The following post is an excerpt from the Second Edition of The Tennis Parent’s Bible
Available through most online retailers!
Preparing an organizational blue print will save you thousands of dollars annually.
It will also save your child thousands of wasted, unproductive hours, sweat and tears.
Your child was born with a unique genetic predisposition and is pre-wired with a specific brain and body type. Consider it carefully as you and your athlete’s coaches (your entourage) nurture your child’s talent and identify their genetic predisposition. Individual brain and body type play a very influential role at all levels of the game (not to mention the lifelong benefits as well.) Let’s have some fun right off the bat and jump into applying personality profiling.
So, what’s the key to maximizing success in the shortest period of time? Is it to purchase the latest equipment? Maybe it’s hiring a great local pro? What if I said… neither.
“The first and most important tool you will ever apply is discovering your child’s personality and brain design.”
Let’s look at the typical old school tennis teaching scenario. The local pro Jose Gonzales came to the United States from Chile. He was a terrific collegiate player earning a full scholarship to Virginia Commonwealth. Jose even played a few ATP pro challenger events. He found success by being extremely patient. He had a natural gift with his quick feet and he enjoyed running. He took delight in being a steady counter puncher 15 feet behind the baseline. Jose’s shot tolerance was a 20-ball rally!
As a teaching professional, he demands that each of his students abide by his playing style, disciplines and logic. Your thinking, boy that guy sounds pretty experienced, let’s hire him as our child’s coach. So, is this the right mentor for your child?
The answer is, not likely. Why? Because Jose demands that each student plays his style. The style of tennis that your child needs in order to thrive is based on his or hers own unique design. (AKA: brain and body type.)
“Asking your child to play tennis in a style that opposes their skill sets, beliefs and temperament is a recipe for disaster.
This is especially true at the beginning levels of player development and is a major factor as towhy so many of them leave this great game.”
One of the quickest ways to ensure that your child will quit the sport is to demand that they play a style that opposes their brain and body type. Understanding brain and body types is one of the first steps to becoming a world class parent and/or coach. Hold on tight because I am about to rock your world.
