How My Orange Ballers Lost The Battle At Dance Dance Revolution - Develop Fitness in Young Players - Part 1.1

Okay, apologize for this very clickbaity headline.

Disclaimer: I am not sponsored by Konami. In fact, I am not sponsored by anyone. HEAD! Sponsor me! ASICS sponsor me!

My Attempt

If you have read my blog post Develop Fitness in Young Players - Part 1 , you would have known that I am on a quest to help young players get fitter. One of the methods I have tried is to increase the intensity of the session by adding footwork.

At that time I was naively optimistic. I thought to myself: two birds one stone. Why not? 🤷🏻 Players get to practice footwork and do cardio at the same time! while hitting tennis balls! What could possibly go wrong?

So one day in a lovely afternoon with my orange ball players, I asked them to do some side steps to go back to line after they hit a Spanish-fed ball. I emphasized that the key is to keep your head facing the net and move your body out of the court with side steps. It looks relatively like the below diagram. Simple, right?

My Players Beautiful Dance Moves

The results?

From the start of the drill… from that magical moment, I was shown the most creative dances in my life… It started with little M’s hippop, followed by some very impressive Irish step dance , topped up with some NYC style breakdancing… I felt like I have summoned Gael Monfil’s dancing mojo to the court!

The good news is…they have done a lot of cardio and had loads of fun with all the creative dancing. The dancing also relaxed their muscles (and their minds), which led them to hit balls a bit more relaxed than previous week.

The bad news is… my attempt to teach them footwork has failed 🤦🏻 In fact, if we were to participate in a dance dance revolution battle, we would probably have lost (I do believe that we would have been rewarded as the Most Joyful People - MJP).

My Pondering and Serendipity

I immediately know what was the issue. It was NOT because the kids were not focused. It was NOT because the kids were not trying hard. It was because they have not been taught how to master the coordination pattern of the footwork and use them on the court.

At our centre (QTC), we always start the warm up with some footwork practice, be it side steps or cross steps, however, those footwork patterns will stay as warm up exercises if we do not integrate them to the coaching drills to help young players practice and connect the dots.

But how?

Yesterday, when I was glancing through ITF Technique Development In Tennis Stroke Production Manual, I had my answer. It’s been right in front me all along!

Page 41: As players grow and limb lengths/ratios change, well honed positioning skills can accommodate necessary adjustments to body alignment that need to be made to maintain the shapes important for ball contact.

And

Page 42: In kind, we consider the technical work to be performed with the feet as being basically the same from beginner to professional

Simply, the technicality of footwork is consistent through all levels and solid footwork would help players to go through adolescence! Great! I was right on the money for that one!

How to train footwork effectively then?

page 42: I want to finish by emphasizing the importance that I attach to physical training in the development of footwork in different stages in a player’s career. Often greater gains can be made through this sort of work than by rehearsing specific footwork patterns under the tutelage of a coach.

Physical training (S&C) is the answer! If players have poor strength, they cannot control their muscles to coordinate and perform the footwork pattern, let alone using them on court. To help players build up their strength, it requires off-court strength and conditioning training, which is what I am trying to do in my part 1 blog! (oh the full circle of life! 😄)

I shall continue with my experimentation and report back.

Until next time!