Lead by Example Practice Set
Leadership
Legend
- player
- coach / parent
- movement path
How it works
Develop leading-by-example habits by having players self-assess their effort, attitude, and sportsmanship standards during a practice set.
What you need
- tennis racket
- tennis balls
- court
- scorecards
Your focus
Leadership in tennis begins with self-regulation , players who manage their own behavior model standards for peers. Self-assessment scorecards create accountability without external enforcement, building intrinsic leadership. Players who practice leading by example in low-stakes environments are more likely to do so in high-pressure matches.
Before the practice set, players each write down three specific leadership behaviors they will demonstrate (e.g., hustle on every ball, call scores clearly, encourage opponent's good shots).
Play a full set; after every three games, players privately rate themselves 1-3 on each behavior.
After the set, partners share their self-assessments and identify one behavior they modeled well and one to improve.
Coach leads a group discussion on how individual behavior affects the practice culture for everyone.
Helpful cues
- Would you want to practice with yourself today?
- Hustle speaks louder than words
- Your attitude is your team's atmosphere
Adjust the challenge
Make it easier
Strip it back
Reduce to one leadership behavior per player to track.
UpLVL it
Add the next challenge
Partners rate each other (not themselves) and compare scores for a full discussion.No account needed
Build a practice plan
Add drills, keep the plan in this browser, then share a link with your staff or parents.This library helps you find the right drill. Inside UpLVL the right drill finds the player.
This library helps you find the right drill. Inside UpLVL the right drill finds the player.After every practice, UpLVL automatically surfaces the drills each player needs to work on most. See it for yourself.