Academy29 is a Sherwood Girls Tennis program for players looking to take their games to the next level. Coaches can help players improve, but they can only do so much. Real improvement depends on the player. Academy29 players will learn to do things right and will turn hard work on court into a habit.
Before I get too far, I want to make it clear that this is going to be about hard work and focus and won't be about having fun. Half the time, it will probably be the drills and stuff that you don't love. But they are the things that make you better, and we'll be pushing hard to get you to do them right.
Eligibility:
The coaches met and pondered the very tough question of eligibility. After some back and forth, we decided that players need to reach a certain skill level to join the academy. There's no exact cutoff, but the conversation was, "They should be able to feed a good ball and maintain a decent rally of mid-to-upper-JV quality." In other words, players can start and maintain a 10-12 shot rally of medium pace (5-6 in a row in for each player) without too much trouble.
How do you apply? Reach out to Todd or Peter on ParentSquare or some other way. In that communication, tell us that you've read and understand the expectations below. We will assess your level. We won't make assumptions about your ability to focus and work hard. Getting in doesn't mean you are in for good - you'll have to prove that you can be/stay locked in.
For those interested but not experienced enough yet, talk to the coaches about ways to improve your steady rallying. We do want you to be able to join and will help you get there.
Current Plan:
Our Wednesday sessions (frequently 4pm) will become Academy29 classes starting June 10 (which will be a 5:45 start and possibly short, due to our middle school camp). If you are interested but cannot do Wednesdays, let the coaches know and we can discuss a different or rotating schedule. No guarantees, but we'll try.
Expectations:
What players should expect from coaches:
1) A well-organized practice plan with some drills specific to level 1 / level 2 groups (see below)
2) New drills
3) Coaches playing in to get players used to bigger hitters and more variety
4) Mental Toughness Training
What coaches will expect from players:
1) Players who clearly want to be there. No whining, no excuses, no complaining, and no "I hate this". Players should be choosing this for themselves - it's not about parental pressure or hanging out with friends.
2) Hard work and focus on correct technique throughout the class. If you get too tired, go rest a minute - don't just get lazy and do things incorrectly. If you aren't locked in on court, we will send you home.
3) Listening, processing and a willingness to try new things and break old habits.
4) Preparation (water on court) and hustle (picking up balls, moving between drills...)
5) Players are expected to play one practice singles match on their own (2 full sets) at least once every 2 weeks. That could be with friends, in a tournament.... It should be played seriously. Match play is a skill that you can only learn one way.
6) Players should also be practicing way more than just once a week in Academy29. That can be on your own or in other classes. But if you are really looking to improve, you should be on court 3-5 times a week, or more. Going and hitting with a friend and focusing on a skill to improve (or playing practice matches) is where your gains will really come.
Daily Plan (approximately):
Players should be dressed, stretched and ready by class start time.
10-minute warmup with ball pickup
10-minutes of footwork and movement drills
5-minutes for water, practice group assignments and drill descriptions
15 minutes Drill 1
3 minutes Water
15 minutes Drill 2
3 minutes Water
15 minutes Drill 3
3 minutes Water
15 minutes Drill 4
3 minutes Water
10 minutes of sprints/fitness
Games
Links for Other Stuff:
Drills You Should Know (coming soon)
Level 1 and Level 2 Skills (coming soon)
Why 29?
Oregon currently has 72 players rated 29 or higher - the top 3.3%. It represents the rating where players go from good to great. There are 200 players between 25 and 28. Most players stall in that range and stop improving. We've been watching it happen to our players for years.
In most cases, the difference is not potential or even the number of hours spent on court. What differentiates the top 72 from the next 200 is the quality of practice. The great players are improving their footwork and fitness every time they practice. They have developed the muscle memory for how to prepare and hit great shots, and they have the fitness to do it every shot. They've also learned proper techniques and grips to give them a variety of shots/strategies to use when needed.
Obviously, not everyone will reach a level of 29. It's rare for a reason. But, building the habits we'll push in Academy29 will accelerate your improvement and teach you a lot about how to succeed in sports and life.
Other 29 Facts:
1) 29 is the rating you need to really compete in singles at state, or to possibly get seeded in doubles.
2) Locally, D3 coaches (George Fox, Pacific, Linfield) are searching for the 29+ crowd.
3) For UTR players, a TRS 29 equates to about a 4.5-5 UTR.
