Start Tennis with us - call John 07896636173 Start Anytime - All Levels and Ages
Get in touch and get Involved - Optimaltennisleeds@gmail.com!
Book Indoor Group Classes January 2025, Click Here
Email optimaltennisleeds@gmail.com or call John on 07896636173 to discuss your requirements.
Finalist in the Mumber Healthy and Active Kids Award
Keep Getting Better!
Optimal Tennis Philosophy
The 'Tennis Coach's Toolkit' (Reynolds and Dent 2009) identifies 3 Pillars (used as headings below) that we consider vitally important and are all interlinked:
- Create Environment. We aim to create an environment that helps players of all ages and abilities flourish. We aim to inspire a love of tennis in a positive, friendly and engaging caoching community. Mistakes and defeats are essential to the learning process, particularly in a competitive sport, and can be celebrated and used as the building blocks of future suceess.
- Effective Working Relationships. Whilst great tennis lessons undoubtedly help players improve their tennis skills in order for a junior player to be successful there must be a positive and effecive working relationship with parents, schools and other important people in the child's life. Practicing with parents, friends and others is fantastic to help players improve. We develop positive working relationships with venues and schools which is vital and beneficial to all.
- Steepening the Learning Curve. This involves trying to bring about improvement in the shortest possible time. Our Skill Sheets give children a variety of exercises they can do outside of classes. The hope is to avoid children (even new starters) playing for an hour and then not picking up their racket again for a week. Better Never Stops, we want players to continually improve and do whatever we can to assist them in this process whether from video analysis of a particular shot, constraint-based games for specific tactical skills, physical development or mental skills development. We invest heavily in our own ongoing CPD (technical, tactical, physical and mental as we as in our communication skills) to help keep improving our coaching which in turn helps our players improve more quickly. Both players and coaches can always get better.
Aims for New Starters
We typically have 2 aims for children or adults starting tennis:
1. Learn the skills to start playing points and matches asap.
2. Become better at playing matches.
The first we can achieve very quickly, the second is part of our endless pursuit of continual improvement.
More About Optimal Tennis?
- We train players to THINK and COMPETE as well as hit. Our constraint-led approach helps children develop practical tennis skills for matches quicker than ever before and accelerates skill acquisition. The Head , Heart and Legs of the player are the starting points. If the player 'Performs' they give themselves the best possible chance to play their best and regardless of the outcome, improve. We look at whether the player is ready to perform, compete and move? Are they able to react to whatever is thrown their way? Can they analyse and solve problems, even when the chips are down and have the resilience to fight to the end and reflect in order to continue to improve going forwards?
- Langevad Sports Biometrics - is a a pioneering system of stroke development (created by Australian Biomechist Brad Langevad) helps a player swing, position and align their body in the most effective way to optimise performance whilst minimising the risk of injury. We offer video analysis of stroke production in either solo or split-screen so players can see what optimal stroke production looks like and identify improvements they can make to their own shots.
- Low Group Sizes - Quality before Quantity. Group numbers are kept low to help players improve as fast as possible. We believe in providing 'value added' tennis coaching and can help your child progress at the fastest possible rate and reach their potential.
- Led by Head Coach John Moore, RPT International Professional, LTA CCA (Performance) Level 4 Coach, Former RPT Biomechanics Advisor and Langevad Sports Biometrics Practitioner. Utilise advanced biomechanics and video analysis to improve your play and minimise the risk of injury.
- A Gateway to County Tennis and beyond - We are committed to helping all children reach their full potential and support all children on our programme to be considered for county and national tennis and the LTA Performance Pathway, as well as UK and US University Scholarships.
Encouraging players onto the LTA Performance pathway, to watch the video, click here
Background
Optimal Tennis deliver fantastic small group and individual tennis lessons for all ages and abilities.
Head Coach John Moore, has spent many years studying tennis biomechanics and worked as a Biomechanics Advisor for the RPT as well as working with Australian Biomechanist Brad Langevad (coach to Pat Cash / former coach to Greg Rusedski and consultant to a number of ATP players). This in depth technical knowledge goes far beyond the content of standard tennis coaching courses. Utilising this gives children and adults an opportunity to improve their game quicker, move more efficiently, hit more efficeintly and minimise the risk of injuries.
Entry Points for Children Getting Started in Tennis.
Schools Tennis
The entry point for a lot of tennis players is our wonderful schools programme, for more details please click here. We have a vibrant schools tennis programme and over the last year have carried out lessons in many schools in North Leeds including, GSAL, Allerton CE Primary, St Paul's RC Primary, Westbrook Lane Primary, St Mary's Primary and Adel St John Primary.
LTA Youth Start (Formerly Tennis for Kids)
Another entry point for children are our Tennis for Kids courses. These are a great starting point for children to learn tennis. Nationally tennis for kids courses typically accept 10 children we limit to 6 at the same cost! Children receive a 6 week course of 1 hour tennis lessons as well as a racket, personalised t-shirt and mini tennis red balls. All of this for just £34.99 (price set nationally by the LTA)
Schools Tennis and LTA Youth Start Courses are the entry point for many children into tennis and from here they have the opportunity through our pathway scheme to progress into Mini Tennis Classes, then into Mini and Junior Tennis Teams including internal and external competitions, county tennis and LTA Performance Competitions, and we have children who have gone onto receive US Tennis Scholarships.
Bambino Tennis (Tots Ages 2 to 4)
Our brand new Tots Programme gives the youngest children a chance to gain valuable athletic and tennis skills in a fun and exploratory fashion.
Ball, Body, Bat = Balanced Bambino!
Mini Tennis Blue (Ages 4 to 6)
Mini Tennis Blue typically uses indoor sponge balls or outdoor red felt balls on a 'micro court'.
Children learn a variety of skills in a fun and engaging, open skilled environment. Agility, Balance and Co-ordination are all part of the learning.
Despite their tender age, children can learn to serve, rally and compete. Around age 5 is typically when children in our programme syart competitions.
Mini Tennis Red (ages 6 - 8)
Specifically designed tennis lessons for children aged 6 - 8. Played on a badmington size court using either a mini tennis red ball (outdoor) or a sponge ball (indoor).
Mini Tennis Orange (Ages 8 -10)
Children play over the main tennis net (albeit at the lower height of 80cm) on a roughly three quarter size court using a mini tennis orange ball which is 50% slower than a standard tennis ball.
Mini Tennis Green (ages 9-10)
Mini Tennis Green is played on a full size tennis court over a full height net with the only difference being the use of mini tennis green balls which are 25% slower than regular tennis balls. This allows children to helpfully transition from mini tennis to senior tennis which will be played from this time onwards.
Junior Tennis (ages 10 - 18)
Junior tennis builds on the foundation of mini tennis, honing the skills learnt in mini tennis.
Children progress through club groups into club teams, both junior and adult and into County Tennis as well as LTA Performance Competitions and we have also helped children gain US University Tennis Scholarships.
If you have any questions about any of the classes we are running, please email or call John Moore on the following:
Email: optimaltennisleeds@gmail.com
Telephone: 07896636173
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BAMBINO TENNIS Overview
We have developed a brand new Programme, for our youngest starters aged 2-4, called 'Bambino Tennis'.
We are designing a new syallabus, incorporating all the co-ordination, orientation, rythm, differentiation, movemement and racket skills the youngest children need, setting them up perfectly for a lifetime of success in tennis and other ball sports. The younger the child the more general ball and movement skills will increasingly be integrated into tennis specific training.
Bambino Tennis Videos Coming Soon
Where we teach
Here are the Optimal Tennis venues where you can play.
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Holt Park
Holt Road, Cookridge, Leeds, Yorkshire, LS16 7QD
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Leeds Trinity University College
Leeds Trinity University College, Brownberrie Lane, Horsforth, LEEDS, Yorkshire, LS18 5HD
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The Hollies
Weetwood Lane, Leeds, Yorkshire, LS16 5NZ
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