By Marc Sophoulis
The definition of an athlete (according to the dictionary) is:
“A person who is proficient in sports and other forms of physical exercise.”
When it comes to creating an athlete who is capable of the demands of playing tennis at a high level, there are many considerations we need to have answers to so as to ensure we have a player who can achieve the technical/tactical demands of the game.
Below are the questions we need to ask our athletes so we can work out what is necessary to enhance their athletic ability, therefore allowing us to teach the necessary technical/tactical components of the game.
Once you gain the answers to these questions, ensure to consult experts on physical development who can assist you to create your player’s physicality in order for us to complete our jobs the best way possible.
| Considerations | Questions |
| Age | Chronological age? |
| Developmental Readiness | Are they physically the same age as their birth year?
Have they developed early or later? What have they done physically prior to meeting you? |
| Strength | Refer to the above questions.
Can they lift their own body weight? Can they body stabilise? |
| Power | Do they have the ability to transfer power from the ground to their upper body to create force? |
| Coordination | How good are they at coordinating body segments?
Balancing whilst moving? |
| Perception/ Reception | How good are they at receiving/ catching a ball?
Can they judge the speed? The height? The bounce? The length? The width? |
| Agility | How quick are they to move from A to B?
Can they change direction quickly and efficiently? |
| Flexibility | How good is their range of motion in all joints?
Do their muscles allow the body to be put on stretch to increase power levels? Are they flexible enough to reduce the risk of injury? |
| Balance | How good is their body control?
Do they have static and dynamic balance? Can they control the head and core as they move and strike? |
| Growth Phase | Are they in a period of growth?
Have they lost coordination? Does their growth mean there’s an injury risk? |
| Anticipation | Can they read the game?
How early do they read the ball? |
| Motor Skills | How much control do they have over their body?
How good is their ability to throw, catch, kick, track and strike? |
In your own time, have a go at writing down 10 key aspects of physical development you need to know before coaching your athlete and when you do begin using it as a guideline to understand your athletes’ physical abilities and how it may impact your athletes technique and stroke fundamentals.