My response to a TalkTennis discussion at http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?p=5733130&posted=1#post5733130

I commend this fantastic discussion. I believe you all have very valid concerns. Let me share a bit from my experience (I have been coaching since 1968). I have been lately helping the USTA 10 and under program here in San Diego, and in the last two weeks we have been in six schools, teaching an average of about 200 kids per school day. With four stations of different activity, I handle the QuickStart courts of the rotation, getting from 15 to 20 minutes with two to four kids per court, and about sixteen kids at the time, a few times as large as 20 in the group. I also handled the first drills, which we did before dividing into groups. We only used large foam balls. The kids were mostly 10 and under, but in some groups the kids were up to 14. The first drills we did was to learn how the ball bounces. How there is no rush to catch the ball. How you need to observe what comes out of the bounce. The last drill (we called it a game) before dividing them into groups was one kid tossed the ball a bit high to his partner, the receiving kid turned around 360 right away, and then caught the ball, obviously paying attention to what happened to the ball AFTER the bounce. The success ratio of this last drill was well above 90 percent, and it was an intrinsic part of what followed on the QuickStart courts. The kids had assimilated that they had to track the ball after the bounce, rather than making up their mnd early and misreading the flight of the ball. As part of this early part I imparted the notion that the ball slows down considerably and that there is no rush.

And yes, this type format for the court and balls is very beneficial for starting kids provided one does not teach sideways, racquet back, step into the ball, otherwise there is no control of the ball. As for the grip, i tell them that if they have not played tennis before the grip is easy to learn by putting the index finger through the throat opening of the racquet, moving the hand onto the grip when they are comfortable. For the backhand, just adding the left hand to aid with the effort. I also showed them (and to entice them I said this is what the pros do) the finish over the shoulder, with the back of the hand by the cheek, and the but of the racquet pointing to the other side of the net. I did this very quickly, because they were all rearing to play, and I observed the results. I went around the courts and rallied a few balls with some of them. I would say about 50% of them could rally 6 to 10 balls, close to 20% were amazing athletes and had superb hand eye coordination, ratrher than just bumping the ball they were controllling it with a thorough finish, about two to three feet over the net and comfortably in front of their partner.

I asked these better performing kids if they had played tennis before and 90% of them said no. I won’t jump to conclussions, but I thank the QuickStart program for giving me the opportunity to go to a school’s playground and enchant with tennis over one thousand kids in a few days. We’ll follow up with a free Tennis Fest in two weeks in one of the local clubs.

The QuickStart idea is very bright and will certainly cause a boom in tennis.

[B]As for the subject being discussed in this thread[/B]

There should be a bit more freedom of choice in America. A talented kid that looks forward to play like the pros should not be stopped with regulations. Furthermore, talented kids should experience play with regular balls early in their development. Why? Because regular balls foster development of a type of technique based on major muscle groups, what we call modern tennis. Beware that in fear or panic situations these muscle groups act automatically. That is the real evolution of tennis. That is what we see on the tour today.

I would propose two things. Do not make a ball that is too low bouncing. First, it makes players rush after the bounce, rather than tracking the ball longer. Those talented can learn to hit the ball on the rise, like a Federer, or play like ping-pong players, from way back, with a lot of topspin, like a Nadal. Further, the mid-court volley and an attacking game can be introduced quite early, making for an overall complete game from an early age.

Second, I would propose that a Super Series REGULAR BALL of tournaments be created for those who qualify through the proposed structure by winning in lower leagues AND WANT to move to that level. No penalties as to YOU HAVE TO MOVE to this ball level, or YOU HAVE TO STAY once you tried this upper league should be imposed, Kids should have the freedom to choose where they compete, except playing well under their qualifications just to get easier tournament wins.

Would this be more realistic in identifying and developing talent?

I invite the superb participants on this thread to elaborate the response.