Perception
What is it, How to Teach it and Perception Drill Progressions From The Beginner Stage
Key Points
- Watch the trajectory of the ball to judge if it will be short or deep
- If your opponent is standing further behind the baseline, you can stand closer to the baseline
- Perception should be taught from day 1 in every stroke you teach
- Anticipation and learning your opponents “habit patterns” is vital in the modern game
- Key points about perception for players who are 6 to 8 or at the beginner stage of tennis:
- Have players stand side on to the ball and practice being aware of which side of the court the coach is hitting to
- Players should be moving prior to the coach hitting the ball and thus develop a sense of awareness on the direction the ball will be travelling based on the way the coach is about to hit the ball
- Practice until the players make a direct association between the coach hitting and the direction the ball will travel and then move on to the next progression
- Key points about the progression of the perception drill to the intermediate stage:
- While the coach is about to hit the ball perceive the flight path, ball height, and speed and move toward the area of the court perceived to be the landing area
- Try and keep the same distance between the player and the coach; If the coach moves back the player moves forward and vice versa
- Develop perception at this stage so players can recognise patterns in play and react before the ball is hit thus improving their movement potential around the court
- Key points about the progression of the perception drill at the advanced stage:
- Advanced players perceive ball movement, stroke, and habit patterns of their opposition and tailor their own game accordingly
- Run match-based drills against other advanced players to recognise patterns in their game and yours and then talk about those patterns with each other every alternative point
- Constantly assess how you are winning and losing points and make the necessary modifications
- Change the drill rules to work on improving your weaknesses or promoting your strengths in the game
Timestamps
- 4:36Perception Drill For Beginners
- 6:49Perception Drill For Intermediate Players
- 8:08Perception Drill For High Performance Players
More from Gary Stickler
29 videos2hr 47min
