The following post is an excerpt from Frank’s Amazon #1 New Tennis Book Release, Preparing for Pressure.
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“Sectionals ARE next week. My coach wants me to change my forehand?”
“Before competition gain confidence in your existing skills.”
Proper preparation begins weeks leading into the event. During this prep phase, avoid significant mechanical changes or adding brand new concepts. Why? It takes approximately 4-6 weeks for a new motor program to override an old one. If a stroke is dismantled at the wrong time (right before competition) the athlete’s old motor program is shattered, and their new one isn’t developed yet.
Remember when getting grooved used to be called muscle memory? Be careful using the term “Muscle Memory” because nowadays even the 10 & under crowd know that memory isn’t stored in their muscles.
The bottom line is that the days leading into an event are not the correct time to introduce a new skill. Starting a new routine may cause the athlete to become confused, sore, or injured, and the required recovery time is not available. Many coaches and parents are unknowingly guilty of poor periodization.
Five customized phases of development are recovery, analysis, general training, competitive training, and competition.
