The following post is an excerpt from The Tennis Parent’s Bible. Thanks for visiting, Frank Giampaolo
The Pain Principle
Overlooking the pain principle as it relates to tennis growth is a very common mistake.
Remember the old saying? “If you keep on doing what you’ve always done, you’ll keep on getting what you’ve always got.” Players hit common walls in their development. One of those walls is resisting change.
If your child views change, as more painful than losing, they’ll continue in the same losing path. It’s so painful for some to change a flawed grip, stroke or stance; they’d rather accept the pain of losing than deal with changing.
Great things begin to happen when the pain of losing starts to be more powerful than the pain of changing. Once they accept the fact that a change has to be made, they are on their way to the next level. This is where great parenting comes in.
The cycle of change is a three step process:
- Step one is accepting change.
- Step two is uncomfortable because they have left their old strokes and their new strokes are not fully formed.
- Step three is a 4-6 week developmental cycle. During this phase, their new motor programs become personalized and over-ride the old motor programs.
NOTE: At stage 2, the pain of being uncomfortable often pulls them back to their old strokes.
Placing your youngster into a competitive situation before the three phases are complete may destroy their new motor program and the old strokes will surely return. The result is wasted time, energy and money. As a parent, be sure your player and coach are on the same page with the necessary changes. Thanks for visiting, Frank
Contact: Frank Giampaolo
FGSA@earthlink.net
MaximizingTennisPotential.com
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