Tennis Guru Thought of the Day

June 22nd 2009

Building American Tennis for the Future

For the first time since I was a kid I have been traveling to junior tournaments with some of my students. As I sit and watch the boy’s 12 and under national event in Springfield, MO I can’t help thinking about the echoing sentiment that American tennis is not where it should be. There are many opinions on the subject and it may just be that tennis is not the sport of choice for Americans. But as I sit here I can’t help thinking how much it would help if the USTA would allow coaching in junior tennis. I’m not suggesting coaching be allowed in the pro’s. I believe in the purity of the sport and the spirit of one warrior on the court vs. another. But this small change in junior tennis could make a huge impact on how U.S. kids learn and play and compete at an international level.

For the most part these kids don’t seem to be learning. They play moon ball and never get pushed to do anything else. The more tournaments I go to the less progress I see with the bulk of the field. I’m watching my kids now and some of the game plan and discipline has faded with the fear of losing. A simple piece of advice such as go for your shots, stay out of “No Mans Land” or add some pace on your first serve would make a world of difference. Some might argue that my coaching or preparation wasn’t good enough. And maybe it wasn’t. But if parents and coaches could reinforce positive habits then it would raise the level of play across the board. And I don’t mean allow coaching after every point. Just during change over’s up until the 14 and under division, and between sets in 16 and under and only in the event of a third set for 18 and under. After all there is coaching in college tennis which is the goal for the majority of serious tennis kids in America anyway.

Parents are spending thousands of dollars dragging their kids to tournaments across the country. A few words during the match might just make the difference between mediocre tennis and great tennis. Let us teach our kids a better way to play and compete and put American tennis back on the map!

If you would like to be heard on the matter visit www.tennisweek.com to voice your opinion.

 

April 2009

When I look back on my 30 short years it is difficult to remember a time when tennis wasn't a central part of my life. It has been my escape, my work, and often times my addiction.

I grew up in a poor single parent home in a rural area of Iowa, smack in the middle of America. For me tennis wasn’t about status or country clubs. It was truly a passion. Every day was spent at the public courts looking for an opponent. Life was hand me down rackets, shoe goo, and tennis ball cans filled with water from the fountain. The perfect day was battling it out for hours in the hot sun and then coming back for more until the lights were shut off. This passion started a wild ride and brought me places I never thought I would go. It inspired me to write a book, film an instructional DVD, coach on the ATP tour and start my own junior academy.

When I started Tennis Guru in the spring of 2002 it was with the intention of showing the world that tennis is cool. Today, Tennis Guru is starting a fresh chapter and evolving with the launch of its new site. The goal is to bring a bit more of the “cool” into your tennis world. So please visit us, share your story, ask a question and gain some knowledge. I hope you enjoy.

Clint Stephenson