What Do I Need To Bring & Wear For Practice?
- Racket
- Water (water jugs are best)
- Wear sunscreen/sunblock
- Wear tennis shoes
- Wear shorts (preferably with pockets) or warmup pants - dress in layers!
- Wear an appropriate t-shirt, sweatshirt or tennis top - dress in layers!
- HAT for warmth or for the sun (maybe for both!)
How Will I Know Which Practice To Come To?
Generally, all boys will practice after school from 3:00 p.m. - 5:15 p.m. Multiple times a week, we will start practice in the Fitness Center/Weight Room. If the courts are wet or snow-covered, we will have alternative practice plans inside. All practices should be listed on the calendar which can be found on the Boys Tennis web page. Players should always pay attention at practice to specific times a coach may indicate to them. Whenever in doubt, ask a coach what time you need to be at practice.
What Is A Typical Practice Like?
Practices begin with an Oriole Volley as players arrive. After a few minutes, players do a warmup procedure involving dynamic and static stretching (10 USTA recommended tennis stretches). This may be varied each day and will be led by upperclassmen players under the supervision of Coach Hoffmann or another coach. Announcements are given during or after the stretching followed by skill development and drills. These drills will include direct instruction from a coach on proper mechanics or strategy, or be self-led skill development with other teammates. Competitive drills or games are frequently played toward the last 30 minutes of practice. There are some match play opportunities as well. Tennis specific fitness and conditioning work will be interwoven into practice at various times as well.
How Many Matches Are There During The Season?
By WIAA rule all tennis players are allowed to play in 14 matches. Of those 14 matches, no more than 6 may be multi-school meets (i.e. tournaments). Due to various teams numbers of players, it is not always possible to schedule enough matches for all players to play in 14 different matches. Typically, all JV players do play in at least 8 – 10 matches. All players should get the opportunity to play in at least 1 multi-school meet or tournament.
Which Team Will I Be On?
The best 10 players, regardless of class, make the VARSITY team. There may be an additional 2 – 6 players that practice regularly with the varsity and are ready to step into a Varsity spot should the need arise. This might vary from year to year depending on skill and numbers of players out for the team. All non-Varsity players will be on the JV team.
ANY player wanting to "tryout" for the VARSITY team must be available to play challenge matches during the first 2 weeks of the season (including weekends) in order to earn their spot. Players unable to participate in challenge matches may lose the ability to earn a spot on the Varsity.
Players will be informed by the end of the 2nd or 3rd week of practice which team they are on for the remainder of the season. Each player's specific schedule will then be determined based on which team they are on.
What Is A Typical Match Night Like?
If the match is a Varsity and JV match, the Varsity will always play first. Then as courts open up JV matches will get put on the court. Due to several circumstances such as weather, opponents, number of matches, number of courts, length of varsity matches, player availability, it is not possible to determine when a JV player may play. A reasonable guess for HOME matches is anywhere between 5:00 and 7:00 unless they go on one of the first open courts that the varsity does not use. Coaches will try to accommodate special circumstances or requests, but it is not always possible to do so.
If it is a JV only match the window of possible times narrows from the match start time to an hour later. With so many variables to work around, player's and parent's flexibility is very much appreciated. There are sometimes as many as 20+ matches to get on 8 – 11 courts in a 3+ hour window of daylight. Coaches make every effort to vary who plays when so the same people aren't always first or last.
Do I Have To Stay When My Match Is Done?
The simple answer is yes. Players are expected to stay and support their teammates before and after their individual match. If a player needs to catch a ride with someone else, and they are not playing or have finished playing their match, they may leave. Varsity players are expected to stay until the JV match is finished to watch and support the JV players.
At away matches, players are required to take the school vans or bus to the matches, unless other arrangements have been made and appropriate SKYWARD documentation filled out. It is desired for players to return home in the school vans or bus. However, players may ride home with a PARENT only if the parent provides a signed, written note directly to a coach indicating that they are transporting their son home. Players may NOT ride home with other player's parents or other relatives.
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