On Episode 78 of The Tennis Files Podcast, I spoke with sports performance coach and personal trainer Aaron Patterson about how to train our junior tennis players to become better athletes. Aaron works with junior athletes every day at the PIT Strength and Conditioning Center in Bloomington, Illinois, and I have been really impressed by both the effort and positive attitudes from his clients. I first met Aaron at last year’s World Tennis Fitness Conference and really enjoyed speaking with him about how we can develop our junior tennis players to reach the next level in their tennis games by improving their strength and fitness.

Aaron has a very strong background in the world of tennis fitness. He is a National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) Certified Personal Trainer, International Tennis Performance Association (iTPA) Certified Tennis Performance Specialist, and a Certified Speed and Agility Coach. Aaron trains a multitude of top level junior athletes in sports such as tennis, golf, and volleyball. He is currently a Sports Performance Coach at the PIT Strength and Conditioning Center and a personal trainer at Four Seasons Health Club in Bloomington, Illinois.

On this episode, we talk about the best exercises for junior tennis players, the importance of having fun while training, books and resources for learning more about sports performance training, recovery and nutrition tips, and much more!

I really hope you enjoy my interview with Aaron! Let us know what you think about this episode in the comments below!

Show Notes:

The importance of making sure your athletes enjoy the process

3 things most of the world doesn’t know about Aaron Patterson

How Aaron became a sports performance expert and personal trainer

The ups and downs Aaron has faced during his career

The most critical skills for fitness and sports performance coaches

Common mistakes from personal trainers that tennis players should look out for

Aaron’s favorite books and resources that helped him develop his knowledge of personal training and sports performance

The difficulties of being a personal trainer and fitness coach

When younger players should start training their fitness

The best exercises for junior tennis players

An example of a comprehensive exercise routine

Aaron’s favorite pieces of equipment for training athletes

Recovery advice for tennis players

The most effective stretches after playing tennis

Nutrition tips and what kinds of foods to ingest for maximal performance

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