In this episode of the Prodigy Maker Show, Chris tackles the complex topic of junior tournaments and pathways. He answers questions from parents and coaches that he has received over the years, providing insight into the different tournament options for prodigies and non-prodigies throughout all the junior ages, from 5-year-olds to older teenagers.
Chris emphasizes the importance of developing world-class techniques at a young age and why most elite juniors bypass Red, Orange, and Green training programs. He also sheds light on the heavy-handed tournament and junior progression mandates by the USTA, which are a hot topic in the junior tennis world.
Moreover, Chris describes the typical pathway for Division 1 tennis players from a young age and the trends in junior age and ranking that almost always accurately predict whether a kid will play D3, D1, pro, or have a chance to win slams. He also discusses the difference between being a prodigy best in your age division or a prodigy best in 3 age divisions above your age.
Parents and coaches often wonder how much top 10 sectional juniors practice and how many tournaments they play. Chris provides insights into this, along with the number of tournaments the top 100 national-ranked players typically play and how much they practice.
For parents and coaches looking for alternative tournament options, Chris discusses the choice between the USTA national circuit and the ITF Junior World Tour, as well as UTR, Little Mo, and Junior Tennis Tour as options to bypass USTA U10 mandates. He also answers the question of whether skipping USTA tournaments under 10 altogether is a good idea.
Finally, Chris talks about how he sees the junior pathways and measuring sticks to judge the future potential of players, stressing that while there is no crystal ball, the trends are there to see.
In conclusion, the episode offers valuable insights into the world of junior tournaments and pathways, providing parents and coaches with a better understanding of the options available and what to expect at different stages of their child’s development.
KEYNOTES:
- Why most prodigies don’t do group classes at young ages
- Why most elite juniors bypass Red, Orange, and Green training programs
- The importance of developing world-class techniques at a young age
- The heavy-handed tournament and junior progression mandates by the USTA
- The typical pathway (ranking and tournaments) for Division 1 tennis players from a young age
- The trends in junior age and ranking that almost always accurately predict whether a kid will play D3, D1, pro, or have a chance to win slams
- The difference between being a prodigy best in your age division or a prodigy best in 3 age divisions above your age
- How much do typical top 10 sectional juniors practice and how many tournaments do they play
- How many tournaments do the top 100 national-ranked players play and how much do they typically practice
- The choice between the USTA national circuit and the ITF Junior World Tour. Which is better?
- UTR, Little Mo, and Junior Tennis Tour as options to bypass USTA U10 mandates
- Skipping USTA tournaments under 10 altogether. Good idea?
- UTR—Important or not?
- How Chris sees the junior pathways and measuring sticks to judge the future potential of players. There is no crystal ball but the trends are there to see!
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