Tennis Team Tryouts

Tryouts for the 2022-2023 School year will be held at Couch Park on August 16th from 6:00-7:30 pm. Quick Parent/Player Meeting 7:20-7:30

Signup Before the day of Tryouts Here: https://forms.gle/N3jAxc91DiatxDKB6

Students in 9th-12th Graders that make the team will be required to have their last hour elective as the Tennis Class in the Spring. High School practices in the Fall will be held for one hour after school and team members are expected to attend. 9th Graders that do not make the High School team have the option to play with the Junior High team. Junior High Players do not practice with the High School for team and will not be enrolled in the elective course.

The rubric below ( Tennis Tryout Rubric) will be used to determine team placement.

ON THE DAY OF TRYOUTS BEFORE

Complete this COVID SCREENER form : https://forms.gle/Va72E4VRmKEX9xK26

What to Bring and What to Wear

Comfortable Athletic Wear, Tennis Shoes, and your Tennis Racket are required for tryouts. You should bring your own bottled water or reusable water bottle for tryouts.

Tryout Criteria

The coaching staff will be looking for coachable athletes who have a great work ethic and want to learn to be better players and teammates. Prospective student athletes will be tested and evaluated for their overall athletic ability and level of tennis skill. Coaches will apply the following skill (in this order):

Attitude: Players who are positive, competitive, and eager to learn.

Athletic Ability: Players with the ability to learn and perform complex skills.

What to Expect at Tryouts

Expect to work hard. You will be asked to perform all physical testing and drills at full speed. You should run when shagging balls, when moving from drill to drill and when going to and from water breaks. You will not sit down during tryouts, except during water breaks.

ATTITUDE EVALUATION: Prospective Pioneer Tennis players should be willing to try hard, make mistakes, learn from those mistakes and keep trying. Coaches will take note of those players who listen, follow directions, and ask questions when necessary.

SKILL/COMPETITION EVALUATION: Prospective players will be asked to demonstrate their understanding of basic tennis skills (forehand, backhand, volleys, and serve) in competitive situations.

As with most sports, coaches will evaluate players for their ability and potential to fill the needs of the team.

How to Impress the Coaches

1. Help get out balls and equipment.

2. Be among the first to line up for drills or demonstrations.

3. Look the coach in the eye when she/he speaks to you or to the team.

4. Be a champion ball shagger.

5. Be among the first to help put away equipment.

Options for Players Not Selected

Tryouts are a difficult time.

One of the toughest jobs for any coach is the final decision about which players make the team, and those who do not. The Stillwater Pioneer Tennis coaching staff strives to make all decisions fairly, without bias, and after extended deliberation and evaluation of each prospective student-athlete.

If you are not selected this season, and would like to try out again in the future, there are other options available to you that may help you in the future.

1. Be a team manager. Tennis managers have a chance to learn leadership and organizational skills and fill a valuable role on the team.

2. Play another sport for the Pioneers .

3. If you are planning to tryout again at a later date and time. This is a list of recommendations to get better:

o Take lessons: either group and/or private. Look under for helpful links or ask the coaches for the best places to improve.

o Join USTA

o Attend tennis camps.

o Hit a LOT of tennis balls and work on your technique and mental game

o Don't give up

Tryout Take Two

August 4th @ Couch Park from 6:00pm-7:30pm

Please watch for emails with updates to the address submitted at tryout registration.