Catching Them Young! How to Pick a Tennis Prodigy?

Posted by James Burton on December 28th, 2022

Selecting talented junior athletes is partly an art and partly a science. Besides speed, strength, power, coordination and balance, tennis players need a lot of mental training. Knowing some basics of talent spotting, part of youth tennis classes in Fremont, will be effective in determining if a child has the potential to make it in competitive sports as a tennis player.

Talent Groups

According to the International Tennis Federation’s Doug MacCurdy, coaches should recommend six areas to consider when trying to find the prodigal one. They are-

1. Physiological

2. Psychological

3. Physical

4. Tactical

5. Results

6. Intangibles

For assessing physical attributes, young tennis players should be tested in running, jumping, catching, throwing, coordination, agility, tennis-specific speed, power, endurance and flexibility.

Psychological features should involve self-esteem, confidence, competitiveness and an interest in playing tennis which is one of the most important factors regarding the judgment of talent.

Elements to Focus On

Spotting tactical talent includes assessing a player's ability to move the ball around the court and how quickly they can solve problems.

Footwork- Players who use balance and footwork to excel generally have an edge over those who use these traits less. The power and high level of stroke technique won’t matter if the player is not in the correct position to hit the ball. Hence, maximizing footwork and body balance is the key to excel at tennis.

Desire- Tennis players are on a year round schedule of training and playing matches. If the player loves playing matches but dislikes training, it could limit him to playing the sport as a hobby.

Spot players who ask to stay on court after training sessions or who train on their own and are self motivators. Players who ask to lengthen the set or training drill demonstrate a love for competition.

Multi-sport Success- If a child has succeeded at more than one sport, it’s an indicator that they have developed the physical skills required to be a top competitor. Players who stick to single sport are at a higher chance of dominating their sport from an early age as they have a great passing ability.

Spotting children who excel at multiple sports especially the ones which require a high level of pure physical prowess such as throwing, catching, running, kicking, hitting and jumping. Academies offering summer tennis camp in Los Altos are a viable option for tennis players.

Avoid being biased over results- Never use tennis ranking or competition results as a marker for future success or potential in young tennis players. Players who dominate at the under 12 or under 14 age group level have mastered the ability to play as a 12 or 14 year old but they have room for making mistakes as a higher age group competitor.

So, judge them till that only. A lot of players have the ability to surpass their potential at a later age, as they hit puberty later and can capitalize on added muscle and height to dominate their game.

Ending Note

Some of the places where young players can train to improve and enhance their game are taking up youth tennis classes in Fremont as it is a type of city which promotes tennis heavily. They can also attend summer camps which emphasize heavily on the sporting culture and is a great place to shape up your sporting skills.