Training method

Rafa Nadal and the technical team that has been working with him throughout his career have developed the unique training system applied at the Academy. A system that is regularly updated in line with the tennis industry that is constantly evolving, developing and improving both the materials that influence the speed of the game and the training methods that have helped us to see stronger, faster and more agile players.

With the use of new technologies we can clearly see in the statistical trends that the game of tennis is progressively moving towards a faster form of play, i.e., points are shorter and the beginning of the play (service/rest) makes the difference in the subsequent development of the point. This means that the player must be prepared to make decisions very quickly.

At the Academy we understand that the tennis of the present and the future is played first with the “eyes”, then with the “mind”, then with the “legs” and finally with the “hands”. And we apply training systems that go in this direction, combining them with the skills that have given Rafa so much success throughout his professional career, such as: mobility, winning character, intensity in training and in the match, competitive mentality and concentration.

In each training session, we will decide the percentage of time that will be dedicated to each aspect of the game (technical, strategic, physical, mental), in order to get our players to play as competitively as possible. Each training session will follow a clear “objective”, at a level of maximum concentration, with no difference between a training session and a competition match.

Tennis has evolved in many ways in recent years. A very important aspect has been the transformation of physical preparation and its importance in training and player development. Thus, with changes in materials and the physical demands faced by players, the challenges within the circuit have never been more challenging. Therefore, the Academy’s physical preparation is based on two pillars: coordination skills and injury prevention.

Coordination skills give students the foundation to make the impossible possible, the possible easy and the easy elegant. This includes balance in support, reaction ability, changes of pace and direction, and footwork. These aspects will be worked on in an integrated manner on the court and in the physical preparation sessions, where tasks will be built from the real game, receiving a singular treatment. Injury prevention is a very important part of the Academy’s programming. Tennis is an asymmetrical and aggressive sport that causes imbalances between muscles and joints. Preventive training, which aims to minimize these risks, will be based on the following aspects: joint mobility exercises, stretching of muscles that tend to shorten in order to relieve tension, strengthening of the stabilizing muscles of the different joints of the body, including the shoulder rotators and the deep muscles of the back.

Finally, to work on these aspects, the Academy has the latest technology in physical training equipment and machinery.

Proper nutrition plays a fundamental role in life in general and in sports practice in particular. Nutritional strategies help improve athlete performance and prevent injuries.

The Academy’s nutritional plan is based on different patterns according to stages, and to implement it, teamwork is essential (coaches, physical trainers, physiotherapists, psychologists and doctors), with the objective that the student himself learns to feed himself with the nutrients he needs at all times. The Academy’s nutritional program includes:

1. Assessment of the student’s nutritional status.
2. Specific needs assessment.
3. Elaboration of balanced and healthy menus with the selection of the best quality products of the island of Mallorca.
4. Hydration before, during and after training and competition, depending on environmental conditions.
5. Counseling on supplementation and ergogenic aids.
6. Support in the recovery and prevention of injuries.
7. Training and nutritional education and cooking workshops.
8. The center has its own kitchen and a team of chefs and cooks with experience in high performance centers.

Mental training consists of developing the student’s mental strength, which is fundamental to overcome adversities. This is one of the aspects that is most reinforced in the Academy’s programs since we understand that the tennis of the present and the future is played first with the “eyes”, then with the “mind”, then with the “legs” and finally with the “hands”.

In this way, mental strength exercises are performed on and off the court, with the aim of developing the student’s psychological skills, thus enhancing their performance both in tennis and in other areas of their lives.

Quick decision making, thinking under pressure, knowing how to pause and decide, are important aspects in sports as well as in real life.

The Academy also has a team of psychologists. They will be at the student’s side, participating in the development of the work plan and supervising it in order to act in the event that aspects to be improved in the student are detected.

Each student has a personalized competition calendar according to his or her age and tennis level, which includes local, national and international tournaments.

The tournament schedule is drawn up by the student’s tutor, together with the tournament coordinator and the Rafa Nadal School tutor, so that the student can adequately combine competition with studies.

Registration fees, travel and accommodation expenses are not included in the program prices.