The Tennis Parent’s Bible
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Developing Your Competitive Persona
Jackie’s a hard-hitting baseliner. Her shot tolerance is 3-4 balls. Jackie is an intuitive player who likes to hit bold winners and can overtake most competitors with her huge serve and big forehands. However, her coach is from South America. The Spanish system nurtured him by being steady and retrieving balls with high-quality defense. He played that style. He understands that style and demands all his students to train within those guidelines. Is this the correct approach for Jackie?
Persona refers to our identity as competitive warriors. It relates to how we perceive and label ourselves in competitive events. It’s essential to be faithful to that which exists within.
2.1 Play Your Game
Parents and coaches often say, “Just go out there and play your game!” Do you know your game? Most players don’t honestly know. This section will help shape your tennis persona.
2.2 Developing Your Competitive Identity
Crucial to achieving long-term success is knowing your tennis identity. Do you know your best style of play in competition? What are your go-to patterns and best court positions? Do you have your offense, neutral, and defense protocols memorized?
2.3 Your Personal Brand
Your competitive identity is your personal brand on the tennis court, enabling you to do what you do best when it matters most. It’s handling adversity, problem-solving, and approaching your training and competition.
2.4 Developing Your Identity
Developing your tennis identity goes beyond fundamental strokes and natural talent. It also involves building resilience and developing decision-making skills. Tennis is an emotionally challenging sport, and your ability to handle pressure and maintain a positive mindset will significantly affect your success.
2.5 Inborn Talents
Inborn strengths and weaknesses mold your competitive identity. Recognizing and using your inborn talents will help to customize a game plan that plays to your strengths while minimizing your weaknesses.
2.6 Prioritizing Time
Balancing commitments requires developing strong organizational skills and learning to manage time effectively. The best competitors learn how to prioritize their commitments.
2.7 Optimal Habits
Optimal habits are the routines that help you to maximize your potential. An example of an optimal habit is setting weekly “stepping stone” goals, working to reach these goals, and then setting more goals the following week. The main goal is to strive for massive improvement. By doing so first, results appear.
Every choice you make either pulls you away from greatness or pushes you toward it. Applying your identity under pressure requires knowing who you are and what you do best. The best players customize their training versus the old-school, one size fits all approach.
