Information from the coaches for 2010 SEASON

• TEAM GOALS AND PHILOSOPHY
• TRY-OUT INFORMATION
• Directions to Away Matches
• Team Expectations and Suggestions
• Team Policies
• Gold Team
• Parent/Guardian Information

TEAM INFORMATION

AVHS Tennis Program Philosophy
Our GOALS for the season.
That every member of the team, from top varsity to our beginners: Has fun playing tennis.
Learns more about the game and improves.
Is challenged.
Is treated fairly.
Meets their tennis goals for the season.
Is safe.
Feels they can communicate easily with the coaches.
Becomes as self sufficient as possible.

Our philosophy is that despite our desire to WIN a match, our worth as human beings will be judged by the way we played the game. Are we pleasant opponents? Do we handle our errors in a way that is not offensive to our opponents? Do we recognize our opponents excellent shots?

We want you all to feel the joy of the experience of achievement that comes with full effort physically and mentally. Your coaches are here to help you achieve your goals, we will work to that end with our best effort.

Adversity is like a strong wind
It tears away from us all but
the things that cannot be torn,
so that we see ourselves as we really are.
-Arthur Golden
How we handle problems in a tennis match determines our success in a tennis match.

COACH CONTACT INFORMATION

TRY-OUT INFORMATION

OUR THREE TEAMS IN ORDER OF ABILITY
Varsity Line-up 10 players - 4 singles positions - 3 Doubles teams - Players to be Determined.
JV Brown Line-Up 14 players depending on our total numbers - 6 Singles positions - 4 Doubles teams - Players to be Determined
JV Gold Team
All others who would like to play for AVHS. All players will play singles and doubles.
TEAM EXPECTATIONS ON MATCH DAYS
We will be in uniform ready to play at the appointed time
We will be prepared for a close match
We will be well rested and fed and hydrated
We will have packed our bag which we will take on the court. We will have plenty of water of course - cooled of course
We will have thanked our parents for coming but carefully remind them they must not talk to you even when you change ends
We will have asked then to sit outside the fence of the outdoor courts or on the benches at either end of the Arena
We will be looking forward to the battle
We will all jog together
We will all stretch together
We will warm up in the same environment we are due to play
We will have devised a warm-up which will get us ready mentally and physically
We will play a few games or do some shadow doubles
We will have a plan in case our opponents are late
We will write down some match goals
We will have a game plan for the first 4 games - more conservative shots but a lot of movement
We will adapt and learn from what our opponent does well and awfully
We will do what we do best
We will try an alternate strategy if we are down by 2 games in a set
We will remember that slowing the ball down is one of the strategies
We will be in the moment playing one point at a time
We will aim every ball
We will watch the ball until well after we hit it
We will move with gusto after we hit
We will hop or unweight when our ball bounces on the other side of the net or is about to be hit on the fly
We will forgive ourselves if we do something silly
We will do our best
We will have fun

Matches

• Schedule
• Results

Coach Emails

• coach@valleytennis.org These go to Susan the Varsity Coach.

Parent/Guardian information Fall 2010

For those parents, who have girls that are new to our team, we run things a little differently than most high schools! Our philosophy is that our program is for all players who wish to play for AVHS. We therefore make no cuts. We feel that each girl deserves equal attention, and we want to help them all reach their personal goals during the season. We think trying to have each girl do their very best in each match and practice will make us the best competitors we can be. Our coaches are at least as competitive as those at competing schools but we have a slightly different approach. With hard work any player on the team now could make the varsity team if that is what they really wanted.

We are continuing a fine tradition from our early years in England by providing some refreshments for our opponents, as well as our own team, at each home match. Each team will elect Captains and we hope that the captains parents would be kind enough to organize this for us. Hopefully, each family will only have to do this once!

We very much encourage you to attend as many matches as you can. We appreciate your support, as do the girls.
We are very keen to follow the rules and etiquette of tennis so we ask that when you are watching in the Arena that you sit at one end or the other and not between the courts.
Tennis is a little different from other sports in that coaching is against the rules during the match. In high school tennis only the coaches may coach when the players switch ends, but not after the first game of the set. We see your role, at the matches, as showing appreciation for fine play on both sides of the net. We do not help with line calls or the score. We leave the girls to work things out for themselves. If they are having a problem, please come and get one of the coaches to help.
Please never hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns. We hope the girls will talk to us personally about issues they have but we understand there may be times you wish to talk to us directly. 952 210 0490

Parent/Guardian information
THOUGHTS ON ATTITUDE
This quote is by Charles Swindoll - a wise chap
Attitude
"The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company ... a church ... a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past ... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the string we have, and that is our attitude ... I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you ... we are in charge of our Attitudes."

DOUBLES THOUGHTS

Move between points with GUSTO.
Hit most of your returns crosscourt.
Move to be both level at the net whenever posssible.
When you move up SPLIT STEP when your ball bounces or is volleyed.
Be on your toes with your Racket edge UP and pointing to ball.
EXPERIMENT
Try some 1st serves to the Backhand.
Try some planned poaches.
Try some lob returns.
Try Australian.
Try cutting off crosscourt shots with a volley, which are aimed at your partner who is further back than you.
Go deep to the deep player.

WIND WISDOM
Adjust ready positions in wind direction - wind at your back move closer to return
Watch the ball until AFTER you have followed through
Hitting with the wind
Shorter backswing same followthough on groundies.
Head still on contact(like Roger) - wait to be great - ball will arrive later than usual
More topspin - even semi lobs - tough to return
Keep feet moving so ready for small last minute adjustments
Get to the net from opponents short ball
Hitting against the wind
Hit harder but higher
Out consistent your opponent
Short slices and drops will work if you have those shots!
Head still on contact(like Roger)
Relaxation Aids: When you feel too tense, nervous and or afraid
Smile
Breathe
Racket out of dominant hand between points
Tense, then relax shoulders, arms and hands
Slow down between points
Take time to relax and recover immediately a point ends
Focus Aids: When you feel your mind wandering - sometimes a defense mechanism - we must face the moment head on
Eyes on ball, court or stings
Use rituals before the point starts
Hit - Bounce - Hit
Between points plan the next point
Confidence Aids: When you feel negative thoughts about your self creeping in
Act confident - positive body language
Be as fit as you can be
Choose shots you know you OWN
Give yourself precise instructions on what you want to do with the ball - spot, speed,spin,arc

DEVELOP YOUR SEASON GAME PLAN

Message from the Captains

Season information

• If anybody has any concerns or questions please e-mail the coaches, using the links on this page.

Team Expectations and Suggestions

• Players to be dressed in appropriate tennis attire for practices and in tennis uniform for all matches, including shoelaces tied tournament tight. (By the time we line-up)
  
• Players to not chew gum during practices and matches.
  
• Players to be at each practice and match unless they are ill, they have a family emergency or have a pre-approved excused absence.
  
• Players to personally call or e-mail coach if they cannot come to a match or practice. (Please do not ask friends to relay messages.)
  
• Players to be on time.
  
• The bus will leave on time. You have to arrive on the team bus to play the match.
  
• Players to have a TENNIS NOTEBOOK with them both at practice and matches.
  
• Players to support the team by watching the other matches.
  
• Players to stay at the match until the final team meeting, which will be after the last match is over.
  
• Players to offer their opponent's any refreshments parents have bought for the home matches.
  
• Players to give their best effort in every practice and match.
  
• Players to keep to all the rules, the code and all tennis etiquette.
  
• Players to call the score out before they start their serving ritual.
  
• Players to ignore opponent's foot faults.
  
• Players to accept an opponent's line call without question.
  
• Players to portray an unruffled and confident image at all times.
  
• Players to hold on to their rackets even when frustrated.
  
• Players to have subtle celebrations after fine moments on the court.
  
• Players to say good shot to their opponent's when appropriate.
  
• Players to come to matches and practice prepared for all eventualities and with all the equipment they might need for indoor or outdoor play.
  
• Players' cell phones to be turned off during practices and matches.
  
  SUGGESTIONS
  
  
• Players to wear tennis shoes rather than running shoes or cross trainers.
  
• Players to have strings that are less than a year old.
  
• Players to eat a nutritious snack between school and tennis.
  
• Players to appear enthusiastic when their parents say they are coming to watch a match.
  
• Players to keep notes after a match. (Such as: 5 things I did well.)
  

Team Policies

• A varsity letter will be awarded to any girl who plays for the varsity squad in a minimum of 3 conference or section matches.
• An unexcused absence will exclude a Varsity or JV Brown player from taking part in the next match. You will, however, be expected to attend that match and play an exhibition game if required. Senior Pictures, Driving Lessons, State Fair, Hair cuts, College Visits are NOT excused absences.
• JV Gold players are expected to attend all practices and matches but are excused for commitments to other activities.
• Challenge and try-out matches: All best of three tiebreak sets.
• The same result twice against a person or team will hold the position for the season. (Including try-outs)
• All challenge matches will be arranged by the coaches. Players may request a challenge match.
• All teams will be decided by challenge/tryout matches.

Directions to Away Matches

Transportation Release Form

'if' by rudyard kipling
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master,
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!

Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936)