A Comparison of the Perceptual and Technical Demands of Tennis Training, Simulated Match-Play and Competitive Tournaments.
Alistair P Murphy
Rob Duffield
Aaron Kellett
Machar Reid
International journal of sports physiology and performance (Impact Factor: 2.68). 04/2015; DOI: 10.1123/ijspp.2014-0464
Source: PubMed
ABSTRACT High-performance tennis environments aim to prepare athletes for competitive demands through simulated match scenarios and drills.
With a dearth of direct comparisons between training and tournament demands, the current investigation compared the perceptual and technical characteristics of training drills, simulated match-play, and tournament matches.
Data were collected from 18 high-performance, junior tennis players (gender: 10 male, 8 female, age: 16±1.1 y) during 6±2 drill-based training sessions, 5±2 simulated match-play sessions, and 5±3 tournament matches from each participant.
Tournament matches were further distinguished by win or loss, and against seeded or non-seeded opponents. Notational analysis of stroke and error rates, winners, and serves, along with rating of perceived physical exertion (RPE) and mental-exertion were measured post-session.
Repeated-measures analyses of variance and effect-size analysis revealed training sessions were significantly shorter in duration than tournament matches (p<0.05; d=1.18). RPE's during training and simulated match-play sessions were lower than in tournaments (p>0.05;d=1.26,d=1.05 respectively). Mental exertion in training was lower than both simulated match-play and tournaments (p>0.05;d=1.10;d=0.86 respectively). Stroke-rates during tournaments exceeded those observed in training (p<0.05;d=3.41) and simulated match-play (p<0.05;d=1.22) sessions. Further, the serve was used more during tournaments than simulated match-play (p<0.05;d=4.28), while errors and winners were similar independent of setting (p>0.05;d<0.80).
Training in the form of drills or simulated match-play appeared to inadequately replicate tournament demands in this cohort of players. Coaches should be mindful of match demands to best prescribe sessions of relevant duration as well as internal (RPE) and technical (stroke-rate) load to aid tournament preparation.
Alistair P Murphy
Rob Duffield
Aaron Kellett
Machar Reid
International journal of sports physiology and performance (Impact Factor: 2.68). 04/2015; DOI: 10.1123/ijspp.2014-0464
Source: PubMed
ABSTRACT High-performance tennis environments aim to prepare athletes for competitive demands through simulated match scenarios and drills.
With a dearth of direct comparisons between training and tournament demands, the current investigation compared the perceptual and technical characteristics of training drills, simulated match-play, and tournament matches.
Data were collected from 18 high-performance, junior tennis players (gender: 10 male, 8 female, age: 16±1.1 y) during 6±2 drill-based training sessions, 5±2 simulated match-play sessions, and 5±3 tournament matches from each participant.
Tournament matches were further distinguished by win or loss, and against seeded or non-seeded opponents. Notational analysis of stroke and error rates, winners, and serves, along with rating of perceived physical exertion (RPE) and mental-exertion were measured post-session.
Repeated-measures analyses of variance and effect-size analysis revealed training sessions were significantly shorter in duration than tournament matches (p<0.05; d=1.18). RPE's during training and simulated match-play sessions were lower than in tournaments (p>0.05;d=1.26,d=1.05 respectively). Mental exertion in training was lower than both simulated match-play and tournaments (p>0.05;d=1.10;d=0.86 respectively). Stroke-rates during tournaments exceeded those observed in training (p<0.05;d=3.41) and simulated match-play (p<0.05;d=1.22) sessions. Further, the serve was used more during tournaments than simulated match-play (p<0.05;d=4.28), while errors and winners were similar independent of setting (p>0.05;d<0.80).
Training in the form of drills or simulated match-play appeared to inadequately replicate tournament demands in this cohort of players. Coaches should be mindful of match demands to best prescribe sessions of relevant duration as well as internal (RPE) and technical (stroke-rate) load to aid tournament preparation.
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