The focus of this year’s conference program is the long-term development of young athletes. Presentations and discussions will examine the importance of physical preparation, growth and puberty, psychological health, and talk about the balance between tennis and physical training at different stages of an athlete’s development.
“In children’s and youth tennis, it is very easy to focus on what is happening today – the result in the tournament, the ranking, the victories. However, the coach’s task is much broader. We have to think about what kind of athlete and person we are developing, how we help them develop physically properly, stay healthy, and prepare, if that will be their path, for professional sport. This is exactly what we will discuss at this year’s conference,” says LTS president Ramūnas Grušas.
From athlete puberty to physical foundations
One of the main conference speakers is sports doctor Mindaugas Gudelis, who works with the best Spanish tennis players. In his presentation, he will examine the processes of athletes’ growth and puberty, the impact of this period on physical training and injury prevention.
Rafael Nadal Academy’s head of physical training and medical department Lluc Bauzà Amengual will talk about building physical foundations. She also personally works with one of the strongest young generation tennis players in the world, Alexandra Eala (WTA-20). The specialist will give two presentations at the conference, participate in discussions, and Q&A sessions.
Best Lithuanian tennis player of all time Ričardas Berankis will also share his experience with coaches. Former world No. 50, after ending his professional career, works with young tennis players and coaches at the Vilnius Tennis Academy. R. Berankis has repeatedly emphasized that working with promising youth is a long process that requires properly combining physical, technical preparation and competition planning.
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Separately – about the role of parents
On Saturday at the “SEB arena,” a separate lecture will be held for young tennis players’ parents. Mindaugas Gudelis will talk about children’s growth and puberty periods and the physical changes occurring during that time.
R. Berankis will look at this topic from the perspective of a professional athlete. The Lithuanian, who spent more than two decades in professional tennis, will share his experience and talk about the role of parents at different stages of a young tennis player’s career – what, looking back at his path, he would repeat and what he would do differently today.
“In a young athlete’s environment, the coach and parents play different but equally important roles. Therefore, this year we want to talk not only with coaches. Parents also have to make many decisions, and the more they understand about the child’s physical and emotional development and the athlete’s path itself, the more they can help,” says R. Grušas.
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