ITF/Tennis Europe Development Officer's E-mail Newsletter, Year 1, Issue 6, December 2006
The ITF and Tennis Europe are pleased to welcome you to the latest edition of the Development Officer's Newsletter, aimed at keeping you informed and updated on tennis development activities around Europe.
In this issue you will find:
European Coaches’ Symposium in Stockholm, Sweden
Level 3 Coaches’ Course in Valencia, Spain
Training Camp in Tirana, Albania
Technical Workshop in Siauliai, Lithuania
Forthcoming Development Events: January - March 2007
European Coaches’ Symposium in Stockholm, Sweden
The 28th European Coaches Symposium took place from 12th – 15th October in Stockholm, Sweden. The event was a great success, attracting over 80 delegates and 20 speakers from thirty three of Tennis Europe’s member nations.
Speakers came from all major European tennis nations, with former Davis Cup captains Javier Duarte (ESP) and Carl-Axel Hageskog (SWE), and Sweden’s six-time Grand Slam champion Stefan Edberg speaking alongside Symposium regulars Frank Van Frayenhoven (NED), Bernard Pestre (FRA), Peter Born (GER) and Richard Schonborn (GER), to name but a few. The Symposium also gave an opportunity for the new generation of top coaches to share their knowledge and experience, including Steven Martens and Paul Wylleman of Belgium, Britain’s Robert Antoun and Beni Linder of Switzerland.
Hrvoje Zmajic, ITF/Tennis Europe Development Officer commented, “With thirty three nations present, this was the best-attended symposium ever. A wide range of topics have been covered, giving the delegates invaluable insights into various aspects of top-level coaching and knowledge with which they can continue to greatly contribute towards coaching schemes in their respective national tennis associations.”
Over 50 Portuguese coaches joined guests from around Europe for a special Cardio Tennis event, organised by the Portuguese Tennis Federation, and supported by Tennis Europe.
Launched in 2005, Cardio Tennis blends traditional tennis shot-making with high intensity exercise and regular periods of rest, making it suitable for players of all levels, and a useful tool for coaches looking to attract new players, or vary their existing training programs.
Training came in the form of both on and off-court lectures and demonstrations from National Cardio Tennis Program Director Michele Krause, assisted by Butch Staples and Ted Murray, all of who flew in from the United States for the event, which was enthusiastically received by the coaches in attendance.
Coaches from nine European national tennis associations took part in the first Level 3 Coaches' Course for European coaches recently. The 12-day course was conducted by Miguel Crespo and Machar Reid of the International Tennis Federation and was held at the Centre de Tennis Altur/Alvarino (Tenis Val) at the Club Deportivo Saladar in Valencia during the last two weeks of September.
The Level 3 course is designed for coaches working with advanced juniors and professional players. Coaches cover topics such as advanced tactics, technique and biomechanics; applied psychology for advanced tennis; body conditioning; and teaching methodology and training.
Three Junior Training Camps were organized during October 2007 under the umbrella of the ITF/Tennis Europe Development Programme. A national training camp for promising juniors (aged between 10 and 14) was organized from 2 – 8 October in Tirana, Albania. Nine Albanian players and four coaches worked on court and off court under the supervision of Nicolas Kelaidis of Greece, in order to improve technical and tactical skills of young players.
Technical Workshop in Siaulia, Lithuania
ITF/Tennis Europe expert Nicolas Kelaidis (GRE) was again on hand to present at workshops in Siaulia, Lithuania on 9 – 13 November. The main topic of the Workshop was Development of players aged 12 & under. Twenty-four coaches and six players took part in the workshop, which was divided into the following topics:
The Road to the Top
Biological Considerations
Standards of Play for 10-12 year old players
Technical Considerations for 10-12 year old players
Tactical Considerations for 10-12 year old players
Training periodisation for 10-12 year old players
2007 North East Training Camp
Following on from last year’s successful edition, the International Tennis Federation and Tennis Europe organize the fourth North-East Regional Training Camp for players aged 14 & Under. The Latvian, Estonian, Belarus and Ukraine National Association may nominate up to 3 boys, 3 girls and 2 coaches. As the host nation, Lithuania will be allowed to nominate 4 boys and 4 girls. There will be a total of 16 boys and 16 girls at the event, in Siauliai.
The training camp will take place from Friday 12th – Tuesday 16th January, inclusive.
Players and coaches’ nominations should be returned to Tennis Europe by 07 December 2006 at the latest.
For entry forms and further information, please contact Flurin Conrad flurinc@tenniseurope.org
DEVELOPMENT EVENTS January – March 2007
- 11 - 17 January 2007 – North East Training Camp in Siauliai, Lithuania
- 09 - 18 March 2007 – 14 & Under Development Championships in Tallinn, Estonia
Hrvoje Zmajic - Author Jonathan Jobson - Editor
ITF/Tennis Europe Development Officer’s Newsletter is published bi-monthly.
ITF/Tennis Europe Development Officer Hrvoje Zmajic Pirovec gornji 52 10000 Zagreb Croatia
