Allcourt Tennis Academy Mission Statement
To help junior tennis players reach their maximum potential by providing them with the best coaching available and teaching students in an ethical and competitive environment that is conducive to future development as players as well as mature adults.
Allcourt Tennis Academy
The Allcourt Tennis Academy has been designed to fulfill the needs of every junior tennis player regardless of their age, ability, maturity, or commitment level. We are different from most other "academies" in that we do not focus all of our attention on the "advanced tournament player." Although we do give all students the choice, we have built this program around the idea of being able to accommodate all junior tennis players to help them reach their maximum potential through physical and mental training, proper stroke development, and strategy formulation techniques. Not only do students learn to use all of these tools on the tennis court, they are also able to carry these over and incorporate them into daily life situations.
Why the Name?
Effective May 1, 2000, The Tier 4 Player Development Program changed its name to Allcourt Tennis Academy. Though we still use the Tier 4 system for training, we have changed our name to more accurately reflect our philosophy and style of coaching. Our new logo design also symbolizes our training techniques.
Our program is based on a theory called the "Rock-Paper-Scissors Theory." Its name is derived from the childhood game where there are 3 types of hand gestures: rock, paper, and scissors. Each hand gesture beats one of the other types and loses to the one of the other types. In tennis, all players can be broken down into 3 categories of players: "volleyers," "spinners," and "power players." Each category of player will consistently beat one category of player while consistently losing to the other type. The "volleyer", the player who attacks the net, will consistently beat the "spinner" who continually runs every ball down and returns it in play. The spin used (topspin or backspin) to get each ball in play slows the ball down enough to allow the "volleyer" to come in and angle of their shot. Topspin also tends to sit up higher which make the volley even easier. The "spinner's" consistency and ability to get the ball back with very little unforced errors enables him to beat the "power player" who hits the majority of their balls hard and flat. A shot with power has a low net clearance and is thus, less consistent than those shots hit with spin. The "power player" has a competitive advantage over the "volleyer" because of the decreased amount of time they have to react to the shot. It is also very difficult to change the direction and angle off a hard hit ball. So the question remains, which of these 3 types of players is the best one to be?
Most junior tennis academies nowadays, emphasize the power. They teach all of their students a huge, looping forehand with which they try to control every point. Others begin with an emphasis on spin in the lower age groups then change their focus to power in the older age groups. We feel like these approaches limit each player. If you only know how to play one way, you will always lose to one type of player. Our philosophy focuses on teaching each student a game that will work in any age group against any kind of player.
The "Allcourt" philosophy focuses on teaching all three (3) styles of play. Why limit yourself? We teach kids from the very beginning the strokes and techniques necessary for developing their individual Allcourt game and mentality. It is this teaching style, guided by a well-defined theory, which has enabled our students to reach the tournament level quickly and successfully. Those students who supplement their weekly regiment with matches, experience continued success in their pursuit of sectional and national rankings and college level tennis. This is why we believe that changing our name to Allcourt Tennis Academy has better described our overall program and objectives.
