Imagine developing a kid and focusing mostly on the ground game during the early years.
That’s what wins in the 10s, 12s, etc. When the kid has a top ranking and a lot of confidence, then you can introduce more net play.
What’s wrong with that approach? This is often the approach in Spain, rightly or wrongly.
Even pros work on improving their net game.
Why the obsession with competence at the net U10 and U12 when it’s a poor tactic to go to net when a kid is small?
I would also say that there is a danger in saying we are just developing skills and that tennis is a long term development thing—a marathon not a sprint etc. You hear that trope a lot in junior development.
I will be posting on this topic separately.
Suffice it to say, I think a lot of coaches waste time on the net game early on and their players don’t get as high in the rankings as they could and lose confidence. You can lose a player if they lose confidence.
It’s okay to work on some net skills but not to the detriment of being solid from the backcourt. I see this too often in the US.
And coaches say it’s long-term development as an excuse for lack of success.
You can build a top national competitor without volley but not without groundstrokes.
Coaches need to have their priorities straight.
–Chris Lewit
The Tennis Wisdom of Toni Nadal