Kevin Epley's Tennis Drills 2-Pack

with Kevin Epley,
University of South Carolina Head Coach;
2019 ITA/Wilson National Women's Coach of the Year;
2019 SEC Coach of the Year;
2019 Elite Eight appearance; 3x Sweet Sixteen appearances ('07, '17, '18);
15 NCAA Tournament appearances in 15 seasons as a head coach (South Carolina, William & Mary, Fresno State);
over 275 career wins;
has worked as a traveling coach for professional players Megan Moulton-Levy, Lindsay Lee-Waters, Lindsay Davenport and Patty Schnyder;
former head coach of the St. Louis Aces (World Team Tennis League);
former U.S. Olympic team assistant coach (2000 Sydney games);
former U.S. Federation Cup team assistant coach (1997-2002)

It can be difficult to get your players to give maximum effort throughout the whole season, or even an entire practice. Thankfully, University of South Carolina's Kevin Epley has a solution to this dilemma: 'The Cauldron.'

In this video, Epley takes his team through series of drills, all built around making them compete by demanding high intensity and quality shot making. He shows you how his methods can be made to work for you and your own team. You'll be given a glimpse into what makes Epley's teams successful in one of the toughest conferences in the country.

'The Cauldron'

Coach Epley starts by discussing 'The Cauldron' and how he shapes his practices. You'll learn why competition is the basis behind his philosophy and how he fosters a competitive atmosphere in each practice session. He also covers the concept of "external cueing" and why it's important when training tennis players.

Live Practice

"The Clijsters" is a competitive drill that Epley uses to develop shot consistency and depth of shot. You'll see his players demonstrate the "Aggressor/Defender Drill along with five variations, which is a main staple of his team's training that promotes consistency and sound decision-making skills.

In the variety section of 'The Cauldron,' Epley introduces the Forbidden Box and the Mix Game. Both of these drills develop player fitness and consistency by challenging them to hit to prescribed areas of the court with point penalties for an inability to do so.

Serving, Volleying, Mental Toughness

Coach Epley includes additional games/drills that train:

• Serving - Learn to section the serve box and simulate the return's baseline positioning to challenge players' serve consistency and placement.
• Volleying - Improve the overall volley prowess of your players while building their conditioning with a rigorous exercise.
• Mental Toughness - Watch as players go through a conditioning session, followed by a 7-point baseline drill which challenges their fitness level and develops toughness through adversity.

This is a great video for any coach looking to run a high-intensity practice containing drills and practice methods that will boost the talent level and conditioning of your players! Epley's system will help you see how to get your team playing with greater effort and purpose in the seasons ahead.

51 minutes. 2020.

with Kevin Epley,
University of South Carolina Head Coach;
2019 ITA/Wilson National Women's Coach of the Year;
2019 SEC Coach of the Year;
2019 Elite Eight appearance; 3x Sweet Sixteen appearances ('07, '17, '18);
15 NCAA Tournament appearances in 15 seasons as a head coach (South Carolina, William & Mary, Fresno State);
over 275 career wins;
has worked as a traveling coach for professional players Megan Moulton-Levy, Lindsay Lee-Waters, Lindsay Davenport and Patty Schnyder;
former head coach of the St. Louis Aces (World Team Tennis League);
former U.S. Olympic team assistant coach (2000 Sydney games);
former U.S. Federation Cup team assistant coach (1997-2002)

Players often are reluctant to poach in doubles play, and when they do, often they are passed or are out of position even at the advanced level. Coach Kevin Epley addresses this dilemma inside this video. You will learn to run plays off of a partner's serve, how to anticipate where the ball is supposed to go before it is hit by the opponent, and how Epley encourages a proactive mindset in his players so that they are aggressive and fearless in doubles play.

Foundational Drills for Doubles

Coach Epley begins with a wide base volley warm-up with seven variations, in which he goes over the footwork needed to be successful at volleys in doubles. Additionally, his warm-up improves split step timing and developing defensive volley skills.

Proper doubles positioning, which will in turn affect a player's ability to poach at the net, is also covered. Epley introduces the EK Triangle Drill in which athletes work on navigating the one up, one back doubles formation. You'll also discover how Coach Epley teaches ball recognition so player can anticipate and force their opponent's hand in rallies to shift the odds in their favor.

Playbook of Patterns

Next, you'll learn how Epley's doubles team builds a playbook of patterns to run against opponents while serving. He introduces the criteria they use to develop the plays and how they will be used based on factors such as the opponent's tendencies and the location of the serve.

Additionally, Coach Epley explains where the server should stand to have the best chance of success. He covers the correct positioning of the net player for a planned poach, reaction poach from the I position, regular doubles formation and "offset I" formation.

Competitive Games

Coach Epley finishes with competitive games used to hone his team doubles skills. His games are high in intensity, as well as challenging and fun for players. The goal of them all is to get players involved in moving at the net and creating opportunities for their doubles team.

This video is chock full of valuable information to help players become more competent and aggressive doubles players. You'll learn how to develop the skills needed to anticipate opponents' moves on the court and how to cover the court at the net. This is a must-see for all doubles tennis players and coaches!

69 minutes. 2020.