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OPPONENT PROFILING

Posted on February 21, 2016 by in The Second Edition of The Tennis Parent's Bible

The following post is an excerpt from the Second Edition of The Tennis Parent’s Bible NOW available through most on-line retailers!  Click Here to Order

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OPPONENT PROFILING

Top competitors are continually seeking an advantage. One of the best strategic (mental) and calming (emotional) advantages comes from scouting an upcoming opponent. Casually observing is one thing, but profiling the opponent is a skill set. Each playing style has an inherent group of strengths and weaknesses. Opponent awareness is an important part of match day preparation. Player profiling involves looking past strokes.

NOTE: Whenever possible, as I coach players from the 12’s to the ATP and WTA pros, I apply the below profiling topics.

 

Opponent Profiling Scouting:

  • Primary style of play.
  • Preferred serve patterns (especially on mega points).
  • Preferred return of serve position and shot selection on both first and second serve returns.
  • Favorite go-to rally pattern.
  • Dominant short-ball option.
  • Preferred net rushing pattern.
  • Stroke strengths and weaknesses (Advanced players should also consider the strengths and limitations of strike zones.)
  • Movement, agility and stamina efficiencies and deficiencies.
  • Frustration tolerance, focus, and emotional stability.

 

Opponent profiling should continue from the pre-match phase, all the way through the actual match and into the post-match. Intelligent athletes even jot down notes regarding the opponent’s game on their post-match match logs. This is used as a reminder for the next time the two meet.

 

Looking Past Strokes:

During the warm up, the uneducated player, parents and coaches often think Player A has the match in the bag.  But what they do not realize is that Player B often wins because of their ability to identify and execute a game plan exposing their opponent’s weakness. Player A may have great looking fundamental strokes but “hidden” flawed mental and or emotional components. Player B may have average looking strokes, but an incredible proficiency in their mental game. Hence, giving player B the edge due to his ability to isolate weaknesses or exert emotional intelligence at crunch time.

Contact Frank Giampaolo
FGSA@earthlink.net

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Did you win?

Posted on February 18, 2016 by in Maximizing Tennis Potential, The Second Edition of The Tennis Parent's Bible

The following post is an excerpt from the Second Edition of The Tennis Parent’s Bible NOW available through most on-line retailers!  Click Here to OrderFrank Giampaolo

 

QUESTION: Even after a practice set, the first thing my Dad asks is, “Did you win?”

Frank: I must say, parents being too outcome oriented is the number one stressor that talented juniors report. This seemingly simple question, did you win, is sure to grow only one thing…the athlete’s performance anxieties. From your child’s perspective, this is seen as an interrogation. Asking such a question stems from the mindset of uneducated, old schooled tennis parents.

 

“Champions are performance oriented, not outcome oriented.”

 

The majority of the very best professionals on the planet only win a handful of tournaments each year. That means that even they go home a loser most weeks. They seek improvement, effort and playing at their optimal performance level over stressing about having to win every day.

In sunny Southern California, a typical girls 14’s designated open tournament may have as many as 250 participants. Only one player goes home the winner and two hundred forty nine go home losers. Yes, everyone’s primary objective is to win. Parents have to lead the way in focusing on performance goals. The players who can focus on the process are controlling the controllables versus worrying about issues out of their control.

 

“Control the controllables and let the uncontrollables go.”

 

It’s important to note that children aren’t born naturally obsessing about the outcome of a tennis match. It’s a learned behavior. The parental job is to shift this behavioral focus.

Remember the previous question regarding the old school parent that didn’t want their child to smile and laugh? The same performance anxieties are magnified by a parent who only cares about winning. It’s the parent’s primary role to DE-STRESS their athlete. By injecting worry and fear into every practice session, an ill-informed parent adds stress that ultimately increases muscle contractions, decreases fluid movement, impairs judgment and reduces the athlete’s problem solving performance skills. Athletes improve at a quicker rate in a calm relaxed mental state.

 

“Neurological studies prove that worrying about the need to always win sabotages any real chance of reaching peak performance.”

 

Parents and coaches interested in maximizing potential at a quicker rate and dramatically increasing the family’s enjoyment, should flip the question, “Did you win?’ with more constructive statements like: “You inspire me; I wish I could have been able to watch you today.”, “How do you feel you played?”, “Did you hit your performance goals?”, “Did you have fun?”, “Would you like me to go over your match logs with you?”, “Is there anything I can do to help you achieve your tennis goals?”

CONTACT: Frank Giampaolo
FGSA@earthlink.net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ng to win every day.

In sunny Southern California, a typical girls 14’s designated open tournament may have as many as 250 participants. Only one player goes home the winner and two hundred forty nine go home losers. Yes, everyone’s primary objective is to win. Parents have to lead the way in focusing on performance goals. The players who can focus on the process are controlling the controllables versus worrying about issues out of their control.

 

“Control the controllables and let the uncontrollables go.”

 

It’s important to note that children aren’t born naturally obsessing about the outcome of a tennis match. It’s a learned behavior. The parental job is to shift this behavioral focus.

Remember the previous question regarding the old school parent that didn’t want their child to smile and laugh? The same performance anxieties are magnified by a parent who only cares about winning. It’s the parent’s primary role to DE-STRESS their athlete. By injecting worry and fear into every practice session, an ill-informed parent adds stress that ultimately increases muscle contractions, decreases fluid movement, impairs judgment and reduces the athlete’s problem solving per

CONTACT: Frank Giampaolo
FGSA

 

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Interview with Stevie Johnson #29 ATP

Posted on February 13, 2016 by in The Second Edition of The Tennis Parent's Bible

The following post is an excerpt from the Second Edition of The Tennis Parent’s Bible

NOW available through most on-line retailers!  Click Here to Order

 

STEVIE JOHNSON ATP PROFESSIONALStebie Johnson

Stevie Johnson was a top US National Junior, 2 Time Singles CIF Champion and 4 Time Team CIF Champion at D-I University of Southern California (USC) and currently a top 30 ATP Pro tour player.

 

Frank: What qualities should a parent look for when hiring a coach or academy?

Stevie: The coach has to truly care about the student and sincerely look for what’s best for the student in both tennis and life. I feel it’s important to seek a positive learning atmosphere where both tennis skills and character skills are continually emphasized.

 

Frank: Looking back on your illustrious junior career, what do you attribute your success?

Stevie: Even though I was #1 in the 12’s and 14’s, that style of game wouldn’t take me to the top in college or in the pros. I had to refocus my development in the 16’s and 18’s. I was a bit lazy with my off-court training early on and relied on my talent and strong competitive nature, but to continue to grow and improve, I had to make fitness a priority. Honestly, I don’t even remember my 12 and under trophies.

 

Frank: It sounds like focusing on improvement versus tournament wins and rankings is a theme of yours. Why?

Stevie: In the younger divisions you can win with a limited moonball game because the rest of the field isn’t fully developed. This winning tactic is not successful in the older divisions. I really don’t see pushers in the pros. The professional athletes attack. I believe it’s important for the parents and players to be “ok” losing while developing the whole game. Just being satisfied with a limited game that wins to at the lower levels will limit your career.  I recommend seeking weekly improvement versus having to always win.

 

Frank: When should parents, players and coaches begin to develop the mental and emotional components of the game?

Stevie: I think it’s a maturity level not a certain age. Different people allow their mood to affect their performance more than others. If they struggle with crazy emotional ups and downs, they should focus on improving their emotional stability. The key is to develop and continually improve every component so the player can stay engaged and competitive in every circumstance.

 

Frank: What’s the primary differences between playing national level juniors and D-1, NCAA ball?

Stevie: If you choose the right college coach and program, there’s a heightened level of dedication, developmental structure, and focused off-court training. Coaches, teammates and even the international opponents pushes each other to train harder.

 

Frank: What’s the primary differences between NCAA tennis and ATP pro ball?

Stevie: It’s not so much strokes but the addition of all the seemingly smaller intangibles. The mental and emotional components are better. They include longer-deeper focus and competitiveness. They don’t give away any free points and the athletes physical, mental and emotional endurance is stronger day in-day out.

 

Frank: I’ve known you and your folks forever but from your side, what makes your folks such great tennis parents?

Stevie: Balance! On court, my father was the coach. Off-court, he was just my dad. After matches, my dad didn’t banter for 30 minutes about the performance. My mom played tennis as well so she added great perspective.

 

Frank: Can you share a few words of wisdom for the parents, athletes and coaches reading this book?

Stevie: Have fun with the development of your game. Remember even though it feels like “life or death” at the moment, the wins-losses in the 10’s-14 don’t mean much. It’s a blessing to play so laugh and enjoy the process.

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In scheduling practice sets, what should my daughter focus on?

Posted on February 10, 2016 by in The Second Edition of The Tennis Parent's Bible

“I have been involved with tennis for 60 years and I have witnessed the development of the modern game. Frank has put together the most complete manual for Parents, coaches and players. I learned a lot from this book. It’s a must for every Parent and Coach who want to make the least amount of mistakes.”Carlos A. Kirmayr, Centro De Treinamento Kirmayr, Brazil

Carlos A. Kirmayr, Centro De Treinamento Kirmayr, Brazil

 

 

 

The following post is a Q & A excerpt from the Second Edition of The Tennis Parent’s Bible NOW available through most on-line retailers!  Click Here to Order

QUESTION: In scheduling practice sets, what should my daughter focus on?

Frank: Design a plan of action, a focal point for each day’s practice session. The missing link I see daily is that most juniors don’t focus on improving a weak component. They only try to win. As you know by now, utilizing performance goals is the key to systematic growth.

Instead of relying on other juniors and their parents, it’s often much more efficient to hire a seasoned player and ask them to role play for two complete sets. If your child is in elementary school, hire a high school player and high school players should hire a local college player. (If your athlete has issues beating a retriever, ask the hired gun to be the most annoying pusher for both practice sets).  Also, remember that most kids are “One Set Wonders.” They meet to play sets but chat for 20 minutes, maybe complete one set then go home. After the tournaments they’re known to say…”Geez…I have such bad luck, I never win these three set matches!”

Below are 8 common topics to focus on during practice sets. (Focus only on one of the below topics at a time.)

Eight Focal Points Used During Practice Set Rehearsals:

1) How to Beat Retrievers

2) How to Beat Hard Hitting Baseliners

3) How to Beat All Court/Net Rushers

4) Focus Only on Their Top 7 Patterns

5) Focus on Spotting and Stopping the Opponent’s Top 7 Patterns

6) Focus on Offensive, Neutral and Defensive Shot Selections

7) Focus on Applying Quality Changeover and Between Point Rituals

8) Focus on Spotting Game Points (Mega Points)

The key to quality practice sets is to agree upon a pre-set improvement goal. Focus only on the improvement of that skill set versus focusing on the need to win.  You’ve heard it before but trading in that old fashion grooving back and forth with a deliberate improvement plan is in your athlete’s best interest.

Contact: Frank Giampaolo
FGSA@earthlink.net

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What is quality practice?

Posted on February 5, 2016 by in The Second Edition of The Tennis Parent's Bible

“If you’re a parent who thinks you already know all there is to know…hold on, because you’re in for a bumpy ride.  This book is like turning a light on in a darkened room. I highly recommend it to any parent or coach serious about maximizing player potential.”Angel-186x300

Angel Lopez, USPTA Master Professional, PTR Certified, Angel Lopez Tennis Academy

 

The following post is a Q & A excerpt from the Second Edition of The Tennis Parent’s Bible NOW available through most on-line retailer!  Click Here to Order

QUESTION: What is quality practice? You’ve said quality of practice trumps the quantity of practice. Can you give me an example?

Frank: Is your child getting the results they deserve? If not, they may be on the tennis court a ton, yet not practicing efficiently. I’ve witness’s super athletes wasting their time day after day on the practice court. Why? Sadly, the uneducated parents and intermediate coaches were to blame.

Having terrific fundamental form and winning events are two very different sets of skills. Ask your child and coach to apply these advanced training principles and they’ll soon stop wasting precious time, money and tears.

1) Vary Strike Zones

Exchange having your child’s teaching pro feeding balls right to your little darling’s perfect strike zone. Instead, ask the pro to mix in different spins, speeds and trajectories to your athletes low, medium and high strike zones. Thus, practicing in the manner they are expected to perform.

2) Hit on the Run

Replace the hours of rallying back and forth to each other with hitting on the move. Winning isn’t a game of catch, it’s a game of keep away. Thus, practicing in the manner in which they are expected to perform.

3) Practice Playing Best 2 out of 3 Sets

Replace rallying for a 20 minutes and then playing one practice set with the rehearsal of actually closing out set after set. Simply start the sets at 2-2 or every game at 30-30.  Practice closing out the critical ending stages of each game and set. Thus practicing in the manner in which they are expected to perform.

4) Practice Drilling with Patterns

Exchange consistent skills training with flexible skills training. Instead of separately hitting 100 forehands, 100 backhands followed by 50 serves, begin to rehearse running actual patterns. Have the athlete hit one serve (kick wide on the ad side for example) followed by two change of direction ground strokes immediately following the serve.

Apply negative scoring to each skill set (Make all 3 balls in the court = 1 point, miss a shot and deduct 1 point from the score. Get to 10 and then move on to another serving pattern). This replicates the flexible skills and stress management needed to win matches. Thus, practicing in the manner in which you are expected to perform.

5) Rehearse Playing Matches

Split a 2 hour lesson and do live ball play. Ask your coach to assist you in rehearsing spotting the cause of errors. Most juniors focus on perfecting their form day in and day out. The most common errors in high level match play is shot selection followed by movement and spacing errors. Spotting the actual cause of the errors is the first step.

A great saying to motivate your athlete:

 

“Let’s not simply GO through your junior tennis career; let’s GROW through your junior tennis career.”

 

CONTACT Frank Giampaolo
FGSA@earthlink.net

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Quantify Performances with Match Logs

Posted on January 31, 2016 by in Match Charting and Video, The Second Edition of The Tennis Parent's Bible

 

“Reading The Tennis Parents Bible is like having a delicious conversation with a tennis guru who is generously sharing all of his knowledge, results and lessons learned. As a former tennis coach I’ve recommended this to hundreds of tennis families who come back to me within days overjoyed and excited. They feel like they finally can put all the pieces of the puzzle together. Quite simply it’s your go to guide that is already a classic must-read for every coach and tennis parent.”Ian Bishop, CEO of Coachseek, New Zealand

Ian Bishop, CEO of Coachseek, New Zealand

 

 

The following post is an excerpt from the Second Edition of The Tennis Parent’s Bible NOW available Click Here to Order

 

Quantify Performances with Match Logs

Parents, let me fill you in on a typical junior-coach, post-match conversation. While it’s nice to assume that there is post-match analysis going on, it honestly sounds something like this:

Coach: “So, how was the tournament last weekend Joey?’

You’re child: “Sucked”

Coach: “Why?  Tell me about it”

You’re Child: “I lost…”

Coach: “Did you hit your performance goals?”

You’re Child: “I don’t know?”

Coach: “Well, did you enjoy competing?”

You’re Child: “NO… I lost remember…”

 

Match logs are simply organizational tools used to assist your youngster in understanding and critiquing their match performance. Match logs are designed to be completed by the player. Self-assessment is important. The athlete often has a very different view of their performance than the parent watching the very same match.

Coaches want to know how the child felt about their performance and “the devils in the details!” Future improvement relies on detailed match analysis. These match logs are great conversation starters for the player-coach post-match training sessions. Begin by asking your child to complete a personalized assessment of their performance after each match. Use the match log found in Section VII Customized Player Evaluation section as a sample blue print to customize your very own.

CONTACT: Frank GiampaoloFrank Giampaolo
FGSA@earthlink.net

 

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Solutions to Confronting Gamesmanship

Posted on January 29, 2016 by in Cheating, The Second Edition of The Tennis Parent's Bible

“Frank is one of the most knowledgeable tennis coaches in the country. He has written, in my professional opinion, the best and most comprehensive tennis book for parents that I’ve read in my 55 –year tennis career.”Desmond Oon

Desmond Oon, Ph.D., Former Davis Cup Coach (Republic of Singapore), Author, Master Pro USPTA

 

The following post is a Q & A excerpt from the Second Edition of The Tennis Parent’s Bible NOW AVAILABLE on Amazon!!! (Soon the second edition of The Tennis Parent’s Bible will be available on this web site and through your favorite on line store.)

Order your book NOW with Amazon: Click Here to Order

 

QUESTION: What are the solutions to confronting gamesmanship?

Frank: First of all, let’s be honest; cheaters do exist.  But let’s look at the issue from a growth angle. Cheaters will stretch your child beyond their normal frustration tolerance levels and that’s emotional toughness. Your athlete needs emotional intelligence as much as a wicked topspin backhand. Handling those “creative line callers” is a necessary stepping stone to becoming a tennis champion. Share with your junior champs the below ten factors and they will be better equipped to handle the antics of a cheater.

Three of the Ten Solutions to Conquering Gamesmanship:

Solution Number 1: Pre-match speculations.

Preconceived ideas of what might happen when playing a known cheater often causes so much stress that it can affect the immune system and often results in players actually feeling sick. Many lose sleep the night before the match. Do not let your child’s expectations of the possible cheating trauma pull them away from focusing on their performance goals.

“Worrying won’t stop the cheating…but educating your athlete will.”

Solution Number 2: Focus on what you can control.

This psychological protocol is the fundamental principle to your child’s mental and emotional approach to competition. Expect about 4-6 bad line calls per match. This is not in your child’s control. What is? How about the 40 unforced errors per match they commit? If they limit their unforced errors to 10 per set and they can let their opponent have a few hooks!

“Focus on executing the shots and patterns of play the moment demands.”

Solution Number 3: Ignore the drama.

Emotional toughness requires the athlete to stay on their pre-set script. Understand that focusing on the drama is a psychological trap. Once your child falls for the gamesmanship, they have left their performance state of mind and trouble is just around the corner.

“Intermediate juniors are easy marks because they are mentally and emotionally uneducated.”

CONTACT: Frank Giampaolo
FGSA@earthlink.net

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Should Parents Be Encouraged to Watch Practice?

Posted on January 28, 2016 by in Parent Player Communication, The Second Edition of The Tennis Parent's Bible

“Frank Giampaolo has created a masterpiece for the competitive junior tennis player’s parents.  The Tennis Parent Bible, in its’ second edition, clearly spells out what tennis parents need to know and understand about how to navigate their tennis playing children through this maze of highly competitive and  performance driven tennis.  Don’t think about this one!  Just read it!”Lane Evans

Lane Evans, USPTA Elite Professional, iTPA Master Tennis Performance Specialist

 

 

The following post is a Q & A excerpt from the Second Edition of The Tennis Parent’s Bible Now Available in paperback and ebook with Amazon!!! Click Here to Order

 

QUESTION: Should parents be discouraged or encouraged to watch practice?

Frank: I encourage the parents to be involved in the learning process. There’s so much “GOOD” that comes from positive entourage synergy. However, there are two situations in which I will speak privately with the parents and explain to them that their presence during the practice session may be stunting the growth they seek.

The first situation is if the child has told me that their efforts are constantly being overly criticized by their parents or if the parents are so outcome driven, the athlete feels immense added pressure to perform perfectly or else. Athletes and their parents should seek excellence …not perfection.

“Stress and fear are not optimal learning environments. Maximizing potential comes with the freedom of making mistakes.”

Players need to experiment and try things “their own way.” Junior athletes have often confided in me that when their primary tennis parent is in attendance, they’re later bombarded for hours with a laundry list of additional failures that need to be fixed. The player begins to feel hopeless – believing that they will never be good enough.

The second situation in which a parental discussion is in order involves overly protective, mildly obsessed parents. In today’s world, they are commonly called “Helicopter” parents. The nickname comes from their neurotic hovering on and around the court every session as they attempt to dominate the coach-athlete relationship. (If you suspect that you or your spouse may be a bit of a helicopter parent, the next question is for you.)

Parents, if your child feels additional stress from your presents, it’s in everyone’s best interest to take the time to get educated in the process of raising athletic royalty. If you’re interested, I have a detailed book on the topic actually called: Raising Athletic Royalty: Insights to Inspire for a Lifetime. It’s everything you didn’t even know…you needed to know.

CONTACT: Frank Giampaolo
FGSA@earthlink.net

 

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Now Available- The Tennis Parent’s Bible 2nd Edition

Posted on January 27, 2016 by in The Second Edition of The Tennis Parent's Bible

NOW AVAILABLE!

The Tennis Parent’s Bible 2nd Editionblack_ebook_design2

The 2nd Edition of The Tennis Parent’s Bible delves even deeper than the original bestselling Tennis Parent’s Bible- an essential guide for the competitive junior tennis player, parent and coach. The second edition opens the door to thousands of hours of athlete-coach specific instruction and parental job descriptions that will save thousands of dollars and hours of wasted time, tears and anguish. Frank clearly spells out what tennis parents need to know and understand about how to navigate their young tennis athletes through this maze of the highly competitive and performance driven sport.

Regardless of the stage of development, the ultimate goal of The Tennis Parent’s Bible is to maximize player potential at the quickest rate. The evolutionary state of tennis demands parents be more involved and informed. Specific roles and responsibilities of the player, coach and parent are outlined for greater synergy, team harmony and accelerate athletic growth. The Tennis Parent’s Bible is essential reading for those interested in developing confident, self-reliant and accomplished children.

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Pre-Set Emotional Match Protocols

Posted on January 25, 2016 by in Cheating, The Second Edition of The Tennis Parent's Bible

“The Triangle between player, coach, and parent is full of speed bumps and sharp curves! Everyone wants to accelerate and speed ahead to the supposed finish line. Too often what should be a fun and rewarding journey gets forgotten. kudos to Frank for providing a road-map to developing a better young tennis player, and a better relationship with their coaches and parents forever.

This is a great resource for every coach who wants to develop great players and most importantly, responsible young adults.”Chuck Gill USPTA

Chuck Gill, President USPTA

 

 

The following post is a Q & A excerpt from the Second Edition of The Tennis Parent’s Bible available for pre-order now! (Pre-order yours with Amazon and email Linda the receipt at lindateresag@hotmail.com and get two free gifts for immediate download.)
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QUESTION: My child is scared to call an umpire onto the court. How can we help?

Frank: As I’ve addressed throughout this book, pre-setting the emotional match protocols are as important as developing motor programs for mechanical strokes.  The solution to dealing with on-court controversy (such as calling an umpire to the court.) should already be pre-wired before the match begins.  Be sure your child is clear about the actual rules and regulations of competitive play. This requires reading the rules and regulations of the game.  Once your child is aware of the official protocol of calling an umpire to her court, she will be more confident in her proactive action.  Remind her that she works too hard to allow cheaters to steal what is rightfully hers.  Calling an umpire onto the court is demanding fair play.

 

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