Girls Tennis

Season:

Season begins on March 22nd.

Eligibility:

• Sports physicals, athletic fees and all paperwork required before you are allowed to participate in any way with the team.
• Grades – grade reports will be issued during the season – if you’re not performing in the classroom, you will not be performing on the tennis court – and will most likely be running
• You must complete 10 practices before you are eligible to participate in competitive matches

Sportsmanship: 

We do not tolerate any unsportsmanlike behavior

Practice: 

Practice starts at 2:30 pm precisely and will end at 4:30 pm

There will be no rain outs for the first 10 practices-if it rains we will meet in the commons

If you need any treatment from the Athletic Medicine, please have that done prior to practice starting

Water will be provided – underclassmen are typically tasked with bringing it from Athletic Medicine prior to practice starting and returning it when practice ends.

If you are injured or go to the doctor/dentist, please let us know immediately – we need a note to file

Practice Format:

• Warm up and stretching – run by the captain(s)
• Conditioning
• Drills and challenge matches
• Serving practice
• Coach talk and dismissal

*All tennis balls will be picked up prior to practice ending and player dismissal

Matches:

• Home matches – all are played at the high school and players are expected to be at the courts and ready by 2:30
• Scorecards need to be set up
• Water needs to be brought down to the courts
• Matches are typically complete by 5 pm – please do not leave without checking in with a coach
• Away matches – buses will leave per schedule – typical travel team will not exceed 25 players – we will rotate JV through to make sure everyone is scheduled for at least one away match
• Typically we stop and eat – bring $$$
• Arrival back to SKHS after away matches will be around 6-6:30 pm
• The bus departs from and returns to the pool parking lot
• Transportation home after away matches needs to be arranged by the student

GO WOLVES!

1. Family and academics first before tennis.
2. Players will show good sportsmanship at all times, on and off the court.
3. Work hard and be attentive to the coaches instructions.
4. If you feel you need help, don't be afraid to ask.
5. Support your teammates.
6. Take pride in your team, win or lose.
7. Place team goals above your own and demand the best of each other.
8. Learn tennis skills both physical and mental.
9. Be on time.
10. Do not leave practice or matches without informing the coach.
11. Advise coach if you are ill or injured.
12. Stay safe, be aware of teammates when swinging your racket and watch for tennis balls underfoot.
13. In high school tennis we normally don't have officials until we reach state competition. This makes it a game of self regulation. The rule is, if you are not sure if a ball is out, you must call it good or in. Make the call quickly and don't say "I think it was out". Any doubt or hesitation and the ball is called in. In making line calls, always be fair in both Varsity and JV matches.

Tennis Ladder

Once Varsity and JV teams are selected, challenge matches will be held to determine a Varsity Ladder (ranking) within the team. We will have a singles and doubles ladder for Varsity team. JV will only have a doubles ladder, which may have several doubles teams on the same level based on skill level and not challenges. Once league matches begin the coach will set challenges as needed due to limited practice time.

Ladies tennis is a high school team sport, we encourage you to invite friends and family to support but the expectation is that you will cheer on your teammates during all matches, watch and learn, do not visit with friends on the sideline or be distracted by your cell phone.

Never wing it, have a plan!

Tennis as a Sport

Tennis is thought to be a sport where the toughest mind wins. I have news for you, tennis is a sport for the spirit, the being not the mind. The expectancy should just be to enjoy yourself. Feeling good, positive and optimistic you are treating yourself to an experience similar to life but with no major consequence.

All that is required in tennis is being in the present time, observing the ball, tracking it, and aiming it where you want it to go. When you want to be safer, don’t hit close to the lines. Clear the net a bit higher, put more topspin on the ball and spin in your serves.

Do you feel adventurous? Go for your shot. Easy decision, like “to be or not to be”.

What could make you feel better? Improving, that is the real name of happiness. Work on sharpening your strokes at practice, your performance, regardless of the results. Rather than measuring results from the score, observe where the ball is going and enjoy controlling the ball more and more everyday. Tennis is a sport that you can be as good as you want to be.

The five mistakes made playing tennis:

1. Hit the ball too high
2. Hit the ball too low
3. Hit too far right
4. Hit too far left
5. Don’t keep your eye on the ball and miss it

These can all be corrected by having the desire to be better and controlling the racket face when hitting the ball.

Controlling the Racket Face

The face for the racket must be brought to the ball at the required angle if the shot is to be correctly played both in height and direction.

To play better tennis you must learn:

1. To keep your eye on the ball
2. Sound footwork
3. Good balance
4. To control the racket swing
5. To control the racket face
6. To concentrate

For the beginner, the best way of visualizing the angle of the racket face is to think how you would first use the palm of the hand in playing the ball with the forehand and the service motion. When this is appreciated the racket face can be visualized as a large hand for these strokes. For the backhand consider how you would use the back of your hand for this stroke. Then introduce the racket face in the proper position to produce these strokes.