“Get the water off the playing part of the tennis court as fast as possible.”

In teaching tennis, we instruct our students to know the outcome goal you would like to achieve but to focus on the performance goals which you can control.

Outcome goal, as stated above, is to get the water off the playing surface as quickly as possible so it can begin to dry.  Once that is accomplished, next, begin to remove the water from the area around the court while the main part of the court is drying.

We can control how we remove the water but not how fast the court will dry.  That can be left up to the temperature, wind or sun.  However, we can control the performance goal of how we remove the water initially.

Performance goals, are how we go about removing the water.

1. One of the most effective methods is to begin with your squeegee or roll dri on the junction of the service line and the center service line.
2. Applying gentle pressure to the handle of the roll dri, begin to walk in a small circle to your right or left.
3. As you complete the first circle and start your second circle your circle will get larger and larger and the water will be pushed quickly away from the center of the court
4. Within a matter of minutes the playing surface will be free of standing water and nature can begin to start her part in helping to dry the court surface.
5. You can continue to make the circle larger and larger well outside the court lines.  Finally, there are only small triangle corners left to push the water off the back and side court areas

This method is much more efficient than pushing water back and forth across the court and allows the playing surface to begin drying much quicker.  This process is extremely quick when another person is following behind the lead person making the circle. As a team they can double the speed of getting the water off the playing surface.

Once one half of the court playing surface has been squeegeed, move to the other half and remove standing water from the playing surface.  Now that both playing surfaces are clear of standing water, both people begin to squeegee off the back and side court areas.

When you finish getting as much surface water off the court as possible, do not set your roll dri down on the roller.  Doing so will create a flat part the will permanently create a flat spot on the roller.  This flat spot will jump over standing water as it approaches it.

6 Performance Goals to remember:

1. Do not apply extreme pressure to the handle of the roll dri – just like you do not grip your racquet to tightly
2. Do not bend forward too drastically as you push the roll dri – just like your posture is of extreme importance as you play
3. Stay focused so your roll dri does not allow water to run back onto the area you have just dried from your last circle – just like paying attention as you play your points, games and sets in your match
4. Work as a team, compliment what a great job your partner is doing and make suggestions by saying, “I like what you are doing, how about if we try this?” – just like in your matches with your partner in doubles
5. Once the water is off the main playing surface, focus on removing the water from the area outside the lines while the playing surface is drying.
6. Hang up your squeegee of roll dri to protect the blade or roller

Outcome Goal to experience – Play tennis as soon after a rain as possible.

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