To prepare for school tennis trials in Singapore, train the things selectors can actually see in a short trial: consistent depth under pressure, a serve that goes in, sensible shot choice, steady footwork and a player who competes well and behaves well when points go badly. Trial formats differ from school to school, so ask your teacher-in-charge or coach what yours will look like. The preparation below works for any format, and it is built from what I look at when I help run squad selection and school trials.
Most players prepare by hitting more balls. That helps, but trials are short, the pressure is unusual and you are often compared with players you do not know. A better plan trains the specific situations a trial creates.
What selectors are really looking for
Every school and coach weighs things differently, so I will describe my own lens. When I watch a trial, I am asking five questions.
- Can the player keep the ball in play when it matters? Consistency under pressure beats a single big shot. A player who makes 8 out of 10 balls deep is easier to trust than one who hits two winners and four errors.
- Is the serve reliable? A second serve that collapses under pressure often decides a close trial, because it hands the opponent free points.
- Does the player make sensible choices? I look for patterns: crosscourt by default, attack the short ball, avoid low-percentage shots at key moments.
- How does the player move and recover? Readiness between shots tells me more about match potential than one pretty forehand.
- How does the player compete? I notice effort, body language after errors, and how the player behaves toward opponents and officials. A squad is a group, and attitude carries over.
None of these needs a perfect technique. They need a player who has practised in conditions that resemble the trial.
A four-week preparation plan
If you have four weeks, I would split the time like this. Adjust it to your schedule, and keep one rest day each week.
Week 1: Find the weakest link
Play two sets of practice points against someone of similar level and record simple numbers: first serves in, double faults, unforced errors off each wing, and how many balls you hit past the service line. Your weakest number is your priority. If you need a structured way to look at a stroke, my forehand and backhand checklists show the order I use. For the serve, see the serve diagnostic checklist.
Week 2: Build a serve and return you can trust
Choose a safe second serve you can land under pressure, with spin and height over the net, and practise it until it is dull. Then work on your return, because trials often include many points that begin with it. My notes on return of serve tactics explain where to stand and what to hit.
Week 3: Add scoring and pressure
Switch most of your sessions to scored play. Use the formats below. This is the week to rehearse starting a set, coming back from 0-30, and closing out a game when you are ahead.
Week 4: Sharpen and rest
Reduce volume and keep the intensity short. Practise your warm-up routine, sleep well and avoid trying a new grip or a new serve motion. A change made in the last week is usually a mistake. If you have been training hard through term, my guide to junior training frequency explains how to judge when rest matters more than another session.
Four practice formats for trial preparation
Format 1: Serve plus one
Play points that begin with your serve, and you must hit your first ball after the serve deep to a marked zone. Count how many of ten service games you hold. This trains the pattern selectors see most often and reveals whether the second serve holds up.
Format 2: Tiebreak to 7, played twice
Short matches are common in trials, and a single lost point can change the result. Play a first-to-seven tiebreak and switch who serves first. Note what you do after losing the first two points. Your reaction is the thing to train.
Format 3: Defend, then reset
A partner feeds you wide balls and you must recover and hit the next ball back deep and crosscourt. After two defensive balls, the partner feeds a short ball that you attack. This rehearses what happens in real rallies, where defence and attack alternate. For attack decisions, see my short ball guide.
Format 4: Play against a style you dislike
Ask a partner to play only slice, or only high looping balls, or to come to the net on every short ball. Play ten points against each. Trials often put you against a style you rarely see, and players who have practised against several styles settle faster. If your matches already fall short of your practice, read my guide on why players perform worse in matches than in practice.
On the day of the trial
Arrive early and warm up properly: a few minutes of jogging and mobility, then easy hitting that gets progressively faster, then serves and returns. Eat something you have eaten before. In Singapore’s heat, bring water and a spare shirt, and read my guide to playing in the heat and humidity if your trial is outdoors. If it is held indoors, remember that balls behave differently, which I cover in indoor versus outdoor adjustments.
Before each point, use a simple routine: breathe out, decide where you will hit the first ball, then start. If you lose a point, move on within a few seconds. Selectors watch how you react as much as the scoreline.
Common mistakes players make before trials
Changing technique too late. New mechanics collapse under pressure. Keep changes for the off-season.
Practising only with friendly partners. If every practice partner hits the ball you want, the trial will feel strange. Find partners who vary the pace and spin.
Playing too many hours. Over-training just before a trial leaves players heavy-legged and prone to injury. Fresh and sharp beats tired and busy.
Ignoring the second serve. Many players practise the first serve for hours and the second for minutes. Trials expose that imbalance quickly.
Treating the trial as the whole story. One trial is a small sample. If you miss selection, ask for feedback, work on the two items given and try again. The longer path is described in my player development pathway.
Common questions
How early should a player start preparing for trials?
Four to six weeks gives enough time to improve one or two areas without rushing. Players who start the week before usually have time only to rest and warm up properly, which is worth doing, but will not change the underlying game.
Is it better to focus on strokes or on match play?
Both, but in different weeks. Early in the plan, spend more time on the weakest stroke. In the last two weeks, move to scored play so that the stroke is tested under pressure.
What if my child is nervous before trials?
Nerves are normal and often show that the player cares. A routine helps: the same warm-up, the same pre-point breath, and a one-sentence plan for each point. Parents can help most by keeping the car ride calm and asking about effort and learning, not the score.
Should I ask my coach to attend the trial?
Schools set their own rules about who may attend, so check first. Whether or not a coach can be there, a debrief afterwards helps: write down what worked, what failed and what to practise next.
Written by Tan Xu Teng (Coach XT), Head Tennis Coach and founder of TAG International Tennis Academy. Coach XT specializes in technical diagnostics, competitive player development, and modern coaching methodology in Singapore.