Welcome to the exclusive Academy Red Ball at Five Star Tennis! Admission is either by invitation-only or with approval from the Program Director, as this level initiates young players into the High-Performance pathway. It’s a unique opportunity for dedicated individuals ready to take their tennis journey to the next level.
Competencies – What we teach our players
Agility
- Move forwards and backwards and be able to stop with balance
- Move side to side with shuffle and crossover steps
- Beginning in a ready position, turn sideways to run to a cone and back (hips turn)
- Maintain an athletic position while changing directions
Balance
- Jump side-to-side and forward/backwards with balance in different patterns
- Hop on one leg with balance over a line
Coordination
- Catch a ball one-handed overhand with the left and right hand with no bounce
Speed
- Run with arms at 90 degrees and feet striking the ground quietly
Ready position/Recovery
- Racquet above wrist with elbows away from body in ready position
- Split step in an athletic position when the partner hits the ball
- Recovery after shot near the center of the court
Serve
- Over arm throw over a tennis curtain
- Serve with a continental grip, a coordinated motion, and balance
- Begin to use a slice serve
- Serve ball to land in the deuce and ad service boxes
Volley
- Volley with the racquet above the wrist while stepping across the body
- Move toward the net, followed by a split step when the opponent hits the ball
- Drop hit a ground stroke and move to the net to volley back to a partner
Groundstrokes
- Swing with a medium loop with the contact in front and to the side of the body creating topspin
- Rally with a partner with directional control (down the line and cross court)
- Receive and send the ball with balance
- Use of square and semi-open stances on the forehand
- Use of square and semi-closed stances on the backhand
Game Play
- Maintain consistency during rallies
- Move opponent around the court with the purpose of creating open space
- Score competitively
Score
- Use tennis scoring (e.g. 15-love) as well as ad and no-ad scoring
- Know the names of the lines and areas of the court
- Understand the main rules of the game
Sportsmanship
- Compete with others in a fair and friendly manner
- Demonstrate sportsmanship after winning and losing
Engagement
- Listening to the coach
- Trying to execute the drill the correct way
Energy and Effort
- Maintain effort throughout the entire duration of the practice