Unravelling tennis performance:creating monitoring tools to measure and understand technical and tactical skills

The key in elite tennis performance is suggested to be the combination of outstanding technical and tactical skills. However, little is known about which specific skills are important to progress towards elite tennis performance. Moreover, there are no reliable, valid and feasible tools to assess technical and tactical skills in youth tennis players. Therefore, in this thesis, tools with sufficient psychometric properties were developed to measure technical and tactical skills in a tennis-specific context - contributing to both scientific and practical purposes. An on-court tennis test was developed to assess technical skills based on accuracy (target areas), ball speed (radar system) and percentage errors. A new instrument with closed-ended questions was designed to examine tactical skills, in particular ‘Anticipation and positioning’, ‘Game intelligence and adaptability’, ‘Decision-making’, and ‘Recognizing game situations’. Our studies showed that outstanding technical skills, especially accuracy under increased task complexity (i.e. high temporal and cognitive pressure), were considered essential to progress towards elite tennis performance. Findings of this thesis also suggest that these technical skills continue to develop in adolescence in a group of youth talented tennis players. From a practical perspective, the tools created in this thesis are valuable for coaches and players to enhance tennis performance. In addition to monitoring the progress of players, tools can assist in identifying relative strengths and weaknesses of players as well as provide essential information about underlying skills that require most attention to progress towards elite performance

The value of technical characteristics for future performance in youth tennis players:A prospective study

The aim of this study is to examine whether technical characteristics predict current and future tennis performance of youth tennis players. Twenty-nine male youth tennis players (age 13.40 ± .51) were assessed on anthropometrical characteristics (height, weight, maturity status) and technical characteristics (ball speed, accuracy and percentage errors) using an on-court tennis test when they were under-14 (U14). Game situations were simulated, which were either fixed or variable. The variable game situations required players to consider the direction of the ball, as opposed to the fixed game situations where players needed to play every ball to the same side. Players' tennis ratings were obtained U14 ('current performance') and under-18 (U18) ('future performance'). According to their rating U18 players were classified as future elite (n = 9) or future competitive (n = 20). A multiple linear regression analysis showed that ball speed and accuracy were significant predictors of current and future performance (p < .001), with R2 of .595 and .463, respectively. When controlling for age, a one-way MANCOVA revealed that future elite players were more accurate than future competitive players (p = .048, 95% CI [.000 to .489]), especially in variable compared to fixed game situations (p < .05). In conclusion, the current study is the first to show that technical characteristics are crucial for current as well as future performance in youth male tennis players. Findings of this prospective study provide essential information to coaches about characteristics that require most attention in performance development in youth players

Supervisión del desempeño técnico en tenis cuando la intensidad física es cada vez mayor mediante la prueba PTTF

Monitoring technical skills under increasing physical intensity is important for determining a player’s performance level in tennis. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine to what extent the new Physical Technical Tennis-specific Field test (PTTF-test) was able to capture fluctuations in technical skill under increasing physical intensity in adolescent talented tennis players. Forty adolescent players (21 males, 19 females, mean age = 15.4 years) performed the PTTF-test until exhaustion (i.e., when they were not able to hit two subsequent oncoming balls with an adequate technique). Technical skills (stroke velocity, stroke accuracy, VA-index and percentage errors) were compared between physical intensity levels, age categories and genders. For all age categories and genders, physical intensity (heart rate) increased between the ‘BASELINE’-situation and the ‘FINAL’-situation (p<.001). All technical skills, i.e. stroke velocity, stroke accuracy, VA-index and percentage errors, decreased when comparing the FINAL intensity level to the BASELINE intensity level (p<.001). Players in older age categories (16+) reached a higher PTTFlevel and exhibited lower mean heart rates than players in the youngest age category (U14) in both the ‘BASELINE’-situation and the ‘FINAL’-situation depending on the level players reached (p<.010). These findings show that the PTTF-test is able to analyse and monitor the performance of technical skills under increasing physical intensity in adolescent talented tennis players.Supervisar las habilidades técnicas cuando la intensidad física es cada vez mayor es importante para determinar el nivel de desempeño de un jugador en tenis. Por lo tanto, el objetivo de este estudio fue determinar hasta qué punto la nueva prueba de campo físico-técnica específica para el tenis (prueba PTTF) puede capturar las variaciones en la habilidad técnica en jugadores talentosos de tenis adolescentes cuando la intensidad física es cada vez mayor. Cuarenta jugadores adolescentes (21 hombres, 19 mujeres, edad media = 15,4 años) completaron la prueba PTTF hasta el fallo (cuando en recepción no eran capaces de golpear dos pelotas sucesivas con una técnica adecuada). Las habilidades técnicas (velocidad del golpe, precisión del golpe, velocidad y precisión de la pelota y el porcentaje de error) fueron comparadas entre los niveles de intensidad física, las categorías por edad y el sexo. Para todas las categorías de edad y sexos, la intensidad física (frecuencia cardíaca) aumentó entre la situación BASE y la situación FINAL (p<.001). Todas las habilidades técnicas, i.e. velocidad del golpe, precisión del golpe, velocidad y precisión de la pelota y porcentaje de error, disminuyeron al comparar el nivel de intensidad FINAL con el nivel de intensidad de BASE (p<.001). Los jugadores en las categorías de mayor edad (16+) alcanzaron un nivel PTTF más alto y mostraron frecuencias cardíacas menores que los jugadores en la categoría más joven (U14) tanto en la situación BASE como en la FINAL dependiendo del nivel que los jugadores alcanzaban (p<.010). Estos hallazgos muestran que la prueba PTTF es capaz de analizar y supervisar el desempeño de las habilidades técnicas cuando la intensidad física es cada vez mayor en jugadores adolescentes de tenis talentosos

Self-assessed tactical skills in tennis players:Psychometric evaluation of the Tactical Skills Questionnaire in Tennis

To our knowledge, no feasible, valid and reliable instrument exists to examine tactical skills over the course of multiple training and game situations in tennis yet. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Tactical Skills Questionnaire in Tennis (TSQT). The TSQT is a new instrument with closed-ended questions designed to examine tactical skills in tennis players. Participants were 233 competitive tennis players (age: 17.06 ± 4.74 years) competing on national or regional levels. With a principal component analysis (PCA) we identified four theoretically meaningful subscales for the 31-item TSQT: “Anticipation and positioning,” “Game intelligence and adaptability,” “Decision-making,” and “Recognizing game situations” and confirmed them with a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) (χ2 = 527.02, df = 426, p 0.05). Relative test-retest reliability was moderate with ICC values ranging from 0.65 to 0.71. National players outperformed regional players on the subscales “Game intelligence and adaptability,” “Decision-making,” and “Recognizing game situations” (p < 0.05), and there was a trend toward significance for “Anticipation and positioning” (p = 0.07). This study supported the psychometric properties of the TSQT. Evaluating tactical skills with the TSQT provides players, coaches and other professionals with insight in players' self-assessed tactical skills over the course of multiple training and game situations. It creates the opportunity for players to reflect on their skills and detect personal development areas with their coach. We advise to use this information as input for tailor-made training programs

Mental Toughness in Talented Youth Tennis Players:A Comparison Between on-Court Observations and a Self-Reported Measure

In tennis, mental toughness is often considered highly important in achieving the elite level. The current study is the first to examine behavioural expressions of mental toughness on the court and their relationships with selfreported measures. Based on the input of five experienced tennis coaches of junior tennis players and behaviours used in previous studies, we developed a taxonomy consisting of six positive behaviours and ten negative ones. To investigate the relationship between these on-court behaviours of mental toughness and how the players rated their own mental toughness, emotional control in particular, six talented tennis players (aged 10-13) were recorded during tennis matches and filled out the self-reported measure of mental toughness (MTQ48). The intra-and inter-rater reliability of the taxonomy was high. With regard to the relationships between on-court behaviours and self-reported mental toughness (total score and subscale emotional control), results revealed no significant correlations between the ratios of positive and negative behaviours (range r = -0.49 -0.11, p > 0.05) or between the variability of negative behaviours (r = 0.54 & r = 0.10, p > 0.05) and the self-reported measure. However, interestingly, we found negative correlations between the variability of positive behaviours and self-reported mental toughness (r = -0.93 & r = -0.84, p <0.05). These results indicate that variability in on-court behaviours provides interesting information about tennis players' mental toughness, more specifically on the (in) stability of their psychological state during a match

Methods for epidemiological studies in competitive cycling:an extension of the IOC consensus statement on methods for recording and reporting of epidemiological data on injury and illness in sport 2020

In 2020, the IOC released a consensus statement that provides overall guidelines for the recording and reporting of epidemiological data on injury and illness in sport. Some aspects of this statement need to be further specified on a sport-by-sport basis. To extend the IOC consensus statement on methods for recording and reporting of epidemiological data on injury and illness in sports and to meet the sport-specific requirements of all cycling disciplines regulated by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). A panel of 20 experts, all with experience in cycling or cycling medicine, participated in the drafting of this cycling-specific extension of the IOC consensus statement. In preparation, panel members were sent the IOC consensus statement, the first draft of this manuscript and a list of topics to be discussed. The expert panel met in July 2020 for a 1-day video conference to discuss the manuscript and specific topics. The final manuscript was developed in an iterative process involving all panel members. This paper extends the IOC consensus statement to provide cycling-specific recommendations on health problem definitions, mode of onset, injury mechanisms and circumstances, diagnosis classifications, exposure, study population characteristics and data collection methods. Recommendations apply to all UCI cycling disciplines, for both able-bodied cyclists and para-cyclists. The recommendations presented in this consensus statement will improve the consistency and accuracy of future epidemiological studies of injury and illness in cycling

Methods for epidemiological studies in competitive cycling: an extension of the IOC consensus statement on methods for recording and reporting of epidemiological data on injury and illness in sport 2020

In 2020, the IOC released a consensus statement that provides overall guidelines for the recording and reporting of epidemiological data on injury and illness in sport. Some aspects of this statement need to be further specified on a sport-by-sport basis. To extend the IOC consensus statement on methods for recording and reporting of epidemiological data on injury and illness in sports and to meet the sport-specific requirements of all cycling disciplines regulated by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). A panel of 20 experts, all with experience in cycling or cycling medicine, participated in the drafting of this cycling-specific extension of the IOC consensus statement. In preparation, panel members were sent the IOC consensus statement, the first draft of this manuscript and a list of topics to be discussed. The expert panel met in July 2020 for a 1-day video conference to discuss the manuscript and specific topics. The final manuscript was developed in an iterative process involving all panel members. This paper extends the IOC consensus statement to provide cycling-specific recommendations on health problem definitions, mode of onset, injury mechanisms and circumstances, diagnosis classifications, exposure, study population characteristics and data collection methods. Recommendations apply to all UCI cycling disciplines, for both able-bodied cyclists and para-cyclists. The recommendations presented in this consensus statement will improve the consistency and accuracy of future epidemiological studies of injury and illness in cycling.http://bjsm.bmj.comhj2021Sports Medicin

The Dutch Technical-Tactical Tennis Test (D4T) for Talent Identification and Development: Psychometric Characteristics

This study examined the test-retest reliability, validity and feasibility of the newly developed Dutch Technical Tactical Tennis Test (D4T). This new test is relevant for talent identification and development in tennis. Thirty-two youth male tennis players (age 13.4 +/- 0.5) were classified as elite (n = 15) or sub-elite (n = 17) according to their position on the national youth ranking list under 15 years (cut-off rank 50) in the Netherlands. Games, rallies and different tactical situations (i.e. offensive, neutral and defensive) were simulated with a ball machine. Players had to return 72 balls to predetermined target areas. Stroke quality was recorded based on ball velocity and accuracy (VA index), as well as percentage errors. Test-retest reliability was assessed by comparing differences between the first and second test-session (n = 10). An intraclass-correlation coefficient of.78 for the VA-index was found (p <.05), indicating excellent test-retest reliability. Independent t-tests revealed that elite players outscored sub-elite players for the VA index, ball velocity, accuracy and percentage errors (p <.05), supporting good validity. Furthermore, a high correlation was found between the VA-index and individual positions on the youth ranking list (r =-.75; p <.001). The assessment of feasibility indicated that the D4T was applicable for instructors and coaches. In conclusion, the D4T was shown to be a reliable, valid and feasible test to measure technical-tactical characteristics of tennis performance in youth players

Technical skills in complex tennis situations: Dutch talented players U15 compared to players U17

Introduction: Technical skills in complex situations appear crucial for progress towards elite tennis performance. However, it is unknown how these skills develop in different age categories in a group of talented youth players. The aim of this study is to evaluate possible differences in technical skills among Dutch talented youth tennis players U15 compared to U17. Methods: A total of 19 players (12 males, 7 females; age 14.6 ± 1.4 years) were tested on ball speed, accuracy, percentage errors and spin rate using the on-court Dutch Technical-Tactical Tennis Test. With a ball machine, four games were simulated which were either fixed (game 1 and game 2) or variable (game 3 and game 4), depending on the complexity of the task. Each game consisted of two offensive, two neutral and two defensive rallies, representing different tactical situations. Results: A two-way ANOVA revealed a statistically significant interaction between the effects of age category and sex for ball speed (F(1,15) = 5.472, p = 0.034, η2 = 0.267), indicating that males U17 produced higher ball speed compared to males U15, whereas no differences were found between females U15 and U17. A one-way ANCOVA showed that, regardless of sex, players U17 scored significantly higher on accuracy than players U15 (F(1,16) = 5.021, p = 0.040, η2 = 0.239). No differences were found between players U15 and U17 for spin rate and percentage errors (p >.05), although there was a medium to large effect size for males U17 to produce higher spin rates compared to males U15. A closer examination of accuracy revealed that players U17 scored significantly higher compared to players U15 in game 4 (F(1,17) = 6.358, p =.022, η2 =.272) and in defensive situations (F(1,17) = 9.602, p =.007, η2 =.361). Discussion: In conclusion, the results of the current study suggest that technical skills, especially ball speed for males and accuracy in complex situations for both males and females, continue to develop in adolescence in talented tennis players. There is an increased understanding about underlying technical skills that contribute to progress towards elite tennis performance. To effectively develop technical skills, coaches are encouraged to design specific practices where these skills are performed in complex situations under high cognitive and temporal pressure