The following post is an excerpt from the Second Edition of The Tennis Parent’s Bible
Available through most online retailers!
PRACTICE SESSION DRAMAS
Please don’t mistake busy work with progression. If your child seeks athletic royalty status, it’s the parent’s responsibility to be aware who is actually on their child’s practice court training them (head coach vs rookie assistant), what the daily focus is (stroke repetition, movement, mental or emotional training), and how their athlete is being trained (large group setting, semi-private) day-in and day-out.
“The practice court is where dreams are either dreamt or actually developed.”
QUESTION: Why does our coach inject laughter into training? I’m old school, I want my child working…not laughing.
Frank: Training with laughter maximizes athletic potential and happiness at a faster rate than the old school drill sergeant delivery system. The old school approach was based on conformity. Its outdated system was to place unique humans in a line, depress creativity, disapprove originality and avoid fun. “Do it my way…because I said so” was their battle cry!
Children are naturally diverse. In previous sections we’ve touched upon personality profiling. The role of the teacher is to facilitate each individual’s unique learning system. A great coach offers structure based on the child’s individual learning preference …with the freedom to laugh and explore. Coaches are hired by you to support, stimulate and engage your athlete and not to stifle them. If you’re still not convinced, read on.
“Neurological studies prove that laughter helps relax muscle tension and calm nerves.”
Which student is more likely to engage or disengage? Is it the repressed individual who is afraid to even smile… or the stimulated individual eager to participate?
The task is to improve. Achieving that task requires acceptance and commitment and most children these days are simply too smart to accept and commit to conforming to that old school culture of education. Modern coaches that include joyful encouragement into their training regimen awaken optimism and curiosity. Once that spark is lit, maximizing potential takes place.
Laughter decreases stress hormones and triggers endorphins – the body’s natural feel good chemicals. Adding humor to stressful events, such as match play, will help the athlete enjoy the process of learning and the tournament battles. Playing in the zone demands a calm and stress free outlook.
Added Bonus: Laughing is a terrific abdominal work out. Hello six pack!
Be aware, if your athlete has an old school drill sergeant coach or parent. They could actually be the anchor that’s holding your child back from accelerated growth.
