Tag Archives: match charts

Importance of Charting Matches

Posted on July 2, 2019 by in The Second Edition of The Tennis Parent's Bible

The following post is an excerpt from Frank’s newest book, The Match Chart Collection. Click Here To Order through Amazon

 

MATCH CHARTING AND TYPES OF CHARTS

 

Charting matches will allow you, the parents to systematically evaluate your athlete’s performance. Maximizing potential at the quickest rate comes from actually providing your entourage of coach’s quantifiable data. Without regular tournament performance assessments, your child’s coaches are simply “winging” the lesson…and that isn’t very efficient, is it?

Unless you’re paying a high IQ coach to observe and chart your child’s matches, it falls into your match day job description. So why is charting valuable in raising athletic royalty?

Charting discovers your child’s efficiencies and deficiencies. Not only will they assist the coaches in correcting the actual cause of your athlete’s losses, but it is also a great stress buster for you as you sit and watch the matches. Charting also provides facts versus opinions. Charting will help you spot what I call “Reoccurring Nightmares.” These issues tend to show up week after week. The below true story illustrates facts versus opinions.

 

A few years ago I was hired to assist a fourteen-year-old, #1 player in Florida. We pre-set three performance goals before the match versus the older, bigger, stronger opponent. One was to isolate his backhand and serve about 75-80% to that weaker backhand side to control the court.

As I charted the boys 16’s tournament match, an interesting observation kept reoccurring. My student had a decent service motion, nice speed, and spin but kept getting broken. As I charted his serve, I tracked his percentage of serves to the opponent’s terrific forehand versus pitiful backhand. Ironically, this top Floridian kept “feeding the opponents forehand.”  In the 3-6, 3-6 semi-final loss, he served 81% to the opponent’s forehand!

After the match, we went for a smoothly to relax a bit. When he was ready to discuss the match, I asked: “How did you do with isolating his backhand?” “Good” was his reply. Then I asked. “What do you estimate your serving percentages were serving to his backhand versus his forehand?” “Um…I think I served about 80% to his backhand” was his reply. Case and point- athletes often have a very different view of their performance.

 

Nine Different Types of Charts

There are very different types of charts used to identify different issues. You can get as detailed or as basic as you like depending on maturity and ability level…. (And I’m talking about the parent’s…maturity and ability level…haha.) Below are nine different charts that I have designed to spot strengths and weakness.

1) Unforced Error versus Winner Chart

Focus: Is your athlete committing about 6 unforced errors to 10 winners every set like the current National Champions?

2) Serving Percentage Charts

Focus: Are your athletes first serve percentages around 65%?  How often are they serving to the opponent’s strengths or weaknesses?

3) Type of Error Chart

Focus: Where do their errors come from offensive, neutral or defensive? Does your child choose offense when they should be hitting a neutral shot?

4) Cause of Error Charts

Focus: Knowing the cause of the error is the first step in error correction. What was the cause of the error? (Stroke mechanics, shot selection, movement, emotional/focus)

5) Court Positioning Chart

Focus: Where were they standing when their points were won and lost? (Player positioned behind the court versus playing inside the court.)

6) Mega Point Chart

Focus: Spotting the critical game points and then executing the proper pattern is key to winning those close matches. Does your child spot and control the tipping points?

7) Length of Point Chart

Focus: What’s your child’s frustration tolerance level? How many points last 3 balls or less versus points lasting 4 balls or more? Do they win more long or short points?

8) Depth of Groundstroke Chart

Focus: What percentage of your athlete’s groundstrokes land inside the service boxes versus the backcourt? Do they know why “Heavy and high…makes’em cry?”

9) Between Point Ritual Chart

Focus: Most of the time spent in a match is in-between points. How often does your athlete apply critical between point internal and external rituals?

Special Note: Many parents get stuck in a rut of utilizing the exact same chart (paper or app.) I highly recommend utilizing all 9 charts to quantify data.

For those new to charting matches, many parents have found it successful to utilize one chart a month and focus on their athlete’s ability to simply improve a singular performance goal. Be aware that charts will be slightly different depending on the style of opponent your child is facing.

If charting data during your child’s matches isn’t something you are comfortable doing, I suggest hiring an experienced coach to act as your athlete’s tournament traveling coach.

To purchase a PDF copy of the eBook: The Match Chart Collection visit: www.maximizingtennispotential.com (A PDF copy makes it easier to print copies of each chart.)

 


 

Match Chart Assessments

Posted on December 15, 2016 by in Match Charting and Video, 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

MATCH CHARTING AND TYPES OF CHARTS

Charting matches will allow you, the parents to systematically evaluate your athlete’s performance. Maximizing potential at the quickest rate comes from actually providing your entourage of coach’s quantifiable data. Without regular tournament performance assessments, your child’s coaches are simply “winging” the lesson…and that isn’t very efficient, is it?

Unless you’re paying a high IQ coach to observe and chart your child’s matches, it falls into your match day job description. So why is charting valuable in raising athletic royalty?

Charting discovers your child’s efficiencies and deficiencies. Not only will they assist the coaches in correcting the actual cause of your athlete’s losses, it is also a great stress buster for you as you sit and watch the matches. Charting also provides facts versus opinions. Charting will help you spot what I call “Reoccurring Nightmares.” These issues tend to show up week after week. The below true story illustrates facts versus opinions.

 

A few years ago I was hired to assist a fourteen year old, #1 player in Florida. We pre-set three performance goals before the match versus the older, bigger, stronger opponent. One was to isolate his backhand and serve about 75-80% to that weaker backhand side to control the court.

As I charted the boys 16’s tournament match, an interesting observation kept reoccurring. My student had a decent service motion, nice speed and spin but kept getting broken. As I charted his serve, I tracked his percentage of serves to the opponent’s terrific forehand versus pitiful backhand. Ironically, this top Floridian kept “feeding the opponents forehand.”  In the 3-6, 3-6 semi-final loss, he served 81% to the opponent’s forehand!

After the match, we went for a smoothly to relax a bit. When he was ready to discuss the match, I asked “How did you do with isolating his backhand?” “Good” was his reply. Then I asked. “What do you estimate your serving percentages were serving to his backhand versus his forehand?” “Um…I think I served about 80% to his backhand” was his reply. Case and point- athletes often have a very different view of their performance.

 

Nine Different Types of Charts

There are very different types of charts used to identify different issues. You can get as detailed or as basic as you like depending on maturity and ability level…. (And I’m talking about the parent’s…maturity and ability level…haha.) Below are nine different charts that I have designed to spot strengths and weakness.

1) Unforced Error versus Winner Chart

Focus: Is your athlete committing about 6 unforced errors to making 10 winners every set like the current National Champions?

2) Serving Percentage Charts

Focus: Is your athletes first serve percentage around 65%?  How often are they serving to the opponent’s strengths or weaknesses?

3) Type of Error Chart

Focus: Where do their errors come from: offensive, neutral or defensive? Does your child choose offense when they should be hitting a neutral shot?

4) Cause of Error Charts

Focus: Knowing the cause of the error is the first step in error correction. What was the cause of the error? (Stroke mechanics, shot selection, movement, emotional, or focus)

5) Court Positioning Chart

Focus: Where were they standing when their points were won and lost? (Player positioned behind the court versus playing inside the court.)

6) Mega Point Chart

Focus: Spotting the critical game points and then executing the proper pattern is a key to winning those close matches. Does your child spot and control the tipping points?

7) Length of Point Chart

Focus: What’s your child’s frustration tolerance level? How many points last 3 balls or less versus points lasting 4 balls or more? Do they win more long or short points?

8) Depth of Groundstroke Chart

Focus: What percentage of your athlete’s ground strokes land inside the service boxes versus the back court? Do they know why “Heavy and high…makes em cry?”

9) Between Point Ritual Chart

Focus: Most of the time spent in a match is in-between points. How often does your athlete apply critical between point internal and external rituals?

SPECIAL NOTE: Many parents get stuck in a rut of utilizing the exact same chart (paper or app.) I highly recommend utilizing all 9 charts to quantify data.

For those new to charting matches, many parents have found it successful to utilize one chart a month and focus on their athlete’s ability to simply improve a singular performance goal. Be aware that charts will be slightly different depending on the style of opponent your child is facing.

If charting data during your child’s matches isn’t something you are comfortable doing, I suggest hiring an experienced coach to act as your athlete’s tournament traveling coach.

To purchase a PDF copy of the eBook: The Match Chart Collection visit: www.maximizingtennispotential.com (A PDF copy makes it easier to print copies of each chart.)

 

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

 

Are You Quantifying Performances?

Posted on January 15, 2016 by in Match Charting and Video, The Second Edition of The Tennis Parent's Bible

The following post is an excerpt from the 2nd edition of The Tennis Parent’s Bible- available now for pre-order on Amazon. (It will be available in both print and ebook versions by the end of the month!)  Click Here to Pre-Order

black_ebook_design2

 

Match Logs Quantify Performances

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 Giampaolo
(949)933-8163

OPPONENT PROFILING

Posted on October 27, 2015 by in The Tennis Parent's Bible

GREETINGS,

Just last week while watching 60 Minutes, I was reminded of how important pre-game preparation truly is for the high performance successful athlete.  The show interviewed Darrelle Revis, NFL’s highest-paid corner-back.  I was in awe of his incredible dedication to his physical, mental and emotional athletic skills. Not only did he work on his athletic skills, he spent hours and hours reviewing high speed videos of all the opposing teams’ wide receivers during actual game play. This excellence does not come by chance- it comes with resiliency, hard work, dedication and a growth mind set. Darrelle’s dedication to opponent profiling makes him one if the highest paid corner-backs in the NFL.  How is your child’s opponent profiling skills?

The following is an excerpt from the second edition of
THE TENNIS PARENT’S BIBLE COMING SOON!black_ebook_design2

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/WTA pros, I apply the below profiling topics.

Opponent Profiling:

  • Make an effort to scout an upcoming opponent beforehand.
  • Scout opponent’s primary style of play.
  • Scout opponent’s preferred serve patterns (especially on mega points).
  • Scout opponent’s preferred return of serve position and shot selection on both first and second serve returns.
  • Scout opponent’s favorite go-to rally pattern.
  • Scout opponent’s dominant short-ball option.
  • Scout opponent’s preferred net rushing pattern.
  • Scout opponent’s stroke strengths and weaknesses (Advanced players should also consider the strengths and limitations of strike zones.)
  • Scout opponent’s movement, agility and stamina efficiencies and deficiencies.
  • Scout opponent’s 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/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.