A six-week neuromuscular training program for competitive junior tennis players.

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Exercise Physiology
• Pediatric Sports Medicine

Background:

• Tennis demands high levels of speed, agility, power, and reaction time.
• Limited research exists on the impact of multi-week training programs on neuromuscular indices in young tennis players.
• Developing effective training strategies is crucial for optimizing performance and preventing injuries in junior athletes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a 6-week tennis-specific training program on improving neuromuscular indices in competitive junior players.
• To assess improvements in dynamic balance, agility, speed, strength, and endurance.
• To determine the feasibility and safety of the developed training and testing protocols.

Main Methods:

• A 6-week supervised training program was conducted 3 times per week for 1.5 hours per session.
• The program included dynamic warm-ups, plyometrics, jump training, strength training (lower/upper extremity, core), tennis-specific drills, and flexibility exercises.
• Fifteen junior tennis players (mean age 13.0 years) participated, with neuromuscular performance assessed pre- and post-training.

Main Results:

• Statistically significant improvements were observed in single-leg triple crossover hop, forehand and backhand baseline tests, service line test, 1-court and 2-court suicide drills, and abdominal endurance.
• Mean improvements ranged from 10% (2-court suicide, baseline tests) to 76% (abdominal endurance).
• No training-related injuries or overuse syndromes were reported.

Conclusions:

• The tennis-specific training program is effective in enhancing key neuromuscular indices in junior players.
• The program is feasible, low-cost, and can be implemented on a tennis court.
• These findings support the use of this program for improving athletic performance and physical conditioning in young tennis athletes.