How to Prepare for Jr. tournaments How do you get ready for competition?
8 year old Kendall is smooth as silk.
The Secret of match toughness: The best way to improve in any sport is to compete often. Lessons are necessary, but nothing takes the place of testing your skills against others every week. First, compete in USTA tournament matches. Secondly, play 2-3 extra matches per week on your own time. Nothing takes the place of playing extra weekly matches. It's the only way to get mentally tough.
High School Players Monday matches: During the summer, evening Practice Matches will be held at Gresham H.S. every Monday at 6:30-8:30pm for 14-18 year old players.
Grade School and Middle School Players Tuesday matches: On Tuesdays at 7-8:30pm, evening practice matches will be held at Centennial H.S. for ages 7-9 & 10-13.
Practice Matches are sponsored and monitored by volunteered parents and have no fee. However, bring your own fresh can of tennis balls. Players ages of 7-9 should bring the two-tone balls of yellow/orange color. These are softer balls and easier to hit than regular balls.
What to bring to practice matches or tournaments:
1) Towel, visor or hat, sun screen & lip gloss. 2) Extra racquet, plenty of water, snack, energy bar & fruit. 3) Extra socks, band aids & tape. 4) Two cans of tennis balls. 5) Canopy or umbrella for parents to guard against the sun. 6) Fold out chair to rest comfortably on or off the court. 7) Expect to have fun, meet people, learn your weaknesses and strengths, get exercise and appreciate the privilege of competing in a friendly atmosphere.
8) Look at the right hand column for adults and read the 4 steps on how to get ready for matches and tournaments.
Preparing for USTA adult matches
Paula and Maureen playing doubles at Jim's home court.
See list at bottom of (column on the left) on what to bring to USTA and Jr. League matches.
How to prepare mentally & technically for competition:
1) Practice like you want to compete, i.e., don't hit hard in practice and then pull the foot off the pedal in your next match. If you do you defeat all your hard work. Tennis is a game of rhythm. If you practice at a fast pace and then play like a wimp in a real match you ruin your rhythm. In fact, top players usually play a little harder and more focused when it comes to tournament time because they know they will feel better about themselves when it's over. They get used to the process of leaving everything out on the table with no regrets. They learn to take chances and live with the consequences. That's why they're pros.
2) Get out with two practicing partners the same week before the match. One you can usually beat, the other who usually beats you.
Play hard and crafty against both, not caring about the score, but caring about how you control the ball, and how you set up opportunities to end the points. In other words, don't become a player who "waits for things to happen, make things happen."
3) Work extra hard on your serve, return of serve, footwork and placing the ball right where you want it. If you do this, everything else will usually take care of itself
4) Remember, once a real match starts you should be willing to gamble a little by playing one notch above the way you practice. If you do that you will have accomplished something far beyond the mooing herd who take few gambles in life, and also get few rewards.
5) Look at the left hand column for juniors and read the 7 things to bring to your next match.