🎾 Toàn Tập Thể Lực For Tennis¶
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Toàn Tập Thể Lực For Tennis — tài liệu 214 trang từ thư viện sách tennis.
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Tóm tắt nội dung (trích từ tài liệu gốc): Page i Complete Conditioning for Tennis United States Tennis Association Paul Roetert, PhD Sport Science Administrator United States Tennis Association Todd S. Ellenbecker, PT, CSCS Clinic Director Physiotherapy Associates Scottsdale Sports Clinic Page ii Library of Congress CataloginginPublication Data United States Tennis Association Complete conditioning for tennis / United States Tennis Association. p. cm. ISBN 0880117346 (pbk.) 1. Tennis--Training. 2. Exercise. I. Title. GV1002.9.T7U55 1998 796.342--dc21 9818354 CIP ISBN: 0880117346 Copyright � 1998 by the United States Tennis Association
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Page i
Complete Conditioning for Tennis
United States Tennis Association
Paul Roetert, PhD
Sport Science Administrator
United States Tennis Association
Todd S. Ellenbecker, PT, CSCS
Clinic Director
Physiotherapy Associates Scottsdale Sports Clinic
Page ii
Library of Congress CataloginginPublication Data
United States Tennis Association
Complete conditioning for tennis / United States Tennis
Association.
p. cm.
ISBN 0880117346 (pbk.)
1. Tennis--Training. 2. Exercise. I. Title.
GV1002.9.T7U55 1998
796.342--dc21 9818354
CIP
ISBN: 0880117346
Copyright � 1998 by the United States Tennis Association
All rights reserved. Except for use in a review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or
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Page iii
Contents
Foreword v
Preface vii
Acknowledgments ix
Key to Diagrams x
Chapter 1 1
Physical Demands of Tennis
Learn how sportspecific, functional training will take your performance to a
higher level
Chapter 2 7
Testing Tennis Fitness
Pinpoint your personal training needs with 17 fitness tests
Chapter 3 31
WarmUp and Flexibility
Optimize range of motion and reduce risk of injury on the court with 21
stretches
Chapter 4 61
Strength Training
Build a solid power base for tennis performance with more than 50 strength
training exercises and workouts
Chapter 5 103
Aerobic and Anaerobic Training
Maximize stamina to endure even the longest match while also producing short
bursts of energy needed to win each key point
Page iv
Chapter 6 115
Quickness and Agility Drills
Develop the explosiveness, control, and balance essential for success with the
help of 12 special drills
Chapter 7 125
Ball and Racket Drills
Train to win with more competitiveness, speed, and intensity with 18 sport
specific drills
Chapter 8 145
Designing a Training Program
Set and meet your goals with a realistic but challenging blueprint for
improvement
Chapter 9 155
TennisSpecific Conditioning Programs
Customize your plan with the help of sample training and workout schedules and
proven training program prescriptions
Chapter 10 183
InjuryFree Tennis
Avoid common tennisrelated problems such as heat illness and injuries to the
shoulder, elbow, wrist, back, trunk, and knee
About the Author 204
Page v
Foreword
Today's tennis players are bigger, faster, and stronger than ever before. Modern racket technology allows players to hit the ball at speeds never thought imaginable--
serves on the men's tour are traveling at speeds over 140 miles per hour. The physical demands facing tennis players have never been more challenging.
Participating in tennis was much simpler in the 1950s and 60s when my twin brother, Tim, and I were growing up in Onalaska, Wisconsin. We played the sport when
it was in season--as we did football, basketball, and baseball--and we didn't follow a specific or elaborate training program. We ran a few laps, we did some sprints,
and we did a few situps and pushups. That was a pretty typical approach to tennis conditioning back then.
That all changed in the 1980s, as Ivan Lendl and Martina Navratilova demonstrated the benefits of tennisspecific training. Ivan and Martina took advantage of the
knowledge gained through the sport sciences to enhance their mental skills, biomechanics, nutrition, aerobic conditioning, and strength and flexibility training. Both
players enjoyed long and lucrative pro careers, and won several Grand Slam titles, because they were dedicated to becoming the best athletes they could be through
hard work and a commitment to conditioning.
The tougher the match and tournament, the more important conditioning becomes. As captain of the USA Davis Cup team, I have witnessed many outstanding
performances in difficult conditions before lessthanfriendly foreign crowds. Because every match in Davis Cup is the best of five sets, fitness is always a key factor.
And as Olympic coach for the 1996 U.S. Men's Tennis team, I saw our athletes face the challenge of keeping focused amidst a wide array of terrific sporting events.
The conditioning programs, workout routines, and exercises in Complete Conditioning for Tennis provide players a proven tennisspecific training plan to improve
their fitness and their game. The book will benefit players of all ages and ability levels, and is a great resource for
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coaches and tennis teaching professionals. The USTA's advice on training and injury prevention is the best information available in the world in our sport.
I hope this book helps improve your health, fitness level, and ultimately your tennis game.
TOM GULLIKSON
DAVIS CUP CAPTAIN
OLYMPIC COACH
USA TENNIS DIRECTOR OF COACHING
Page vii
Preface
As the lob sailed over her partner's head, she yelled, "Switch," and ran back to cover the shot. A point from the U.S. Open Tennis Championships? No, rather a
typical point played at the U.S. Tennis Association's National 65andOver Championships. These players already know what many others are just finding out: tennis
may be the perfect sport, not only to help you live longer but also to improve the quality of your life.
Much of a person's fitness decline is caused by disuse and not by aging, according to Dr. Robert Leach, a member of the USTA Sport Science Committee and an
avid tennis player. Leach has observed that people who started playing tennis at a young age and continued throughout their lifetimes retained a very high level of
fitness. And even if you haven't played in a long time, you can still get significant benefits by resuming the sport in later life. Tennis is a great sport because you can get
quality exercise with builtin rest periods, and you can have fun competing at every age and level.
So, we know that playing tennis will improve your fitness level. However, we also know that a high fitness level will improve your tennis. Of course by playing often
and taking lessons you will progress, but proper, tennisspecific conditioning may be the most important factor in improving your game. That is the reason for this
book. We offer you guidance in designing your own training program, no matter what level player you are. The material in this book is based not only on scientifically
sound information, but also on our experience working with top players, experienced coaches, and expert conditioning specialists.
The Modern Game
Bill Tilden, in his 1925 book, Match Play and the Spin of the Ball, stated, "There are two general rules of body position so elemental in tennis that
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I should omit them from this book, but to make this chapter complete, I must restate them.
1. Await a stroke facing the net, with body parallel to it.
2. Play every stroke with right angles (sideways) to the net. This is true for service, drive, chop, volley, smash, halfvolley and lob."
Bill Tilden would be amazed if he could see the techniques that modern players use. Certainly, he could not have foreseen the open stance forehands, the twohanded
backhand, and the speed of the game. Turning sideways to the net on every stroke is more time consuming, and it also allows less power generation. Of course racket
technology has a lot to do with it. Rackets are longer, racket heads are bigger, frames are wider, sweet spots are larger, and rackets are made of stiffer materials. It
seems that whatever material was used on the space shuttle is now used to make tennis rackets. Materials like boron, kevlar, titanium, and graphite have replaced the
wood rackets Bill Tilden played with. All this has added to the speed of the game, as well as changes in technique. To deal with these changes, prevent injuries, and
perform at the highest levels, players must condition themselves properly.
Training Techniques
An average point, even on a clay court, probably won't last more than 10 seconds. During this time, you may have as many as four or five direction changes.
Following a point you will have a 25second rest period and on the changeovers a 90second rest period. This clearly makes tennis an anaerobic sport, requiring
agility and speed. However, a tennis match can last as long as three hours. Therefore, aerobic conditioning and muscular endurance come into play as well. Having a
good aerobic base will help you recover between points, and muscular endurance will improve muscle strength and may correct muscle imbalances from the one
sidedness of tennis. Reaching for wide shots and jumping for overheads requires power as well as flexibility. Clearly, to be a good tennis player you need a properly
designed, tennisspecific training program. This book provides the tools and information to make your own Complete Conditioning for Tennis program.
Page ix
Acknowledgments
We would first and foremost like to thank Ron Woods of the USTA for encouraging us to go ahead with this project and providing us with valuable feedback along
the way. Rainer Martens and Ted Miller, as always, were great to work with and came up with the original idea for this series. Lynn HooperDavenport and Coree
Schutter were a big help with the organization and editing process.
This book would not have happened without the conditioning information we have been exposed to along the way. Experts like Michael Bergeron, Greg Brittenham,
Jeff Chandler, Don Chu, George Davies, Mark Grabow, Jack Groppel, Bill Kraemer, Jim Loehr, Mike Nishihara, Janet Sobel, and Ron Witchey, along with
members of the USTA Sport Science committee, have helped us design many of the drills and exercises and were always willing to share their knowledge with us. Of
course, we should also mention the national coaching staff, in particular Tom Gullikson, Lynne Rolley, Nick Saviano, and Stan Smith for their interest in sport science
and for always letting us share our latest conditioning techniques with the players.
Last, but not least, we wish to thank USTA sport science staff members Barrett Bugg and Laura Selby for reviewing this manuscript and helping with the revisions.
Page x
Key to Diagrams
Page 1
Chapter 1--
Physical Demands of Tennis
Todd Martin and Michael Chang are topranked tennis players and have won many titles. However, Todd is 6 feet 5 inches and Michael, 5 feet 7 inches. This is one
great advantage tennis has over other sports. Players with different heights and body structures can be successful. Todd uses his big serve and looks for any
opportunity to use his large wingspan at the net, and Michael plays a baseline game, running down most every shot. One thing they have in common is their excellent
training habits and physical fitness level. In this book we will look at what it takes, besides stroke technique, to become a good tennis player. Players now look for any
advantage, and having a welldesigned training program is critical in reaching the top. This book will cover all aspects of complete conditioning for tennis.
Page 2
Fitness Demands of a Tennis Match
Researchers characterize tennis as a sport in which players must respond to a continuous series of emergencies. Sprinting to the ball, changing directions, reaching,
stretching, lunging, stopping, and starting. All these characteristics, combined with maintaining proper balance and technique throughout a match, are critical for optimal
performance on the court. Therefore, players must address flexibility, strength and endurance, power, agility and speed, body composition, and aerobic and anaerobic
fitness to improve their tennis games. What follows is a brief overview of the components of fitness for tennis players. Each component will be explained more fully in
later chapters.
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Flexibility
Tennis requires you to make shots that place your body parts in extreme ranges of motion (e.g., when your arm is fully extended over your head reaching for a lob).
Throughout a match you are called on to generate great force from a variety of body positions changing direction, reaching for a shot, stopping quickly, and serving
are a few examples. Strength throughout a flexible, unrestricted range of motion will help prevent injury and enhance performance.
Strength and Endurance
Have you ever played in a long match that made your muscles sore the next day? Well, that's because tennis requires you to have not only good strokes, but also
excellent strength and muscular endurance. Throughout a match, you may hit hundreds of balls while running from side to side. Good muscular endurance, which
means that you can apply force and sustain it over time, can help you hit the ball just as hard at the end of a match as at the beginning. Also, it can help prevent injuries.
Power
Tennis requires explosive movements. Greater power allows you to respond more quickly and produce forceful movements with less effort. Players with explosive first
steps get into position quickly, set up well, and hit effective shots. In addition, an explosive first step will give you the speed to get to balls hit farther away. Both upper
and lower body power are necessary in tennis. To maximize your power, you must transfer your lower body power to the upper body.
Agility and Speed
Agility is crucial to good court movement. It allows you to be in the correct position and provides a solid platform from which to hit the ball. In a typical fivesecond
point, there may be as many as four direction changes. Speed is important to get to the ball. Though some people have natural speed, others can achieve this by
training their muscles and nervous systems to produce the same effect. The faster you can get to a ball, the more time you have to prepare for your shot.
Page 4
Optimum Body Composition
The amount of bone and water your body consists of remains constant, so you should pay attention to muscle and fat when attempting to alter body composition. You
can increase the amount of muscle in the body through proper strength training. However, it is not enough to increase muscle mass you also must maintain an
appropriate level of body fat. The two ways to affect body fat are fatloss dieting and aerobic exercise. Fatloss dieting, which is the correct term for a weightloss diet
because you are attempting to decrease fat in particular, is a method of decreasing fat intake while maintaining an adequate caloric intake. Along with using fat as an
energy source, aerobic exercise will improve your endurance in longer matches. Body fat percentages to shoot for are approximately 8 to 18 percent for men and 15
to 25 percent for women. By following a balanced diet and including aerobic exercise (a few sets of tennis) in your training regimen, these percentages will be
attainable.
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Anaerobic and Aerobic Fitness
What's the best way to train for tennis? To answer that question, let's look at the energy demands of the sport. The energy used in a longdistance race comes from
the aerobic (with oxygen) system, and the energy used in short bursts of activity, such as a 20yard dash, is called anaerobic (without oxygen). Although it is difficult to
quantify the energy demands of tennis, we know that it is a sport that relies on strong aerobic and anaerobic systems.
Most points in tennis, even on a clay court, last less than 10 seconds, whereas the average point on a hard court between two equally matched players lasts
approximately 5 seconds. A player may expend 300 to 500 short bursts of effort during a match. Each short burst of effort is an anaerobic activity. So, obviously
anaerobic training is important.
Does that mean you can ignore aerobic training? No! In a tennis match you have 25 seconds of rest between points and 90 seconds between games. If your aerobic
fitness is low, it is difficult to recover between points and games, and you are likely to get tired at the end of a match. Another advantage of a strong aerobic base is
that it provides you with the endurance to have quality workouts. Therefore, because matches
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Page 6
can last a long time and players must recover quickly between points, aerobic fitness is key as well.
All these components of physical fitness are important in developing your game. To help you create an appropriate program that enhances your performance, reduces
injury risk, and increases your lifetime enjoyment in the game, start by designing a proper periodization training program (chapter 9 includes examples of these training
programs).
Planning Your Conditioning Program
To obtain the best results in reaching your optimal fitness level, start by learning the demands of a tennis match. Then, by designing a periodization training program, set
realistic performance goals. Tailor periodization training programs to your individual needs, and modify them as your fitness level, tournament schedule, or goals
change. Each concept and activity we cover in the following chapters should fit into your periodization program. Decide which tournaments for the upcoming year are
most important to you. Then, determine your baseline fitness level by testing yourself using the USTA Fitness Testing Protocol (see chapter 2). Once you've identified
the areas you need to focus on, use the exercises, workouts, and sample training schedules in chapters 3 through 9 to design a customized training program for
yourself. The information in chapter 10 will help you prevent training injuries.
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Chapter 2--
Testing Tennis Fitness
What makes Pete Sampras and Steffi Graf such great tennis players? Their skill level is obviously outstanding. They hit great serves, ground strokes, and volleys.
However, they not only hit the ball well, but also work hard on their physical fitness. No matter what your ability, you can't play your best tennis if you're not physically
fit. Being physically fit means that your heart, blood vessels, lungs, and muscles can function at maximum efficiency. When you are fit, your body adjusts more easily to
increased physical demands.
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Fitness Tests for Tennis
The USTA has determined the essential components of fitness and designed a fitness testing protocol based on these components. The components are flexibility,
strength and endurance, power, agility and speed, body composition, and aerobic capacity.
Keeping track of your fitness testing results can help you pinpoint strengths and weaknesses, design or refine a training program, and monitor your progress. From the
test results, you and your coach can determine which fitness areas you need to improve. You can then design a specific training program based on your results. Using
the test results of many junior tennis players, the USTA has established fitness ranges for different age groups and genders. Properly interpreting your results can help
you determine the relative position of a fitness score in the distribution, recognizing weak areas for injury prevention and performance enhancement.
You can create your profile detailing your score relative to other players your age and gender. The sample player in figure 2.1 is a righthanded male player in the 18
andunder division. His results clearly indicate high scores in the strength and power categories. However, his scores in the speed and agility areas were significantly
lower than other players in his age group. This player should concentrate on improving his movement skills on the court, using drills in chapters 6 and 7. Fitness testing
every few months should indicate your improvement in the different categories. It will also show you where you need to modify your training program. Now let's look
at each fitness component.
Figure 2.1
Sample player profile.
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Compare Your Scores
The ranges listed in the charts after each fitness test are guidelines based
on normative data collected by testing junior and adult tennis players.
Junior player norms are based on data collected from nationally and
regionally ranked 18andunder junior players, as well as collegiate
players and young touring professionals. Adult player norms are based
on data collected from avid tennis players aged 25 and over.
Flexibility Tests
Flexibility is the motion available (how far you can move around) at a joint (e.g., shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, ankle). If a muscle cannot stretch, allowing the joint
to move through a full range of motion, both injury risk and performance may be affected. The shoulder and low back are the most frequently injured body parts in
elite tennis players. Players such as Mary Joe Fernandez have found that a regular stretching routine can lengthen a career significantly.
Performance on the court depends mostly on your tennis skill. However, being inflexible may prevent you from moving efficiently, affecting the proper execution of
your strokes. Are you able to touch your toes while keeping your knees straight? If not, you are like many tennis players who have poor lowback or hamstring
flexibility. The hamstrings include three muscles at the back of the thigh. Because they attach to the lower pelvis, they create tension in the low back. Good flexibility in
the hamstrings will improve torso flexibility and should decrease incidence of lowback injuries. The sitandreach and hamstring flexibility tests will indicate how much
work you need in this area.
Several research studies have indicated a relationship between the loss of shoulder internal rotation flexibility and the number of years a player has competed. This loss
of shoulder flexibility appears to get worse with longer periods of play. Early detection by testing your shoulder flexibility can help improve performance and reduce
the risk of injury.
Sit and Reach
On the men's professional tennis tour, 38 percent of players have missed at least one tournament because of lowback problems. Hitting tennis balls not only involves
extending the body, but also requires a lot of
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[Cuối tài liệu]
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cause more abrupt shock or jarring sensations to the arm, compared with a more flexible racket.
Following the manufacturer's guidelines for racket string tension and looking for a medium stiff frame will assist you in choosing equipment that is right for your arm.
Consult your certified tennis professional or racket technician (stringer) for further guidance. Don't change your equipment just before big tournaments or periods of
heavy tennis play. This will allow you to get used to your new or changed equipment gradually. Changes in equipment or technique are the two most common causes
of tennisrelated injuries.
Knee Injuries
One final area of prevention we will discuss here is injuries to the knee joint. Tennis obviously places a great deal of stress on the knee joints from bending, quick starts
and stops, and explosive accelerations. Because tennis is a noncontact sport, the bonecrushing knee injuries we equate with football or skiing are not prevalent.
Instead, injures to the kneecap (patellofemoral joint) are probably the most disabling among tennis players. The kneecap, or patella as it is technically termed, rides in
a shallow groove at the end of your thigh bone, or femur.
With repeated stress to the legs, such as tennis play, and without sufficient strength and endurance of the thigh muscles (especially the quadriceps), the kneecap can
become irritated. This irritation is caused by lack of support from the surrounding muscles as you fatigue, which prevents the kneecap from gliding freely in the groove
at the end of the thigh bone. This repeated irritation can wear down the back side of the kneecap and produce significant pain. You can wear braces to support the
kneecap, but ultimately support should come from the muscles.
Preventing knee injuries in tennis focuses on two strategies: strength and flexibility. To strengthen your knees, use the appropriate exercises described in chapter 4.
One additional consideration is critical when performing knee exercises. It involves using a limited movement pattern to decrease the stress to the knees during
exercise.
Pressure between the kneecap and the end of the femur, or thigh bone, is greatest when the knee is bent between 45 and 60 degrees while doing a leg extension type
exercise pictured in chapter 4, page 72. Because this is the part of the movement that is particularly stressful, individuals who are having knee pain and players with a
history of knee injury should avoid it. It is also necessary for those players with achy knees to
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avoid deep squats, lunges, or leg press movements in which the knees bend more than 90 degrees. These exercises cause great stress while the muscles are being
strengthened. Following are strength exercises and stretches that will prevent injury to your knees.
Strength Exercises to Prevent Knee Injury
See chapter 4 for descriptions of the following exercises:
� Leg press (p. 72)
� Leg extension (partial range if indicated) (p. 72)
� Multihip (p. 73)
� Hamstring curl (p. 73)
� Partial squat (p. 74)
� Lunges (multidirectional) (p. 74)
� Leg raises with cuff weights (p. 75)
Stretches to Prevent Knee Injury
See chapter 3 for descriptions of the following stretches:
� Figure 4 hamstring stretch (p. 46)
� Hamstring super stretch (p. 48)
� Stork quadriceps stretch (p. 49)
� Prone quadriceps stretch (p. 50)
� Hip rotator stretch (p. 55)
�Iliotibial band stretch (p. 56)
Tennis players can follow these important strategies to prevent injury in these commonly stressed areas. Using both strength and flexibility exercises, with proper
biomechanics, forms the platform for an injuryprevention program.
Biomechanics
A repeating theme among the prevention strategies for common tennis injuries is using proper biomechanics. We cannot stress this enough. Each injury in this chapter
can be caused by improper and inefficient
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stroke mechanics. Knowing how the kinetic link principle applies to hitting a tennis ball will show you how important proper stroke mechanics can be.
Tennis strokes that just use the shoulder, elbow, and wrist to generate power will result in injury. Throughout this book, we have described conditioning programs that
emphasize leg, trunk, and shoulder strength. These are the primary muscles involved in generating power and, with proper training, will prevent tennis injuries. To
ensure that your tennis strokes involve efficient movement patterns, consider these recommendations:
� Consult your tennis professional for a technique lesson.
� Consult your tennis professional again if you change your mechanics or notice difficulties with a stroke.
� Use a video camcorder, if available, so you and your teaching professional can study your movement and stroke mechanics.
Preventing Heat Illness
Another area we will discuss in this chapter is preventing heat illness. Although not a musculoskeletal injury, heat stress is a common ailment with tennis play. It can
include heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and most seriously, heat stroke. The most widely recommended prevention strategies for heat illness are proper fluid hydration
and nutritional intake.
While playing tennis in the heat, the body's primary cooling mechanism comes from sweating. Sweat rates in male and female tennis players can range between 0.5 and
2.5 liters per hour, depending on fitness level, environmental temperature, and hydration status. In addition to water, electrolytes are also lost in sweat. Sodium and
chloride are the primary electrolytes lost during sweating, with potassium and magnesium also lost. Contrary to popular belief, sport scientists now suggest that sodium
loss with heavy sweating may be the largest causative factor in heat cramps.
Thirst is not an adequate stimulus for hydration, because a player can lose as much as 1.5 liters of water before perceiving thirst. Therefore, proper hydration involves
drinking before you are thirsty and hydrating before tennis play. Drinking fluids the night before and early in the day before tennis play improves a player's prematch
hydration status. While playing, drink during every changeover, even if you are not thirsty. Remember, the thirst mechanism is not a reliable indicator of fluid need.
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Hydrate using water or a suitable fluid replacement beverage that has electrolytes you lose during heavy sweating. Always use a fluid replacement beverage that you
have tried in practice. Never try a new one for the first time during a match.
During periods of heavy sweat loss, replacing sodium becomes important. We do not recommend salt pills they irritate the stomach and intestine. Therefore, salt
foods more heavily, and use an electrolyte replacement beverage that you have tested to replace electrolytes along with water. Whenever possible, acclimate yourself
to the area you will be playing in before competition. It takes 7 to 10 days to fully acclimate to a new climate. Benefits of acclimation include better sweat rates,
sweating earlier in response to heat stress, and less sodium loss at the sweat gland.
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Hydration Tips for Tennis
Drink cool water or sport drinks during play. Sport drinks are especially
helpful during long matches, in hot weather, and for recovery after play.
Use a similar routine (as described below) before, during, and after
practice.
Before Play:
� Drink fluids often throughout the day.
� Drink 12�16 ounces about an hour before play begins.
� Prepare at least two quarts (64 ounces) to drink during play sport
drinks are preferable for long matches or during play in hot weather.
During Play:
� Drink four to eight ounces (four to eight normal swallows) after the
warmup and during every changeover.
After Play:
� Immediately begin to replace fluid, electrolytes, and carbohydrates with
water, sport drinks, and food high carbohydrate sport drinks are very
effective if you are going to play again soon.
� Drink at least a pint (16 ounces) of fluid for every pound of body
weight deficit.
� Consider adding salt to your food and/or drinks if sweat losses were
extensive.
Following a total conditioning program for tennis provides what you need
to prevent injury and optimize performance. Your knowledge of the
information in this chapter will give you the strategies to prevent heat
illness through proper hydration and minimize your chances of common
musculoskeletal injuries.
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About the Author
The United States Tennis Association (USTA) is the governing body for tennis in the United States. The USTA's membership consists of more than 500,000
individuals and nearly 6,500 organizations, including schools, park and recreation departments or community tennis associations, and tennis clubs.
The USTA is widely known as the owner and operator of the U.S. Open Championships, one of the four Grand Slam tournaments in worldwide tennis competition.
The U.S. Open annually attracts more than a halfmillion fans, awards more than $9 million in prize money, and is broadcast on television to 125 countries.
The USTA also sponsors amateur tennis competition for players of all ages and abilities, ranging from events for children 12 and under to national tournaments for
those 65 and older. More than 5 million schoolchildren are introduced to tennis each year through USTA school programs, and opportunities for further instruction
and play are provided by a menu of USTA entrylevel programs.
A full range of player development, sport science, and youth tennis programs is offered at the USTA training facility in Key Biscayne, FL, at 120 Area Training
Centers spread throughout the country, and through local Excellence Training Programs. In addition, the USTA emphasizes coaching education and development
through an ambitious offering of coaching seminars, workshops, and conferences.
The USTA developed Complete Conditioning for Tennis with the help of Paul Roetert and Todd Ellenbecker. Paul Roetert is the USTA Sport Science
Administrator in Key Biscayne, FL. Roetert received his PhD in biomechanics at the University of Connecticut and is a Fellow in the American College of Sports
Medicine. Roetert is a certified tennis teaching professional with the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) and United States Professional Tennis
Registry (USPTR). Todd Ellenbecker is a physical therapist and clinic director of Physiotherapy Associates Scottsdale Sports Clinic in Scottsdale, AZ. He received
his therapy degree from the University of WisconsinLaCrosse and a master's degree in exercise physiology from Arizona State University. In addition, he is a certified
sports clinical specialist by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), and a certified strength and conditioning specialist.