The Racquet Club of Columbus
1100 Bethel Road Columbus, OH
43220 Phone: 614/457-5671
rctennis @ sbcglobal . net
www . racquetclub1 . com
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The Racquet Club of Columbus
1100 Bethel Road Columbus, OH
43220 Phone: 614/457-5671
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This Guidebook was prepared by Jim Hendrix, The Racquet Club of Dear Junior Parents,
Every effort has been made to be accurate and up-to-date with the information in this guide. But, please remember, this is just a guide – it is not the rule book. It will not answer your every question, nor will it alert you to all the issues that you might have concerning your child's development as a tennis player. As you progress through junior tennis, you will likely want to collect copies of GCTA, OVTA, Midwest Section and National publications. And with any luck, in a few years, you will be the one answering the questions the new parents have! A.
Tips for New Junior Players and their Parents Yes.
Sylvia A. Gothard, current President of the Chicago District Tennis
Association and a USPTA Master Professional, has written a wonderful piece
entitled "Sportsmanship at the Tennisfest."
Following are highlights of her suggestions as to how one can be a
"good sport" on the court: • Compete at your highest
level all of the time and let the chips fall where they may. Your self-esteem is
not linked to the outcome of the match. • Be proud of yourself for
competing. • A ball that is 99% out
is 100% in. When in doubt, always
give the point to your opponent. • If you make an error on
a call, correct it right away. • During the warm-up, hit
with control and warm-up all of your strokes. This
is not the time to hit the ball away from your opponent. (Save your winners for
when it counts!) • It is the server's
responsibility to clearly call the set score before the start of the game and
the game score before the start of each point. If the server does not call the
score, the receiver should confirm the score so there is no misunderstanding. • After each point, return
the balls to the server; not at or away from him or her. • If the serve is a let,
the receiver should return the ball back to the server and not wait for the
server to retrieve another ball. • Any out or let calls
must be made right away. If you wait until the end of the point, the point
stands as played. • Conduct yourself in a
manner that makes the match enjoyable for your opponent. • Avoid conflict with your
opponent by concentrating on what you are doing.
How are you going to play the next point? Are
you breathing regularly and deeply? These
things eliminate negative energy. • If you respond to
negative energy from your opponent, you create conflict. • Swearing, racket
throwing, abuse of the facility and court equipment, and gamesmanship will not
be tolerated. Be aware of the USTA's
Point Penalty System. This system
will be in effect for all of your matches. •There are no reasons to
lose other than what you create within yourself.
Play the best you can today and you are a winner. Remember, there are
always more losers than winners in match play. • Always shake hands with
your opponent. If you have anything
to say, make it positive. Do not put
down your opponent or your own playing. 2.
If my child is just beginning to play tournaments, what tips should I give my
child before playing a match? Each child is different, and
much depends on your child's level of play. However, below are some of the kinds
of things you might want to share with your child.
We call them the "Ten Commandments of Match Play”: THE
TEN COMMANDMENTS OF MATCH PLAY 1.
Keep Your Cool:
Don’t abuse your tennis racket or tennis balls.
Don’t use abusive language. By
being on your best behavior, you will always be in control of yourself and not
risk subjecting yourself to warnings, code violations, point penalties, or even
defaults. By not showing any
emotion, you can also avoid giving your opponent extra confidence.
Remember, you will almost always play better when you are in control of
yourself. 2. Take
Your Time: Don’t rush
yourself. Take your time between
points so that you can focus. Be
sure to drink water every time you change sides. 3.
Take Charge: Always
pick up balls on the court so that you don’t trip and so that you can stay
focused on your play. Do not serve unless you have two tennis balls.
When you are serving, always call the score loudly and clearly before you
serve each point. 4.
Keep The Ball In Play:
Most matches are won or lost due to too many unforced errors.
Keep the ball in play! 5.
Hit The Ball With Depth:
By hitting the ball deep into your opponent’s court, you will keep him
or her on the defensive and make him or her hit the ball short back to you.
To help you hit with depth, hit the ball at least three feet over the net
and beyond the service line. 6.
Find And Exploit Your Opponent’s
Weakness(Es): Find an hit to
your opponent’s weaknesses rather than to his or her strengths. 7.
Get Your First Serve In As Often
As Possible: By doing so, you
will keep your opponent more off balance and perhaps win some easy points.
Take your time; bounce the ball. If
your first serve is not working, then consider using your second serve as your
first serve until you regain your confidence. 8.
Play Your Game By Focusing On
Hitting Your Shots, Not On Winning: By
focusing on hitting your shots, you will have a better chance to win points.
If you focus on winning, you won’t focus on how to hit your shots.
Remember, play your game. 9.
Never Let Up.
Never Give Up: Try
getting an early lead in the match. If
you get an early lead, don’t let up. If
you get behind in the match, never give up.
Remember, the match isn’t over until the very last point is played. 10.
Have Fun!:
Always remember that tennis is a great game and a lot of fun.
You’re out there to have fun. Enjoy
yourself! 3.
What things can I do to be a good tennis parent? Keep the following points in
mind: • Remember, tennis is just
a game. While you may want your
child's skills to improve, you also want your child to enjoy the game. It's a
game for lifetime. • Don't put pressure on
your child to win. Instead, create a
supportive environment in which your child wants to improve his or her game. • When your child has a
private lesson with a pro, consider watching it from a distance in order to give
your child and the pro some space. • Make sure that your
child knows the "rules of the game," and what he or she may and may
not do during a match. For example,
does your child know that he or she may not leave the court to go to the
bathroom during a match without the permission of a referee? Does
your child know that he or she cannot leave the court to obtain a new racket if
a string breaks on his or her racket? • Make sure that your
child eats two hours before his or her first match and brings a jug of water to
the match. Your child may also want
to bring a sports drink. • When your child is
playing a tournament outdoors, be sure to bring sun block, a hat, and a towel
for your child and a folding chair and an umbrella for yourself. Also,
consider bringing a folding chair for your child to use during the changeovers. • For all tournaments,
make sure that your child brings his or her USTA card. • Be sure your child has
extra tennis shirts, especially when the weather is hot or humid. • Be on time for matches. If
your child is late for a match, he or she can lose the toss and games and, if
your child is more than 15 minutes late, be defaulted. Note
that many tournament directors request players to check in at least 15 minutes
before a match is scheduled to begin. • Whenever possible, have
your child stretch and warm-up before his or her first match each day. • After your child
completes a match, be sure your child finds out the day and time of his or her
next match. • Don't call the lines or
the score for your child during a match. Let
your child call the lines and the score. It
is his or her responsibility to do so. • Don't coach your child
during a match, except before it starts or during the ten-minute break before
the third set if your child splits sets. Remember
there is no break between sets in the boys' and girls' 18s. • If your child splits
sets and there is a ten-minute break between sets, make sure that your child
knows that he or she could lose points and games if he or she does not return to
the court on time. • You should be supportive
of and encourage your child, but allow your child to make his or her own on
court decisions for the development of the "person." • Don't applaud or cheer
when your child's opponent makes a mistake. • Treat your child the
same way whether he or she wins or loses. • Try to have fun and
enjoy the tournaments. Your
unhappiness can breed a child's guilt. • Look relaxed, calm,
positive and energized on the sidelines. Your
attitude will help the child play better. • Make friends with other
parents at the event. Socializing
can make the event more fun. • Let the coach do the
coaching. Too much input can confuse
the child. • Understand that a child
needs a break from tennis occasionally. It
doesn't mean the child is quitting or burned out. • Be there when your child
loses or gets discouraged. Be an
understanding listener, not a fixer. • At the same time, give
the child some space when he or she loses. Your
child will want to be alone for a while, and then he or she will be okay. Chances
are he or she will not want to talk about the match in the car on the way home. • Keep your sense of
humor. When you laugh and have fun,
your child's stress level takes a big drop. • Realize that your child
may feel guilty about all of the time and money you are spending on his or her
tennis if you are not careful. It is
important that he or she knows you don't look at tennis as an investment for
which you expect a return. • Encourage your child to
pursue realistic dreams and make sure you are not living out your dreams through
his or her tennis. • Treat your child as an
individual instead of comparing his or her progress with that of other children. • Use positive motivation
instead of sarcasm and threats. • It is your
responsibility to know the rules, regulations, endorsement procedures and
deadline dates so that your child is given every possible chance to compete at
all levels of tennis. 4.
What should my child know about playing in the heat? • Get fit: high aerobic
fitness can give you a big advantage when it comes to tolerating the heat. • Taper your training:
Reduce the volume of training during the days preceding a hot weather event. • Acclimatize to the heat:
Training in the heat will promote heat acclimation. • Be sure to have the
proper clothing on hand: White or other light clothing reflects solar radiation.
Use a single layer of loose fitting, lightweight cotton/polyester blend
rather than 100% cotton or tightly woven nylon. Sweat-saturated
clothing should be replaced with dry clothing whenever possible, so pack plenty
of extras. Lose the dark cap …
wear a light-colored one. • Drink plenty of fluids
throughout the day. Avoid excess
caffeine. Drink regularly during all
practice and warm-up sessions. Drink at each changeover.
Continue to drink after play to restore any fluid deficit that still
remains. • Add some salt to your
diet before you play, especially if you are prone to cramping.
If you take the above
precautions, your child should be able to tolerate the heat with minimum
discomfort. Here are some additional
suggestions: • Eat plenty of
carbohydrates. • Get plenty of sleep. • Stay in a cool
environment as much as possible, especially just before play. • Practice early in the
morning or in the early evening when the weather is not as extreme. • Medication: ask your
doctor about any medications that you are taking with respect to its potential
effect on hydration or tolerance to heat. • Recent illness can make
you more susceptible to problems in the heat. • Sunburn: make certain
that you are using sunscreen on all exposed areas of the skin when you practice
and play. • Early signs of heat
illness: These include headache, nausea, dizziness, clumsiness, weakness, muscle
twinges or cramps, irritability, apathy and confusion. B. DO'S AND DON'T'S FOR TENNIS PARENTS By Jim Taylor, Ph.D.
WITH
COACHES … DO …
WITH
COACHES … DON’T …
FOR
YOUR CHILDREN … DON’T …
For more
information about Tennis Parent workshops: Jim Taylor, Ph.D., C.
SUCCESSFUL TENNIS “PARENTING”
Steve
Wild, USPTA; RULE
#2: No one misses on purpose. Most
parents act as if the player takes delight in missing easy shots on big points
just to upset them. If more parents would "serve them up" now and
then, they might realize that the game is a little more difficult than it looks
from the sidelines. Jim Loehr had a good solution for this. He actually told one
parent to enter five tournaments and win every one. Then report back.
Eventually, the parent got the message. RULE
#5: Be reasonably involved with your child's
tennis. In the seventies and early eighties, most tennis parents erred on
the side of over-involvement with junior's tennis. Now the opposite is true.
Oftentimes, I hear "we are letting Johnny handle his own tennis now."
Imagine what would happen if Johnny handled all his own academic decisions! The
optimal position is somewhere in the middle. Too much is no good and too little
is equally as bad. The parent pays the bill and has a right to expect excellence
in how the situation is managed. The parent's role is to make sure both the
coach and the player are living up to their agreements, not to tell the coach
and player how to play or teach. RULE
#6: Never get into hassles with other
parents, coaches, or players. Most junior
tournaments should have a staff psychologist on hand. Not being a
"shrink" myself, I wouldn't hazard a professional opinion, however,
the psychological climate does not seem very healthy at most junior events. The
aforementioned notwithstanding, be sure and stay cool even though emotions could
be running hot I must confess that plenty of times I have felt like either
screaming or punching someone. But then again, "Discretion is the better
part of valor." If I have seemed overly harsh on parents it is because it
is by far and away the toughest role. I have the gray hair to prove it! D. WHY PLAY TENNIS? by
Jack L. Groppel, Ph.D. 1.
People who
participate in tennis 3 hours per week (at moderately vigorous intensity) cut
their risk of death in half from any cause, according to physician Ralph
Paffenbarger, who studied over 10,000 people for 20 years. 2.
Tennis
players scored higher in vigor, optimism and self-esteem while scoring
lower in depression, anger, confusion, anxiety and tension than other athletes
and non-athletes according to Dr. Joan Finn and colleagues at Southern
Connecticut State University. 3.
Since tennis
requires alertness and tactical thinking, it may generate new connections
between nerves in the brain and thus promote a lifetime of continuing
development of the brain, reported scientists at the 4.
Tennis
outperforms golf, inline skating and most other sports in developing positive
personality characteristics according to Dr. Jim Gavin, author of The
Exercise Habit. 5.
Competitive
tennis burns more calories than aerobics, inline skating, or cycling, according
to studies in caloric expenditures. With
these results in mind, let's list 34 specific reasons why you should consider
playing tennis regularly! PHYSICAL REASONS TO PLAY TENNIS 2.
anaerobic
fitness by offering short, intense bursts of activity during a point followed by
rest which helps muscles use oxygen efficiently. 3.
ability to
accelerate by practice in sprinting, jumping and lunging to move quickly. 4.
powerful
first step by requiring anticipation, quick reaction time and explosion into
action. 5.
speed
through a series of side-to-side and up and back sprints to chase the ball. 6.
leg strength
through hundreds of starts and stops which build stronger leg muscles. 7.
general body
coordination since you have to move into position and then adjust your upper
body to hit the ball successfully. 8.
gross motor
control through court movement and ball-striking skills which require control of
your large muscle groups. 9.
fine motor
control by the use of touch shots like angled volleys, drop shots and lobs. 10.
agility by
forcing you to change direction as many as 5 times in 1O seconds during a
typical tennis point. 11.
dynamic
balance through hundreds of starts, stops, changes of direction and hitting on
the run. 12.
cross-training
by offering a physically demanding sport that's fun to play for athletes who
also specialize in other sports. 13.
bone
strength and density by strengthening bones of young players and helping prevent
osteoporosis in older ones. 14.
immune
system through its conditioning effects which promote overall health, fitness
and resistance to disease. 15.
nutritional
habits by eating appropriately before competition to enhance energy production
and after competition to practice proper recovery methods. 16.
eye-hand
coordination because you constantly judge the timing between the oncoming ball
and the proper contact point. 17.
flexibility
due to the constant stretching and maneuvering to return the ball toward your opponent. PSYCHOLOGICAL REASONS TO PLAY TENNIS 19.
develop
discipline since you learn to work on your skills in practice and control the
pace of play in competition. 20.
manage
mistakes by learning to play within your abilities and realizing that managing
and minimizing mistakes in tennis or life is critical. 21.
learn to
compete one-on-one because the ability to compete and fight trains you in the
ups and downs of a competitive world. 22.
accept
responsibility because only you can prepare to compete by practicing skills,
checking your equipment and during match play by making line calls. 23.
manage
adversity by learning to adjust to the elements (e.g. wind, sun) and still be
able to compete tenaciously. 24.
accommodate
stress effectively because
the physical, mental and emotional stress of tennis will force you to
increase you capacity for dealing with stress. 25.
learn how to
recover by adapting to the stress of a point and the recovery period between
points which is similar to the stress and recovery cycles in life. 26.
plan and
implement strategies since you naturally learn how to anticipate an opponent's
moves and plan your countermoves. 27.
learn to
solve problems since tennis is a sport based on angles, geometry and physics. 28.
develop
performance rituals before serving or returning to control your rhythm of play
and deal with pressure. These skills
can transfer to taking exams, conducting a meeting or making an important sales
presentation. 29.
learn
sportsmanship since tennis teaches you to compete fairly with opponents. 30.
learn to win
graciously and lose with honor. Gloating
after a win or making excuses after a loss doesn't work in tennis or in life. 31.
learn
teamwork since successful doubles play depends on you and your partner's ability
to communicate and play as a cohesive unit. 32.
develop
social skills through interaction and communication before a match, while
changing sides of the court and after play. 33.
have FUN...
because the healthy feelings of enjoyment, competitiveness and physical
challenge are inherent in the sport. Is
it any wonder that scientists and physicians around the world view tennis as the
most healthful activity in which you can participate? There may be other sports
that can provide excellent health benefits and some which can provide mental and
emotional growth. But no sport other than tennis has ever been acclaimed from
all disciplines as one that develops great benefits physically, mentally and
emotionally. by Jack L. Groppel, Ph.D. There are a number of junior
tournaments offered throughout the year. During
the fall/winter/spring, various local indoor tennis clubs offer weekend
tournaments designed primarily for the less experienced or newly competitive
junior player. All junior players should
consider playing the GCTA Area Qualifier, a local tournament played in May which
is open to all juniors in 2.
What are the These organizations are part
of the United State Tennis Association (USTA) which oversees competitive tennis
in the •
Area: The •
District Level: The district level,
which includes •
Sectional Level: From the OVTA district, players feed into the USTA/Midwest
Section, which includes all of Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin and
parts of Kentucky and West Virginia. •
National Level: Finally, players who have success in Midwest Sectional
tournaments would feed into national tournaments. 3.
What other levels of play are available besides the Satellite (Novice) level? There are three ability
groupings for junior players, including the Satellite level. By
providing different levels of tournaments, the hope is that stronger players
will have a greater likelihood of choosing events with strong competition, while
players who are in earlier stages of development will have a better opportunity
to compete with players closer to their own level of play. •The
Junior Satellite Circuit of tennis
tournaments is designed for players who have never had a District or Sectional
ranking. •The
Junior Challenger Circuit of tennis
tournaments, which is designed to provide an appropriate level of play for
Juniors playing for local, district, and sectional rankings. Challenger
level tournaments make up approximately 90% of all tournaments in the USTA/Midwest
Section. •
The Junior Masters Circuit of tennis
tournaments, which is designed to provide the highest caliber of play within the
USTA/Midwest Section for Juniors playing for sectional and national rankings. Advanced players move on to
the Challenger or Masters USTA tournaments in their community, district or
section, and, if they are exceptionally talented, at the national and
international levels. Tournaments at all three
levels are offered in all of the junior age divisions (12, 14, 16, and 18 and
under). 4.
How does age group eligibility work in the Juniors? Juniors may compete in any
division (12, 14, 16, 18) as long as they have not exceeded the maximum age by
the last day of the month during which the division is scheduled to start.
Thus, if a Junior turns 13 on December 10th, he or she may now
play in 12 & under tournaments up to and including November in the calendar
year in which he or she turns 13. The
Junior may not play in 12 & under tournaments from December forward, and he
or she would have to move "up" to the next age group. This
new "birthday rule" ameliorates the impact of the proverbial bad
birthday for those born late in the year. Juniors
may play "up" in any older age group. They
may not, however, play "down" below their age groups. 5.
Must my child start off in Satellite (Novice) Tournaments? What
if he or she seems to already be playing at a higher level? Your child may begin by
playing any USTA sanctioned tournament. However,
results of challenger and master level tournaments do count toward rankings, and
poor performances will result in lower rankings.
You and your child will need to determine whether that is advisable. 6.
If my child has never been ranked, can he or she play both in Junior Satellite
(Novice) Tournaments and in Challenger or even Masters tournaments? Yes. In
fact, as your child becomes more experienced, this may be a good idea, until
your child reaches a level of proficiency or achieves a ranking. In
this way, your child can develop confidence by playing in the Junior Satellite
(Novice) Tournaments while at the same time set goals for himself/herself by
playing against more experienced players in Challenger or even Masters
Tournaments. It should be noted that
Masters Tournaments are meant to provide the highest caliber of play within the
Midwest Section, and entry into the draw is generally highly competitive and
based on rankings and player records. 7.
What is a sanctioned tournament? A sanctioned tournament is
one that is approved by the United States Tennis Association (USTA). The
club, organization, or person running the tournament pays a sanction fee to the
USTA and agrees to run the tournament following USTA Tournament Rules and
Regulations. Sanctioned tournaments
are listed in the USTA/ F. ENTERING
TOURNAMENTS 1.
How do we find out where and when Junior Satellite (Novice) Tournaments are
held? The OVTA Yearbooks and USTA/ Those individuals who become
affiliated with United States Tennis Association receive the OVTA
Yearbook and USTA/ If you are not yet a USTA
member, you may request the OVTA and USTA/ • OVTA:
937/399-5064. • USTA/ 2.
How do we contact the USTA to apply for membership for our child if we do not
apply for membership at a tournament site? The easiest way to join the
USTA is through on-line membership sign-up at www.usta.com.
You can also call the USTA
at (800) 990-USTA, or write to:
3.
How do I enter my child in a tournament? There are a few ways. One
way is to obtain an entry form from the club hosting the tournament and to send
it in before the entry date deadline, along with the entry fee and your child's
player record (if he or she has one). If
the tournament uses the TennisLink tournament entry system on the internet,
entry into the tournament can be completed by going to www.ustamidwestsection.com
or www.tennisinformation.com.
Be sure to have the tournament name (which appears in the OVTA
and USTA/ Some tournaments will accept
entry information over the phone, with entry guaranteed with a credit card.
Do not assume that a tournament will take phone entries and understand if
a tournament required does not. Contact
the tournament director for a particular tournament’s policy. 4.
How much does it cost to enter my child into a tournament and what does the
entry fee cover? It depends on the
tournament. Entry fees range from
approximately $30 for local tournaments to $100 or more for national
tournaments. The entry fee covers
(1) the cost of court time for all of your child's matches, (2) new balls for
each match and for the third set of a match if the players split sets, (3)
umpires, referees, tournament administrators, and (4) sometimes T-shirts or
other clothing that are given to players. 5.
Do I need to keep and maintain an updated player record? Yes.
It is important to maintain an updated player record.
Blank forms are available in the back of the OVTA
or Midwest Yearbooks. Many
tournaments require hard copies of a player’s record from those who wish to be
considered for seeding. Updated
player records are also helpful at the end of the year when reviewing year-end
ranking and match result information. Players
should check their on-line player record frequently to assure accuracy and
completeness. If errors or omissions
are found, immediately contact either the OVTA or USTA/ G. 1.
If my child does not want to play tournaments, is there another, affordable way
my child can get started in competitive tennis? Yes. There is USA Tennis
NJTL ("National Junior Tennis League"), which is an affordable program
for beginning players conducted during the summer months at various park
locations within the 2.
What else does the CRPD offer? The Columbus Recreation and
Parks Department offers programs at numerous tennis sites throughout the 3.
Which tennis clubs offer instructional programs for Juniors? Most indoor and outdoor
tennis clubs in the Greater Columbus area offer well-organized programs,
including individual and group instruction. Call one of the pros below for more
information. Indoor
clubs: Athletic Adventures: 7420 SR
161, Olympic Indoor Tennis: 3480 The Players’ Club: 3333 Racquet Club of Wickertree Tennis Club: H. TOURNAMENT
PLAY AND CONDUCT 1.
How many matches will my child play in a tournament? It depends on how many
players are entered in the tournament, how well your child plays, and whether
the tournament has a "double elimination" feature. Many
tournaments have either a first match consolation (FMC) or feed-in championship
(FIC) draw. In tournaments with a
consolation, players are given a “second chance” and assured of playing at
least two matches. In standard format
sanctioned tournaments in which players play two out of three set matches,
singles players play a maximum of two matches per day in the same division.
Or, they may play one singles match and two doubles matches, or three
doubles matches. If a tie-break in
lieu of the third set is used, singles players can play a maximum of three
matches per day.) Singles players in the 12,
14, and 16 and under levels are entitled to a 60 minute rest period between
matches. In doubles only
tournaments, the rest period shall be 30 minutes between matches. 2.
What is a FMC tournament? Players in tournaments with
a first match consolation (FMC) are placed in a consolation draw if they lose
their first match of the tournament. A
player who has a bye in the first round or wins the first round by default and
then loses in the second round of the main draw will also move into the
consolation draw. 3.
What is a FIC tournament? Many of the higher level
tournaments have a feed-in consolation (FIC).
In FIC tournaments, players who lose before the semi-final round feed
into the consolation draw. Therefore,
all players except the tournament winner, 3rd place/4th
place playoff winner, and consolation winner will play until they have lost two
matches. 4.
How do I find out the start-time of my child's first match? |
