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The Psychology of Tennis Parenting
The following post is an excerpt from The Psychology of Tennis Parenting.
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Preparation
“Katie, if you win today, your UTR will go up into the 8’s…Your college scholarship at UCLA is on the line, so pay attention and don’t blow it! Oh, and she’s a pusher. She gets everything back, so stay focused!” Confidence doesn’t stem from these pep talks. They only increase the terror in your athlete. True confidence stems from your athlete believing that they’ve adequately prepared for the event.
Junior athletes don’t miraculously rise to the occasion. They sink to the level of their training- a phrase repeat throughout this book.
Solution: Prepare the mind, body, and spirit for battle. It’s no secret that juniors and their parents want the win. It’s their will to prepare properly that is often lacking. Advanced competitors embrace the discipline of development long before the consistent winning begins. Intermediates all too often see development as punishment. Nurture your athlete to work harder and smarter than they did yesterday.
Intelligent preparation is the key to unlocking their match potential. The champion is born when the willingness to outlearn and outwork their rivals supersede their need for approval. Physical, mental, and emotional preparation will get them better results, but preparation is its reward at the end of the day. Fulfillment comes from persevering through the hard work.
