High Performance Programs Overview

During the school year, we offer world-class High Performance programs in an exciting and competitive environment to meet the needs of the international tournament player all the way through to the first-time beginner.

We teach modern, professional tour skills and positive, championship habits to allow each student to reach his or her full potential. Each of our tennis programs incorporate the development of advanced footwork, physical fitness and athletic skills as well as mental and emotional toughness training to advance our students’ competitive abilities.

Academy students have the opportunity for daily match play against a variety of tough opponents. Students are required to join Payne Park as annual junior passholders and pay $120.00 directly to the pro shop for yearly court privileges.

Students are encouraged to register early for our Academy Programs and Summer Camps as SPACE IS VERY LIMITED.

Academy Programs

Elite Tour Champions / Private Coaching Program – Mornings

Our Elite Tour Champions Program, directed by Mark Dickson, is our most challenging competitive program designed to meet the needs of highly self-motivated online or home school students who have the goal of playing at the collegiate and/or professional tour level. Students train individually and in small teams in the mornings in a private coaching environment. To supplement our morning training, students are encouraged to attend our after school Champions Training program or schedule their own afternoon match play with local area juniors or through our Mentor Match Play.

This intense program is fully customized to the individual needs of each student and involves proven drills, competitive match play and mental toughness training.

Students develop their game style through a strong fundamental base of anticipation and reaction, movement, proper focus, advanced tactics, weapons development and patterns of play. As they become more confident students learn to compete better under pressure, play all parts of the court aggressively and gain the experience necessary to counter the game styles of every type of opponent.

The Elite Tour Champions program includes these features:

• Professional coaching by Mark Dickson
• Training individually and in small teams
• Includes morning tennis and fitness
• Minimum of 2 hours of tennis and ½ hour of fitness daily
• 3 afternoons per week of Champions Training, as scheduled, included at no charge
• Mental toughness training
• Mentor Match Play program with area adults
• Free local tournament coaching for tournaments on the Academy’s schedule

The Elite Tour Champions / Private Coaching program is specifically designed for highly self-motivated students who are educated online or through home-school studies and who have the ambition to compete at the top levels of national, collegiate and/or professional tennis. Elite Tour Champions / Private Coaching Program hours on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday (schedule and length of play will change to shifts depending on the number and ability level of students):

	7.30	8.30		Private lessons option (offered for an additional fee)
	8.30	10.30		Tennis – Warm up, fundamentals, drills, patterns of play, match play
	10.30	11.00		On-court & off-court fitness
	11.00	12.30		Private lessons option (offered for an additional fee)
	11.00	3.30		Rest
	3.30	6.00		No charge for up to 3 days per week of After School Champions Training Program, as scheduled

 

Train & Coach – Mornings and Afternoons (ATP Tour, WTA Tour & Collegiate players)

The Train & Coach program allows the collegiate player or touring professional to receive personal coaching from Mark Dickson and have access to superior quality courts. Students train intensively on their tennis and fitness for part of the day with the Academy’s highest level junior students and then serve as a hitting partner, mentor and coach to our younger Academy students for the balance of the day.

This is a great program for tour players who are on a tight travel and expense budget or who are exploring the possibilities of a professional coaching career. Academy juniors benefit by being able to train with and be coached by outstanding players with whom they can closely identify.

This type of program has been very successful over the years for everyone involved - the tour player, the aspiring young junior and the professional coaches.

The Train & Coach program includes these features:

• Professional coaching by Mark Dickson
• Training individually and in small teams
• Morning training, afternoon coaching/training typically
• Mental toughness training
• Opportunity for additional daily match play

Champions Training Program – After School

Modeled after our Elite Tour Champions Program, our after school Champions Training program is directed by Mark Dickson. The program is designed for self-motivated students who are pursuing a traditional education path and have the goal of playing at the highest level of team, state, national and collegiate competition. Training in small teams in an exciting, college-style atmosphere, students learn professional tour skills, positive habits and sportsmanship.

Students develop their strategies, tactics, weapons and game style through proven drills, situational play and competitive match play. Players gain self-confidence in all areas of the court and learn to compete successfully against all types of opponents.

This program is highly competitive and designed for self-motivated traditional school students who want a challenging and fun program to help them reach their goals.

Champions Training program is held on Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons during the following hours:

       2.30          3.30          Private lessons option (depends on availability, offered for an additional fee)
       3.30          6.00          Tennis – Warm up, fundamentals, drills, patterns of play, games, match play & team competitions, on-court & off-court fitness      
       6.30          8.30          Private lessons option (depends on availability, offered for an additional fee)

The Champions Training after school program includes these features:

• Professional coaching by Mark Dickson
• Individual attention and small teams
• 2 hours of tennis and 1/2 hour of fitness daily
• Mental toughness training
• Challenge Ladder Match Play program with Academy students
• Mentor Match Play program with area adults
• Free local tournament coaching for tournaments on the Academy’s schedule

 

Physical Conditioning

Our Physical Conditioning program balances athletic development, disciplined training and injury prevention. We have a great deal of experience with what it takes to develop into a world-class athlete and much of it involves training smart, not just hard. Tennis players need to be quick, strong and powerful, anticipate and react to the opponent’s court position and the ball and have endurance to tough out long matches.

We incorporate Sport Science and the most modern functional training methods available into developing tennis specific movement, balance, coordination, anticipation, reaction, reception, strength, speed, power and cardiovascular energy systems.

As much as possible, we make every effort to perform the majority of our fitness training on the court. This takes place during tennis drills and after our tennis programs have concluded.

Mark and Karen Dickson are the first and only husband and wife to be certified as Etcheberry Certified strength and conditioning professionals. Our strength development program is strongly influenced by Pat Etcheberry’s training methods and those used in the USTA High Performance Strength and Movement Training program.

The morning Elite Tour Champions / Private Coaching program and the afternoon Champions Training program both include our rigorous Physical Conditioning curriculum.

Saturday Academy

Academy make-up days are on Saturday mornings or through extended week day sessions. The program typically consists of our Academy Skills Competitions where students compete against each other in games, skill challenges and team events. This program is a great way for students to enjoy a college-like tennis experience and is an opportunity to make dramatic improvements in handling pressure and dealing with adversity.

The Saturday Academy program includes these features.

• Academy Skills Competitions
• Rain make up day for Academy students