Thanks for your response.
I agree with you that individual coaching from a topnotch coach is invaluable and that surely juniors can benefit tremendously from it, however I’m convinced that top-juniors (15-17years) should have already have 85% of their skills -technical, strategical and mental- in place and that the area of most growth is the physical because of the development phases of the human body (females mature 2-3 years earlier)!
For this reason I would choose a 50-50 approach in this age category for the boys.
50% of the time physical work an 50% the other area’s …
I hope that I can show the (positive) results of my approach to you someday…it would be my privilege!

I also agree that during tournament weeks the other areas would be more or less eliminated, but the costs would not scale down as much…due to other costs like hospitality and traveling, I think….?

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I really appreciate it as it gives other readers a chance to formulate their own opinions based upon what they read here.

You asked: “…the technical aspects of the strokes should be in place (what I strongly advise) why do you spend 8-10 hours a week on individual coaching?”

Junior tennis development is an area that involves many different approaches and opinions. Nobody has a monopoly on knowledge. All one can do is act on one’s best judgment and the results will speak for themselves.

In my own experience, even as a pro, the most valuable advice I received came from individual time with Harry Hopman and Tony Roche. I suggested 8-10 hours of individual coaching per week because a competent coach will not limit him or herself by teaching technique only.

A good 15-17 year old still has an immense amount to learn when it comes to sound strategy, court management and help with the mental aspects of the game. If a 15-17 year old I was coaching had the choice between spending 5 extra hours per week working on leg strength and stamina or five hours individual time with Tony Roche, I know what I would recommend.

You also stated: “If you count 25 USD (low budget training) an hour, then we are talking about 750 USD a week, for 40 week a year, this means 30000 USD (low budget training)!!!!”

I infer from the numerous exclamation marks that you have used to emphasize your point that there is a hint of “are you kidding me?” in your response to what I’ve written. In anticipation of such a reaction, my suggestions above assume, and I quote from the article, “an ideal world where finance was not an issue.”

And for clarification purposes, during tournament weeks there would be a commensurate scaling down of the other areas involved in a player’s training regime. For instance, both prior to and after a tournament, on-court time and off-court time would be severely reduced in order to both prepare for and recover from the demands of tournament play. Of course, during tournaments, virtually all off-court training would be eliminated and on-court time would be limited to warm ups and ironing out any little kinks.

B. If I count up the hours that you advise:
1. 8-10 hours a week of individual coaching
2. 8-10 hours a week of drilling
3. practice matches = 5 hours a week
4. 5-8 hours a week of off-court training
5. tournaments 16-18 (winning ratio 4 to 1) = 80 matches = 160 hours = 4 hours a week
this all is the equivalent of approx. 30 hours a week!!!

If you count 25 USD (low budget training) a hour, then we are talking about 750 USD a week, for 40 week a year, this means 30000 USD (low budget training)!!!!