MOORE'S MILL CLUB

The following information is to educate our parents and players as to what is generally achievable based on the court hours put in and training regimen adopted. It is a difficult task to abridge such an immense topic. There are nearly innumerable variables to account for and address. I have done my best to condense it to a manageable/readable length by adopting an age-goal flow to the information. In short, the below presentation is by no means a comprehensive directive, but rather a general guide to get you thinking and headed down the correct path for your child’s intended tennis achievements.

 

 

 

 

 

PRINCIPLES

 

The following principles expound upon affairs and circumstances common in the career of a junior tennis player. The information presented below has been heavily influenced by and filtered through such principles, and therefore their familiarity will prove fruitful.

 

THE GAP PRINCIPLE

 

This is an extremely important concept. The principle is this:

 

There is a maximum potential that the human being can perform the sport of tennis. Because of our biological make up, there is a cap to growth on the tennis court. Thankfully, we have the UTR scale today to provide some numeric illustration of this. The UTR scale is 1 to 16.5. The scale never moves above 16.5, because no one human being has the physical capacity to play at that level. It is impossible, there is a cap, a maximum.

 

The gap of skill between the “prodigy” and the “late bloomer” dwindles with time, because of this cap. The late bloomer has much more capacity for growth than does the prodigy who has previously in past years realized their gains in skill.

 

In real world application what this often looks like is, the prodigy defeats the late bloomer by large margins, only a year later to defeat the late bloomer again, but by much smaller margins. The gap is closing. Not because the prodigy is being outworked (at least for illustration purposes), but because there is a maximum at which the sport can be performed, and the prodigy has only been able to slightly progress in skill, whereas, the late bloomer has a much larger capacity for growth and realized said growth over the course of the year.

 

The importance of this principle cannot be understated. If your child is a prodigy, and finds that their matches are becoming steadily more competitive with players they previously beat with ease, it may not be that they are getting out worked, but rather that they are experiencing the gap principle. It is important the prodigy be aware of the gap principle as to not become anxious or discouraged with their play and performances.

 

If your child is a late bloomer, it is vital that they not be intimated or discouraged by those players of similar age but with much higher UTRs. The higher UTRs have put in more time on the court than the late bloomer to create said gap, but the late bloomer, as previously mentioned, has a much higher capacity for growth, and therefore, if the time is put in on the court, the gap will shrink. It is important the late bloomer be aware of the gap principle as to not dream too small as to what he/she can accomplish on a tennis court.

 

 

The gap principle is why the 500th player in the world is still, relatively speaking, competitive against Novak Djokovic. The gap principle is also why Ben Shelton, who began playing tennis at the “late” age of 12, can be one of the top ranked American tennis players.

 

 

THE LOVE PRINCIPLE

 

We say the word love often on a tennis court. It is almost cliché for tennis players. If we are to accomplish any sizeable goal, we are going to need a love for the sport. The issue is, players often abide to an incorrect and immature working definition of this word. Our world has cheapened it. Players often believe to love something means it will always feel great to do it, that to love something means it will always be easy, fun, or natural. But this is not true. The word love demands much more. Love is not a feeling at all, it is a choice. The scriptures illustrate this for us. The disciple John writes that God is love (1 John 4:16), and the apostle Paul adds that He sent is Son to die for us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8). Love includes the hard and the ugly. I am thankful love is a choice and that God chooses to not forsake me when it is not easy to love me. It will not always be easy to be in-like with tennis, but if we’re in love with it, the waves stand no chance. To be a champion at anything you have to love it, and you have to abide to the truest meaning of the word.

 

 

 

 

THE DEPARTURE PRINCIPLE

 

The sport becomes “easier” the longer you stay in it. Players leave. They find new passions, give up on goals, life happens and change comes about. They find themselves no longer competing at the tournaments, because high-school tennis is enough. The longer you stay on the court, the fewer competitors you will have. This is why boys 18’s and girls 18’s rarely make at the level 6 (more on this later). To the one who perseveres there will be plenty of doors available, because so many do not finish the race.

 

 

THE MIRROR PRINCIPLE

 

Players often mirror the style of play they are in front of. This is why it is vital players are being constantly stretched at both practice and tournaments. We need to win matches, but we also need to lose matches. We need to play better competition in order to “mirror” that ball speed, those patterns, that intensity. Becoming a “level 5 player” is much like becoming a Christ follower. You do not clean yourself up and get your life together, and only then come to the altar. No, you first give your life to Christ and He helps you with the power of the Holy Spirit in this life long journey of sanctification. In the same way, you do not “train your way” to becoming a level 5 player. You go to the level 5, compete, see the level, come back to the practice court, work on what was apparently lacking, and try it again. You rinse and repeat until your seeded in level 5 tournaments. It takes a lot of losing along the way, but eventually you will be the player that the others are trying to mirror.

 

We need to win matches as well. The other side of the Mirror Principle is the Big-Fish Principle. At times throughout the year, it is important to go be the “big fish” in a draw. It’s a celebration and reflection tournament of sorts. Celebrate and reflect on just how much you have truly improved by winning an event that in the past was a difficult venture for you. Winning breeds winning.

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE SEASONS

 

A bird’s eye perspective of the regimens needed to achieve certain goals inside the context of three unique age-based seasons for the junior tennis player.

 

 

10 & UNDER

 

Players 10 & under are predominately playing USTA green ball Junior Circuit Events. The goal is to graduate from green ball to yellow ball (12 & under division) as quickly as possible in order to elicit the mirror principle at an early age.

 

 

In order to be competitive in the 10 & under events, a 4-day training week (6-7 court hours) is necessary. Anything less than that and it will prove difficult to win these tournaments.

 

 

That being said, it is not a one size fits all in this season. Early specialization will lead to better results sooner, but could lead to burn-out. Parents needs to exercise wisdom and discernment for their child independently as far as specialization is concerned.  Moreover, early specialization could hinder the athletic development of a player by not exposing them to other dynamic and motor skill movements largely absent in tennis at an early competitive age, but present in other sports. Accordingly, at this age it may be best for some players to compete in heavy hand-eye and foot-eye sports like that of basketball and soccer even at the expense of court time.

 

 

11 TO 14

 

This is an important season and many changes occur in these 4 years. By age 11 specialization in tennis is nearly a requirement. The sport demands a great deal of time because of its technique density and the degree of competition in the 12’s and 14’s.

 

In order to win 12 & under level 6 events, a 4-day training week is necessary (7-8 court hours). When players reach the 12’s they are eligible for USTA level 5, 4, 3, 2 & 1 events. There is a fairly large skill gap between level 5 and level 6 events. In order to win matches at Level 5 tournaments a 5-day training week (9-12 court hours) is necessary; in order to win the tournament a 6/7-day training week (14-18 hours a week) is required. There is not a great deal of skill gap between level 5 & 4 events, and the skill level only slightly increases as one moves into the 3, 2 & 1 events. Those making semifinals or better at 5 & 4 events will be competitive at the 3, 2, 1’s.

 

As you move into the 3, 2, & 1 events, the vast majority of players are attending full time academies/homeschooled to allow for more court hours. Training regiments are often two-a-days for a total of 18-24 hours a week for the 14-year-old.

 

Getting into the level 3, 2, & 1 events is the most difficult in the 12’s & 14’s. The difficulty is two-fold. The gap principle is at its max prominence, especially for those prodigies who have gone through puberty at an early age; moreover, the departure principle has not truly taken effect just yet. In short, the gap is often the largest and there is the most competition in the 12’s & 14’s.

 

 

15 TO 18

 

These are the golden years. This is when we want to peak in performance. By age 15 the departure principle is making its entrance and the skill gap is dwindling. Everyone has gone through puberty and players are figuring out their unique play styles. It becomes easier now, to not only gain entrance into the level 5’s & 4’s, but to win matches. A 6/7-day training week (18 hours) is still necessary to win matches at these events. Though many players have moved on, those left are passionate and hungry to win. Your top seeds at the 5’s & 4’s are level 3, 2, & 1 players. The vast majority of these players are attending full time academies/homeschooled to allow for a training regimen of two-a-days for a total of 18-24 hours a week for the average 16-year-old.

 

In short, competition at stiffer events in the 16’s and 18’s is “easier,” because the skill gap has narrowed and there are fewer players seeking to compete at such high levels. It will still prove extremely difficult to win these tournaments without some form of a flexible school day allowing for more court hours.

 

At this age, players should very rarely play in Level 6’s because of the ease of entrance into Level 5’s and the importance of eliciting the mirror theory.

 

 

GOALS

 

 

VARSITY TENNIS

 

A QUICK NOTE:

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Players seeking to play at the highest levels of junior tennis and collegiately, especially at the division 1 level, are HIGHLY encouraged to bypass playing High-school tennis altogether. Less than 1 percent of high-school tennis players play at division one schools.​

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If your goal is to play varsity tennis, its achievability becomes easier with time (i.e. there’s a decent chance the senior makes and plays on the team over that of the freshman). However, the goal is obviously to make and play on the team as soon as possible. Players are eligible to play on the team in 7th grade. Though the team carries between 7-10 players per team only the top 6 boys and the top 6 girls actually play. In a town of 80+ thousand people, I assure you there are 6 boys and 6 girls who are willing to train 5 days a week to make the team. If you are not training 5 days a week, you should not plan to play until perhaps your junior year. In addition to a 5-day training week, you should average 12 tournaments a year, or one a month. It is common for high school coaches to place juniors and seniors on varsity because of their upper classmen status, but it is the 5-day training week and tournament schedule that will firmly secure your spot in the line-up. Historically, a 5+ UTR has secured a spot in the boys line-up and a 3+ UTR has secured a sport in the girl’s line up.

 

 

COLLEGE TENNIS

(EXCEPT FOR DIVISION 1)

 

There are a wide range of outcomes to satisfy a goal of playing collegiately. Collegiate tennis teams vary immensely in skill level. Generally, if your goal is to play college tennis, a 6/7-day training week is necessary (a minimum of 15 hours). Moreover, you need to be active and making rounds at level 5 & 4 events. UTR reigns supreme. Accordingly, competing in UTR College Circuit events and Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) events by junior year is important for raising the UTR and exposure.

 

Generally, boys need a 7-11 UTR dependent upon the school of interest and girls need a 5-7 dependent upon the school of interest.

 

No one is getting recruited at level 6 events and are truly a waste of time for those seeking to play at most schools.

 

 

 

 

DIVISION 1 COLLEGE TENNIS/PROFESSIONAL

 

To play division one tennis and/or go professional, a flexible schooling option is practically required to allow for a 6/7-day training week inclusive of several two-a-days for 20+ hours a week of training. If boys are beating 13 UTRs and girls 11 UTRs, you may want to bypass school altogether and try your hand at professional tennis. That being said, professionals have gotten better at taking care of their bodies, and are staying on tour much longer. Accordingly, we are seeing that a very natural route to professional tennis for many is to first play for a top 30 division 1 program and then shift to professional tennis. Players generally need to be making rounds at 3, 2, & 1 events minimally. Players should also be making rounds at UTR College Circuit and ITA events. Lastly, a presence at junior ITF events here in the states will vie well for one’s odds to be recruited to a top program. Generally, boys need an 11-13 UTR dependent upon the school of interest and girls need an 8-10.5 UTR dependent upon the school of interest.

 

 

 

 

 

TRAINING REGIMENS

 

A very basic summary of regimens by age and goal sought.

 

10 & UNDER

 

As mentioned above it is perfectly fine to be a dual sport athlete in this season, but by 10 and certainly 11 players need to specialize.

 

Dual sport athletes should spend 4-5 hours on court.

 

Early Specialization athletes should put in 6-10 hours on court.

 

 

11 TO 18

 

SEEKING TO BE A TOP RANKED STATE PLAYER

MAKING ROUNDS AT LEVEL 5’S

PLAY VARSITY TENNIS IN 8TH/9TH GRADE

 

 

Monday – Friday, 2-hours a day on court (10 hours total), with two-practice matches per week, & one dedicated hour of conditioning/strength training, 12 tournaments a year.

 

 

 

SEEKING TO BE A TOP NATIONALLY RANKED PLAYER

WIN BIG TIME EVENTS

RECRUITED HEAVILY BY SCHOOLS

PLAY PROFESSIONALLY

 

Monday - Friday, two-a-days, 8am - 10am, 3pm – 5pm (20 hours total), 2-3 practice matches per week, two dedicated hours of conditioning/strength training, ~18 tournaments a year.