Tennis Games Lead Approach

Tennis Service Box Constraints Session

Session  No.

Date & Venue

Group:

12

Equipment:

Sponge Tennis Balls

Risk Assessment

Objective

Games Led Approach within the service boxes. Using different constraints which effects Task, Human and Environment.

Timings

Task and planning

Constraints

Aims

Progressions

Within the service boxes 2v2 play the point out the constraints that are being used are sponge balls and when we hit the ball we need to be in the service box.

Sponge balls rather than using a proper tennis ball this ball is a lot slower, so makes the game have longer rallies.

Progression 1- Still playing the point out but one person from each pair starts at the net.

This closers the court down, because there will be one person at the net and other at the back. This works on trying to avoid the net player.

Progression 2- One person from each pair starts in between the service line and baseline for the first four shots 1v1 after the other 2 players come in which becomes 2v2.

Can the first player rally without making any mistake then the two others come in and play the point out.

Progression 3- 2v2 point but in both services boxes. Larger spaces.

The task changes again by having more opportunities to make your opponent move.

The affect that the constraints had on the participant’s performance was they all needed to communicate because on progression 1 because there was one player at the net and the other back they needed to say ‘yours and mine’. They needed to use good/high levels of decision making by either playing safe or taking a risk, this affect their performance positively and negatively. Within last progression which was you had a larger area to hit into this constraint made the participant now having a bigger area they had more chances to attack which their performance level increase and they had more confidence as well. The constraint that really effected how the participants played we using the sponge ball because a normal tennis ball, when you contact the ball you don’t need to swing long and fast but the sponge ball because it travels slower, the participants  needed to increase their racket speed.

Strengths and Weaknesses of the games approach to the tennis service box games are, throughout each progression it bought out different behaviors from the participants for example being defensive or offensive. Also it didn’t really matter how much tennis knowledge they got straight into it and understood each drill and realized why. Weaknesses are most of the drills are not realistic so within a proper tennis court or like a mini red court. Below are the court sizes.

First Tennis Shaping Play Session 

Session  No.

Date & Venue

Group:

Equipment:

Sponge Tennis Balls

Risk Assessment

Objective

Timings

Task and planning

Constraints

Aims

Progressions

1 v 1 singles where we work on all the intentions by playing the point out. Working on trading. Trading means rallying where you move your opponent back which creates space.

There are no constraints

Still 1v1 singles but now working on building.  The drill is playing the point out trading for a rally of 4, and then when we are building you move your opponent around by attacking the spaces, (the corners).  By doing this by putting coloured spots either side of the court.

The constraint was for the task before hitting the ball you call out the colour you hit to.

Finishing- When you finish the point it is classed as a winner, so it’s really important that your building shot puts your opponent under pressure then this gives you the opportunity to win the point.

If you finish the point at the net with a volley, smash or a drop shot. You pick up an extra point.

Criteria	Score	Comments
Safety
Awareness of environment, participants & equipment issues (health and safety)	5 4 3 2 1	I made sure that the participant was aware of the tennis nets. Before the drill took place I went to see if there were any risks. There was none.
Concern for participants well being	5 4 3 2 1
First Impressions
Professional Appearance	5 4 3 2 1	I was confidence when talking about each drill, because of my good knowledge about tennis this affected in my delivery. My appearance within the session was appropriate I had the correct coaching clothing and footwear.
Delivery	5 4 3 2 1
Self Confidence/ Positivism	5 4 3 2 1
Organisation
Quality/ Appearance of session plan	5 4 3 2 1	I provided a session plan explaining the tactical information/games approach part was. Using demonstrations and verbal directions throughout the drills, the participants then had a good understand on what to do.
Skill in organising space, equipment and groups	5 4 3 2 1
Explanation/ Directions	5 4 3 2 1
Coaching Process
Warm up progression fits topic and group	5 4 3 2 1	Didn’t do much in the warm-up just a steady jog (3 laps around the court).The warm-up didn’t fit in with the session.   Using the tactics made the participants try new things which made them become more creative. The participants were all challenged although because we did not have many progressions after a certain time the participants found it easy. All the participants were included but we had a lot of rotation due to lack of courts, everyone did have a good period time on each drill. From us coaching our feedback was lacking this was a part within our coaching where we could of improved on.
Realism in practises / creativity	5 4 3 2 1
Ability to diagnose key faults	5 4 3 2 1
Ensure all players were challenged at an appropriate level for each individual	5 4 3 2 1
Inclusion of all participants	5 4 3 2 1
Encourage feedback and illustrated teaching moments with participants	5 4 3 2 1
Communication
Quality of voice and speech habits	5 4 3 2 1	I gave clear instructions but not my voice clear although my voice wasn’t loud and I was clear. Using demonstrates were really effective because when I was showing what to do for each drill. This broke it down and made it easier for the participants.   I used more of a democratic style because I needed to demonstrate the layers so they would have a better understand by seeing it. The overall energy throughout the session from the participants was good; also I and the other coaches motivated the players.
Effectiveness of instruction	5 4 3 2 1
Effectiveness of demonstrations	5 4 3 2 1
Appropriate use of coaching style	5 4 3 2 1
Interaction and response with group (eye contact, use of names ect)	5 4 3 2 1
Overall enthusiasm & personality in session	5 4 3 2 1

Reflecting

Reviewing the session as a whole, really most of the session needed to be improved.

Although, we did do good demonstrations and they did have a bit of an understanding on what the three tactical intentions were. We also used constraints for some of the tactical intentions. For trading this was probably the best part of our session as we used quick constraints within a point situation. For example, because when you trade the main objective is to hit the ball deep to create space in the court, then for the opportunity to build. We said if you can push your opponent off the back of the court you can play the point out.

The tactical approach was not very effect as really the was no coaching involved. After trading intentions, building we did not really use any constraints (no targets). The journey that the participants took of the shapes of play stopped. We still put on a drill of building but is was not realistic as just putting spots either side of the court because some people just went straight building rather than go trade then to build. Although when we did finishing the last tactical intention we did included one or two conditional points, e.g. if you finish the point at the net with the first volley you pick up an extra point. This did bring it a bit of decision making for the participants, when is the right time to come to the net, because the building part of the session was not good as the progression to finish so they did not know much about building when approaching the net.

Areas of improvement are that next time we need to do a lot more coaching rather than watching the participants just play therefore then they are improve their technical knowledge within a tactical game of play. Also after the session the participant did not understand even the basics of trading, building and finishing, because when we were demonstrating we just said what the drill is rather than explain each tactical intention. The communication between us coaches was poor as we did not talk about the constraints together and progressions before the session so, some drill went on for more time, which made the participants bored. Overall we needed to coach more.

Improvement Second Session on Shaping Play 

Session  No.

Date & Venue

23/02/2016 Queens Park Leisure Centre

Group:

14

Equipment:

Sponge Tennis Balls, Rackets

Risk Assessment

Objective

. Aim- To show the participants the 3 main tactical intentions within a tennis point. By breaking each tactic down and explain why, when and where do we hit the ball.

Timings

Task and planning

Working On

Aims

Equipment

7 minutes

Warm-up- Nets are up, so one person either side of the net. Sidestepping while throwing the ball underarm over the net. Starting the pairs on different courts. Progression 1- Two Balls Stretches (Dynamic and Static)

One ball between a pair

5 minutes

Warm up Game- Hand rally/point trade, build and finish by throwing the ball.

Basics of the tactical intentions

To introduce the participants to trade, build and finish within a hand rally.

One ball between a pair

10 minutes 5 minutes for each constraint

Main theme (Trading) - Talk about when to trade, it is to hit deep and move your opponent a little bit around. Constraints 1. Before you can play the point out you and your partner get a rally of four shots down the middle of the court. Constraint 2. When you trade by moving your opponent you need to hit the ball deep (pushing them back). To play the point out the first person in your pair to hit the ball behind the spot gets a bonus point and they play it out.

Ball characteristics- depth, height and speed. When trading the same speed with you and your partner. Positioning where to play a trading shot

Racket for every participant. A ball between each pair.

10 minutes 5 minutes for each constraint

Building- Talk about the ways that you can build and the positioning when you would hit a building shot. Constraint 1- The drill is playing the point out trading for a rally of 4, then when we are building you move your opponent around by attacking the spaces, (the corners). Constraint 2- When someone hits a short ball this is a great opportunity to build. The drill is that you and your partner trade for 2 shots each, then on the fifth shot the player hits a short ball, so the other can build to then come to the net. Continue then playing the point. Swap the approach every point.

Ball characteristics- direction, speed and depth. Positioning where to play a building shot. When you get the shot ball can they keep the ball lower over the net.

Racket for every participant. A ball between each pair.

5 minutes

Finishing- A finishing is really classed as shot that ends the point. Constraint 1- If you finish off your first shot at the net you pick up 2 point rather than 1.

Discuss about if the building shot isn’t good enough when you go to the net you could get lobed or passed. Positioning where to play a finishing shot.

Racket for every participant. A ball between each pair.

5-10 minutes

For the participant now to let them play the point out themselves.

This is their chance to make the decision themselves.

Criteria	Score	Comments
Safety
Awareness of environment, participants & equipment issues (health and safety)	5 4 3 2 1	Before the session took part we looked around the sports hall for any dangers that could affect the session there was none. Just the session started we asked if anyone had any injuries and jewellery.
Concern for participants well being	5 4 3 2 1
First Impressions
Professional Appearance	5 4 3 2 1	Delivery- After doing the last session before this one session I felt a lot more positive about after doing the session, as I thought I got my point across. Appearance- My appearance was good as I believe that a showed good body language and also the correct coaching clothing.
Delivery	5 4 3 2 1
Self Confidence/ Positivism	5 4 3 2 1
Organisation
Quality/ Appearance of session plan	5 4 3 2 1	Session Plan- The session plan was quality as it explained each stage of the different types of play. Organising the space of the group- Have the right number of participants make the session for us easier because we had three courts, so everyone was spread out. Directions- The directions from me and the other coaches could of being improved as at the end of the session we needed to review what they have learnt.
Skill in organising space, equipment and groups	5 4 3 2 1
Explanation/ Directions	5 4 3 2 1
Coaching Process
Warm up progression fits topic and group	5 4 3 2 1	Within the coaching process most of the drills/shapes of play showed an understanding. Both the warm-up and warm-up game fitted in with the session and was a good progression then to go into the session. Although the first drill was not realistic without the racket (hand rally). Not one participant was waiting off all the participants when the drill took place they were all included. I think feedback within the session was good as each coach demonstrated feedback to at least one person. Everyone did have either a technical or a tactical or both to work on or what they are doing well.
Realism in practises / creativity	5 4 3 2 1
Ability to diagnose key faults	5 4 3 2 1
Ensure all players were challenged at an appropriate level for each individual	5 4 3 2 1
Inclusion of all participants	5 4 3 2 1
Encourage feedback and illustrated teaching moments with participants	5 4 3 2 1
Communication
Quality of voice and speech habits	5 4 3 2 1	Throughout the session our communication was very good as we all had a word to say. The important thing is we had a bit of the fun/ banter with the participants as a result this made them relaxed and made the session more fun. Demonstrations was very effect as when showing the shape of play this was important that the participants to see it in real time, as a result they all understood it. The overall energy throughout the session from the participants was good; also I and the other coaches motivated the players.
Effectiveness of instruction	5 4 3 2 1
Effectiveness of demonstrations	5 4 3 2 1
Appropriate use of coaching style	5 4 3 2 1
Interaction and response with group (eye contact, use of names ect)	5 4 3 2 1
Overall enthusiasm & personality in session	5 4 3 2 1

Reflecting

Reflecting after doing the session I think that this session was heights above the first session that we delivered. Throughout the session we all referred to the three tactical intentions within all of the drill, by doing this made the participants understand how to win a point in the right way.

Throughout the session all most all of the participants did not play a good point, they tried to win the point straight, therefore they were making unforced errors. After the games approach session I could see that most of the players had a bit understanding of a point. By looking/watching the participants throughout each of the drills which had many constraints in, this bought out different behaviors and attitudes of the participants. For example so people liked to trade and then wait until their opponent makes a mistake or most people liked to hit one or two trading shot then building, then finish. 

The planning part of the process was a lot better this time as we planned to session together so we all knew what we were doing, this made the session flow better and plan was more precise about each tactical intentions and what we were working on. 

 This was within the warm-up when we used constraints to make the drill harder. Catching the ball with one hand. This gave the participants a challenge, rather than keeping it simple.

 This demonstration was when we were demonstrating the building intention part of the session. By using demonstrations this made the participant see a visual point in real time and also made the participants understanding it more.

Although where the participants were sitting, maybe they should of been closer to see the drill better.

The things that were changed from the previous session was that I and the other coaches actually introduced the technique within the shapes of play, by using coaching points for the group and also individually. Also from the other session what was better in this session was we broke down the tactical intentions and after the session we did a Q and A session to see what they have learnt and all the participants knew now what and why we do it. We used more constraints and the progressions of the constraints made the participants have options in each tactical intention. E.g. when building hitting into the corners or approaching the net. Us coaches did use a lot more feedback to players about why we do the tactical intentions and for each player always motivating them to achieve the best. 

Areas of improvement of the session would be to spend more time on the building and finishing part of the session because if I was a participants this part is more attacking and playing the point. Also would be to bring in the overarm serve because then if you are serving you have to opportunity to building off your serve.