If practice sessions don’t include game-like situations, we are developing players who excel in practice but not in matches.
I have so often heard players say that they are brilliant in practice but they just can’t seem to get it out in matches & they just need to make it click now in matches & they will reach a completely different level.
It’s my true belief that in most cases that is simply not the truth. I have seen world champions in hitting the neutral forehand & backhand, but the reality of matches is that you’re rarely hitting neutral balls, most of the time you are either in offense or defense so if you use most of the time in practice sessions on hitting from neutral you will as a natural consequence struggle in matches.
It’s not the players’ fault, but we as coaches need to make sure that every practice session include both defensive, neutral & offensive gamesituations in order to simulate what is actually going on in matches.