INSTRUCTIONAL COLUMN
Cup of Joe
Waking up to the facts and myths of winning tennis.
In “Cup of Joe,” we want to evaluate accepted methods of how tennis should be played and coached in the context of the modern game. Some readers may conclude that many of the accepted ways of thinking are now obsolete; other readers may feel their importance is reinforced. Either way, we want to hear from you—about this current topic and on other topics you’d like us to address. Email me at joe@oncourtoffcourt.com and we will try to publish your comments in future columns.
‘Float Like a Butterfly’ or Bounce Like a Wind-Up Toy? By Joe Dinoffer USPTA and PTR Master Professional Junior athletes in all sports have a 41 percent chance of experiencing at least one injury related to their sport. In tennis, primary injuries are arms and legs, with feet, ankles and knees leading the list from the lower extremities. Combine this with the decades-long concern about hard tennis courts being much harder on a player’s legs as compared to clay-court play and red flags fly up like fireworks on the Fourth of July. Despite these facts, we’ve all seen the proud faces of coaches and parents as a 75-pound 10-year-old girl is bouncing non-stop with the intensity of a jackrabbit all over the court. Now, we’re not questioning whether or not quick and efficient movement is a requirement for higher and higher levels of play. It certainly is. But, what about the risk of injury due to the constant wear and tear on young ankles and knees? And, more importantly, what can be done about it? The dilemma is apparent. To be competitive and fight for the more than 10,000 college scholarships in the U.S., juniors are slugging it out on hard courts the vast majority of the time, playing weekend tournaments that often demand an incredulous three two-out-of-three-set matches each day of singles alone. Yes, nearly 50 percent of these children will get injured and most of those injuries are foot, ankle and knee injuries that are impact-related. What can be done?
Q: Why all the alarm now? Hasn’t this problem existed for decades? A: No. When I was growing up in competitive junior tennis in the late 1960s, it was mainly a five-month summer regimen, with much less play during the winter months due to limited indoor facilities. Nowadays it’s different. Year-round play is the norm as even in colder climates indoor courts are everywhere. Plus, thousands of elite juniors now train 12 months a year at any one of the multitude of academies in sunny areas like Florida, Texas and Southern California. Money has mainstreamed tennis.
Q: Do we really have any options? A: Yes. Think of boxer Muhammad Ali. Think of dancer Fred Astaire. Think of Yvonne Goolagong. Think
of Roger Federer. In their primes, they all would float like butterflies. And, you know what? They were all pretty much injury-free. Light is right!
Q: What about the split step? Is it necessary on every shot? A: No, not on all shots. While a well-timed split step can certainly help when moving forward to volley
and also when returning serve, many players are moving from the conventional and relatively heavyfooted split step to an agile shuffle to change directions on the baseline. If this shocks you, think of basketball or soccer. Both demand relentless, multi-directional movement, and the split step as we know it in tennis is non-existent.
Q: What about training? Competitive players are more fit and train harder than ever before. Don’t all players have to spend several hours in the gym each day if they want to succeed? A: Yes and no. The tendency nowadays is for too many junior athletes to over-train. Fitness and sports 30
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training centers are opening up on every corner, selling the promise of a fitter and more successful athlete. But with that promise comes an untold price that many will pay. It’s over-training that often results in injury-plagued muscles and joints.
Q: What about where to train? My child seems to do all his sprinting and movement training on a hard tennis court! Is this the only way to do it? A: Absolutely not. However, due to convenience, this is a big mistake made by coaches. It only makes sense that ankle, knee and hip joints will take more abuse on hard courts as compared to training on soft surfaces. Note that this doesn’t mean clay courts. There are plenty of options, including training on grass or rubberized track surfaces. In other words, if a player is training on hard courts for two hours a day, why would they want to do running drills on those same hard courts for another 30 to 60 minutes?
A: Sit with the coach and see if he or she is open to some adjustments. If not, move them to another program. This may sound over-reactive, but sometimes parents have to make difficult decisions. All group programs are designed for the group and not for the individual. If someone you know and love is in a program and is being over-trained to the point of regular fatigue and injury, pull the plug on the program immediately. If you don’t, chances are they’ll be sidelined anyway and with much more severe consequences. Q: Can playing more on clay courts make a difference? A: Yes. Playing on clay courts can make a huge difference in a player’s
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Q: What if my child plays on a high school team or in an academy where the fitness program is mandatory? How can they not participate with the others?
life on the court, not only in terms of injury avoidance by minimizing bodily wear and tear, but playing on clay courts is also skill-building for anyone accustomed primarily to hard-court play.
Q: Can custom shoe inserts and extra socks help? A: Yes. Many professional players wear two pairs of socks along with
custom orthotics in their shoes. They do everything possible to minimize wear and tear on their feet, ankles, knees and hips. Unfortunately, if a very active junior tennis player waits until their late teens to start taking precautions, the damage often is already done.
Q: My child loves to play and practice so much, she is on the court seven days a week! Isn’t that great? A: Absolutely not. It’s a big mistake. Recovery time is essential to good physical, mental, and emotional health. Take at least one day a week off from all physical activities, on and off the court. SUMMARY
Joe Dinoffer is a Master Professional in both the PTR and USPTA, a distinction awarded to only a handful in the tennis industry. He has published numerous books and videotapes, and is a frequent speaker at tennis conferences around the world. For more information, visit www.oncourtoffcourt.com.
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Of course, while total injury prevention is the goal, it is also impossible. However, everyone should agree that making the right decisions to minimize the risk of injury is possible. 1) Players should learn to be light on their feet. 2) Minimize heavy split steps. 3) Conduct training on soft surfaces and don’t over-train. 4) Wear two pairs of socks and very supportive shoes. 5) Remember to take a minimum of one day off a week.
Yvonne Goolagong and Roger Federer would float like butterflies! www.tennislife.com
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