Kim Michael Wittenberg Kim Wittenberg is founder and director of the All Atlanta Junior Tennis Academy in Alpharetta, GA. Coach Kim has specialized in working with juniors for over 30 years. He worked in Europe for 23 years, where he developed many world class players. Among his successes are Wesley Whitehouse, 1997 Junior Wimbledon Champion, Horst Skoff, ATP #20, Marco Born, 2007 NCAA Divsion 1 Doubles Champion, Dustin Brown, currently ATP #450 and many others. View all articles by Kim Michael Wittenberg

As a coach with 30 years of coaching experience working with ATP Professionals, ITF juniors, National Champions and NCAA Champions, I am amazed at the lack of planning and/or system in the development of most juniors.

When you study the junior development of Pete Sampras you see careful planning and the systematic development of technique (strokes), and strategy to build a complete player. Pete’s developmental coach, Dr. Peter Fisher studied many top players and took components of their games and set out like someone putting a puzzle together to create a player based on the concept of
“The complete all around player”.

Dr. Fisher did this in stages. He helped Pete develop good serve, forehand and backhand technique. Then as a 13-14 year old he changed Pete’s two- handed backhand to a one handed backhand and began developing Pete’s attacking skills-why did he wait? He waited because a player’s growth and size need to reach a certain point before a player can be successful attacking. This usually takes place after puberty.

This is the step in development that is not continued or taught to most juniors! The typical junior today is developed with the “ Big Forehand, Big Serve game”. The problem with this approach is, what happens when the player with the Big Forehand plays someone with a bigger forehand? They loose!!!! They have few if any other options and normally no other game plan.

As Pete learned 25 years ago in California, there are many forms of weapons and/or playing styles. Examples are a good solid backhand, slice, slice approach shots, serve and volley, attacking the second serve and following it up to the net.
My opinion is that if you want to have more success, develop an all-around game. Give yourself options! I want my players to go into tournament battle with many weapons. It’s important for the players to evolve past puberty and the one gun system.