Academy Programs
Core-Program
Our training begins with a full assessment of the player's competencies in the following areas: technical, tactical, physical, nutritional and mental. From these assessments we create an individualized developmental plan for each athlete. Our integrated training environment then provides the opportunity for athletes and coaches to implement that plan in order to move down the critical path towards becoming an elite tennis player. Academy coaches meet with parents and athletes periodically to assess progress and reevaluate goals. The academy has two main training environments—tennis and fitness. Both of these environments build off of these established developmental plans, and each of these environments interweaves elements of mental skills and nutritional training.
For more information see "The Progressive Development of a High Performance Player".
Tennis Training
The core tennis program consists of advanced biomechanics and stroke technique, patterns of movement, tactical development, style of play, and competitive skill building.
Each session will move towards building skills in realistic competitive situations. Younger participants will spend more time focused on establishing sound fundamentals of technique and movement and learning how to use these skills in competition. Older participants will be more focused on development of tactical abilities that support an understanding of personal game-style.
Match Play
Our match play program is designed to help our players gain more independence not only in playing matches, but also in understanding how the match informs them about the current state of their game. Academy coaches will attend a cross section of USTA tournaments (10 through the fall/spring) to provide observation and coaching to Academy players. This service is included in the core program tuition as is in-house supervised match play each session.
Physical Training
Our daily physical training incorporates dynamic and age-appropriate work based on the developmental needs of the athlete. Younger groups will work on aerobic endurance, muscle strength and endurance, core strength and stability, complex coordination, agility and flexibility. Older participants will add in weight training, speed work and the development of explosive power. Each group will do functional exercises that bridge physical skills with tennis specific movement patterns.
Mental Skills Training
The role of our sport psychology coach, Dr. Grayson Kimball, is critical to the overall development of the players at the New England Academy of Tennis. Athletes must strike a balance between the physical, technical, and psychological aspects of their game in order to achieve their potential. Mental skills training helps our players to develop a higher sense of self-worth, overcome performance anxiety, maintain emotional control and positive thinking during matches, improve their ability to focus under pressure, and increase their self-confidence. Mental skills training teaches how to think, creating success both on and off the court. The sport psychology program at the academy combines both off-court small-group workshops to teach the mental training skills and on-court sessions that focus on applying these skills in competitive situations.
Nutritional Training
Part of being a strong and healthy tennis player means taking responsibility for your nutritional needs as an athlete. The academy incorporates ongoing nutritional education so that all of our athletes learn how to fuel themselves for the fight, how to maintain energy during the match, and how to give their bodies a quick and complete recovery. Our staff nutritionist, Jane Polley MS RD LDN, educates players in the importance of proper nutrition and hydration..