How the Argentine Tennis Association is finding the stars of tomorrow
A new development program aims to break decades-old myths and shift the perspective La entrada How the Argentine Tennis Association is finding the stars of tomorrow se publicó primero en Buenos Aires Herald .
For years, Argentine tennis centered its scouting on young players who quickly won titles in junior competitions. The Argentine Tennis Association (AAT) is now focusing on nurturing potential athletes from a young age, aiming to assess their long-term development rather than just immediate success. This shift in strategy is spearheaded by the Argentine Technical Department (DeTA), which launched in 2022.
This new approach is exemplified by a recent transition camp held at the National High-Performance Sports Center (CeNARD) in Buenos Aires, where 16 children aged 9 to 12 from various provinces took part. The camp aimed to move scouting beyond the traditional hotspots of the sport and evaluate aspects beyond match outcomes.
Over several days, the young players engaged in technical training, physical evaluations, biomechanical assessments, and workshops on nutrition, sports psychology, and training planning. These sessions were designed to provide a comprehensive look at each athlete's development, rather than relying on a single metric like tournament wins.
A key aspect of this program is the use of data to monitor each player’s growth over time. Physical and anthropometric evaluations are used to build a record of each player’s progress, helping the AAT understand how they’re developing and how that growth might affect their future performance.
The program also places significant emphasis on psychological skills. Young players learn to manage their thoughts and emotions during play, an often-overlooked component of sporting success. This focus on mental resilience aims to create well-rounded athletes who can excel both on and off the court.
Former world No. 37 Carlos Berlocq, now a coach, highlighted the importance of motivation and ensuring that a young player’s journey isn’t solely about competition and winning. He emphasized that the experience should foster habits, responsibility, teamwork, and independence—lessons that extend beyond tennis into everyday life.
This new model, championed by the DeTA, represents a fundamental change in how Argentine tennis identifies and develops its future stars, focusing on nurturing potential rather than just identifying winners.
Written by urgent.news from Buenos Aires Herald's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
