Without fail, ESF Tennis Camp makes its way to the Haverford tennis courts every morning. They stretch, run the lines and break up into age groups to start the day. Mornings are instructional. They usually learn new shots and then practice drills that give them the chance to test new skills while reviewing the basics. Then they spend the rest of their day playing games— king of the court, jail, and doubles matches — with time off in between to eat snacks and go swimming.

But what happens when it rains? Or when the weathermen issue a heat advisory warning? When conditions are not ideal for tennis, ESF never puts the players on the court. But that doesn’t mean they stop practicing.

Tennis is about more than the physical act of hitting a ball over the net. It’s a mental game. Players learn to be analytical. They need to analyze their movements to make sure their timing is just right. They analyze the way their opponent hits the ball as well as the way the ball makes its way across the net to make sure they are exactly where they need to be to return that shot.

It is as much a mental game as a physical one, especially because players are more likely to struggle in a match because of their mental status than because of an injury. After a few long balls, a couple of hits into the net and a point or two of double-faulting their serves, it is very easy to become discouraged, angry or frustrated. Many of the strategies that help build that emotional residency to come back after a bad game are learned off the court.

So when the rain comes or the sun shines too brightly, coaches switch their course of action. Instead of practicing their shots, they go inside to analyze others. Often times they gather in the multipurpose room of the lower school to watch footage of their strokes and analyze their movements. When available, they watch professional tennis tournaments, such as the Wimbledon tournament going on this week. It gives players the opportunity to see exactly what their coaches mean when they instruct them to hit “up” on the ball or to keep their eyes down until the ball is across the net. When the professional matches end, players are even more motivated to get on the court to improve their own skills.

No matter what the weather may be, it’s never a wasted day at ESF Haverford Tennis Camp.