Tag Archives: tennis

Pre-Set Emotional Match Protocols

“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.)
Click Here to Order

 

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.

 

Repetition and Developing Athletic Royalty

“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 paperback version of The Tennis Parent’s Bible is now available for pre-orders. (Pre-order yours with Amazon and email Linda the receipt at lindateresag@hotmail.com and get two free gifts for immediate download.) Click Here to Order

 

The following post is a Q & A excerpt from the Second Edition of The Tennis Parent’s Bible.

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:

AthleticismVarying the direction, physical reps and/or sets.

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

EmotionalVarying 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
www.MaximizingTennisPotential.com

The Tennis Parent’s Bible 2nd Edition Available for Pre-Order

“This book is a must read for any parent with a child who’s serious about competing in Tennis – or in any individual sport.”

Jon Wertheim, Exclusive Editor, Sports IllustratedJOHN QUOTE PHOTO

 

 

 

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.)

QUESTION: Why does my child play great in practice but horrible in matches?

Frank: Here’s the scenario that plays out at every club around the world.

Friday, the day before a local junior event, John the young hitting pro carefully feeds balls waist level, in Nathan’s perfect strike zone. Nathan doesn’t even have to move and hits like a champ. The pro is essentially playing “catch” right to little Nathan. On the way home, Nate says, “Man, I’m on fire! Tennis is easy! Forget the open tourney, I’m going pro!”

Saturday morning rolls around and little Nate’s opponent isn’t as nice as the club’s assist pro. His opponent’s playing “keep away” from him…not catch! His opponent is wisely keeping balls above Nathans shoulders out of his primary strike zone. He’s hitting away from Nathan instead of right to him! Nathan goes down in flames. After the match Nate says, “I don’t get it, I was on fire yesterday.

Practicing in the manner in which you are expected to perform is a battle cry heard at my workshops daily. There is a totally different set of skills that provide “competitive” confidence versus simply hitting.

“The essence of a champion doesn’t simply lie in their strokes but in their head and heart.”

No question, developing sound fundamentals is a critical element of success. However to improve your child’s ability to perform under stress, it is in their best interest to switch from 100 percent stroke repetition practice to include metal/emotion strategy repetition. Organize a meeting with your athlete’s coach and ask him/her to replace some of the fundamental stroke production hours with mental/emotional skill set development.black_ebook_design2

Contact: Frank Giampaolo
Cell: (949)933-8163
www.MaximizingTennisPotential.com

Excerpt from the Second Edition Tennis Parent’s Bible

“Frank is quickly becoming one of the games most respected and influential teachers. As the coach of a #1 WTA player, I recommend The Tennis Parent’s Bible to anyone serious about developing a champion.”

Sam Sumyk, Former Coach of Victoria AzarenkaSAM QUOTE PHOTO

 

 

 

The following post is a Q & A excerpt from the Second Edition of The Tennis Parent’s Bible available for pre-order now!

QUESTION: Why is avoiding performance anxiety in practice bad?

Frank: Avoiding stress in practice only magnifies a player’s performance anxiety during future competition. This avoidance keeps competition scary and uncomfortable and fuels the athlete’s lingering self-doubt.

“Players are actually increasing their anxieties by dodging their fears.”

Every time a player side steps their issues, the thoughts of possible failure multiply into a serious lack of confidence and self-esteem. Their apprehension and fear of competition will actually increase until they agree to stop avoiding their fears.

Psychologists report that the central nervous system decreases its arousal state with extended exposure to the same stimuli. In other words, if one’s nervous system isn’t overly aroused any more… it stops experiencing excessive performance anxiety.

Familiar things get boring. This is human nature. So, the best way for players to alleviate their performance anxieties is through exposure not avoidance.

If your child has performance anxieties, ask them to review with their coach the below facts regarding avoiding anxiety:

Five Avoiding Anxiety Consequences:

1) Avoidance eliminates exposure and experiencing the harmless reality of a tennis match.

2) Avoidance clutters the mind and steals any real analysis of the facts.

3) Avoidance eliminates repetition and the chance to see the event as actually routine.

4) Avoidance stops the practice of the actual protocols so there is no mastery of skills.

5) Avoidance kills true mastery and mastery is what decreases future failures.

Another way to look at the effects of avoiding anxieties is that it magnifies ignorance and multiplies fear, nervousness, uncertainty, distress and disorganization. Although confronting performance anxieties is difficult, it’s the exposure that brings empowerment. So, exposure is the most potent medicine for performance anxiety.

Contact: Frank Giampaolo
FGSA@earthlink.net
www.MaximizingTennisPotential.com

Second Edition of Tennis Parent’s Bible

The following post is a quote for The Second Edition of the Tennis Parent’s Bible.  Ebook Amazon pre-orders are now available (Click Here) Over 500 pages of invaluable information to maximize your child’s athletic potential !!!

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“A first-class book from a first-class coach. Frank is an encyclopedia of tennis knowledge, has extraordinary talents to share and is a model of professionalism. When all of these components come together, an excellent book such as The Tennis Parents Bible appears.

By educating yourself, your children will have better results. This book is a must read for parents to understand how to educate themselves and to appreciate the extensive process they, their children and their coaches are undergoing while their children are developing their tennis skills.”

Shaul Zohar, Manager, Kiryat Shmona Israel Tennis Center

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words…

Congratulations Isa, Katelyn, Isabela And Jenna On the Successes
That Come With Hard Work and Dedication! 

Spectacular performances are proceeded by spectacular preparation. Begin developing the hidden mental & emotional skill sets early like these young ladies and begin to raise athletic royalty.

Although these gals are literally a world apart they all share 3 things in common: Commitment to Frank’s Customized Developmental Plan; Fortunate to have World Class Tennis Parents; A Room Full of Trophies!

Jenna ThompsonJENNA Thompson

Won girls 14 National/Sectional North Carolina.

Isabela ThornhillIsabela Thornhill

Isabela’s first 14’s victory, won singles and doubles title at the Treasure Oaks, Ocean Springs MS tournament.

Katelyn SmithKatelyn Smith

Indian Wells Thanksgiving Tournament L6, Girls 12s Champion.

Isa waringIsa Waring

Regional tournament,Tennis Federation of Catalonia, Spain

Parents, start 2016 with a Customized Developmental Plan and hold on for the rocket ride to the top.

 

What the TENNIS PARENTS are Saying

The following post is a quote from a tennis parent from Spain.  The Second Edition of The Tennis Parent’s Bible is soon to be released. Thanks, Frank

“Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Frank Giampaolo

As parents of a highly competitive junior, we have often struggled to find answers to our daughter’s underperformance, emotional meltdowns and often commented to each other that what we need is a roadmap. 
Not having been in the situation in which we find our daughter but having performed and competed in other fields, we always felt that there must be some secret to it all. 
Finally, we stumbled upon The Tennis Parent’s Bible. A few hours later, we called Frank, flew him to Spain and started our daughter on a customized developmental plan which changed her life and ours! 
It is all there! Frank has been a Godsend to our family and we recommend his book to anyone who will listen! 
Coaches Beware! There will be a whole lot more demanding but educated parents who are eager to help their kids get it right.” 

Jana Waring, Spain

Nurturing a Customized Developmental Plan

 

Coming Soon the Second Edition of The Tennis Parent’s Bible. Its 500 pages of everything you didn’t even know… You needed to know!  The following post is an excerpt from the second edition of the Tennis Parent’s Bible. Thanks for visiting, Frankblack_ebook_design2

Here what the industry experts are saying:

“The Tennis Parents Bible should be mandatory reading (with an annual rotating online quiz) that’s required for ALL PARENTS for their children to play in USTA events! Seriously. If parent training was required, it could change this sport in a powerful way for generations!”

 

Joe Dinoffer
President, Oncourt Offcourt, Ltd.
USPTA and PTR Master Professional

 

NURTURING A DELIBERATE CUSTOMIZED PLAN

 

“Junior tennis champions are born from great sacrifice.
They are never the result of selfish parents.”

 

Outstanding parents are outstanding teachers. The parent is the most important adult figure that will define and shape a child. An experienced coach may assist in developing technical tools such as a topspin backhand. A trainer may assist in developing core strength. But, please never underestimate the power of your child’s greatest teacher…you!

The job description of a tennis parent is to provide a safe and loving environment. A tennis parent nurtures the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual growth of the child.  A gifted athlete with the desire, work ethic and character of a champion will never achieve his or her full potential without the loving support of a tennis parent/manager.

 

“A junior competitor without a tennis educated parent is like a ship without a rudder.”

 

Terrific children, wonderful adults and tennis champions aren’t born, they are developed. It’s not simply heredity. It’s an organized plan. No one becomes extraordinary on their own. “It takes a Village” is the age old saying. As you raise athletic royalty, your village will be your entourage of coaches, hitters, mental/emotional trainers, off-court tennis specific experts, physical therapists and sports medicine doctors.

The Williams sisters are an actual example of a parent with a vision.  The story goes: Richard Williams planned to have more children for the sole purpose of developing them into professional tennis players. Wayne Bryan also had a plan with his twin boys, the Bryan brothers. Without an actual plan, you’ll never know your child’s true potential.

Preparing an organizational blue print will save you thousands of dollars annually. It will also save your child thousands of wasted, unproductive hours, sweat and tears.

Your child was born with a unique genetic predisposition and is pre-wired with a specific brain and body type. Consider it carefully as you and your athlete’s coaches (your entourage) nurture your child’s talent and identify their genetic predisposition.  Individual brain and body type play a very influential role at all levels of the game (not to mention the lifelong benefits as well.)  Let’s have some fun right off the bat and jump into applying personality profiling.

So, what’s the key to maximizing success in the shortest period of time? Is it to purchase the latest equipment? Maybe it’s hiring a great local pro? What if I said… neither.

 

“The first and most important tool you will ever apply is discovering your child’s personality and brain design.”

 

Let’s look at the typical old school tennis teaching scenario. The local pro Jose Gonzales came to the United States from Chile. He was a terrific collegiate player earning a full scholarship to Virginia Commonwealth. Jose even played a few ATP pro challenger events. He found success by being extremely patient. He had a natural gift with his quick feet and he enjoyed running. He took delight in being a steady counter puncher 15 feet behind the baseline. Jose’s shot tolerance was a 20-ball rally!

 

 

As a teaching professional, he demands that each of his students abide by his playing style, disciplines and logic. Your thinking, boy that guy sounds pretty experienced, let’s hire him as our child’s coach. So, is this the right mentor for your child?

The answer is, not likely. Why? Because Jose demands that each student plays his style. The style of tennis that your child needs in order to thrive is based on his or hers own unique design. (AKA: brain and body type.)

 

“Asking your child to play tennis in a style that opposes their skill sets, beliefs and temperament is a recipe for disaster. This is especially true at the beginning levels of player development and is a major factor as to why so many of them leave this great game.”

 

One of the quickest ways to ensure that your child will quit the sport is to demand that they play a style that opposes their brain and body type. Understanding brain and body types is one of the first steps to becoming a world class parent and/or coach. Hold on tight because I am about to rock your world.

 

What the Experts Are Saying

The following post is an excerpt from The Tennis Parent’s Bible.  Thanks for visiting, Frank Giampaoloblack_ebook_design2

 

“A first-class book from a first-class coach.

Frank is an encyclopedia of tennis knowledge, has extraordinary talents to share and is a model of professionalism. When all of these components come together, an excellent book such as the Tennis Parents Bible appears.

By educating yourself, your children will have better results.

This book is a must read for parents to understand how to educate themselves and to appreciate the extensive process they, their children and their coaches are undergoing while their children are developing their tennis skills.”

Shaul Zohar, Manager, Kiryat Shmona Israel Tennis Center

 

Contact: Frank Giampaolo
FGSA@earthlink.net
MaximizingTennisPotential.com
Affiliate 

 

Dealing with Tennis Cheaters

The following post is an excerpt from the second edition of The Tennis Parent’s Bible coming soon!

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QUESTION: Why does my daughter become irrational when cheated?

 

Frank: The human brain simply can’t stand being treated unfairly. It’s that resentment of injustice which triggers the downward spiral. Youngsters feel they deserve a fair chance of any reward being offered and with that taken away … so goes their rational decision making abilities.

How to handle unjust situations is not a tennis issue, it’s a learned life skill. When a tennis opponent is repeatedly cheating and provoking your athlete, a full-blown meltdown is often the result. Biochemical reactions in the brain distort rational reasoning and the fight or flight syndrome overtakes the situation. That is, unless your athlete has been trained to insert the correct protocol- which is the solution to the problem.

Taking back control begins by understanding Channel Capacity- a term neuroscience has assigned to the brain’s inability to process multiple forms of important information at one time.  A common example of channel capacity is texting and driving.

“The human brain cannot solve two complicated tasks simultaneously.”

On-court, the creative line caller systematically pulls your athlete away from the present (performance state of mind) and into the past or future (outcome state of mind.) Understanding this phenomenon is key to salvaging seemingly catastrophic matches.

So instead of little Zack focusing on his performance goals such as “ I’m going to serve to the backhand, hit high and heavy ground-strokes and crush short balls.”, Zack finds himself stuck in the wrong thought process. He is thinking “This guy is such a punk!!! I can’t lose to such a cheater, what will my friends say? I can’t believe I lost the last set, he’s ranked 57 spots below me…” The creative line caller has now got Zack right where he wants him-mentally far away from his performance goals.

If your athlete has issues playing against cheaters, ignoring the issue and hoping it will go away is not in their best interest. I recommend practicing their pre-set protocol during practice sessions to reinforce their match tough confidence. Arrange a few practice matches each week with the opponent being allowed to call any close ball out. Learning to deal with adversity and staying on the correct side of your brain under duress is a skill set that must be rehearsed.

“Tennis, like life, is not fair…but remember, sometimes it’s not fair in your favor.”

 

Contact: Frank Giampaolo
FGSA@earthlink.net
MaximizingTennisPotential.com
Affiliate