The Plight of College Tennis

[gino]

Originally Posted by SoBad

College tennis is in the sewerage, but Gino is moving on, thanks to TTW. He is going to hit tennis balls, write brilliant papers, and kiss rich girls and smart guys, for the next two and a half years.

Love it. I'll make you proud SoBad

Originally Posted by Nostradamus

Gino, watch the replay of this D3 singles championship match. They almost never go for clean winner, they hit deep and wait for the other guy to miss. It is bit boring to watch but then these guys are in the finals.

http://www.ncaa.com/video#!playlists.../tennis-men/d3

Just took a look, seems you're right. I just feel like I am changing my game to be like them, but if thats the only option, then so be it.

[SoCal10s]

Originally Posted by gino

Thanks for the input, very true.



Great point about coaches. Coaches, especially at the Division III level, that don't have much invested into individual players after they leave school are thinking very short term. They want wins and they want them Freshman year. In my opinion, college coaches should take on players during their senior year of high school and work with them more technically.

gino: you don't know that most coaches cannot teach tennis ? they are just court motivators .. I haven't met too many college coaches that can correct a technical flaw and make a player better from that standpoint ..

[monomer]

Originally Posted by coaching32yrs

........No doubt, a grinding style of play where players camp out at the baseline hitting one ball after another high over the net wins. There are few players at the D3 level that can play quality offense on a consistent basis so the game becomes one of avoiding mistakes. .....

Originally Posted by Satsuma Illini

........It takes longer for a serve and volleyer to develop so maybe that's why college coaches don't bother with it much. Takes too much time to develop and the benefits come way too late when they are under pressure to produce results NOW.

Originally Posted by Nostradamus

.......unless you are elite level D1 talent, it is very difficult to play power attacking game and be consistant enough to win day in day out. and you have to serve in 120's with good placement consistantly to get 1 or 2 cheap points in your service game.
How many D3 guys do you know that can do that ?..........

Originally Posted by gino

.....
I see the lack of offensive development as a huge issue........The problem is, I am 400+ miles away from my private coach, and developing without working together on court is so hard........

Originally Posted by gino

.....I agree it takes longer for an aggressive stylistic approach to develop. It is technically more challenging, but maybe not as physically taxing. The pressure part is big too, each shot for an aggressive player carries more weight. The ball that makes you win/lose a point could be your second shot.......

Thanks to the OP for a very interesting thread. The points above sum up my views.

My kids (16 & 12) play USTA and love tennis. With hard work my 16-yo could play DIII tennis and would have an outside chance at DII. She is a "regular" kid though - we do not spend all of our time and money on tennis.

There aren't enough hours in the day for her to develop a successful all-court, offensive game. There are too many skills to master and the learning curve is too long. Being an aggressive grinder is the realistic option for her to see success. The time, effort and expense required to play D1 tennis does not make sense for most juniors.

The big picture is that tennis is a game of managing expectations. Aside from a handful of people in the world you are always at some level below the better players. You have to try to enjoy it wherever you fit.

[SoBad]

Originally Posted by gino

Love it. I'll make you proud SoBad

Thanks Gino - you hit those balls and keeps us posted...

[coaching32yrs]

Originally Posted by monomer

Thanks to the OP for a very interesting thread. The points above sum up my views.

My kids (16 & 12) play USTA and love tennis. With hard work my 16-yo could play DIII tennis and would have an outside chance at DII. She is a "regular" kid though - we do not spend all of our time and money on tennis.

There aren't enough hours in the day for her to develop a successful all-court, offensive game. There are too many skills to master and the learning curve is too long. Being an aggressive grinder is the realistic option for her to see success. The time, effort and expense required to play D1 tennis does not make sense for most juniors.

The big picture is that tennis is a game of managing expectations. Aside from a handful of people in the world you are always at some level below the better players. You have to try to enjoy it wherever you fit.

One of the main differences between D1 men and D3 is doubles. In D1 the 3 doubs matches count for 1 point. In D3 3 points. Because of this doubs much more important in D3. D3 is desperate for good attacking players who have doubles skills.

[monomer]

Originally Posted by coaching32yrs

One of the main differences between D1 men and D3 is doubles. In D1 the 3 doubs matches count for 1 point. In D3 3 points. Because of this doubs much more important in D3. D3 is desperate for good attacking players who have doubles skills.

This is good info. I didn't realize that they weighted doubles more heavily in D3.