The following post is an excerpt from the Second Edition of The Tennis Parent’s Bible
Available through most online retailers!
QUESTION: Should my son copy Nadal?
Frank: Before I answer this question, let’s review some of the facts I love about Rafael Nadal…and you should too.
His Uncle taught him how to play. They’ve stuck together as a team. That’s respectful. At 14, The Spanish Federation invited him to train in Barcelona, essentially taking over his training. He already had a great team so he declined. That’s loyalty.
As a youngster, his emotions were like a volcano, so his uncle made him play with dead balls and inferior gear to teach him how to deal with adversity. That builds character.
- Nadal has an entourage: His coaches, trainers, hitters, and agent has been with him for the long haul. That’s smart!
- Nadal has a pre-match routine that he uses before every match: He gets to the site a few hours early to warm up on a side court; he showers, eats, then gets taped up; he plays the match in his head (visualization) a half hour before it begins; he puts on his favorite Spanish pop music and then The Phantom of The Opera on his iPod; he jogs, jumps in place and builds a sweat while visualizing his performance goals. Great preparation- that’s admirable!
- Nadal focuses on the need to improve versus the need to win. Rafa was quoted as saying, “To improve, you have to make mistakes. That’s the problem with improving; you have to accept this.” That’s intelligent!
In early 2008 at #2 in the world, Uncle Tony decided that Rafa needed to improve his offensive court position to win major hard and grasscourt events. They worked on positioning on the baseline for months, taking balls early, and stealing volleys. He went from being a retriever to a counterpuncher to an attacker. Knowing he could still improve, Rafa’s insight yielded him an Olympic gold, a Wimbledon Championship, and the world’s #1 ranking. That’s brilliant!
- Rafa has had more than his share of injuries yet comes back stronger than ever. That’s character! (2004- A stress fracture took him off the court for three months; 2005- a mysterious foot injury sidelined him for months; 2009- knee tendentious took him out for two months… the list goes on.)
- Rafa is a well-rounded person who has outside interests and hobbies. He can be found enjoying golf and fishing on his days off. He also champions his own charity foundation called Fundacion Rafa Nadal. That’s honorable!
- Rafa is disciplined. The next step after motivation is discipline. He does what he has to do when he has to do it. No excuses, no procrastination. That’s commitment!
So, should your son copy Rafa? You Bet!
Below are tips your child can implement to attain Champion Skill Sets like Rafa Nadal:
- Hit the gym to gain tennis-specific strength.
- Commit to improving with unrelenting determination.
- Develop the mental side of shot selection to master offense, neutral & defensive skills.
- Schedule time to strengthen their speed, stamina, and agility.
- Revise their between-point rituals to enhance their “clear-headedness” of shot selection on big points.
- Upgrade their ability to apply spin.
- Cultivate the competitive attitude. Do this by adding simulated stress with every drill. We call them “stress buster drills.”
- Perfect the ability to live in the moment (producing precisely what the moment calls for) by rehearsing closing-out sets. Replace the need to win with the love of the battle.
- Reform their calmness under stress by simulating those intense moments.
FUN FACT: Average ball rotation off Agassi’s forehand: 1800 rpm, Federer’s forehand: 2500 rpm, Nadal’s forehand: 3200 rpm
The mental and emotional strength of being a fierce competitor and a respectful human being is a learned behavior and is a factor in player accountability.
SPECIAL NOTE: No one can outperform their self-image. Due to their work ethic, perseverance, and consistent discipline, athletes like Rafa have inner strength and inner excellence. They truly believe in themselves and their abilities because they’ve earned the belief.
