Released on January 28, 2023
The Psychology of Tennis Parenting
Pre-order your eBook copy for only 0.99 Cents on Amazon
Order Now for Only $0.99 Cents
Released on January 28, 2023
The Psychology of Tennis Parenting
To Pre-order your eBook copy for only 0.99 Cents on Amazon
Check out the Table of Contents:
CHAPTER 1: Nurturing Happiness
- Teach Happiness
- Happiness is a State of Being
- The Habit of Happiness
- Gratitude
- Heart-Based Parenting
- Praise Effort not Results
CHAPTER 2: Behind the Curtain
- The Multi-Sport Theory
- Successful Parental Habits
- Old School Parenting
- Emotional Regulation
- Mentors
- Teach Independence vs Dependence
- Chicken Blood
CHAPTER 3: Parental Dialog
- The Investment
- Parental Insecurities
- Post-Match Banter
- Always and Never
- Correct Conversations
- The Psychology of Listening
- Ask Don’t Tell
CHAPTER 4: Stacking Momentum
- Preparation
- Stacking Momentum
- Executing Momentum
- Fueling Momentum
- Heart Rate Monitoring
- Training Blocks
CHAPTER 5: Mindset Matters
- Decisions Not Situations
- Substandard Loyalties
- Why We Choke
- Argumentative Athlete
- Practice Being Likeable
- Unplug to Reboot
CHAPTER 6: Thriving Versus Suffering
- The Suffering
- Intangibles
- Negative Character Traits
- Psychosomatic Dramas
- Parental Stressors
- Thriving vs Suffering
- Spotting Anomalies
CHAPTER 7: Sabotaging Athletic Performance
- When Advice Creates Drama
- Suffering Defeat X 3
- Life Skills Through Tennis
- Knowledge Versus Wisdom
- Discomfort Is Good
- What If’s
- Visiting Their Peak Level
CHAPTER 8: Change Equals Improvement
- Avoidance versus Exposure
- Competitive Pressure Triggers
- Comfort Is Where Dreams Go to Die
- Changing Inner Belief
- Losing to Lesser Players
- Trimming the Fat
- The Pain of Changing
CHAPTER 9: Frustration Tolerance
- Understanding frustration
- Managing Frustration
- Desensitizing To Hardships
- Did You win?
- Perfectionism
CHAPTER 10: Concentration and Focus
- Regulating Focus
- Overthinking Mechanics
- Limiting Distraction
- Time Traveling
- Living in the Present
- Relaxed Observation
CHAPTER 11: Mental Fitness
- Cherish the Obsession
- Hey Jude
- Mental Fitness
- Monkey Mind
- Constructing Confidence
- Tennis on TV
CHAPTER 12: Match Day Concepts
- The Cause of Poor Play
- Assuming a Lack of Effort
- The Losers Draw
- Procrastination
- Cheaters
- Peaceful Warrior
CHAPTER 13: Self-Coaching
- Flipping Negative Inner Dialogue
- Rock Paper Scissors
- Positive Inner Dialogue
- Identifying Internal Obstacles
- Monitoring Outer Dialogue
- Attention Seeking Negative Dialogue
- Contaminating Thoughts
CHAPTER 14: Getting Good Vs. Earning Good
- Getting Good Versus Earning Good
- Replacement Thoughts
- Attention to Details
- Defeat Stimulates Growth
- Learn to Die
- Maximizing Progress
- Dealing with Adversity
CHAPTER 15: Emotional Toughness
- The Emotional Questionnaire
- Where Attention Goes …Energy Flow
- Experience Matters
- Nurture the Warrior Mentality
- Teaching Emotional Health
- Performance Anxiety
- Red Flags
CHAPTER 16 : Staring Down Fear
- Self-Sabotage
- Handling Fear
- The Fault Finder
- Staring Down Fear
- Run Towards the Fire
- Operating Under Pressure
CHAPTER 17 : Anticipation
- Rudimentary Anticipation
- The Secret of Pattern Recognition
- Cognitive Ease
- Situational Observation
- Emotional Detachment
- Modern Intelligence
CHAPTER 18: Anticipating Success
- Training Anticipation
- Set Them Up for Success
- Mental Rehearsals
- Parental Behavior
- Kobe’s Approach
- Six Anticipatory Skills
CHAPTER 19: Leadership
- Characteristics of Leaders
- Relationship Building
- Reality Check
- Get into their World
- Pattern BlocksTraining Time
More Expert Industry Testimonials
Released on January 28, 2023
The Psychology of Tennis Parenting
To Pre-order your eBook copy for only 0.99 Cents on Amazon
EXPERT INDUSTRY TESTIMONIALS
In our ever-changing world, raising an exceptional athlete seems to have more and more challenges. Frank paints a beautiful roadmap that navigates the difficult relationships between player, parent, and coach. He gives parents some tremendous ideas on how they can best help their child reach their potential. Frank has done a number of camps with our high-performance juniors and their families, and we receive nothing but rave reviews. I highly recommend this book for all families with young athletes.
Bob Hochstadter, President USTA Southern California
“Frank is a big asset to the Southern California Tennis Association in the world of player development and The Psychology of Tennis. Our parents, players, and coaches are lucky to have his knowledge, drive and passion front and center. Those that work with his philosophy and understanding of the game; instantaneously become better. I have seen it over and over. There are very few coaches that capture your attention and make the game easier to understand at any level. I wish that I would have had him with me as I pursued my dreams and aspirations. Simple and realistic concepts that will help you, the parent/player, navigate the game successfully. Take advantage of every opportunity you get to hear Frank speak or read his material. You will get better.”
Trevor Kronemann, Executive Director SCTA/USTA
The Psychology of Tennis Parenting is amazing! Every parent and coach need to read this book repeatedly and apply its lessons with their children and their students. Kudos to Frank for bringing his knowledge and wisdom to the world to help parents and their most prized possessions, their children. I highly recommend this book if you want to improve in all areas of life.
Jeff Salzenstein, Former Top 100 ATP Singles and Doubles Player, Stanford All-American, USTA High Performance Coach, Performance Coach, And Speaker
“This is a must-read for every tennis parent. Frank cuts right to the chase on navigating the tricky times ahead and creating a game plan as a supportive parent. He not only gives real-world examples but also backs them up with science. This will be my go-to recommendation to anyone looking to step up their role as a tennis parent.”
Danny Bryan, LSU Mens Head Coach, Louisiana
“For decades it has been abundantly clear that parents can play either a very positive or even a very negative role in the development of tennis playing juniors. Most fall in between but ALL can improve but most need help. Frank has stepped to the plate once again to assist. It is safe to say that any parent who reads and applies even a small part of this book will benefit for a lifetime.”
Joe Dinoffer, President, On Court Off Court, Texas
Pre-Order for Only 0.99 Cents
Released on January 28, 2023
The Psychology of Tennis Parenting
Pre-order your eBook copy for only 0.99 Cents on Amazon
“As a coach, navigating the relationships between Coach, Player and Parents are tricky at best. Everyone wants the best result for the player, and The Psychology of Tennis Parenting provides a clear road map. A must-read for serious parents and coaches!”
Chuck Gill, USPTA President (Past), Florida
“A much-needed book about a very important subject. Frank organized years of expertise and knowledge in a masterpiece for any tennis parent”.
Cassiano Costa, Ph.D. Costa performance, Florida
Being a tennis parent was the most challenging job in my 50 years of tennis coaching and playing. We care so much for our junior players that we often don’t realize the consequences of our love.
Frank has a unique perspective that can assist you in being the best tennis parent you can be. In turn, your junior player will get the best care, direction, and love from you – to be the best they can be. This is a MUST-READ for every tennis parent!
Ken DeHart, PTR Hall of Fame/PTR International Master Pro, 2 Time PTR International Pro of the Year/USPTA Master Pro, USPTA Life Time Achievement Award Winner, 4 Time USPTA Divisional Pro of the Year, California
“If your child loves tennis and is competing, do yourself a favor and invest in Frank’s newest book, The Psychology of Tennis Parenting. Frank walks you through the competitive junior tennis minefield so that you and your child will enjoy the process.”
Jorge Capestany, master coach, owner TennisDrillsTV, Michigan
The Psychology of Tennis Parenting
Released on January 28, 2023
The Psychology of Tennis Parenting
Pre-order your eBook copy for only 0.99 Cents on Amazon
INDUSTRY TESTIMONIALS
“Frank Giampaolo has done it yet again. I have had the pleasure of reading most of his 10 great books, but “The Psychology of Tennis Parenting” is his best and most relevant publication to date! He absolutely nails it when addressing one of the most important challenges facing youth sports today – that of the role of the parent in the development of the athlete.
Frank understands the importance of the parent’s role in this development. We all want the best for our children, but often our good intentions produce less-than-desirable results. This is the main reason that 70% of our youth leave their sport by the time they reach high school, and tennis is no exception.
The vast experience Frank has gained working with athletes of all abilities and with their parents has given him valuable insight into specific and positive ways to address the challenges of competition. Parents of successful athletes play a critical role in their child’s development and in their ability to thrive under pressure, both on and off the court.
“This extremely well-written book provides a tangible and indispensable road map for all – the athlete, the parent, and the coach. It feels good that information is presented in a positive manner we can all take to heart without feeling we are being talked down to. In fact, it is a “must-read!” Thank you, Frank Giampaolo, for this incredible contribution!”
Dick Gould, Emeritus: Men’s Tennis Coach; Director of Tennis Stanford University (1966-2018), California
“Few coaches have Frank’s experience and expertise when it comes to understanding the mental and emotional components of high-performance tennis. More than just technique and tactics, he delves deeper to develop a player’s psychological capabilities. This book will be an indispensable resource if you’re a parent or coach with an aspiring junior.”
Jon Levey, Editor Tennis Magazine, Tennis.com, Connecticut
“Success in junior tennis and beyond requires a ‘Trust triangle’ between the player, parent, and coach. Each can maximize their potential by understanding their role. People go through all sorts of schooling and education to be prepared for any field of endeavor. Unfortunately, parents are thrust into the minefield-laden world of junior competitive tennis with less education than even the simplest jobs.
Frank’s new book provides a practical guide for the critical job of tennis parenting. Good intentions don’t cut it. This is required reading for any parent serious about doing what is best for their child and not adding to the current high drop-out and burn-out rate statistics.”
Wayne Elderton, Tennis Director-North Vancouver Tennis Centre, Tennis Canada Head Course Facilitator-British Columbia
More Industry Expert Testimonials
Released on January 28, 2023
The Psychology of Tennis Parenting
To order your eBook copy for only 0.99 Cents on Amazon
“As a former top ATP Touring professional, now the father of two budding competitive tennis players, me and my wife go through all the same junior “pitfalls” as all the other parents. No matter that I was top 10 in the world and my wife played D-1 tennis at Virginia Tech, this junior tennis world is full of “derailment points,” none more devastating to a junior tennis player than parents doing the wrong thing.
Frank’s writing is unapologetic and straight to the point. He’s got the guts to share what coaches and parents should be teaching around the world. In this practical masterwork, Frank showcases common problems and provides clear and practical solutions that every parent and coach needs to apply on a daily basis.”
Johan Kriek, ATP, Multiple Grand Slam Champion Florida
“I’ve known Frank for a long time. He’s definitely one of the best in the business regarding the mental side of the game. Enjoy this great book.”
Eliot Teltscher, Former #6 ATP, Grand Slam Champion, & Former USTA Director of High Performance, California
“In his new book, Frank Giampaolo has succeeded in giving parents profound insight into the most important and difficult issue in creating true champions. In “The Psychology of Tennis Parenting,” Giampaolo shows how the focus on process, effort, and empathy is the true secret in developing great players and great people.”
Tim Mayotte, Former ATP Top 10, Massachusetts
Industry Expert Testimonials
Released on January 28, 2023
The Psychology of Tennis Parenting
To order your eBook copy for only 0.99 Cents on Amazon
INDUSTRIAL EXPERT TESTIMONIALS
“Frank Giampaolo has written a sacred text for maximizing athletic potential.”
Jon Wertheim, Editor Sports Illustrated, Author, Tennis Channel, 60 Minutes
“Frank continues to create tools for tennis players and families to help navigate the pathways of development. This book offers invaluable knowledge to help players & parents navigate the emotional aspects of the competitive environment in a healthy and productive way. A must read, Bravo Frank.”
Paul Annacone, Former Top 40 ATP, Coach of Taylor Fritz, Roger Federer, Pete Sampras
“This is an impressive and hard-hitting book. As a clinical psychologist, I strongly recommend it to any parent who wants to help a child reach peak performance. Giampaolo is a celebrated and sought-after tennis coach who understands what works and what doesn’t. Each chapter is power-packed and filled with sound advice on how to maximize performance. There’s no psychobabble here, only what makes practical on-the-court sense. Don’t just buy it. Study and apply its principles as you encourage your child toward athletic excellence.”
Clinton W. McLemore, Ph.D., Founder, Clinician’s Research Digest, Author, Inspiring Trust: Strategies for Effective Leadership, APA Award for Outstanding Contributions to Professional Development in Psychology, California
Preorder eBook for Only $0.99 Cents
Released on January 28, 2023
The Psychology of Tennis Parenting
To order your eBook copy for only 0.99 Cents on Amazon
Tennis Playing Style
The following post is an excerpt from the Second Edition of The Tennis Parent’s Bible
Available through most online retailers!
QUESTION: What determines my daughter’s best playing style?
Frank: I recommend developing the path of least resistance. The game of tennis is an extension of your child’s personality whether you like it or not. Fighting their natural genetic predisposition is a waste of time and money. As is training without considering the athletes genetics. Simply put, your athlete’s best style of play is a reflection of their unique brain type and body type.
NOTE: If you haven’t done so already, please read the opening section regarding this critical topic.
Start by understanding your athlete’s personality profile and body type efficiencies and deficiencies. Below are a few examples that will help clarify the effect of a player’s unique brain and body type. (Note: There are exceptions to every rule. On occasion, some player’s off-court personality opposes their on-court personality.)
A prime time example is my Aunt Loretta, a super kind and polite old lady until she got behind the wheel of her Chevy Nova!
Matching Personality Profile & Body Types with Appropriate Playing Styles:
- Players that show impatience would be well advised to devise deliberate one-two punch patterns ending in shorter points. Patient players should use their frustration tolerance as a weapon to possible wear down opponents with longer grueling points.
- Players that are flamboyant, with loads of energy, would likely thrive with a fast pace, attacking style of play.
- Players that show restraint and are rather stoic would likely benefit from a safer, counter punching style of play.
- In regard to body type dominance, fine motor skilled athletes (with good hands) may benefit from a net rushing style. Gross motor skilled athletes (who coil and uncoil more efficiently) would likely thrive in a back court style of play.
I worry when parents spend boat loads of time and money without ever acknowledging the athletes likes and dislikes with the player and their hired entourage of coaches. Assessing and organizing the athlete’s organizational blueprint is parent accountability 101.
Caution: A misconception of many parents and junior players, is to copy the style of their favorite ATP or WTA star, who is successful with a particular style. Just because Serena Williams prefers a 4-ball rally with her “all out attacking” style doesn’t mean that your child has the brain or body type to flourish within that system. Or just because Novak Djokovic enjoys 10 ball rallies with his “patient counter-attacking” style doesn’t mean his style is the best system for your athlete. Customization is key.
It’s the role of the CEO- facilitator parent to make sure that their athlete’s coaches are aware of their child’s unique brain and body design. Their child’s genetic predisposition along with their nurtured environment dictates their ability to maximize potential in the shortest period of time.
After a Tennis Loss
The following post is an excerpt from the Second Edition of The Tennis Parent’s Bible
Available through most online retailers!
QUESTION: After a loss, why should athletes go back to the tournament site and watch the other athletes?
Frank: Great question. Unfortunately, because of the emotional hit, most parents and players make a beeline for the car as soon as the athlete loses. In my opinion, this is an incredible waste of a valuable learning opportunity. First of all, the brain mirrors events it recognizes. Viewing the top seeds and/or final rounds creates a mental and emotional picture for the athlete to absorb and become comfortable with… One of the keys to peak performance under stress is to be comfortable…being uncomfortable!
It is very common for up-and-coming athletes to experience complete performance meltdowns in the final rounds of their first big tournaments. Why? The finals are an unknown entity. We know that the unknown is avoided because it is scary.
Walk with a child through a haunted house during Halloween and you’ll witness something interesting. During the first walk through, the child’s staying close, their heart rate is elevated, and they’re scared to death because they don’t know what’s coming next. By the third and fourth walk through, the very same child is relaxed, calm and smiling inside the same haunted house. The scenario didn’t change, the child’s perspective changed. The same need for familiarity is found in the later stages of tennis tournaments.
“Be comfortable…being uncomfortable.”
The more the athlete physically, mentally or emotionally gets dialed into a situation, the less uncomfortable the situation becomes and the more comfortable the athlete becomes performing in the manner in which they have trained- regardless of the round.
From a parental or coach’s point of view, there are hundreds of lessons to be learned from other competitors’ successes and failures. Pointing out the player’s strengths may sound like, “Kelly, look how she took that moonball out of the air for a swing volley instead of running backwards and lobbing it.” And of course, highlighting the player’s weaknesses, such as, “See Joey, on most points, the top players don’t get 5 balls in. You’re that good already!” The goal to take the mystery out of the top player’s game.
NOTE: If your child is attending an academy and suffers an early round loss- encourage them to chart a top seed instead of simply hanging out at the site.
Smart players and parents often go one step deeper and actually have their athlete chart the later rounds so that later they can do a comparison study.
On a personal note, I remember when my daughter was 14 years old and was #2 in the nation. There were 5-6 video cameras filming her matches. These were placed by parents of her rivals attempting to either learn how to have their child play like her or to organize a game plan in case their child plays her in a future event.
