Greetings,
The following post is an excerpt from The Tennis Parent’s Bible. Thank you for visiting, Frank
HOW COME SO MANY GREAT JUNIORS NEVER MAKE IT ON THE PROFESSIONAL TOUR?
There are several key components that undermine great junior tennis player’s careers. I call them roadblocks- secret ways the game weeds out the weak. Tennis champions work hard on and off the court long for many years before they become champions. Below I have listed a few common roadblocks that face many great junior tennis players:
Believing that if they are a better athlete, then they will win
Being a better physical athlete is only one third of the battle. If your child is weaker mentally or emotionally they will struggle. Another way to look at this issue is if an opponent looks physically superior to the rest of the field, then there is most likely something missing or something broken in their mental or emotional components. If they were superior in all three, they wouldn’t be in that draw.
Procrastination
Big time national titles are won by the champions because they accept the fact that they will be shedding serious blood, sweat and tears two months before the event begins. Procrastinators often do everything else except focus 100 percent on improving and fixing their problems. As long as they do not actually give 100 percent on the practice court, they will have a built in excuse…”If I had the time to practice, I could of beat her…etc.”
Quantity of practices versus quality of practice
Hopefully this tip is beginning to sink in, but rallying back and forth to a hitter or even worse, having balls fed right to your child’s strike zones does not in any way simulate tough playing conditions. Our battle cry is “Practice in the manner in which you are expected to perform.” Remember high end tennis is not a game of catch; it is a game of keep away!
Thinking that practicing hard for one hour is enough
Top tournament play often requires that your child compete in two, best of three sets, single matches daily. Since doubles play results count for their overall ranking, throw in a doubles matches as well. Let me ask you, how many hours a day is your child expected to run their tail off?
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.
FUN FACT: Remember, 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
Peak performance requires that your child applies periodization. Cramming in training days before a national event will lead to your child’s “batteries” half full. Also, their millisecond decision making skills won’t be sharp. They will 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.
SPECIAL NOTE: It’s not the opponent that causes the anger issues in a match. It’s the fact that the opponent has exposed a weakness that wasn’t fixed before the match began.
During the event, proper between point rituals and change over rituals is the key ingredient to managing emotions such as anger. Proper rituals also allow your child to save their precious physical, mental and emotional batteries needed later in the finals.
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.
FUN FACT: Intermediates spend most of their time working on the strokes they already own. Advanced players spend most of their time perfecting the strokes and patterns they wish to add to their tool.
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. Rituals may include equipment preparation, nutrition and hydration at the right times, warming up their primary and secondary strokes, applying visualization sessions, going for a short run before going on the court. Champions act like champions long before they become champions.
SPECIAL NOTE: Kelly doesn’t like to eat when she is nervous. So, she chose to skip breakfast before her first round match at this year’s Easter Bowl. Kelly was scheduled to play at 9:30 am. The previous match went 3 long sets and Kellie didn’t get on court until 10:30.
Flash forward two hours and Kelly is going into the third set. Kelly has not eaten for over 16 hours! Kelly is out of gas. Not eating has led to low blood sugar, which has led to a severe physical and mental breakdown. The breakdown lead to an entire emotional melt down and Kelly loses early to a player she could of beaten easily. Why? She did not feel like eating.
Frank Giampaolo
FGSA@earthlink.net
www.MaximizingTennisPotential.com
www.RaisingAthleticRoyalty.com
