Next Generation keeps the rally going

Next Generation Tennis has kept the rally going during the lockdown with exercises players can do at home.

While the extended national lockdown has meant a loss of income for the coaches, due to no practises being held at the venue at Sandton Sports Club, they saw fit to encourage players and empower them in different ways.

“Our players are doing basic fitness exercises – skipping, running [on the treadmill for those that have], push-ups, sit-ups and movement drills,” said coach Ndu Ncube.

“Players can use any household things to aid in their drills. A skipping rope can be replaced by a tennis ball/ any ball and do toe taps to mimicking skipping. Players can use 5-litre water bottles as weights/ kettle balls.”

He said coaches have encouraged their players to focus more on the theory side of tennis, rather than the technical side while they do not have a coach to help them in person. “Most coaches spend a lot of time on technical work and this is a great opportunity for players to catch up on the mental side of the game. They can study different game styles and explore what type of tactical players they are or want to become.”

Ncube explained that tennis is a sport played without a specific finish time and so matches can take an hour or even two or three. Therefore, mental strength is important for players to get through tough times in matches. “The mental skills used to get through those match situations could be helpful to get through the extended lockdown.”

Details: Next Generation Tennis ndu@nextgenerationtennis.co.za; 079 828 9624.

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