In this episode, Chris takes a critical look at Wayne Bryan’s thoughts on the USTA, American Tennis, and the U10 Mandate and Initiative. The discussion was lively, with audience participation from some junior tennis champion parents.
Chris analyzed several topics, including the appropriateness of U10 tennis, the U10 Mandate’s authoritarian and heavy-handed nature, and the dearth of American champion men on tour since Roddick’s 2003 US Open victory. Chris also debunked several myths, including the idea that kids U10 can’t play well with a yellow ball and that a kid’s results don’t matter in the 10s and 12s.
The discussion also covered the positives of U10 tennis for recreational players, international players taking scholarship spots from American kids, and creative ideas for growing the game, such as doubles and high school tennis.
Chris also answered several junior development and technical questions on footwork and U18 girls and boys’ development.
Overall, the discussion provided valuable insights into the USTA, American Tennis, and the U10 Mandate and Initiative. Chris’s analysis challenged some of Wayne Bryan’s ideas and highlighted the need for further discussion and exploration of how to develop high-performance tennis players in the United States.
KEYNOTES:
- Would U10 tennis be more appropriately named U6 or U8 tennis?
- Chris’s Rick Ferman U10 Mandate story
- Should Player Development be closed and the money from its budget used elsewhere?
- Is the U10 Mandate too authoritarian and heavy handed?
- Why is there a dearth of American champion men on Tour since Roddick’s 2003 US Open victory.
- The Myth that kids U10 can’t play well with a yellow ball.
- The Myth that a kid’s results don’t matter in the 10s and 12s. They often do!
- The Myth that junior tennis development is a marathon
- Why juniors shouldn’t play up in age divisions too much
- QuickStart is a tool, not a rule
- Why there is no data to prove U10 tennis is a better system for developing talented high performance players
- The positives of U10 tennis for recreational players
- Should international players be allowed to take scholarship spots from American kids? Wayne thinks so. Chris doesn’t agree.
- Chris and Wayne’s creative ideas to grow the game! Doubles and High School tennis!
- How the US could leverage High School tennis to explode participation in the country!
- In addition, Chris answers several junior development and technical questions on footwork and U18 girls and boys development.
Check out some of our most popular episodes:
Billy Jean King’s Eye Coach Review
555 Tennis Serve Drill
Does Djokovic’s Defeat of Tsitsipas Foretell Death For The One-Handed Backhand?
Alcaraz, Nadal, and the Secret of Spanish Tennis Footwork
Follow Chris at these websites and social media links:
Visit Chris Lewit Tennis Academy Website
Visit the Prodigy Maker Show Blog
Chris Lewit Tennis Academy Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Connect with us on LinkedIn
Follow us on Instagram
Subscribe to our YouTube channel