From Try-er to Hi-FlyerProgrammes that create better little players!

Mike Barrell

ITF Asian Conference , Shenzhen

November 2008

Today’s Mission Possible .. If you choose to accept it

• The Participation Pathway• Understand the needs of players• Motivating Players along the path• The role of the competitive pathway• Presenting Tennis as a Game• What good programs do well

How Do YOU Measure Success of a Kids Tennis Programme?

The Measure of Success!

Children who PLAY the game!Children who KEEP playing! Children who move along the participation pathway!

Participation Pathway Stages

• Try-ers – I’m giving it a go!

• Buyers – I play tennis (amongst 5 other things) – I take lessons, maybe just 1 per week

• Flyers – #1 sport (more tennis than other sports – I still play other sports, take lessons, train and compete)

• Hi - Flyers – #1 Activity (but not only – as an under 10)

• A 7 year old Buyer wants different things to a 7 year old Flyer• So the programme need to provide different things for different stage

players

TRY-ER – Stage #1• The hook• The need to understand • The “too” easy bit

Tempting the Try-erFUN is…..• DPC - Dazzling personality of coach• Pay and Play (Easy access)• Kids friendly environment• Being with friends• Limited competitive stress• Achievement / success• Parent friendly environment• Segmented in route – compete with other sports

In action....Wild Cards at West Hants • Schools Road show• Selection and Invitation to FREE Fun day

– Letter– Offer– Pathway (balanced promise)

• Fun Day - show, tell and sell• 10 week Wild Cards – time to decide• 1 x season at member rates - offer• Into main programme – commitment

School & Community Links

• Curriculum Coaching • After School Clubs • A & C - Exit Routes (Select as well)• Assemblies• Newsletters (Email & Paper)• Interschool Tournaments (At the Tennis Club)• Sports Days and Fetes (PTA Raffles)• Apple Programme – teachers join for free• Don’t forget to market to parents and teachers!• Remember youth groups (guides and scouts)

Try-er Lessons

• Teach the game - the rules, the court and tactics – avoid the technical approach

• Use modified equipment – ITF Play and Stay – create quick success, but stick with the racket

• Don’t teach tennis like golf - include sending and receiving – I can rally = real tennis

• Make it very active – motivate before you try to teach

• Make use of the DPC – with kids and parents – you are selling

»Build Trust and excitement!

Competition for Try-ers

Task based competition in lessons – little Olympics, build confidence• Beat My PB (mastery = confidence)• Beat our PB (mastery & cooperation = confidence)

Matchplay based competition??• Us vs Y’all (team vs team) – lots of short matches

Club based .. Festivals – don’t overemphasis the outcome

BUYER– Stage #2

1st level of real commitment 1x per week 4 – 6 weekly activities Clock is ticking

Hooking the Buyer

• Regular and consistent environment• Being with friends & Belonging• Relationship with coach• Playing the Game (Serve, Rally & Score)• Awards – visual progress/ recognition• Progress thru the group levels• Competition in Teams – skills and mini matches• Club Based opportunities incl. social

Buyer Lessons

• Don’t teach tennis like golf - include sending and receiving – I can rally = real tennis

• Teach the game - the rules, the court and tactics

• Use modified equipment – Play and Stay• Variety is not the spice of life… progression is

!!• Repeat and progress content• Create a purpose / focus

Progress / Recognition

• Award Schemes • Rally 100 club • Player of the Week• Report cards• Measurable drills

– Distance– Number– Timed

Competition for BuyersTask based competition in lessons and circuits – little olympics• Beat My PB (mastery = confidence)• Beat our PB (mastery & cooperation = confidence)• Us vs Y’all (team vs team)

Matchplay based competition• Us vs Y’all (team vs team) – lots of short matches

Club Based….Don’t launch the baby bird too far!! Flap before Flying!!

Integrating Competition

• Week 10 competition – lesson replaced by comp.• Monthly competition – 1st Sunday of the month• Grand Slam / World Tour• Themed events – Olympics etc

Team Tennis at Lymington

• Club split in Half (2 Teams)• Teams have names• Teams and players earn points (tickets) for

every activity• Teams compete against each other• Pro players on the teams (fantasy tennis

manager aspiration)• Running scores

Make the Jump – Buyer to Flyer

• Place – do you have an aspirational environment

• People – do you recognise, motivate, ask for and select

• Purpose – do you communicate destinations• Progress – do you show the map and reward

incrementally

FLYER – Stage #3• The back door is closed• Now the competition is not other sports but other

clubs• A & C – Able and Committed

Launching the Flyer

• Relationship • Aspiration (Tour and Internal)• Pathway and Destinations• Responsibility and Independence• Competition and Success• Task Orientation• More Coaching (frequency and duration)• Training (in addition to coaching)• Interclub / county competition

Coach Mentality

• Coach you have a lesson at 4pm on Tuesday with a group of 7 year olds…

OR

• Coach your new Team will train at 4pm on Tuesday

Flyer Lessons• Teach in context – learn why – technical relates

to tactical always• Teach the game – tactics• Apply Long Term principles – this kid could be a

lifer – ABCS and physical• Use and vary modified equipment – for skill

development, coordination • Balance Repetition and Problem solving

approach• Goal set – SMART – purpose and progress• Make the link coaching and competition

Competition for FlyersTask based competition in lessons and circuits – little olympics• Us vs Y’all (team vs team)• Me vs Y’all (individual)Matchplay based competition• Us vs Y’all (team vs team)

– Matches get longer– Distance increase– Balance of Team and Individual

Inter Club Competition

THE ATS Tour

• 5 coaches• 1st Sunday of every month – plus masters• 4 players per coach = guaranteed entry• Official Tour player merchandise• Circuit points – playing, winning, most

valuable, most improved etc• Created purpose, passion and progress

HI FLYER – Stage #4

• Beware!! • Are you ready to make this happen?!

Up with the Hi-Flyer

• Player / Coach Relationship• Annual Plan• School / Club Arrangement• Aspiration with SMART Goals• Parental Support• County to State/ Regional Competition

Today’s Mission Possible was .. To understand

• The Participation Pathway• Understand the needs of players• Motivating Players along the path• The role of the competitive pathway• Remembering to Presenting Tennis as

a Game• Keep things in perspective

• GOOD LUCK!!

You Don’t Just Teach Tennis! You teach kids!

For More Information go to www.evolve9.com or email

mikebarrell@evolve9.com