Plain-English definitions and on-court coaching cues for players, parents, and coaches across all development stages.
The coordination abilities under every tennis skill.
How well the brain organizes movement using information from the senses. General abilities are learning, controlling and adapting movement. Special abilities include reaction, balance, combining movements, orientation, rhythm, fine control, anticipation and movement creativity.
“Coordination is trainable, and ages 6–11 are the best window for it.”
Responding quickly to a signal. Simple reaction is one known signal and one response. Complex reaction means choosing the right response among several.
“Go on the bounce, not on my voice.”
Controlling the body when still (static), when moving (dynamic), and when in the air (in flight). Good balance keeps the centre of gravity over the base of support.
“Finish the shot and hold it. Can you freeze?”
Knowing where your body is on the court in relation to the ball, the lines, the net and the opponent.
“Where are you on the court right now?”
Organizing movements in time, like the bounce–hit timing of a rally or the sequence of steps before a shot.
“Bounce, hit. Bounce, hit. Say it out loud.”
Adjusting how much force and speed to use, like the difference between a drop shot and a drive.
“Same swing, half the speed.”
Linking separate movements into one smooth action, such as running, stopping and swinging.
“Run, stop, hit. No pause between them.”
Predicting what will happen next and starting to move before it does, by reading the opponent's body, racquet and ball.
“Watch their racquet. It tells you where the ball is going.”
The ability to invent new solutions to a movement problem. Children who play many sports and free games tend to have more of it.
“Try to win the point a way you've never tried before.”
Changing a planned movement when the situation changes, like adjusting the swing when the ball takes a bad bounce.
“The ball never comes the same way twice. Adjust.”
The senses that feed movement: sight (the ball's flight), hearing (the sound of contact), touch (the racquet in the hand), body awareness (where your limbs are), and balance.
“Listen to the sound. A clean hit sounds different.”
Sensing where your arms, legs and racquet are without looking. Lets a player feel and correct a swing.
“Close your eyes. Where's your racquet right now?”
Windows in childhood when certain abilities improve fastest with training, such as coordination between ages 6 and 11.
“This is the age when coordination work pays off most.”
Being able to hit and move comfortably on both sides of the body. Also covers using the non-dominant arm and leg in games.
“We practise with the other hand too. It builds the whole body.”
Moving or reacting as fast as possible. Speed develops unevenly through childhood and responds best to short, playful, high-quality efforts.
“Short and fast. Rest, then go again.”
How freely the joints move. Young children are naturally mobile, and training should keep it that way as they grow.
“We stretch to keep the range they already have.”
How children grow and mature, tracked with height and weight over time. Growth spurts can temporarily affect coordination and timing.
“He grew three centimetres. The awkwardness will settle.”
Agility, balance and coordination: the three building blocks of every sport. Red-stage sessions are built around them, often through games that don't look like tennis.
“Today we worked on the ABCs. That's tennis too.”
Following the ball with the eyes and body from the opponent's racquet to your own. The first skill in reading a ball.
“Follow the ball all the way to your strings.”
Moving stretches and activation drills before playing, to raise temperature and prepare joints and muscles.
“Warm up to play. Don't play to warm up.”