Tennis Training
Every weekend on Sunday, I’ve been going to tennis training as a way for me to stay fit and pick up a sport again that I used to play a lot when I was younger. I started to play tennis in Bangladesh when I was around 8 years old. Since leaving Bangladesh in 2014, I haven’t been able to play the sport that I like a lot. Luckily, I’ve been able to start playing again here in Sri Lanka. Each Sunday, I get up around 9:00 am and get ready for training. I make sure I’ve got water, proper footwear and my racket before exiting the front door. Thankfully, the tennis courts are very close to my house which allows me to bike there. There are two venues where I play depending on availability, the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) or at the Sri Lankan Tennis Association (SLTA). The bike ride usually takes only about 2 minutes which is great. As I walk to the courts, I’m always filled with excitement and anticipation.
Upon arriving at the courts, I put my bag down, take out my racket and immediately I jog to the baseline to begin hitting some balls. Coach Indika is usually who I train with. We always start with some forehand and then move onto backhand. The first couple balls are the most important for me as they are the ones that get me into a rhythm for the day. This is why I make sure to nail my swing on these balls. From there, I’d usually move onto some footwork practice. I start at the baseline and hit the ball with my forearm and then run to the service line for a backhand. After we do that a couple times, we alternate. This is my least type of drill as it is very tiring and requires the most movement. From there we move up to the net and practice volleys. After we do that we rally for a bit and then go into a doubles game. This is my favorite part of training as it is a way to show off my skills and technique. These games can get quite competitive with some trash talking. After the game ends, I go home and take a relaxing shower. Overall, I’m just really happy to be playing tennis again after all these years.
These tennis training sessions with a coach is a way for me to develop my skills (LO1) as a tennis player. Going to tennis every Sunday and having a coach teach me the proper way to swing or volley is very crucial for me to improve my skills. If I were to just go and play without a proper coach, the chance of me picking up bad habits is very likely as there isn’t someone there to guide me. Going to tennis weekly is also important in developing my skills as it is important to stay consistent.