We Need to Fill in the Training Gaps

Summary

JY Aubone returns for his fourth appearance on ParentingAces to discuss the critical gaps in junior tennis training — particularly the mental side of the game, how to structure practice time between privates, groups, and match play, and the discipline required to reach high-level competitive tennis. He emphasizes that coaches must address technique, strategy, and fitness before digging into deeper psychological issues, and that the chronic lack of practice matches in junior tennis is an “embarrassing” systemic failure driven by club economics and parent convenience.

Guest Background

JY Aubone is a tennis coach and consultant based in Atlanta who works with junior players both in-person and online. He played at Florida State, where his father (a former pro) coached him. He is now also a new father, which has deepened his understanding of the parent perspective. INTENNSE connection: JY serves in Player Relations for INTENNSE.

Key Topics

• Mental game hierarchy: JY works through a diagnostic ladder — fix technique first, then strategy, then fitness, and only then dig into deeper psychological issues. He warns against making athletes “think too much,” citing Justin Fields as a parallel example.
• When to refer to a sports psychologist: Coaches should recognize their limits. JY has even recommended himself being “fired” when the player-coach connection was not clicking. Sports psychologists create safer environments for vulnerability (references Brene Brown).
• Practice structure by age: Younger players (under 13) need more private lessons focused on technique, even if only 15-20 minutes. Older players should tilt toward match play and group work. Ideal group size: no more than 4 players, ideally across 2 courts.
• Practice match crisis: Most juniors are not playing enough practice matches. Clubs do not provide court space for them, parents are not informed they are necessary, and kids limit their pool of potential practice partners. JY recommends 1-2 practice matches per week minimum.
• Turning private lessons into match play: A practical workaround — ask the private lesson coach to bring in another player and coach through a practice match instead of traditional drill work.
• Time management and sacrifice: Using an example of a committed player who did fitness at 9:30 PM and scheduled 6 AM hitting sessions, JY stresses that pursuing high-level tennis while maintaining traditional schooling requires real trade-offs. References Frank Giampaulo’s approach to time auditing.
• Regular goal check-ins: Parents should revisit their child’s tennis goals every 3-6 months — motivations shift rapidly between ages 8-18.

Actionable Advice for Families

1. Ensure your child plays at least 1-2 organized practice matches per week — this is non-negotiable for competitive development.
2. Consider converting private lessons into coached match play sessions, especially when technique is solid.
3. Build fitness into tennis warmups (body-weight squats, lunges, push-ups) to solve time constraints.
4. Schedule full weekends off from tennis at least once per month.
5. Do a time audit (a la Frank Giampaulo): map out every hour of the child’s day to find realistic pockets for training.
6. Check in with your child on their goals regularly — passion and commitment levels shift, especially through adolescence.

INTENNSE Relevance

• Direct organizational tie: JY Aubone is INTENNSE Player Relations. His coaching philosophy — holistic development, mental game integration, strategic thinking — directly reflects INTENNSE values.
• Content pipeline: JY’s framework for diagnosing performance issues (technique > strategy > fitness > psychology) is a potential INTENNSE methodology asset.
• Practice match gap: This is a systemic problem INTENNSE could address through programming, platform features, or academy partnerships that facilitate structured match play.
• Parent education: JY’s emphasis on educating parents about training structure gaps aligns with INTENNSE’s family-facing content strategy.

Notable Quotes

“You can have the most beautiful technique in the world. If you can’t perform under stress, pressure, and nerves, it doesn’t matter.”

“How can you be good at something you never practice? Tennis matches are not feeding drills.”

“If you don’t want to give it up, you want great grades, great SAT score, and to get into a very good educational school — don’t expect to be the greatest tennis player ever. Something’s got to give.”