Often I wonder if I could afford XYZ coach or send our kids to ABC academy, that would be a sure way to make our kids quickly improve and get to the level above where they currently are. But, then another part of me (the numbers and rational one) makes me put more thought into this situation. How many new great tennis players have come out of the well-known academies? Or, how many new players have the famous coaches recently produced? I don’t really know, but I don’t think many or we would read about them. This then made me a question? What is the value of a high-level coach? or the well-known academies? Maybe I can hire Rick Macci? Or someone like him. But, then I ask? Who is the latest product of their teachings?
I am unable to come up with an answer. What about the USTA player development with unlimited resources to develop players for 20 years going. Yes, years. Again, I am unable to come up with new names. I then decided to do a careful breakdown of what I think are the components of the puzzle. What makes a top tennis player? How are these parts made up.? How come it seems like this an impossible task? How are they intertwined and how can parents and coaches make it work?
Coaching + $$$ + Kid effort + Kids circumstances + will = greater probability of success
As all of us have some but not all of the above listed components and we focus mostly on the ones we can purchase. When we fail to focus in the ones we can shape that are under our control and the ones the kids have the most weight in and don’t know it.
Coaches, spend plenty of time teaching the best techniques but alone fall 80% short of the goal. The super competent ones can at best give you only 20% of the mix up. So, even if you have an average neighborhood coach you can get your chances up. Think papa Williams, Tony Nadal, Jimmy Connors mom, Martina Hingis Mom, Steffi Graf’s dad.
My belief is that as parents and coaches we should work together trying to develop the 40% that is under our full control (20% coaching, 20% family circumstances), then we add to the mix the god-given talent and now you are talking on having 50% of the mix or more. Top that with an awareness of the make up, that will lead to empowerment of the kids and some creative funding and you have a better shot at making the mix work for you and your kids.
Coaches, please guide the parents that you can only provide a portion of the mix, both, sit down and talk and plan and work in unison to work together and for the kid.
The most important part of the mix to me is the kid, who knowingly or unknowingly controls 50% of the mix. We as parents have a say in this as well. Are we working under a culture of excellence to empower the kids to make the right choices? So, as I always tell all my kids, when they are not totally committed or wasting time.
If you cannot give 110% of yourself every time all the time, someone else will and you control the majority of the mix. Decide! What are you going to do? Or better said as the great American coach Steve Smith told my son: Remember good is the enemy of great and, are you willing to pay the price to be a champion? Because most kids say they are, but they are not, and that is something the parents and coach have a say in throughout the years in shaping the champ.
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