is what coaching is made for. My years of experience as a tutor and ability for constant and never ending improvement are standing me in good stead! Sometimes you don't realise your abilities until they are used real time.

Posters are up in the club and programmes are set in place, i can't start in ernest until the end of the month but that was always the plan when leaving the PTRuk. Didn't quite turn out that way but i guess there are reasons for this. It seems my life is taking a different direction and my link with my friends seem to be opening doors for me. Plus it also gives me the opportunity to train more for the Vets Tour in earnest, no reason why i can't train every day for this (email me if you are interested in the sessions).

Right now i am working on the Tour Coach book and am adding quotes from Ljubicic and Ivansevic as well. I hope to have the rough draft for just after Wimbledon. Along side this i am planning the Tour Series of courses run by ex WTA players. Keep an eye out for these soon!

My first week has been busy and fulfilling, almost like i have missed this but the simple things in teaching are great and i have decided to start vlogging these for you. The simple games and practices to improve your players. Before long the website will be a wealth of knowledge i have gained over the 16 Years of coaching.

Day 4

Fridays generally used to be my programme writing day for the PTR. This is where i used to get my motivation and inspiration to write the courses that thousands of you over the years attended. Even though i will continue this now to add to my personal website today was spent printing and sorting out the programmes to be.

Plus i have sent free copies of my book to book shops around Wimbledon to see if anyone will sell them and buy more later. I want a 10,000 book order please!

Now must finish the last bits and then to work on the 'Tour Coaching' book, i will send out a rough cut pre-release to those who are interested with the permission of the Author of course.

Building Building Building

Okay so day 3 more networking and to add to the secondary school I now have a primary to add to the list. I am after the one big girls private catholic school and another primary. With that the club will be brimming with students. The summer programme just needs adjusting and that will be out to the members along with the programme of events for the year.

I am particularly looking forward to the oncourt fitness hour using the Etcheberry methods, if this works then i will ensure i place one during the day. The little hitters programme will commence after the half term and right now my priorities are to get some sign up sheets for the main events i wish to build and get a poster up with my details in full view of the club.

3 hours of coaching went well, 18 mini reds in the first session with some budding stars, 8 in the orange session and a poor show out of 3 in the next. Saying this throughout the sessions for sure there are some talented youngsters but question is how much? Right now there are some remedial deficiencies in the games as a whole. Consistency and fundamental technique being key but on the bright side they can all rally to some degree or other. Damn the last coach who taught them all to serve though!

Tomorrow is kinda a day off but time to get the tax for last year to the accountant and print what i need for Saturdays sessions. By the beginning of June there should be a full programme being run and then i can start spreading the 'coaching word of mouth' Essex wide.

Once this is all in place then i can plan masterclasses, an Essex wide talent id day with a few 100% 6 month scholarships thrown in for the performance squads.

Lets see. Hope this helps those in charge of their clubs!

A new start and regime

Many of you now know i have left the PTRuk. Thankyou for your messages didn't realise i had touched so many around the world! Personally i am not sure i have made the right decision to leave and jump into the direction i have but......at the same time circumstances dictated for once in my life a direction i had to turn.

But enough of that already, this leaves a good opportunity to teach anyone how to build a club from the bottom up. The club itself is set in a woodland area, 10 courts and currently boasts 70 juniors and around 180 adults. The programme is very basic and needs building and rescheduling.

I get to take over the current programme of 12 hours of group lessons. Here your name is made if you are good enough and the word will get out of your abilities and talents. Don't be afraid of hard work

First and foremost when walking into the club you have to understand the environment and needs of the members. To do this you need to join in socials and run some fun days. Get to know the members and put your face about. This means giving some free time away but don't worry it comes back to you and overall you never now who your membership consists of!
.
I have only run 3 sessions at the club already and joined in a fun day but so far i have learned.....
The club is rife with school teachers
It also boasts a link to sport essex and a wealth of funding for coaching
School teachers have friends who can get you into schools very easily and within 2 days of negotiating we are in the first school and whats more they are coming to the club.

The aim of working schools is to get them into the coaching programme, my tactic is to use two secondary schools one is a private school. With the county high school the only suitable year to work with are Year 7's. Any other will be a waste of time and you can get those into tennis via other events like school talent id days.

You will need to build your programme and as it stands i have written a rough outline that i will post for you temporarily on my web andytennis.co.uk for you to look at, this is purely from listening to the members and understanding what has worked in the past.

Get your holiday programmes out early and take these into schools with you, always keep these, your business card and a current diary with you to book lessons and always have an up to date understanding of where you are.

Remember build it and they will come!

From here on in i will give you a daily blog until such time you can work a 40 hour week over 5 days.

Latest News

Welcome back all! Last week I had the privilege to work alongside some of the best coaches in the world, Leo Alonso whom currently coaches world ranked Leonardo Mayer; Alex Rossi who was the former coach to world number 1 Marcello Rios, Daniel Spatz who has coached many junior players to tour level including Del Potro; Ken DeHart who's claim to fame is his client Harrison Ford and also of the TennisOne.com regime and not forgetting Clive Carrigan whom is Director of the PTRuk and revered world wide. 

Of course all took away a copy of Tennis Psychology made Easy and it was great that Danny had actually sat down to read most of this and let me know the parts he particularly liked and will use with all his players!

On top of that I now have a script and first start to the forth coming book 'Tour Coaching' and what a coach can expect to hear from players if they wish to pursue this avenue. Included are many quotes from current tour players including Dinara Safina. This i am co-writing with Silvija Talaja and can expect like all good books to be ready in another year and a half from now! Probably another 3-5 years after that for a best seller in the tennis world too.

Now next week back to the office to plan and get ready for the weeks to follow. One day i will slow down and take stock at what is around me but for now life ploughs on and i am enjoying the ride.

The continuing saga...

Days roll into weeks and weeks into months. I am certain i have a great memory for names its just short term. On the main coaching courses i can see upto 300 new coaches a year, how the hell am i supposed to remember all the names! The odd phone call maybe ''hey Andy, i spoke to you on the phone about two months ago''. Ha Ha reminds me when people realise i have served in the army and they ask for Smithy who also served!

Which reminds me, chatting about times of past and generally being nicknamed 'Uncle Albert' due to my vast repertoire of stories from the war, who should ring but the army captain about coaching the army team for Wimbledon. 6 Days work, 4 days coaching the mens and ladies team and 2 days watching them play at Wimbledon. Shall i shall i not, an offer not to be missed and dare i say more work for the PTR with course bookings in the near future.

I have also decided that to work with tour players can be difficult if you are a total unknown as a player and coach. But sometimes it is who you know not what you know and not impossible if you have a reputation in the right place.

Next week takes me to Milton Keynes for a one day kids tennis course, Sutton for day 4 of the pathway course and two days in the office for an onslaught of courses that are up and coming.

As always my web has more added to it and this will continue for you all, but feel free to email if you dont understand anything or want advice.

Gadgets!

Okay i have just found possibly the best gadget for blogging to you all. Fits on the sidebar of my puter and allows to me to blog without mucking about. Now i will commit to a more consistent blog of what really happens with a life of a tennis coach and player. Right now everything is up in the air but....damn my game is good and is going from strength to strength. Lets hope this weather is to stay. Thats all for now

Tennis Teaching Essentials Course

I am always asked when do you rest?

Well my roles within the Professional Tennis Registry are as follows:-
Full time tutor
International Tester
Plan the whole calender year of courses
Write the education course programmes
Book all the courts for these courses at a bargain price
Lecturer
Bit part office worker

Funny enough most court bookings for these are completed through the medium of no other than Facebook! so much more easier than fighting through receptions and leaving messages.

When i get into the office its busy, but generally my work ensures a huge amount of road mileage and this tax year is no let up with 22,000 racked up.

For my umpteenth course this year already the PTR Tennis Teaching Essentials course gives potential coaches the ability to organise well, communicate well and demonstrate well. In 4 days you get to work on teaching lessons, running drills, detecting and fixing errors in core strokes, working on 21 demonstration strokes along with simple progressions on how to teach these and finally gaining knowledge to ensure you can excel in the written assessment.

David Lloyd Enfield, always a great venue, bar the road works on the road to hell was a mix of nationalities. Sweden, Croatia, New Zealand, Ghana, Ireland, Czechoslovakia and of course England sent candidates from each country. Including the once WTA Number 17!

Early starts is always key to beat the traffic although you can guarantee an accident at 05.30 in the morning doesn't help matters and it turns out 4 diversions in 4 days had to be taken into account.

Bristol was the week after and yet another David Lloyd Centre. At least the accomodation was only 10 minutes away from the centre and slap in the middle of town! The good thing about stay away is i can get on with writing more courses or working on projects, as well as catching up with some good friends from that side of the world. Good Friday was a good test day and i managed to leave the centre at 2pm for the long journey back to Essex. All was good until reaching the damn M25 whereby another car fight in the roadworks led to a two hour delay. Still could have been worse i guess!

To book onto a TTE course and gain a world of knowledge visit the link and i look forward to seeing you.

Playing Catchup....

A great one day course followed on Effective Junior Coaching at Bannatynes Health Club, Essex.
Amazingly i had an influx of attendees for this course and had to squeeze 27 coaches onto one court. I would show you a photo of the excitement of it all, but i am never one to take photos and am equally just as bad remembering to when i bring a camera.

Here we worked on swing patterns in relation to grips on forehands and backhands and how they change accordingly. What makes a stellar groundstroke, serve or volley and how to make this the most effective stroke for our students to continue up the ladder of success. After all there is nothing worse than having worked hard throughout your career, possess great amounts of talent and your current technique lets you down only allowing you to reach a certain level in tennis. Generally in England we find this to be inside the top 1000 in the world. Perhaps the wild cards to Wimbledon help with these ranking points however, this takes hard work and time, sweat and tears. What's is required to attain better levels are the approach of a better technical foundation involving the whole body (using the Kinetic Wave Theory - as seen in my power tennis course). From here don't forget about a subject close to my heart, tennis psychology, add this all powerful aspect to your game and top 200 here we come.

Give or take the ability to get funding and sponsorship to help you along!

For a better understanding of what i applied and taught in this course visit my main website and download the manual. I will be adding pictures to this at a later date for you all.

On a personal note at this stage i have decided to cut down my coffee drinking intake from 14 cups per day to around 6. I have no clue why i drink so much caffeine but all the same i will keep you updated.

My game has gone from strength to strength, my backhand is more a weapon than before, racket head speed has increased thanks the the 'Etch Swing' workouts and all i need know is to get back to playing matches other than club doubles. Don't get me wrong this is a high standard but not quite singles play. A total different mentality as dammit i have others to think about.

The Coaching Process - Pathway Day 1 and 2

Welcome to another edition of whatever i wish to write about, and yes i know i have still to answer some of you, but many i have and have just not written anything publicly .

Recent times have seen me travelling to the far depths of Sutton, junction 8 of M25. For me anything in London can be accessed by a junction rather than pile-driving straight through the middle. Here i was tutoring on the PTR/LTA Pathway course which leads to the british tennis licence or LTA licence or now known as a coaching licence. I think for those interested in this course i will give you a day to day run down of what goes on ish....give or take a few jokes and pieces of information that may be of no real relevance to you right now.

The course is based around a coaching process formula and this forms the basic theme for the entire 3 modules along with the ability to understand the 6 tactical intentions, 5 game situations and not forgetting a main teaching point to run throughout your sessions. Then you need to understand the PAS theory in relation to the 5 ball characterstics, 

To give you an idea of what is really involved you can download the manual from my main site of which i am sure you are all used to by now. 

You can see that the first stage is Observation, a skill underused with many coaches!

Let me explain when was the last time you actually see your students play? Everyone knows that your best hitting and strokes at the lower level are left on the practice court! In order to get a true idea of what your student can/can't do you have to watch them play points in a matchplay situation and better in a tournament of some kind rather than a friendly match with Bob Bryan down the street.

You need to seem them in all the game situations available:-

• Serve
• Return of Serve
• When both players are at the back of the court
• When you manage to approach or get to the net
• When your opponent approaches or gets to the net

From here you can make an analysis of what is required in their game and set to the goal setting to move along the road to a better game.

Once as a student you have your head around these terms then you can will need to grasp the art of understanding the following terms...

Trading
Building
Finishing
Neutralising
Staying
Turning Around

Day two utilised the ability to coach using the above information and of course practice, practice, practice if only to use the seemingly impossible terms that really mean when looked into mean simply rallying, winning etc... maybe someone decided that to make themselves feel important and look like they were earning some their worth, by changing a few names it would all make sense. Eureka!