My Coach – June 2014 issue

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Strokemaster My Tennis Life From the Coach

STROKE MASTER

Juan Monaco developed his game on the clay courts of Argentina and knows the importance of sliding on this surface. Below Stoke Master highlights a few key areas on how to maximise your sliding ability for an effective clay court game.

What do you see?

It’s important to slide into the shot. The further you slide after impact the longer it will take to retrieve the next ball.

Slide on the outside leg to maintain an open stance.

This will allow the hips to be unrestricted and promote a quick recovery step.

Try to glide across the top of the clay using the sole of your foot while your weight remains neutral or on the back leg. As soon as you transfer your weight forward onto the sliding foot, you will stop.

Keep your knees bent and have the foot facing the direction you want to slide.

Sliding typically takes place in defensive situations where end of range movement is involved.

Players are usually more comfortable sliding into their forehand. If a player has trouble sliding into their backhand side, exploit this weakness.

PRESENTED BY

Key sequence to remember: Slide, balance, hit and recover.

www.tennis.com.au/coaches JUNE 2014 AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE

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MY TENNIS LIFE

One job may be the norm for many people, but Christina Ladyman fits more than four professions into her busy schedule; each one helping her clients achieve their goals.

n adymraa L a n i t s , i y p r Ch Physiothe Club ), Master of

Multiple roles T

ennis coaching was my first career choice but it is not my only career. I currently work about four different professions. I'm a physiotherapist, an exercise physiologist, a triathlon coach, a bike fitter and also training to compete in world championships for triathlon.

I really like the variety of my jobs. All involve helping people to achieve their best, whether it’s recovering from an injury, to being the fastest and fittest they can, to improving their triathlon skills or being more comfortable on the bike. I’m really lucky I get to work with motivated and driven people all day long.

Since I’ve been working with triathlon I’ve really seen the benefit of programming and how important it is to manage your athlete down to the ‘T’ in all areas of their lives. Things like recovery weeks and tapering become really important.

I want all of my students to have fun, while learning the game and pushing themselves to achieve their goals. It’s a journey and it should be an enjoyable one. Sometimes if a child plays another sport I’ll try to draw upon that sport to make similarities in tennis so they can grasp a concept quicker.

I really want to help people learn, improve, reach their goals and love the game of tennis. I’ve always

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ATIONS: gy (Hons.

QUALIFIC Exercise Physiolo l 2 Triathlon Coach ve in Bachelor al Tennis Coach, Le n Professio stralia estern Au Centre, W is n n Te te ta V E NUE : S 2 011 a n Awa rd lly Forem ph is H a ll a W rt o p f Mem y of S t Aca dem nce); U n iversity o outh Wes lle OTHE R : S for coa ch in g exce n is M entor n (awa rded d uctee; C a rd io Te ator, rner Facilit of Fa me in stralia Lea cate III in Sport u A is n n al Official ONS: Te t, Certifi lia Technic ALIFICATI ssessmen OTHER QU IV in Training and A ter, Triathlon Austra fit Certificate Retül Certified Bike Coaching,

enjoyed teaching and it’s nice to see that I’ve been making a difference in peoples lives for almost 18 years. Every player’s goals are different, whether it’s a junior aiming to be pro or an adult wanting fun and fitness from Cardio Tennis.

I try to have an element of fun in all trainings. If students aren't enjoying what they're doing, they won’t keep playing. Goal setting also helps – as long as the players can see they are progressing to their goal, then they are usually happy to do the hard work.

Over the years I’ve been lucky enough to work across all levels and all ages of tennis.

In America I worked as the assistant coach of the University of Memphis's women tennis team, which is a division 1 school. In the States I also worked with the best juniors in the Southern States of America, some of which are now playing on the professional circuit.

Having certain quotes or positive affirmations help along the way. I try to lead by example and use goal setting with each athlete. I will usually get my students to tell me whom their role model player is and explain why they chose this particular player. If they don’t have one, Roger Federer is usually the player I suggest if they need someone to look up to. His demeanour, his ability, his attitude and his ‘way’ are second to none. He’s a true champion.

For the last seven years I’ve been coaching the top juniors in the South West of Western Australia. I currently work with the top juniors in Perth at the Tennis West State Academy. I also love coaching adults and in particular Cardio Tennis. I live and breathe fitness so Cardio Tennis is one of my favourite classes to coach.

I feel lucky that parents will allow me to coach their

GOAL DRIVEN: No matter her role Christina Ladyman is striving to help people improve.

children. And I feel really lucky that I can help people become fitter and learn to love the game of tennis. I also love that it’s an active profession and most of the time I’m outside enjoying the gorgeous weather.

It all started back when I used to hit with my Dad at about six or seven on our tennis court at our farm. It wasn’t anything serious back then, but I remember trying to dodge the sheep as they walked across the court (laughs). I played my first tournament when I was 10.

As I look back on my career as a player, there’s not one moment or particular match that springs to mind. But rather the journey I took and the progressions I made from hitting balls as a six year old on our farm tennis court to playing number one singles and doubles at the University of Memphis and satellites around the world. I’ve met some amazing people along the way and some of my opponents are now my closest friends. For me it’s been more about the people and places that helped shape my experience, including my coaches who played a huge part in that.

Tennis is such a fantastic game, with so many amazing opportunities. If you haven’t already I encourage you to get out there and learn the sport.

You’ll meet wonderful people and have an incredible journey.

DANIELA TOLESKI

FROM THE COACH

Drive A

volley

s the modern game becomes faster, a player’s ability to move forward and “steal time” from their opponent is critical. While the drive volley has solidified its place in tennis over the years, its popularity is sure to increase with the trends of the modern game. Perceptual skills and decision making are the first two key ingredients of this shot. A player first needs to recognise the key cues offered by the opponent (racquet face and court position), which may suggest an appropriately flighted ball from which to execute a drive volley. The player must then decide that the drive volley is the appropriate shot for the desired tactical outcome.

1) It is important to first note the court position of Luke Saville, who finds himself in transition from baseline to net. The lofted and off-paced ball-flight from the opponent has allowed Saville enough time to execute a drive-volley as he moves through this section of the court.

2) Contact height is higher than one may expect for a ground-stroke. Associated with this is a slightly shallower swing path to the contact point. Together these elements can assist with the ball moving through the court with greater velocity.

3) The movement Saville demonstrates is fluid. He is very aware of this right foot position and uses this to correctly align himself with the oncoming ball, and also to push forward through contact.

Underpinning many of the technical elements is great balance. Despite the dynamic movement, Saville’s centre of gravity never shifts outside of his base of support, and his head remains stable throughout the swing.

The drive volley is executed here by Luke Saville, former junior Wimbledon champion and the recent winner of two ITF Pro Tour events in Port Pirie and Mildura.

Geoff Quinlan is Tennis Australia’s Manager of Coach and Talent Development. Geoff is a qualified Tennis Australia High Performance coach and has a Bachelor of Applied Science (Honours) in Human Movement and Sport Science. He has presented at the Australian Grand Slam Coaches conference, ITF WWCC in Egypt and Mexico and numerous coach workshops in Australia and internationally.

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