Napoleon Araoarao · Tennis coach in Riverside, California
Tennis is a sport that takes time, repetition, confidence, and experience to improve. While private lessons are a great way for players to receive one-on-one instruction, tennis clinics provide something different: the opportunity to train with other players, compete, communicate, and develop skills in situations that feel more like an actual tennis match.
My name is Napoleon Araoarao, and through Napoleon Tennis, I offer tennis instruction designed to help players continue developing their game in a positive and competitive environment. One of the areas I especially enjoy working with is high school tennis.
High school tennis clinics can be a great option for players who want additional practice outside of their school team, players preparing for an upcoming season, or students who simply want more opportunities to play tennis.
Whether a player is still developing the fundamentals or already competing at the varsity level, having additional structured time on the court can make a major difference.
Why Are Tennis Clinics Important for High School Players?
One of the biggest challenges for high school tennis players is getting enough quality repetitions.
During a school practice, coaches may be responsible for a large number of athletes at the same time. Players may need to rotate courts, share drills, participate in team activities, and prepare for upcoming matches. School practices are extremely important, but there may not always be enough time for every individual player to focus on the specific areas of their game that need improvement.
About the coach
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Napoleon Araoarao
Tennis coach in Riverside, California
Personalized tennis coaching for every level.
With over 20 years of dedication to the sport, I bring both playing and coaching experience to every lesson. As a former varsity and college player who has competed in CIF, USTA, UTR, and Ojai tournaments, I understand the demands of high-level competition. Since 2014, I’ve coached players ranging from beginners to advanced athletes, leading teams to league titles. My approach combines technical instruction with game strategy, always tailored to each player’s goals and style. Whether you’re just picking up a racquet or preparing for competitive play, I’m here to help you elevate your game and enjoy the process of improving on the court.
A smaller tennis clinic gives players the opportunity to get more repetitions while still having other athletes available to practice against. Players can work on technique and consistency while also experiencing competitive situations.
Clinics may include work on:
Groundstrokes and rally consistency
Forehands and backhands
Serving technique and placement
Return of serve
Volleys and net play
Footwork and movement
Singles strategy
Doubles positioning
Point construction
Match play
Confidence under pressure
Each of these areas can become important during a high school tennis season.
The goal is not simply to hit hundreds of tennis balls. Players should also learn how to use their skills when points actually matter.
The Benefits of Small Group Tennis Clinics
At Napoleon Tennis, I prefer keeping my high school tennis clinics small.
A smaller group allows players to receive more individual attention while still enjoying the advantages of training with other athletes.
For example, a four-player clinic creates several possibilities. Players can work in pairs, rotate through drills, practice singles points, play doubles situations, and compete against several different styles of players.
There is also less standing around.
When groups become too large, players may spend more time waiting for their turn than actually playing tennis. Smaller groups allow me to keep players active and provide feedback throughout the session.
Another important benefit is competition.
Tennis is an individual sport, and players have to learn how to make decisions independently during matches. Training around other players creates opportunities to practice competing, dealing with mistakes, adjusting strategies, and responding to pressure.
These experiences can be difficult to reproduce during individual hitting sessions.
High School Tennis Clinic
One of the options I offer is my High School Tennis Clinic.
This is a one-hour, co-ed clinic for high school students who want additional time on the court.
The clinic is designed to be flexible. Instead of requiring every player to commit to an entire season or long training program, students can register for an individual clinic or participate in multiple weeks.
Each session requires a minimum of two players and is limited to a maximum of four players.
The cost is $15 per student, per clinic.
The High School Tennis Clinic may include drills, groundstrokes, serves, volleys, movement, consistency work, competitive games, point play, and match situations.
The exact focus can change depending on the players attending and what I believe will benefit the group that week.
The weekly format is especially helpful for high school students because their schedules can change throughout the year. School matches, tournaments, homework, family commitments, and other activities can make committing to a long program difficult.
A weekly clinic gives players another opportunity to train without requiring a major commitment.
It can also be a good way for a new student to experience my coaching style before deciding whether they would like additional training.
High School Prep Academy
The High School Prep Academy is designed for developing high school players who want more structured training.
These players may be newer to competitive tennis, developing their game for a junior varsity or varsity team, or trying to become more confident during matches.
The emphasis is on developing dependable tennis skills.
A player does not need to hit the hardest forehand or fastest serve to become successful at the high school level. Being able to consistently keep the ball in play, move correctly, understand court positioning, and make good decisions can win a lot of points.
The High School Prep Academy can focus on areas such as rally tolerance, serving consistency, returning, movement, basic point construction, doubles positioning, and match play.
Because this academy is more structured, players have an opportunity to build on what they learned during previous sessions.
The goal is to help players become more comfortable competing and give them skills that transfer directly into high school matches.
High School Performance Academy
The High School Performance Academy is intended for stronger and more experienced high school players looking for more challenging training.
These players may already have competitive experience through varsity tennis, tournaments, USTA competition, UTR matches, or other organized tennis.
The training can move at a quicker pace and place greater emphasis on competitive situations.
Players may work on attacking short balls, controlling rallies, changing direction, defending, transitioning to the net, serving with purpose, returning aggressively, doubles strategy, and constructing points.
Match play is also an important part of performance training.
There is a major difference between being able to perform a shot during a drill and being able to execute that same shot at 30-30 during a close match.
Players need opportunities to practice making decisions while keeping score and dealing with pressure.
The Performance Academy is designed to create more of those situations.
Clinics Help Players Become Better Competitors
One of the most valuable parts of tennis clinics is learning how to compete.
A player may have excellent technique but struggle during matches because they become nervous, impatient, or unsure what to do.
That is normal.
Competitive tennis requires skills that go beyond strokes.
Players have to learn how to stay focused after losing a point, recognize an opponent's strengths and weaknesses, adjust their strategy, manage emotions, and continue competing when a match becomes difficult.
Small-group clinics can create those situations in a controlled environment.
A player might face someone who hits with more topspin one week and someone who plays more defensively the next week.
Every opponent teaches you something different.
The more styles of tennis a player experiences, the more comfortable they can become when they encounter those situations during school matches or tournaments.
Tennis Clinics Can Complement High School Team Practices
Tennis clinics are not meant to replace a student's high school tennis program.
Instead, they can complement what players are already doing with their teams.
School coaches have to focus on the entire program. That includes practices, lineups, doubles teams, conditioning, match preparation, team culture, transportation, schedules, and many other responsibilities.
Additional training gives individual players more opportunities to work on their own development.
A student might use a clinic to improve their second serve, become more comfortable at the net, work on doubles positioning, or simply get additional match play.
Those improvements can then benefit the player when they return to their high school team.
Why Consistency Matters in Tennis
Improvement in tennis usually does not happen after one great practice.
It happens through consistent training.
A player may work on a technical adjustment during one session, begin understanding it during the next session, and finally become comfortable using it several weeks later.
That is why consistent court time is important.
Even attending one additional clinic each week can give a player more opportunities to reinforce good habits.
Over several months, those additional hours begin to add up.
Consistency is especially important for players who want to move from junior varsity to varsity, move higher in their team's lineup, or become more competitive against stronger opponents.
There is no shortcut to becoming a better tennis player.
Players need repetitions, competition, patience, and time.
Finding the Right High School Tennis Clinic
Not every player needs the exact same type of training.
A newer high school player may benefit from additional instruction on fundamentals and consistency.
A more experienced player may need competitive drills and match play.
Some players may simply want an affordable weekly opportunity to get on the court.
That is why I offer different training options through Napoleon Tennis.
The weekly High School Tennis Clinic provides flexibility.
The High School Prep Academy provides more structured developmental training.
The High School Performance Academy provides a more competitive environment for stronger players.
The goal is to give high school players an opportunity to find training that fits their current level and goals.
What Should Players Bring to a Tennis Clinic?
Players should arrive ready to practice and compete.
I recommend bringing a tennis racket, appropriate tennis shoes, plenty of water, and any other personal equipment needed for the session.
Players should also bring something that cannot be purchased at a tennis store: a positive attitude.
Mistakes are part of tennis.
You are going to miss forehands. You are going to double fault. You are going to lose points you probably should have won.
What matters is how you respond.
One of my goals as a coach is to create an environment where players are willing to work, compete, learn from mistakes, and continue improving.
Frequently Asked Questions About High School Tennis ClinicsWho can attend the High School Tennis Clinic?
The clinic is designed for high school students and is co-ed. Players should have an interest in improving their tennis skills and be prepared to participate in drills, point play, and other tennis activities.
How long is the High School Tennis Clinic?
The weekly High School Tennis Clinic is one hour.
How much does the clinic cost?
The High School Tennis Clinic is $15 per student, per clinic.
Do I have to register for multiple weeks?
No. Players can register for one clinic or participate in multiple weeks depending on their schedule.
How many players are in each clinic?
Clinics require a minimum of two players and have a maximum of four players.
Keeping the groups small allows players to receive more attention and spend more time actually playing tennis.
Are the clinics only for varsity players?
No. Different training options are available for different levels of high school players. Developing players may benefit from the High School Tennis Clinic or High School Prep Academy, while more experienced competitive players may be better suited for the High School Performance Academy.
Can tennis clinics help prepare me for high school tryouts?
Yes. Additional practice can help players improve their strokes, consistency, serving, movement, point play, and confidence before tryouts.
However, every school and coaching staff has its own criteria for team selection, so attending a clinic does not guarantee a player a spot on a high school team.
Can I attend clinics while I am already playing on my high school team?
Yes. Additional clinics can provide extra repetitions and focused training outside of normal school practices, as long as the clinic fits around your team's schedule and any applicable school or athletic rules.
Continue Developing Your Game
Every tennis player develops at a different pace.
Some players begin playing when they are very young. Others discover tennis in high school and quickly fall in love with the sport.
Regardless of when you begin, improvement comes from continuing to get on the court.
High school tennis clinics provide players with another opportunity to practice, compete, meet other players, and develop confidence.
Through Napoleon Tennis, my goal is to provide a positive small-group environment where players can work hard while still enjoying the sport.
Whether you are preparing for your high school season, trying to improve your position on the team, looking for additional match experience, or simply want more opportunities to play tennis, there is always something you can continue improving.
Keep practicing, keep competing, and keep enjoying the game.