Match Memories

This season we are without 5 varsity players from last year. All of our seniors are gone and only 3 of our players will have significant varsity experience. As a tennis family, we've gone through this transition twice since I've been coach.

After the very successful 2005 season, where we won a then career high 14 matches, we lost 5 seniors. Included in those losses were some of our all-time great players and some of our most dedicated workers. The players that we returned had played #3 singles (Wes Klassen), #1 doubles (Jordan Kauffman), and #2 doubles (Jordan Miller). The 2006 team then incorporated 4 sophomores (Luke Hostetter, Jared Schwartzentruber, Johnny Kauffman, and Jeremy Thomas).

That makes makes the season very comparable to this year. We will return players from #3 singles (Nate), #2 doubles (Blake and Evan). We have many sophomores, but also a couple juniors, vying for those spots.

So, what happened to the 2006 team. Well, it was a very interesting season. We had an easier schedule than we will play this coming season, but still, we managed to reach 12 wins in 2006. We truly grew during that season, which I would say built the foundation for our 2008 Sectional title.

We played a lot of close matches in 2006. And we learned a lot from each match. Here's some of what we learned...

#1 - vs. Northridge - "Don't be afraid."
We opened the season, as always, against the Raiders and because our courts were being resurfaced, we took them on at Goshen College. We were shaking and we got blitzed. I mean the closest match was probably 3-6, 2-6. But what really bugged me is that we played the match as if we couldn't win. Always give the best, always expect your best.

#2 - vs. New Prairie - "Stay aggressive."

New Prairie was a significant drive away from Bethany. We headed over there under threat of thunderstorm. And yet, we didn't come out slow. In 4 of the 5 matches, we came out focused and took the first set. Quickly, Luke Hostetter and #2 doubles (Jeremy Thomas/Jordan Miller) took their 2nd sets. We were up 2-0, just waiting for one more point. It never happened. In our other matches, we became very tentative and tight. Our feet stopped moving, which is where aggression comes from. We lost all of the other matches in third sets, and learned that you have to stay moving, positive, and confident to close things out.

#3 - vs. NorthWood - "Play to your strengths."
Against NorthWood, we were up against a team that would eventually win a Sectional title. We were also up against one of the best players in our Sectional over the past 8 years, Preston Swain. But Wes Klassen got behind his best stroke, his two-handed forehand, and pounded away at Swain. All day, Wes got in position to use his weapon and then was all over it, slamming it crosscourt into Swain's backhand. If you have a weapon, you go and get it. That's what Wes did.

So, those three things formed a young team. I think they could form this young team too.
#1 - Don't be afraid.
#2 - Stay aggressive.
#3 - Play to your strengths.

What Does is Take?

What does it take to be a varsity tennis player? More importantly, I guess, is the question what does it take to be a successful varsity player?

I ask these questions because we're going to have a lot of new varsity players this year. We return Blake, Evan and Nate with significant varsity experience. Right now, I see 8-9 others who have a real chance at playing significant amounts of matches on the varsity this upcoming year. What will the new players need to be successful?

A plan. A plan of improvement. And the dedication to come with a seriousness about that plan every time you come to the courts.

Years ago, I developed a system of taking stock of your game. It goes as follows.

Level 1 - FORM - To be at level 1 means you hit the shot with the correct form and spin.
Level 2 - CONSISTENCY - To be a level 2 means you hit the shot consistently in the court, with the correct spin and form.
Level 3 - PLACEMENT - To be at level 3 means you can hit the spots you are aiming for, consistently, with the correct spin and form.
Level 4 - POWER - To be at level 4 means you hit the ball powerfully, often past your opponents for winners. It also means that you can place the ball where you want it, consistently, with the correct spin and form.

Okay, first thing to notice is that each level builds on the previous one. Without the previous skill, the further skill is useless. If you can place the ball where you want it, but only 1 out of 10 times, then you are still a level 1 player because you have no consistency. If you hit the serve 110 MPH, but it hits the back fence on the fly because you've got no spin on it to bring into into the service box, then you are a level 0 server. You have to have the previous skill to move forward.

Here's some examples from last year's team of people who had strokes at these different levels.
- 4 - POWER - Russell's forehand, Matt's overhead (they hit them hard, but consistently in)
- 3 - PLACEMENT - Ben and Seth's groundstrokes (they controlled points with their placement, even if they didn't kill the ball)
- 2 - CONSISTENCY - Andrew's groundstrokes (remember his long rallies, he never missed!)
- 1 - FORM - Joel's forehand, Abe's serve (good form, good potential, can't keep them in over and over and over)

So, step 1 for this year. Each of you should take stock of where your game is at. Then you need to prepare yourself, each time you go to play tennis, of what your focus should be. You should always be working on the next step, and nothing higher. If your forehand is a 1, then you need to work on consistency and NOTHING ELSE. Don't waste your time with a power shot when you can't hit the ball in! So, let's do an example. Let me use Abe, because I've seen his game a lot lately (hope you don't mind Abe!)

Abe's Game
Forehand: Needs to establish 2, work to 3
Backhand: Needs to establish 2
Volley: Needs to establish 3, work to 4
Overhead: Needs to establish 3
First Serve: Need to establish 2, work to 3
Second Serve: Need to establish 2

So, using that analysis, Abe really needs to work on consistency. It is so tempting for him to just go out and pound the ball all the time, when he's hitting with buddies or whatever, but he needs to think consistency. "Get the ball in. Get the ball in. Get the ball in." Over and over. Once he establishes that, he can begin to work on placement. Only on his volley should he even begin to think about power.

The good news is that most of us need to work on 2-3. Most of us need consistency then placement. I say good news because to win varsity matches, you really need to just have consistency then placement.

We may not have the experience yet, but if we can have the proper focus throughout the summer and early season, we will be in good position.

Oh, and if you want a free coach's analysis of your game, leave a comment. I'll be free to send one your way!

Experiment

This was an experiment I tried in the kiln yesterday.  They were finally cool enough to take from the kiln this morning and this one was already broken before it came from the mold, but I think it's an interesting idea anyway.

Thoughts

I really don't have much to say today, except that I wish everyone could come and play lots of tennis all at the same time. I haven't seen Ike play since he got back from Paraguay; Andrew, Himal, and Ryan just went to Paraguay; and I'm tired of seeing Abe play every day. Actually, no that's not true. I love playing with Abe. Let's just say we've been working on hitting the ball hard.

I do want to let everyone know that our courts got the cracks filled today, so we have to stay off of them for one week. That means if we want to hit at our normal times, we'll go to the college to do that.

I continually get more excited for next year. Tuesday Tennis last week was probably the funnest thing of my summer so far...

Looking forward to seeing people again soon, enjoy summer, enjoy tennis!

The Numbers: Multiples of 3

Taking stock of next season is always difficult. We lose our best players, but so does most everybody else. We have to integrate JV players into the varsity, but so does everyone else. We have to welcome a group of new freshman, beginning to build the next generation of tennis lovers, but then again, that's the same challenge facing every team in the state.

So what do we know, what do the facts say about the state of our program? We'll do it in multiples of 3 for all those who want to continue their math education throughout the summer months...

3 - We have three players returning with significant varsity experience. Nate won 16 matches at #3 singles (tying Jonny Shenk for most matches won at that position since I began coaching). Blake Shetler and Evan Grimes racked up good records playing #2 doubles last year, but Blake took 2 significant wins in singles as well.

6 - We have six players who committed to offseason work in lessons. Of course, I always wish that this number was higher. But those who did commit are looking better for it already. Of course, at the clubs they seem to teach hitting the ball hard and not keeping it in, so we'll have some consistency work to do. But playing through the winter gives us a head start on many of our opponents.

9 - Is the number of guys who came to the first Tuesday tennis, and I have to tell you it was a fun time. Not only did I dominate the ping-pong tournament, but my sons also made new friends. Gid's favorite was Andrew but Judah is partial to Parth, I think. It really was a great time!

12 - This is the number of new freshman coming in this year, and I'm excited about every one of them!

So there's some stock of the season, we'll be young, fun, energetic, and learning! I cannot wait to see some more of you soon!