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When Should Tennis Players Learn “Strategy”?

     While watching an Australian Open semifinal match between Andy Murray and David Ferrer, I heard Martina Navratilova make a poignant observation about the training and development of top junior players. Murray had begun to turn the match around and was stringing together rally shots that moved Ferrer “pillar to post” and set up several winning volleys. The effectiveness of  Murray’s match play prompted Martina to comment,  “When are players supposed to learn strategy?  Suddenly when they turn 18 and start playing on the tour?”

Of course, Martina went on to say these lessons must be taught at much younger ages –  it’s not a sudden, mysterious event that will occur when a player needs it most. Learning about strategy development is an integral and essential part of a player’s ongoing “schooling” and doesn’t just happen spontaneously.

 There must be an organized plan to teach match play strategy, a truth which is often ignored to the detriment of otherwise very talented players!

Too many think and teach that great tennis shots and speed will always carry the match. Rarely do you hear of  “skull sessions” anymore where junior players and coaches discuss tactical situations and pre-match mental preparation so players already know what to do in those game situations.

 My Dad has often paraphrased Emerson,  The man who knows how to do something well will always have a job, but the man who also knows why something works will always be his boss.

Knowing how and why to use certain strategies, in certain situations, against certain players will always prove to be a tremendous advantage over the player who just shows up with their bag of great shots and a mentality to just return the ball over the net –  as Andy Roddick so ably stated at the same Aussie Open, simply a “See ball, Hit ball” game plan. Be prepared to be the boss and control the match with your offensive plan rather than be the player who can only react defensively to what’s hit at them.

So how do you get to this point?

TheTennisOrganizer.com Scorebooks are designed to facilitate the training process for the “thinking” player by providing the statistics & point-by-point match description that permits a thorough analysis of themselves and their opponent. Why? So the effectiveness of that match’s strategy can be evaluated and then modified to produce even more success in the future – it is the tennis textbook with the facts that can make you a smarter player. Know definitively which strokes are your weakest and devote the practice time needed to turn that situation around.

 I firmly believe, Start charting your match statistics & stop making the same old match mistakes!!

Don’t be doomed to repeat the same unsatisfactory results because you never change how you prepare for your matches. Tell your coaches & pros that you want to learn the why, not just the how, of playing tennis. “Study to show thyself approved”, and you can expect improved tournament outcomes.

 Don’t fail because you didn’t read your TheTennisOrganizer.com Scorebook – it has the answers to help conquer your next tennis test!

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Top 10 Player Advantages with TheTennisOrganizer

Start charting your match statistics & stop making the same, old match mistakes!   Dr. Don Ashburn, TheTennisOrganizer

1. Factual match play summary & statistics that everyone understands easily – even your high school assistant coach.

2. Doesn’t require batteries or a shady spot to use this scorebook.  Never runs out of juice right in the middle of a critical match.

3. Reduced arguments with parents & coaches about what they remember and what actually happened during the match – TheTennisOrganizer.com doesn’t lie!

4. Unnecessary to explain to your pro what happened at the last tournament – just hand them the completed scorebook and let them read about it themselves.

5. More focused and productive training sessions with your pro or coach – it’s almost like they were there at the tournament, but without having to pay them!  (Parents will be so happy!)

6. Scouting Report information that gives you an edge over repeat opponents. You show up with a winning game plan and they don’t… guess who gets schooled!

7. Match play review is immediately available in-between tournament matches to “tweak” things before playing again.

8. Better match outcomes – you know exactly what to do now!

9. TheTennisOrganizer.com becomes a valuable permanent record of match play that can be provided as a supplement for college recruiters. They have a chance to see who and how you played , especially your senior season.

10. Guaranteed full-ride tennis scholarship to the college of your choice! (Well, maybe not guaranteed – but it can certainly make a positive difference!)

Why Use The Tennis Organizer?

TheTennisOrganizer.com line of products is designed to guide players, parents, and coaches in managing and recording individual match performance.  With this valuable information,  the Tennis Organizer & Scorebook becomes the preferred method of communication between a player and their professional.

TheTennisOrganizer.com is a very powerful analysis tool. When used consistently, a clear picture develops of an individual player’s pattern of play – and that of their opponents as well.   TheTennisOrganizer.com has an intuitive scoring system that allows point-by-point match analysis. This detailed information allows pros, coaches & parents to provide more focused and effective instruction. Players are encouraged by their strengths and  areas  needing attention are targeted for concise instruction. The results should be improved tennis skills and greater tournament success!

Want to give your competitive player an advantage?  

Give them TheTennisOrganizer!

    Copyright © 2010-2021 by Donald G. Ashburn, Jr.
All rights reserved

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