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Tennis Myths

Posted on October 8, 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 Order

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QUESTION: What are some of the hidden roadblocks and myths found in high performance tennis?

Frank: It fascinates me how some junior athletes will hold on to crazy-beliefs. They would rather live in their “altered state of reality” and continue to get poor results than simply be accountable to their deliberate customized developmental plan. I have compiled some of the most common myths coming out of the mouths of your kids!

 

Under Training Off-Court

If your child “thinks” that they are mostly in shape…they are most likely not in shape. Players that are in great shape “know” they are in great shape. Getting past the third day of a big event is going to be a challenge for every junior who only “thinks” they’re in shape.

 

Solid fundamentals will get them in the draw. Being crazy fit keeps them in the draw. But being mentally and emotionally stable under stress wins titles.

 

Cramming Last Minute for an Event

Cramming in training days before a national event will lead to your child’s “batteries” half full come match time. Also, their millisecond decision making skills won’t be sharp. They will likely hesitate with their judgments and often over think under stress. Lastly, last minute crammers usually end up playing sore or injured.

 

Mistake Management

It is essential that your child understands the difference between a “good” mistake and a “bad” mistake. Also, did the mistake stem from technical form, inappropriate shot selections or poor movement? Mentally making the appropriate corrections without emotional condemnation is important.

 

Anger Management

Poor preparation is the source of the problems that cause the anger. Plans and patterns should be nurtured months before an event. Tools are sharpened and the rust is buffed out.

 

It’s not the opponent that causes the actual anger issues in a match. It’s the fact that the opponent has exposed a weakness that wasn’t fixed before the match began.

 

Blame Management

Blaming is a common excuse many juniors prefect. Changing string tension, racquets, coaches, and academies is a short-term feel good fix. However, designing a strong personalized developmental program and sticking to it is the solution to their problems.

 

Intermediates spend most of their time working on the strokes they already own. Advanced players also spend time perfecting the strokes and patterns they wish to add to their tool belt.

 

Lack of Pre-Match Routines and Rituals

Essential routines and rituals are used by professionals and often overlooked by junior competitors. Teens are often too cool to prepare properly. Champions act like champions long before they become champions.

 

To review, I highly recommend taking time to communicate the above player accountability issues with your athlete and their entourage of coaches. Plan on organizing solutions to the common road blocks and de-bunking the myths.

 

Parent Athlete Communication

Posted on October 2, 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 Order

 Frank Giampaolo

It is the responsibly of the parent of a high performance athlete to become aware of the ‘do’s and don’ts’ as they manage their child’s athletic career. Poor communication (words and actions) can crush the most talented athlete’s confidence, destroy enthusiasm and permanently damage the emotional climate great coaches’ work to build. Positive communication can increases momentum, reignite commitment and maximize athletic potential.

 

The Benefits of Repetition

Posted on September 23, 2016 by in Emotional Aptitude in Sports, 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

 Frank Giampaolo

 

QUESTION: Why is repetition so important in developing athletic royalty?

 

Frank: Most professional coaches view repetition as the godfather of mastery. Repetition is essentially motor programming.

Developing a motor program begins with a thought, which is messaged through the nervous system, down the spinal cord and into the muscular system. The more we pre-set the protocols the more it “grooves” the pathways. So, the more familiar the habit, the easier it is to execute the proper protocol during match play.

Repetition doesn’t just involve the physical strokes. It also applies to the athletic, flexible skills movements, the cognitive processing skills and emotional responses. All four of these components need appropriate, deliberate repetition.

 

“It doesn’t matter if you’re actually doing it, imagining it or observing it, you are developing a pathway.”

 

Neurological-connections are strengthened by repetition. One of the most important keys to repetition is to “practice in the manner in which you’re expected to perform.” Often, improvements are maximized through manipulating the exercises with variations. Examples include:

Athleticism– Varying the direction, physical reps and/or sets.

Strokes– Varying the strike zones, tempo and/or movement.

Emotional– Varying the performance anxieties and their pre-set solutions.

Mental– Varying the different patterns used to beat the different styles of opponents.

Applying each of the four components under stress effortlessly requires an intuitive process. What appears to be a natural talent is actually a learned behavior through repetition. Mastering each component requires repetition.

 

It’s important to note that repetition isn’t always good. Repeating the same old flawed mechanical stroke or repeating the incorrect emotional response to stress is only ingraining that flaw deeper, making it harder to fix later.

 

Wandering Mind in Match Play

Posted on September 20, 2016 by in Emotional Aptitude in Sports, 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

Frank GiampaoloQUESTION: My child’s mind wanders off in matches, how can we fix that?

 

Frank: Lapses in concentration are so very common. Focus is a key mental and emotional skill set. Without it, even the most gifted ball strikers are usually early round losers. Focus requires the athlete to understand that their mind is like a muscle that needs to be continually tightened and toned. Remember from the previous section, an un-trained brain can easily slip back and forth between it’s under-arousal state of mind, it’s over-arousal state of mind and it’s optimal emotional state of mind.

Let’s look once again into the thought process of these three different “head spaces.”

In the under-arousal state, the athlete often begins to detach and slip into past or future thought scenarios. After the mind wanders off, athletes often report that they choked. In the optimal performance state, the athlete stays deeply entrenched in their calm, happy, confident script of patterns. When this emotional state of readiness lasts throughout the match, the athlete often reports that they’re in the zone. In the over-arousal state of mind, the athlete slips into the over hitting, rushing, and reckless style of play. The athlete often reports that they were trying to play better than they actually needed and simply panicked.

The initial key to solving this issue is to ask the athlete to begin to notice where their thoughts are at certain stages of the match. (This is best done through match play video analysis.) Once the athlete is able to identify a particular thought process during a match, under arousal or over arousal, they should be coached to apply pre-set protocols or triggers to help bring about the appropriate performance state of mind.

Remember, triggers are used to get an athlete back into their script of patterns. Triggers are both verbal and physical. Triggers serve the athlete in two very positive ways: it inflates their energy while deflating their opponent’s energy and by sending the message that they’re in it … to win it.

 

Strengthen Neurological-Connections with Repetition

Posted on September 1, 2016 by in Maximizing Tennis Potential, Tennis Specific Training, The Second Edition of The Tennis Parent's Bible

Coming soon Emotional Aptitude in Sports – a practical guide to solving competitive issues.

EA in sports3

 

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

 

QUESTION: Why is repetition so important in developing athletic royalty?

Frank: Most professional coaches view repetition as the godfather of mastery. Repetition is essentially motor programming.

Developing a motor program begins with a thought, which is messaged through the nervous system, down the spinal cord and into the muscular system. The more we pre-set the protocols the more it “grooves” the pathways. So, the more familiar the habit, the easier it is to execute the proper protocol during match play.

Repetition doesn’t just involve the physical strokes. It also applies to the athletic, flexible skills movements, the cognitive processing skills and emotional responses. All four of these components need appropriate, deliberate repetition.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re actually doing it, imagining it or observing it,
you are developing a pathway.”

Neurological-connections are strengthened by repetition. One of the most important keys to repetition is to “practice in the manner in which you’re expected to perform.” Often, improvements are maximized through manipulating the exercises with variations. Examples include:

  • Athleticism– Varying the direction, physical reps and/or sets.
  • Strokes– Varying the strike zones, tempo and/or movement.
  • Emotional– Varying the performance anxieties and their pre-set solutions.
  • Mental– Varying the different patterns used to beat the different styles of opponents.

Applying each of the four components under stress effortlessly requires an intuitive process. What appears to be a natural talent is actually a learned behavior through repetition. Mastering each component requires repetition.

It’s important to note that repetition isn’t always good. Repeating the same old flawed mechanical stroke or repeating the incorrect emotional response to stress is only ingraining that flaw deeper, making it harder to fix later.

CONTACT: Frank Giampaolo FGSA@earthlink.net

Managing Tipping Point Tendencies

Posted on August 27, 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 Orderblack_ebook_design2

 

TIPPING POINT TENDENCIES

Experienced champions have developed seemingly hidden skill sets I call, Tipping Point Tendencies. To the untrained eye, as the athletes warm up, opponents may appear to be equally matched with similar physical abilities. It is during match play that tipping point tendencies become apparent. The game is on and “playing catch” is over and playing “keep away” begins. These pre-developed skill sets are the critical factors that tip a close match in ones favor.

The tipping points are those hidden moments in each match when an emotional energy shift is about to happen.

 

“In close tennis matches, positive and negative energy and attitudes flows back and forth.”

 

Most intermediate athletes and their parents don’t even realize that this critical struggle for power is taking place. That is… until now! Mental readiness is required to control the positive energy.

 

Think back to the last few times your athlete lost tight matches. Chances are you blamed the losses on bad luck, or the opponent cheated, or your kid just did not have the “feel” that day, or for you superstitious types… you went to Quiznoz’s instead of Subway. Those re-occurring close defeats are most likely due to your child’s incomplete training and not lunch meat. Tipping point tendencies are essential learned behaviors that athletic royalty must master.

An athlete that shifts focus to the following tipping point tendencies, accelerates the learning process and a competitive warrior is born. Close matches are often decided by a handful of points. Let’s look a little deeper at ten of the top “hidden” tipping point tendencies that can help tip your athlete’s matches in their favor. (These are terrific conversation starters for your athlete and their coaches.)

 

Top Ten Tipping Point Tendencies:

1) Pay attention to the energy flow throughout the match. Who’s cranky and negative, who’s eager, hungry and positive? If you’re negative, apply your triggers and steal the energy back.

2) Monitor your state of mind. Is your mental and emotional state in the under arousal state of mind, in the optimal peak performance state of mind or in the over arousal state of mind?

3) Learn to spot the mental and emotional signs of choking (over-thinking) and panicking (under-thinking).

4) Manage the score to manage your adrenaline. Different points have different psychological values. Pay attention and get pumped up before big points.

5) Note that tennis scoring isn’t numerically fair: You can win more points than the opponent in the match and still lose the match. Winning requires spotting tipping points.

6) Spot the mega points (game winning points) and run the appropriate pattern that you’ve trained to death versus going rogue.

7) Spot mini-mega points. A 30-15 lead isn’t the correct time to relax. Winning that crucial point earns you a 40-15 advantage, lose it and you’re staring at a 30-30 tie.

8) Spot mini-mega games. These games in a set hold crucial building blocks. A 4-2 lead isn’t time to relax. Winning that mini-mega game earns you a 5-2 lead. Lose is and the sets a 4-3 dog fight.

9) Opponent profiling is crucial. It’s the flip side to running your Top 7 Patterns. Competitors who pay attention not only spot the opponents preferred patterns but actually shut them down on these big occasions.

10) Self-chart both sides of the net. Witness where errors and winners stem from and problem solve accordingly.

In regards to higher learning, I’m amazed at how often very young intermediate athletes understand this type of mental and emotional training. It is not reserved for the older advanced group. Parents and coaches, please remember, their world isn’t remotely like ours at their age. With Google on their smart phones, they are accustom to collecting and quantifying data at lightning speeds.

Have you ever witnessed your child on their phone with one friend, doing their homework, skyping another friend, snap-chatting, while eating and watching TV?  Children can multi-task. Asking an intermediate tennis player to improve their mechanical stroke components while improving their mental components is a piece of cake!

 

Mastering the tipping point tendencies is the art of winning under stress. Those seemingly “little things” are actually the extremely “big things” that make all the difference in tipping the odds in your favor.

 

CONTACT: Frank Giampaolo FGSA@earthlink.net

 

PARENT PLAYER HARMONY

Posted on August 17, 2016 by in Parent Player Communication, 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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PARENT PLAYER HARMONY

 

“The parent coach relationship is a true partnership.”

One of the most important duties of a parent is to instill harmony along the journey. Through a parent’s unconditional love and support, the ultimate outcome of the athletic journey should be to create a well-balanced, world class adult.

 

Behaviors that Foster Parent-Player Harmony Checklist:

  • Leave notes under their pillow reminding them how proud you are of their efforts.
  • After a loss, give your child time and space.
  • On a daily basis, be effort orientate versus outcome orientated.
  • Understand the parents’ job descriptions.
  • Abide by the tennis parent match day guidelines.
  • Put visions and goals in writing to keep the team on same page.
  • Remember that your actions speak louder than your words.

 

“A parent should hold the athlete accountable for poor behavior. Instilling manors and good sportsmanship is part of the balanced approach.”

 

CONTACT: Frank Giampaolo FGSA@earthlink.net

Pre-Match Entourage Communication

Posted on August 10, 2016 by in Match Day Preparation, The Second Edition of The Tennis Parent's Bible

The following post is an excerpt from Match Day Preparation e-Book NOW available through most on-line retailers!  Click Here to Order

Matchday preparation

 

LESSON TWELVE: Pre-Match Entourage Communication 

Successful coaches and perceptive parents know that nonverbal communication is the single most powerful form of communication. People don’t need to say anything for their stress, nervousness, and anxiety to be felt and adopted by others.

Before matches, players are trying to enter into their competitive “performance goal” state of mind. If you feel that your parents are unknowingly sabotaging your pre-match mind set, ask them to please read this section with you.

The following chart lists Appropriate and Inappropriate match-day topics for both coaches and parents. Review the chart and circle whether such topics are part of your entourage support system.

Appropriate POSITIVE Conversation

  • Preparing equipment and adhering to nutrition and hydration requirements? Yes/No
  • Applying warm-up routines (Hitting both primary and secondary strokes)? Yes/No
  • Discussing both the player’s and opponent’s A, and possible B game plans, favorite go-to patterns, stroke strengths and weaknesses, movement issues, and emotional or focus issues? Yes/No
  • Practicing visualization and imagery routines? Yes/No
  • Listing the top three performance goals to accomplish? Yes/No
  • Focusing on the process of endurance and competitive fight? Yes/No  Reminds you to refer you to match “cheat sheets” if losing? Yes/No
  • Provides positive memories of past performances? Yes/No
  • Suggesting a short run before going onto the court?
  • Reminding you to simply try your best to execute the correct shot (The shot that the moment demands.) rather than worry about the outcome?
  • Encouraging you to smile, laugh and enjoy the day?

Inappropriate NEGATIVE Communication

  • Discussing the need for a perfect performance? Yes/No
  • Explaining why today’s match is the most important of your career? Yes/No
  • Describing the consequences of the outcome, such as the player’s spot in the team’s lineup, the team’s position in the overall league rankings, or the individual’s position in the overall rankings? Yes/No
  • Detailing how much time or money has been spent on the player’s career? Yes/No
  • Placing emphases on outcome goals, such as the ranking game, over performance goals…“She’s ranked 98 spots ahead of us.”? Yes/No
  • Adding stress by informing you of your opponent’s past successes…“She’s top 3 in the nation and just won the Super Nationals? Yes/No
  • Reinforcing the importance of winning (outcome goals) versus performance goals…Such as being reminded that this will be a huge win for us? Yes/No
  • Listing all the good players the opponent has already beaten? Yes/No
  • Talking about what others will say “If they win and/or lose?” Yes/No
  • Sabotaging you with hints of outcome goals… “If you win, your ranking will skyrocket into the top 20…if you don’t blow it.”? Yes/No
  • Giving you last-minute negative advice… such as reminding you about your game weaknesses? Yes/No

 

ASSIGNMENT: Communicate with your entourage the de-stressing value of appropriate performance oriented communication versus inappropriate outcome oriented communication.

TAKE NOTE: Another side of pre-match communication is avoiding socializing with other tournament players or parents before a match. Keep in mind that competitive tennis at the higher levels is a brutal, individual sport. Unfortunately, other so-called friends or tennis parents may try to sabotage you with the exact negative discussions that a coach is desperately trying to avoid.

Socializing pulls competitors away from their pre-match routines and rituals. Remember, a transformation should take place before each match. You simply cannot transform from a normal person into a warrior if you are hanging out with friends.

Avoid outcome goals such as the visions of winning and focus on the process goals which are the actions necessary to win.

 

CONTACT: Frank Giampaolo
FGSA@earthlink.net

Spectacular Match Day Preparation

Posted on August 4, 2016 by in Match Day Preparation, The Second Edition of The Tennis Parent's Bible

The following post is an excerpt from Match Day Preparation NOW available through most on-line retailers!  Click Here to Order Matchday preparation

 

There is often a very fine line between competitive success and failure. A poor start, an initial lack of focus, or a bout of wavering confidence can cause a seemingly winnable match to quickly slip away. The will to properly prepare for competition usually makes the difference. For players to achieve consistent positive match results, their preparation must include ritualistic, inflexible routines.
A player who is ready to compete creates an impenetrable wall that keeps the human elements of fear at bay. Remember, for a tennis player, FEAR stands for “False Expectations Appearing Real.” Players who disregard pre-match rituals often unknowingly start a downward spiral that inevitably results in a loss. Their lack of self-discipline leads to self-doubt, a condition that fuels nervousness and then causes a lack of confidence and low self-esteem. These negative forces have a way of fostering a lack of self-control on match day.


“Spectacular Performances are preceded by Spectacular Preparation.”

 

How does your player grade their match day preparation?

MATCH DAY PREPARATION

  • Equipment Preparation: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
  • Pre Match Visualization (Quiet Mind): 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
  • Pre Match Stretching (Dynamic): 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
  • Pre Match Warm Up Routines (Fundamental & Secondary shots): 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
  • Pre Match Run: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
  • Pre Match Nutrition/Hydration: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
  • Post-Match Stretching (Static): 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
  • Post-Match Nutrition/Hydration: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
  • Post-Match: Match Logs: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
  • Scouting of Opponent:

10.1)  Style of Play: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

10.2)  Stroke Strengths and Weaknesses: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

10.3)  Favorite Patterns: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

10.4)  Movement Strengths and Weaknesses: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

10.5)  Frustration Tolerance Level: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

 

List your Top 3 Match Day Preparation areas to focus on this year:

1.

2.

3.

 

Write your Personal Action Plan:

 

Contact: Frank Giampaolo
FGSA@earthlink.net

 

The 3 Control Dramas in Tennis

Posted on July 31, 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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A New Way to Look At Strategy

To understand on-court control dramas, take a minute and think of a tennis match as a control contest. Each player is attempting to pull their opponent into their style of play to gain command of the match.

Three Control Dramas Seen in High Level Tennis:

1) The Power Contest

2) The Speed Contest

3) The Patience Contest

To simplify the process, the goal of competition is to choose the contest your athlete performs best. Then formulate a plan to PULL their opponent out of their own world and into your athlete’s world. Let’s look a little deeper, yet keep it simple:

I have a top 300 WTA player training with me.  We have customized her game plan to hide her weaknesses and expose her strengths. Her body type and brain type play a major role in customizing her success.

Weaknesses

Ann is light in stature. Her opponents are generally much bigger and stronger. We checked off and excluded the “Power Contest” from her A game plan. This is not to say that she might use power as a B or C game plan. Ann also has focus issues. We checked off the “Patience Contest” and excluded it as her A game plan.

Strengths

Ann possesses great speed and anticipatory skills. We chose the “Speed Contest” as her A game plan. Ann is extremely intuitive. She can sense when the opponent is vulnerable and knows “How” and “When” to move in and take away the opponents recovery and decision making time.

When Ann chooses to play her “Speed Contest”, she most often is able to move the bigger girls enough to force errors. She can also pull the retrievers off the court to open up winning angles. When Ann chooses to get into a “boomball-power” contest with bigger, stronger girls, she loses. When she chooses to out moonball a “World Class” moonballer she loses!

As I mentioned earlier, this section should be a conversation opener with your athlete and their entourage.  Knowing who you are is an important step in formulating your most successful game plans.

CONTACT: Frank Giampaolo
FGSA@earthlink.net