YOUNG GUNS: are you ready?

Four young players, all friends and all part of a tennis squad called Young Guns.

Share their successes, disappointments, hopes, bad and glad days, and the on and off-court challenges they face!

Check the Library if you`ve missed some.

EPISODE 8 - Training

It was Saturday afternoon and Coach had had the Young Guns training at the Club in preparation for a tour to Germany in a months time. All the squad members were working well and clear of injuries. Line`s fall last month in her tournament hadn`t caused any real damage to her leg, she had infact gone on to win the event in a rather one sided match the following day.

"Everyone round here for a breather" Coach called out, "I`ve got a few things to mention about this tour." Tram jogged over catching up with the girls whilst Ace took his time in his usual laid back manner. "Come on Ace!" Coach pleaded pretending to be serious.

"I wrote to all your parents detailing this tour and why I think it would be good for you all to go on it. You probably have seen the letter". Coach noticed Tram and Rules nodding. `That`s not surprising` he thought, `their parents are organised about their youngsters tennis`. "The tournament is going to be hard, the top German and French players take part in it. So we`re going to work hard up `til the time we go, okay? And now that you`re exams are over you`ll have more time for tennis! " Coach smiled. "Coach what surfaces are we going to play on?"asked Rules. "Clay mainly, but we`ll play some other smaller tournaments as well and some of those are on artificial grass" Coach replied. "Right, your homework for next session is, I want a list of all the items you will need to take with you in your tennis bag for this tour. It`s got to include any special food, drink and that sort of thing". "Vodka and Iron Bru Tram" Ace whispered, but not quietly enough because Coach added, "and I`ll be checking all your bags before we set off!". Everyone smiled except for Rules who was already mentally making out her list.

"Right then, serve and return practices", Coach instructed, everyone getting up and following him onto the court near the baseline. It was a great day, no wind and clear skies. On the next row of courts Trams sister Netty was playing with some of her friends. Coach glanced over and noted how well she was coming on with her shots. "Line and Ace you start serving. Warm them up first. Tram you return Lines and Rules you return Aces serves. Returners hit back everything cross court. Okay let`s go", commanded Coach making his way to behind the servers. "Singles positions, Tram stand a bit wider" Coach called. Line and Ace pushed the balls in the air and served, their rackets flashing through the air before making contact with the falling ball. "As you warm that shoulder up try reaching up further for the ball" encouraged Coach to the servers after they had hit a few serves. "Keep the ball in front Ace" he added before wandering round to where Rules and Tram were returning. "Okay you two, the secret of good returning is short take back", Coach demonstrated the postion of the racket on take back, "and complete swing forward and through. If you stay low while you return, and straighten when you make your shot you`ll lift the ball over the net". He then stepped aside to let Tram continue. Tram shadowed Coaches takeback to get it in his own mind before settling into a crouching position. Coach was really proud of this group, their serving was exceptional, so much so that the returners were having a problem getting the serves back! "Okay, swap around, same partners" instructed Coach. This continued for another 20 minutes before the four players were given a break.

"What we`re going to do next is set up a match as if it`s the third set in a long match." Coach said. "So its work time! It`s shuttle time!" "Oh come on Coach" Ace complained, he never liked these sessions. "You`ll thank me for it when you get to the third set in Germany Ace, honestly!" "Six shuttles, you must step into the tramlines on each side, not on the line but over the line." Netty had wandered over to watch with her friends. "Netty, can you give me a hand here please?" asked Coach. "Yeah, what would you like me to do?" came the eager reply as she ran full pelt over to where Coach stood. "Make sure everyone puts their foot into the tramline like this" Coach showed Netty what he meant. "Even Tram, no favourites now" he smiled at her. Netty crouched down to look along the line. "GO" shouted Coach. They weren`t ready for that and everyone except Rules reacted slowly. Rules reached the sideline and turned first then Tram and Line with Ace behind them. Across they sped to the other side, Rules again making the turn first, Tram was just ahead of Line with Ace catching her up. At the halfway turn Rules and Tram were neck and neck as were Line and Ace. Tram stumbled at the next turn, Rules went ahead. Line put in a spurt and caught Tram up. With the last turn coming up Rules was looking good. Ace had caught Tram and Line up. Rules made the last turn and sprinted home first Tram finished next with Ace and Line third.

"Right away now Line you`re serving against Rules. Play two games. Go. Ace you`re serving against Tram now. Two games. Go" Still puffing they all started. Coach noticed how the tiredness affected the servers, both losing their serves easily. But how Rules and Tram both won their service games. Coach called them over and pointed this out and told them how important it was to make sure that after a long tiring point that they took their time to get their breath and compose themselves.

"Jees, I`m knackered" Ace breathed out heavily collapsing backwards with arms spread out, and everyone laughed. "But you only played two games" Tram chipped in, ducking as two balls whistled past his head. "That`s it for today you guys, well done and well worked, you did well today. Remember those lists. Line you still okay for that lesson tomorrow?" Coach asked. "Yep, 10.30?" Line replied glancing at the others, Coach nodded. He was keen to sort out her backhand slice.

"Cheerio then" Coach waved as he headed for the showers. "Bye" came the reply. "I`m really looking forward to the tour, aren`t you?" Rules said excitedly. "Mmm sort of ," Line replied, "its going to be hard. Hope we can go out at night some times. Do you think we will?"Line continued straightening her skirt over her legs. "Hope so, need to boogy" Ace said as he stood up and started to dance. Everyone threw tennis balls at him. "Okay, okay! I`ll stop" he yelled, "spoilers!" "Anyone fancy going to the movies later on?" asked Rules, knowing that her mum and dad were having guests in for dinner and wanting an excuse not to be there! "Tram?" she looked at him, he hesitated, Rules quickly guessed why and added, "you and Rose". "Ooooooo" everyone whistled as Tram smiled. "Cool, yeh count me in" he replied. "Line, Ace how about it?". "Got my lesson tomorrow, so can`t be too late" Line said. Although she usually never missed an opportunity to `go out`, she had become more conscious of being fresh for a match or lesson since winning the last tournament."Sorry guys I can`t, hockey guys start of season bash".

"See you all here about 7.30 tonight" Rules called out as she grabbed her rackets and bag making for her mums car which had just pulled up. "Yeh okay" Tram said.

"You going to take Rose then?" Ace asked Tram as they headed for their bikes. "Don`t know now, that`ll be three of them and me! Sure you can`t make it?" he almost pleaded with Ace. "Sorry no can do. But hey three to one, come on, you shouldn`t complain!" teased Ace. Tram pushed him over as he tried to get on his bike. Tram sped off laughing, Ace scrabbled on and took off after him. Line watched them go noticing Ace`s backward glance at her before he sped away. She smiled back. Her parents were late again.

"Mum I hope you don`t mind but some of the guys have asked me to go to the movies tonight, is that okay?" Rules mum smiled to herself knowing full well that Rules didn`t want to stay in with their guests."That`s okay Ru, have you asked Twist? what you going to see? " "We haven`t decided yet" Rules replied. "Do you think I should ask Twist?" They chatted all the way home, they were good at that, Rules could tell her mum and dad everything, they were always interested in what she did. Nicely interested.

"Bye Line, see you later" called out Rules from the car. Line caught Rules` mums proud smile and waved back. "You be okay here?" she said. "Yeah fine thanks Mrs Book, Coach will wait with me, he`s inside changing. Thanks".

"Well Line enjoy today?" Coach said going over to his car. "Yeah, served well" she replied. "Your returns were pretty good as well Line". She smiled. "Here`s your folks, see you tomorrow Line." "Okay, bye". Line packed her bag in the boot of the car and got in the back seat. Coach waved as they turned and left the Club. Coach always took a note after each session about the players. He had done this whilst changing earlier, but now sat down in his car with the door open and jotted down `speak to Line about Ace`. He was concerned that their attraction to each other may distract her from her tennis just before the Tour. He made a mental note to mention it tomorrow if the timing was right.

Episode 9 - The Tour