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October 1999 Article Latest Leading Edge Tennis Article
The Tennis Server
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Fueling the fire!
Today, coaches, players and parents are armed with loads of information about the sport we love. Today's players are armed with a full arsenal of weapons and strategies, and they are more often built like roman gladiators and picturesque statues. Players today are trained with "biomechanically sound mechanics," which also enables them to have a good "tactical" awareness and diversity that many players in the past may have not had. The player today has off court and on court specific "physical conditioning" that allows them to move faster, and last longer. Psychologically they are taught to have routines and patterns of thought that can allow them to mentally last for hours. Sounds like a full complete package, doesn't it! Well from my perspective it is far from complete... what is missing? "Love and desire" sounds like a romance novel but these two words are some of the most key ingredients in achieving player's, and coaches' dreams in tennis and in life. Of course, work ethic, dedication, commitment, financial support and luck have roles to play in the development of the player. But without constant love, desire and passion it will not last no matter how many other components a player may possess. So what can we do? We as coaches, players and parents need to help each other continually learn to love and cherish the sport. Here are suggestions that I hope may work for you, and at the same time trigger your own personalized strategies in loving the sport more each and every day.
ENJOY THE JOURNEYThere are many inspirational stories that I have heard from people around the world and many people have had an impact on my love of the sport. John McEnroe once said long ago that if he could turn back the clock and change anything in his career it would be to "...enjoy the journey." For all the exceptional achievements and records Mac accomplished they seem a bit tarnished "for him" because of his own words. Don't get me wrong, for me and thousands upon thousands of tennis lovers McEnroe was the inspiration to learn and continue to improve. But for you there sitting and reading my column, it is so crucial to remember to stop and "smell the roses." No matter how tough it may seem or how difficult the circumstances, try to appreciate what you are doing because it could be gone in an instant.
DON'T TAKE IT PERSONALLYThere needs to be a strong connection between the player, coach and parent for a player to develop. We all know that it is such a long road and many a time the difficulties provide us with excuses to display anger or to hurt others. I am in Istanbul, Turkey at the moment I write this and last night a earthquake hit. I was sleeping when all of a sudden BAM it hit. We all were awoken simultaneously. First, a rumble was heard and then the ground moved. It was as if a wave went through the house. Don't worry -- we were all unaffected by it physically. Well amongst other things that went through my head that evening... with much concern, I thought about this building and asked myself just how much a building could take before it would collapse. With earthquake and aftershocks continually impacting a building, eventually that structure will be destroyed. I then thought, it was much like a player and coach. A player or coach can only take so much before they throw in the towel. There can be only so much repairing and patching up before there is no more desire (stability, love). So I hope that you will take this analogy and apply it to yourself. We should all stop and think before we act irrationally. Try not to take things so personally when situations are tense and immediate success is far from realized. Try to take a personal "time out" before you react to something a coach, player or parent has said to you. Just say to yourself or to whomever you are talking to that "before anything happens... I'd like to talk about this after I have some time to relax." It is a very difficult task that I suggest but it is one that will help us all last longer. Some buildings in Turkey have lasted for hundreds of years despite many earthquakes while newer building have collapsed under the pressure. Players are much the same -- some have had more childhood memories and experiences that have provided them with a inner strength that can repel the negative.
POSITIVE COACHINGPlayers need to realize that their coach needs to hear things a certain way. Many coaches are most positive when they are asked questions that are worded with honest sincerity than with harsh non-trusting tones. If you have a concern with your coach then ask it in a way that you know he or she prefers. You'll be surprised of the way they will treat your question. Remember that your coach is not your enemy -- rather they are trying to reach your goals. They will only do what is best in their eyes. Of course the question is "is it the best or is it incorrect?" But the bottom line is that they are trying. Parents please remember though you may feel that you are paying too much money to the pro, they are really trying to help rather than hurt your son or daughter. Coach, when that parent or player attacks with words and facial gestures, try to take it from their point of view before you say or act in a way that is not "professional and appropriate." Remember they are trusting you with their tennis career.
A NEVER FILLING PRAISE TANKAll of us need to continually give praise and look to the good sides of all the many negative situations that the road has to offer. It is too easy to get upset and get thrown off the road to proper development. Instead look to the positive, from a loss try to find all the little positives. Last month I gave a presentation with my brother Victor, also a tennis professional at one of the most prestigious conferences for coaches in North America, the "US Open/ USTA Tennis Teachers Conference." (Yes, it was a huge success :-) and thanks for all of you that attended.) Eliot Teltcher (USTA National Coach) and Craig Kardon (former coach of Navratilova, Pierce, and currently Alexandra Stevenson) shared their experiences with difficulties in coaching, particularly in dealing with losses. They always tried to find the positive, even if it was to say how hard and proud they were of how the player had prepared before the tournament. Praise does not have to be only about the match just played. Find the positive in everything and this will help your player, coach and parent. I personally think that all people have a desire to feel good about themselves and that they can never be filled with enough praise and reassurance telling them that they are cherished and valued by their network of people. I encourage you all to remember this and to say good positive statements. Keep those ill tempered thoughts and statements in your head.
KNOW YOUR PLAYER, COACH AND PARENTIt takes time to really get to know how to deal with one of the people in your support triangle (coach, player, parent). We all have to pay attention to how each reacts to statements, how each wants to be talked to and how each learns and deals with frustrations. Learn to look for these reactions and perspectives and to try to appreciate them. Learn from all the negative and apply yourself to try different strategies the next time the same situation occurs. I like to say "try to be a problem solver rather than a fault finder!"
NEED TO LEARNDo you remember the saying, "you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink." Well, it applies to all of us, no matter how equipped we are for the journey. We need that desire and passion (like water) to help us along. Without the desire to learn and improve ourselves each day we may become complacent and content. Friends, when this happens it may be close to the time for you to hang up that racquet. It happened to me as a young coach of 22 years. Funny thing, long ago I was a spectator in the audience of coaches attending the USTA coaches conference. I went to the New York conference and came away with nothing. Why? I thought that I knew it all and that I had nothing to learn. I had at that time achieved Tennis Canada's level 3 coach -- the highest at that time in Canada and was also certified at the highest level for the USPTR. I also was working for our Canadian Davis Cup Captain. I sat there in each lecture thinking I was wasting my time... what a fool I was. Last month, I had the great privilege to be a speaker. Who would have thought it would happen? Well, I will tell you if I hadn't changed my way of thinking, I would probably have never improved my knowledge base and coaching. Who knows how many thousands of people I could have coached with ill effects. Today, I know that I can still improve myself and I have a desire to learn and to improve, because I know that to strive for less is to not give people around me the coaching they deserve. Strive for Excellence...Well that's it for now friends. Thanks again for your letters and faxes from around the world. Till next month take care and all my best! What a US Open! Congratulations to all the players and especially to Andre and Serena... truly inspirational! They both show us that the sky is the limit and we all can achieve our most cherished dreams. A congratulations to my best-friend (in the entire world) and his new wife! Ken and Bahar I love you both! To many years of love, happiness and prosperity! A hello and thanks to the many coaches who took the time to sit and take part in my lectures at the USPTA World Conference in Miami! Hello to Bruce from Washington, thanks Walt for being a great taxi driver's client, thanks to Ben for his help with introducing me! I would also like to say thanks to all those people who came up to me and my brother Victor and complimented the lectures we gave! My praise tank is full for the time being, thanks. A big huge hello to Townsend Gilbert for asking me to sit on an experts panel at the Conference. A special hello to Dan from Vermont... one day you will achieve all you have dreamed. Thanks Thelma for your help with the conference. Hello to Aygul, it was great to see you and I hope we may bump into each other in the near future! Thanks to Tim Heckler and his son for helping with my presentation! Smiles and big hugs for all of you, Reggie
This column is copyright 1999 by Reggie Vasquez Jr., all rights reserved.
Questions and comments about these columns can be directed to Reggie by electronic mail at reggie@tennisserver.com. |
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The road to development is a long
and winding road with many obstacles and challenges, and
filled with many successes and failures. Coaches,
players and parents need to be able to "endure"
throughout the journey no matter what the road has to
offer. This month's column has some advice and a
perspective to help motivate us all. 
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