Success in national level junior tennis : Tactical perspectives
- Authors: Klaus, Anne , Bradshaw, Ryan , Young, Warren , O’Brien, Brendan , Zois, James
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Sports Science and Coaching Vol. 12, no. 5 (2017), p. 618-622
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- Description: Purpose: Point duration in competitive tennis is becoming shorter, highlighting a greater emphasis on performance of the first strokes of each point, in particular, the performance of the server. Methods: Descriptive measures of the video-based analysis included stroke type, point outcome and stroke position of the first two strokes of the server (service and first shot) during 10 randomly selected sets of competition on hard court. All participants (male; n=8) were of the age group 14 years and below and competed in national level events. Results: The performance of the first serve is characterized by an “in-percentage” of 54.6% and an improved chance of winning the point (for the server) following a first serve (55.9%; P<0.001) compared to a second serve (42.9%). The majority of stroke positions for first-shot winners were located in the central zone of the court (52.1%; P<0.01). In comparison to the error rate of all examined strokes, we observed an increased error rate of the first shot (16.5% vs. 22.4%; P<0.01). Conclusion: Contrasting to professionals, juniors produce more first-serve errors and win fewer points directly via the serve. Success in junior tennis relies in minimizing errors within short rallies specifically on the first shot of the server. Coaches of national level junior tennis players should focus on strategies to optimize court position following the serve and service percentage to increase competitive success rate. To achieve this, the server should utilize the serve as a “set-up” tool, dictating the direction of the returner’s return of serve within the central zones of the court. © The Author(s) 2017.
Agility training for tennis
- Authors: Bradshaw, Ryan , Young, Warren , O'Brien, Brendan , Feros, Simon
- Date: 2011
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: 2011 ASCA International Conference on Applied Strength and Conditioning p. 102-107
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- Description: Tennis is a multi-factorial sport that relies upon the amalgamation of numerous performance qualities (23). For example, during competition, a player is required to repeat short, moderate to high intensity efforts while executing controlled and powerful strokes in a strategically planned series of patterns. In return, players must possess outstanding physical capacity, technical skill, tactical knowledge, and mental control to excel on-court (23). A player's agility skill is considered to be one of the major physical capacities that determine successful performance (31 ). For example, throughout a match, players are required to intercept numerous strokes, each hit with a different velocity, direction, and type and rate of spin. To reach each ball, players must continually coordinate changes in direction and/or velocity and locomotion technique in reaction to the opponent's stroke. A slow reaction and/or poor movement speed may lead to a rushed stroke and greater chance of error (52, 36). Under certain situations, these errors may have a significant impact on the outcome of a match (14). To develop agility skill, the strength and conditioning coach needs a comprehensive understanding of the factors that contribute to agility skill in tennis (37). Furthermore, the coach requires knowledge of the most effective training methodology to optimise training efficacy (47). Therefore, this paper will present a detailed dissection of agility skill and discuss the major contributing factors that relate specifically to tennis performance. To conclude, this paper will then present a brief discussion of associated training considerations and recommendations.
Comparison of offensive agility techniques in Australian Rules football
- Authors: Bradshaw, Ryan , Young, Warren , Russell, Andrew , Burge, Peter
- Date: 2011
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport Vol. 14, no. 1 (2011), p. 65-69
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- Description: Agility skill is important in Australian Rules football (ARF) as it enables an attacking player to successfully evade an opponent. To date, no research has examined offensive agility techniques in ARF. There were two purposes of this study: first, to compare the change of direction (COD) speed of three offensive agility techniques, and second, compare the reaction speed and accuracy when observing the same techniques from a defensive perspective. The techniques included the side-step, shuffle, and split-step. Seventeen players from an Australian Football League club were required to perform four trials of each technique. COD speed was expressed as a total time, and divided into entry, foot plant preparation, and exit time. In addition, nineteen players from the same club were assessed on a video-based reaction test. Players were required to respond by depressing a thumb switch to indicate whether the player on screen changed direction to the left or right. From an offensive perspective, the split-step foot plant preparation time (0.66. s) was significantly slower than both the side-step (0.7 s) and shuffle (0.75 s) (p< 0.05), but there were no significant differences in entry and exit times between techniques. From a defensive perspective, the players were significantly slower and less accurate when reacting to the player in the video performing the split-step (0.19. s) and shuffle (0.15. s) compared to the side-step (0.12 s) (p< 0.05). In a one-on-one situation in ARF, the split-step may be the most effective offensive technique. Not only was it slower and less accurate to react to, the exit speed following the change in direction was not significantly slower than the side-step. However, a performer would need to consider the cost of a slower foot plant preparation time versus the potential to deceive an opponent when under time stress. © 2010 Sports Medicine Australia.
Physically preparing the fast bowler in cricket: A review of the literature
- Authors: O'Brien, Brendan , Young, Warren , Feros, Simon , Bradshaw, Ryan
- Date: 2011
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: 2011 ASCA International Conference on Applied Strength and Conditioning p. 117-122
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