All In Academy

A French idea with pro roots

All In Academy was built on a simple promise that is surprisingly rare in junior tennis: train like a professional while still living like a student. The project took shape when former tour star Jo Wilfried Tsonga and longtime coach Thierry Ascione began asking what they would want for their own children and for the next generation of French and international players. Their answers became the blueprint. Keep court ratios small so decisions are precise. Treat fitness and recovery as part of training, not an add on. Build an academic track that moves with tournaments rather than fighting them. Create a culture where championship habits feel normal.

From its earliest sessions, the academy set out to look and feel like a professional base. Players queue for a purpose built warm up, coaches carry individual scouting notes instead of generic plans, and the day is organized around training quality rather than simply clocking hours. That pro sensibility is balanced by a very French respect for schooling and family life. Parents are encouraged to understand the process, teachers coordinate with travel calendars, and athletes learn to manage their days with the same care they bring to their forehands.

Two campuses, one standard

All In operates across two complementary locations in France. The Lyon campus sits in a thriving metropolitan area with a full four season climate. Winters are crisp, which makes indoor time valuable for technical work and video. Spring and autumn are mild, excellent for long blocks of pattern training. In summer the city comes alive, and the academy uses early and late sessions to beat the heat.

Farther south, the Côte d’Azur campus benefits from a Mediterranean climate with long stretches of playable weather. Morning sea air, dry afternoons, and light evening breezes create a rhythm that suits both high volume clay sessions and high intensity hard court days. Many families appreciate having both environments available. Lyon teaches adaptability across surfaces and seasons. The Riviera offers continuity and repetition in ideal conditions. Coaches coordinate calendars so athletes can shift between campuses without losing continuity in their plans.

Facilities you notice as soon as you arrive

The first impression is that everything is close and purposeful. Courts, gym, classrooms, and recovery areas are designed to reduce wasted time and allow quick crossovers from one block to the next.

• Courts: A balanced mix of clay and hard supports the academy’s philosophy of training decisions on both surfaces. Clay blocks develop height control, shape, and patience. Hard courts sharpen first ball intent and serve plus one clarity. Indoors, consistent lighting and backdrops help with detailed video feedback.
• Gym and movement spaces: Strength and conditioning areas are laid out for progression from movement quality to more advanced lifts and power work. You see sleds, medicine balls, timing gates, and change of direction zones right next to mobility stations. Younger athletes learn basic mechanics without load. Older players graduate to structured force development tailored to their growth stage.
• Recovery and wellness: Treatment rooms, recovery lounges, and where available a pool for low impact conditioning are integrated into the daily schedule. Recovery sessions are neither optional nor an afterthought. They are coached and logged with the same seriousness as a forehand session.
• Classrooms and study spaces: The Tennis Études model depends on quiet, connected classrooms with access to remote instruction and proctored study hours. Teachers coordinate with coaches to stage assessments around tournament spikes and to keep travel friction low.
• Performance technology: Video is present without being omnipresent. Coaches film targeted segments and review them on the spot so players can adjust in the same session. Simple tools like ball trajectory visuals and contact height checkpoints are combined with match charting to measure whether training patterns hold under pressure.

Coaching staff and philosophy

All In’s court culture is built on attention. The academy’s two to one coaching model ensures frequent individual corrections and high ball quality. Sessions begin with clear objectives and end with a recap that translates directly to the next block. The daily cadence avoids the trap of feeding drills for volume. Instead, coaches emphasize repeatable patterns at a player’s optimal contact height and tempo, then stress test those patterns in constrained points and match play.

There is no single aesthetic. The staff prefers to build a tactical identity that fits each athlete’s strengths. For some, that might be heavy, high forehands that pin opponents and open space for a backhand drive. For others, it could be first strike returns and short pattern combinations that look for quick finishes. Where consensus is non negotiable is on fundamentals: early preparation, balanced bases, and clear first ball intentions.

Mentoring is woven through the week. Senior coaches regularly drop onto courts for ten minute tune ups that recalibrate priorities. Traveling coaches return from events with scouting notes and video clips that feed directly into the next training cycle. The result is a loop between training and competition that players can feel.

Programs for different pathways

• Junior Tennis Études: The signature pathway pairs serious tennis with a real academic schedule. Mornings or afternoons alternate between courts and classes, with supervised study halls and teachers who understand tournament demands. This is the default for middle and high school age athletes whose families want both development and diplomas.
• High Performance and Transition to Pro: Older juniors and young pros follow a more customized weekly plan. Court time, fitness blocks, and recovery are tailored to ranking goals, with heavier travel periods supported by remote class catch up when relevant and coach led scouting.
• Camps and seasonal blocks: School holidays bring in visiting players who want to sample the All In approach, often using the Riviera campus for volume on clay or the Lyon campus to prepare for indoor seasons.
• Adult training: Adults who want a high quality environment can book short intensives that mirror the structure of the junior day. These are not casual clinics. They use the same progression logic, just adapted to work and family schedules.
• Tournament travel: The academy supports domestic and international schedules with group travel where it makes sense and individualized plans for specific ranking targets.

Families comparing options across Europe often cross check All In with other strong programs. For context on different models, see training at Mouratoglou Tennis Academy, the tournament centered pathway at Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar, or the Scandinavian approach led by Good to Great Tennis Academy.

The player development model

The academy’s development framework is straightforward and deeply layered. It covers technical, tactical, physical, mental, and medical nutrition domains that work together rather than in silos.

Technical. The two to one court standard allows frequent micro corrections, which is where real change happens. The staff uses targeted video to confirm what the eye sees. The goal is not a pretty stroke for Instagram. It is a repeatable contact at the right height and tempo that holds up under scoreboard pressure. Footwork ladders are used sparingly and only when the movement lesson is clear. Most technical sessions end with a short constraint game that forces the new skill to appear inside a point.

Tactical. Coaches help each athlete map an identity, then build scoring plans for common situations. You will see rehearsed patterns off the serve and return, defined first ball intentions, and structured depth management on both clay and hard. Point building is practiced with parameters. For example, the first neutral ball must cross the service line at shoulder height, or the return must be directed down the middle to shrink angles before the first change of direction. Athletes learn to write short match plans they can actually execute.

Physical. Strength and conditioning follows a long term athlete development arc. Younger players focus on mechanics, coordination, and movement quality before load. As they mature, athletes progress to force development, change of direction work, and tennis specific conditioning. Timing gates and jump testing appear in cycles to guide programming. Fitness is always integrated with court goals. If the week targets higher contact forehands, the gym will support power generation and trunk control that make that shot possible.

Mental. Group modules normalize topics that competitors often treat as secrets. Players practice routines, between point resets, and ways to manage competitive anxiety. One to one support is available for specific needs, and tournament debriefs fold mental checklists into the same review as technical and tactical themes. The message is simple. Mental skills are skills. They can be taught, measured, and improved.

Medical and nutrition. On site or closely integrated medical support reduces time lost to injury. Prehab circuits and mobility work sit on the weekly calendar, and injuries trigger a clear return to play protocol. Nutrition is taught as part of performance. Athletes learn to plan travel meals, recover after long clay matches, and make good choices at breakfast when a doubles final is scheduled for the afternoon. The aim is self management rather than dependency.

Alumni, benchmarks, and outcomes

All In is a relatively young project with a veteran soul. The founders bring instant credibility, and the coaching group has already guided athletes to national titles, ITF junior breakthroughs, and successful transitions to the pro ranks. Not every family defines success the same way. The academy tracks outcomes across several lanes: competitive progression, academic results, injury days lost, and personal growth markers such as leadership within teams and consistency of routines. That broader scoreboard keeps development grounded and honest.

Culture and community

A training day at All In feels busy without being frantic. Warm ups begin on time. Players stack their bags the same way. Sessions are purposeful and often quiet, which can surprise newcomers who equate energy with noise. Coaches give feedback with clarity, and players are expected to own their notes and plans. After lunch you will see study halls where phones stay away and teachers move from table to table. Evenings bring recovery sessions, light matches, and occasional team activities.

Language is not a barrier. French is heard around campus, of course, but English is used widely, especially in the classroom and during international blocks. New athletes get a cultural onboarding that covers everything from how to greet coaches to how to write training reflections. Boarding options range from supervised residences to vetted homestays. Safety and independence are balanced so that younger athletes feel supported and older athletes learn to manage freedom responsibly.

Costs, accessibility, and scholarships

Tuition varies by program length, boarding choice, and travel load. The academy sits in the same general band as other European high performance programs, with short camps priced differently from full year Tennis Études packages. Families should budget for tournament entries, travel, physiotherapy, and academic extras such as proctored exams. A limited number of scholarships and financial aid packages exist, often tied to demonstrated need, performance indicators, or special circumstances. The admissions team guides families through tryouts or evaluation weeks, which are helpful for calibrating expectations on both sides.

From an accessibility standpoint, both campuses are well connected. Lyon is a major transport hub with rail links that make weekend tournaments easy to reach. The Riviera campus benefits from proximity to international flights, which simplifies incoming visits and outbound travel to ITF and Tennis Europe events.

What makes All In different

• Two campus flexibility: Training across Lyon and the Côte d’Azur gives athletes seasonal variety and weather stability without switching systems.
• Small ratios that stick: The two to one court standard shows up on the schedule, not only on brochures. That consistency accelerates learning and accountability.
• Pro experience at junior scale: Founders and senior coaches bring tour perspective and translate it into daily routines that juniors can actually execute.
• Real academics, not a side table: Teachers and administrators collaborate with the tennis calendar so school moves with tournaments rather than against them.
• Recovery built into the day: Wellness, treatment, and pool based conditioning where available are scheduled and coached, which reduces lost days and teaches habits athletes keep for life.
• Tournament feedback loops: Match data flows back into weekly plans. Players can see in their journals why a Tuesday pattern drill exists after a Sunday loss.

Who thrives here

All In is a strong fit for families who want serious ambition without sacrificing schooling. Players who enjoy detailed feedback and who are willing to write down goals and execute a daily plan will thrive. Athletes who prefer large groups or who rely on being carried by the energy of a crowd may need time to adapt to the academy’s quieter, high attention atmosphere. For adults, the structured intensives are ideal for those who want to break plateaus through focused work rather than casual hitting.

If you are building a European training itinerary, it can be helpful to triangulate strengths and styles. Compare the competition centric environment of Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar, the mentorship heavy model at Good to Great Tennis Academy, and the Riviera super center vibe at Mouratoglou Tennis Academy with All In’s two campus flexibility and Tennis Études backbone. Each has a distinct flavor. The right choice depends on your child’s personality, school needs, and travel tolerance.

Future outlook and vision

The academy’s next chapter is about depth rather than sprawl. Plans include continued investment in coach education, expanded partnerships with schools and medical providers, and measured growth in tournament travel support so more athletes can experience international competition without losing academic rhythm. Technology will remain a tool, not a headline. Expect improvements in match charting simplicity, video workflows that return clips to players faster, and dashboards that track training quality alongside testable metrics like jump height or sprint splits.

Sustainability and community ties matter too. Both campuses are working on initiatives that connect athletes with local clubs and schools, from mentoring younger players to joint events that showcase the sport. The goal is to raise the level of the broader tennis ecosystem while sharpening the academy’s own performance culture.

The verdict

All In Academy offers a compelling balance of professional rigor and academic respect. The two campus model gives families flexibility without fragmentation. Small ratios on court keep the process honest. Recovery and wellness are coached with intent. Mental skills and match planning are treated as part of training, not as extras. Above all, the day to day feels aligned. Players know why they are doing what they are doing, and that clarity often proves decisive when matches tighten late in the third set.

For a junior who wants the full European training experience with credible schooling, or for an adult who values precision and structure, All In is more than a brand. It is a method. Visit, watch a session, sit in on study hall, and talk to the staff about your goals. You will leave with a clear picture of how the academy would build your plan, and with a sense that the details that matter most will not be left to chance