TENNIS PARENT SOLUTIONS

This  is an excerpt from The Tennis Parent’s Bible.

The evolution of your child’s progress is a direct link to their training methods. Progress is not made while staying in ones comfort zone. I suggest asking your youngster to step outside of their comfort zone as they enter into the learning zone. This is where advances actually take place. The following is an essential component to accelerating your child’s performance. (For more information: The Tennis Parent’s Bible)

Nurture All Four Sides of a Complete Player:

Primary and Secondary Stroke Skills

The four different forehands, four different backhands, three different serves and four different volleys need to be developed. Players possessing keen primary strokes and non-existent secondary strokes are usually come in second in a field of two. Your child’s game needs depth to go deep into the draw.

Shot and Pattern Selection Skills

Independently place your child in an offense, neutral or defensive position. Drill the movement and typical shot selections of that position. Secondly, assist your youngster in designing their proactive patterns. That is their serve patterns, return patterns, rally patterns and net rushing patterns.

Movement and Fitness Skills

Anticipatory speed is just as important as foot speed. A typical movement drill requires the coach to explain the sequence. The coach says, “Ok, forehand approach shot, forehand volley, backhand volley, overhead, let’s do it!”

I recommend training brain speed as well. So, I would say “Get to the net, I’ll give you 4-6 shots”. I would randomly mix in approach shots, swing volley approach shots, traditional volleys, half volleys and overheads.

Now, multitasking begins. In essence, practicing in the manner in which their expected to perform.

Focus and Emotional Skills

Emotions come into play during live ball, not drills. We call it dress rehearsal/stress rehearsal. In the session, start sets half way through and asks your child to close it out with role playing.

Thank you for visiting, Frank

The following is an excerpt from The Tennis Parent’s Bible

As athletes in every sport progress from recreational players to competitive players they shift from playing reactive ball to proactive. Think about organized soccer, basketball and American football. Do they run plays? You bet!

In tennis, your child should shift from playing “catch” (hitting back and forth with their coach) to playing “keep away!”

Many talented tennis players spend their developmental years hitting back and forth from the base line.  You know the drills- down the line, cross court, up the middle etc. But to accelerate your child’s tennis game, be sure their practice includes pattern play and random ball drills. 

Can your child list their favorite serving patterns, return of service patterns, rally patterns and net rushing patterns?  If your child hasn’t established these protocols, they are just playing reactive tennis.  Champions play proactive tennis.

The Tennis Parent’s Bible offers hundreds of hours of instruction/ direction for less than the cost of a half hour lesson.

Thanks for visiting, Frank

A daily focus journal is a written schedule or goal.  It may include specific achievements, progress and  necessary actions needed. The serious contenders I know, who are finding the success they deserve are completing a daily focus journal. Every night they are listing three to five things they did that day to progress their tennis career.

The key words are “Every Night.” Success is not a random act. It comes from a preconceived set of circumstances. It’s planned.  If our child needs to gain confidence, help them by  tackling their organizational skills.

FUN FACT: Choices Equals Consequences

Examples of daily activities that could be listed in a Daily Focus Journal are:

• Playing a match

• Fixing a stroke

• Stringing their racquets

• Watching tennis on TV

• Working on between point rituals

• Working on how to beat a pusher

• Finding a new doubles partner

• Finding practice matches

• Doing 200 push ups

• Doing sprints

FUN FACT: When real preparation meets opportunity, success will follow.

The above post was an excerpt from The Tennis parent’s Bible.  Thank you for visiting, Frank

Over looking the pain principle as it relates to tennis growth  is a very common mistake.

Remember the old saying? “If you keep on doing what you’ve always done, you’ll keep on getting what you’ve always got.” Players hit common walls in their development. One of those walls is resisting change.

If your child view’s change, as more painful than losing, they’ll continue in the same losing path. It’s so painful for some to change a flawed grip, stroke or stance; they’d rather accept the pain of losing than deal with changing.

Great things begin to happen when the pain of losing starts to be more powerful than the pain of changing. Once they accept the fact that a change has to be made, they are on their way to the next level.  This is where great parenting comes in.

The cycle of change is a three step process:

1. Step one is accepting change.
2. Step two is uncomfortable because they have left their old strokes and their new strokes are not fully formed.
3. Step three is a 4-6 week developmental cycle. During this phase, their new motor programs become personalized and over-ride the old motor programs.

NOTE: At stage 2, the pain of being uncomfortable often pulls them back to their old strokes.

Placing your youngster into a competitive situation before the three phases are complete may destroy their new motor program and the old strokes will surely return.  The result is wasted time, energy and money. As a parent, be sure your player and coach are on the same page with the necessary changes. Thanks for visiting, Frank

The following post is an excerpt from The Tennis Parent’s Bible.  Enjoy!
The mental and emotional strength of being a fierce competitor and a respectful human being is a learned behavior. Building mental and emotional muscle takes time and effort.

The way you think and feel effects how you perform. Rafa Nadal is a prime example of player that has built mental and emotional strength through hard work.

If your player truly believes in their game as a result of proper training and hard work they are bound for greatness.

No one can outperform their self image. Due to their discipline, athletes like Rafa, have inner strength and inner excellence. They truly believe in themselves and their abilities because they’ve earned the belief.

Top Ten Tools Needed to Attain Tennis Excellence:

1. Hit the gym to gain strength.
2. Commit to improving with unrelenting determination.
3. Develop the mental side of shot selection to master offense, neutral & defensive skills.
4. Schedule time to strengthen their speed, stamina, and agility.
5. Revise  between point rituals to enhance  “clear headedness” of shot selection on big points.
6. Improve your ability to apply spin.
7. Cultivate the competitive attitude. Do this by adding simulated stress with every drill. We call them “stress buster drills”.
8. Perfect the ability to live in the moment (producing precisely what the moment calls for) by rehearsing closing out sets.
9. Replace the need to win with the love of the battle.
10. Reform calmness under stress, by simulating those intense moments.

For more information read The Tennis Parent’s Bible- hundreds of hours of lessons for less than a half hour lesson!  Click Here Now

Thank you for visiting, Frank

How many times have you had to defend not being at a holiday celebration because of a tennis tournament?

Many non –high performance family members and/or friends do not get it? And that is okay, but when parents put regular social life events first, their child’s tennis progress can be delayed.  It is very important for the family to decide on their comfortable  level of commitment to tennis.

It is not fair to expect the child to perform at peak performance if the parents are not making a 100% commitment.  For example: sending your child to the Spring Nationals the week after returning from a family vacation, away from homework, tennis and work, and expecting success.

High level tennis requires proper preparation. There is a time and place for tennis breaks.  It should be joint decision. Preparing for a tennis tournament is twofold.

• First, your child should consistently train properly a month or so before a big event.
• Secondly, they should have a pre-game set of rituals to assist them in their match preparation.

Hours before a match, Nadal morphs into a different personality. Chris Evert said she wouldn’t even call a friend before a match in fear that it may break her concentration. Before each concert, Tom Petty sits quietly alone with his acoustic guitar visualizing and preparing for that nights concert. Michael Phelps even swam on Christmas Day-practice always came first.

Preparing mind, body and soul before a match is a learned behavior. Allowing your son to go wrestle in the grass with the other kids before a big match isn’t in his best interest. Allowing your daughter to text 39 friends then fight with her boy friend hours before a big match isn’t in her best interest.

Knowing how and when to turn on the competitor within is critical. Assist your child in finding their own unique game day rituals. After the match is complete, your child can leave it all behind with no regrets.

SPECIAL NOTE: Attending tennis tournaments can be very memorable.  I would always make a special effort to travel and visit local tourist sites or plan special dinners when my daughter was on the tennis trail.  To this day, my family has very fond memories of our tennis travels.  Many of our tennis memories will outlast another holiday sit down dinner.  Enjoy the journey!  Thank you for visiting, Frank

Special Offer: Video Analysis Package

In response to over-whelming inquiries, I am offering a complete Video Examination. Parents believing that their child is capable of greater results should send a DVD of a current match. I will quantify the data (analyze the match performance) and quickly provide a comprehensive blue-print for development via email. I also want to thank all of you that have made a donation to my free blog site via Pay Pal(Located on right side of blog page under blog categories.)

Please include in the DVD package: Your address, cell phone and email address along with a description of your child. DVD’s will not be returned.

Address:

Attn: Frank Giampaolo

The Lake Forest Beach & Tennis Club
22921 Ridge Route
Lake Forest, California USA 92630

Cost: $100.00 (Check or PayPal)

Contact:
Frank@Thetennisparentsbible.com or call (949)933-8163 for more information.

The following is an excerpt from The Tennis Parent’s Bible – Hundreds of hours of instruction for players, parents and coaches! 

Frequently, parents get fixated on what our junior “world beater” is doing wrong, what they need to change, need to learn or need to improve! Because we are so focused on our child’s success, we often become preoccupied with only seeing their faults.

Focus on putting a positive spin in your approach as you gently guide your child through the “wars” of junior tennis.

Here are three ways you can apply your positive influence:

1. Say 5 Positive comments for every Negative comment
   The fact is many youngsters only hear their parent’s negative comments and ignore positive comments. It is important to acknowledge your child’s efforts to improve.

   SPECIAL NOTE: Here’s an eye opening or I should say “ear” opening trick. Place a recorder in your pocket. Record a few training sessions and self chart your positive to negative remarks!
   

2. Celebrate the Positive: Reinforce what you want to see more!
   The following is an example of this rule. Your son’s ball toss is still too high on his serve. Instead of saying “Come on Mike…You are still tossing too high…How many stinking times do I have to tell you!” say “Hey, this is great, your toss is a lot lower. I knew you could make this easy change! Keep working and you will see your consistency really grow!”The positive approach actually gets results as you keep your relationship from getting negative and jaded.
   
3. Teach Gratitude: A more positive attitude will lead to more positive behavior.
   Assist your child in focusing on the good things about their life. Problems and difficulties will always be present. It is very important for your child to feel grateful about their life opportunities.

FUN FACT: There is a world of difference between “I have to play tennis today” and “I get to play tennis today.”
By showing gratitude, both of you will be calmer, happier and more appreciative of each other and others will want to be around you because of your positive attitudes.

To summarize, replace criticisms with a more positive approach. Hard work doesn’t have to be a painful, drudgery. Yes, tennis is hard. Yes, it is a “dog-eat-dog world”, but it doesn’t have to be negative.

Thank you for visiting, Frank

To order The Tennis Parent’s Bible CLICK HERE

By Frank Giampoalo

The most recent post on TheTennisParentsBiible.com brought many emails and phone calls to elaborate on the subject. The topic is covered more thoroughly my e-book The Tennis Parent’s Bible. On-court anger and tennis performance is very familiar to many. Anger can be channeled and improve performance, but most juniors displaying anger meltdowns on court are doing so because they are not properly prepared. Below are several reasons your that may help your child reduce anger fits on court.  (For more detail:  The Tennis Parent’s Bible e-book)

• Rehearse Successful Performance Goals Versus “I Have to Win” Goals:
  You’ll re-read this throughout the book over and over again! Champions are performance orientated and not outcome orientated. After a match parents need to replace “Did you win?” with “How did you play?”In the 2009 Masters Doubles, one ATP team got 81percent of their first serves in and capitalized on 3 out of 4 break points. Guess who won easily?
• Tennis is Not Fair:
  There are so many reasons why this game is not fair. Understanding these issues will reduce the stress some juniors place on themselves. For instance, luck of the draw, court surfaces, match location, elements like weather (wind, sun, etc.), lucky let courts…Can you think of a few?
• Everyone Gets the Same 24 Hours in a Day:
  The difference is how they use it. I mentioned in a previous chapter that most juniors have an excess number of hours unaccounted for. I suggested getting a daily planner and discuss time management with your child. Assist them in organizing their on-court and off-court weekly schedule.
• Managing Stress:
  Experience tells us that if you are in a fight, take some time to clear your head. Get away or go for a brisk walk. Talk to your child about time management as it pertains to controlling the pace of the match. Winners often take bathroom breaks at critical times in a match, don’t they? Controlling the energy flow of the match is a super way to control the fire.
•  Champions Experience Failure:
  Discuss how most tennis champions have probably lost way more matches than your child has lost. Ambitious people experience many failures. One of my past students is Sam Querrey (reached  top 20 on the ATP). He’s been playing full time on the ATP tour for five years. He’s won five events. That means, most of the time, Sam goes home losing week in, week out. Would you say he’s a loser? Not a chance!
• Never Outgrow Fun:
  You often see top professionals battle and still smile in the course of a match. Stress and anger clutter your thought processes, which decreases your ability to perform.
• Tennis is a Gift Not a Right:
  Discuss how there are millions of great athletes that are the same age as your child that will never get the opportunity to compete at this level. Tennis isn’t fair, right? But has your child thought about how lucky they are to be able to play tennis and have a family that wants to support their passion?
• Good Judgment Comes From Experience:
  So where does experience come from? The funny answer is bad judgment. Talk to your child about how it is far less painful to learn from other peoples’ failures. After a loss, stay at the tournament site and chart a top seed. Analyze others’ success as well as pitfalls and learn how to avoid them.
• Be Willing to Lose a Battle in Order to Win a War:
  Let’s say a battle is a local open tournament and a war is a top National Title. Often changing a stroke or tactical plan requires applying the new motor program before it is perfected. Yes, they are highly likely to lose a battle or two or three. But once the new motor programs are built and they have the skills that perform well under stress, they are contenders to win the big wars.
• Stay Aggressive through the Fear: 
  An old saying is “courage is not the absence of fear but the ability to carry on in spite of it.” Discuss how all too often we shift our style from “playing to win” to “playing not to lose.” Trust me folks, they are two very different mind sets.

To order the The Tennis Parent’s Bible CLICK HERE

Thank you for visiting, Frank

The following excerpt on Broad Vision Versus Narrow Vision is from The Tennis Parent’s Bible. To order CLICK HERE

Have you ever watched a match, amateur or professional, and the player with flawless strokes loses to a player with less than perfect strokes? Winning tennis requires more than perfect stroke production.  The best player uses proper broad and narrow vision on the court.

Why: Employing both broad and narrow vision develops quicker anticipatory speed, court coverage, court awareness.

Narrow vision is used when the incoming ball is approaching your child. Their attention should be on watching the ball after the bounce in their strike zone.

FUN FACT: Avoid asking them to watch the ball hit their racket. Kids are smart. You’ll be embarrassed. No human can actually see a 2-3 millisecond event.

Broad vision is employed when the ball has left your child’s strings and is out bound towards the opponent’s side. Ask your child to shift their focus to the big picture. They’ll need to spot where their ball is about to land, their opponent’s court position, their swing speed and swing length and their probable strike zone.

If they sense the opponent is on defense, they should be moving to an offensive position. On the other side, if they spot the opponent moving forward preparing to cream the ball, your child should be preparing for defense.

Good players have fast reaction time. They possess quick hands and fast feet. Great players have those skills as well as anticipation. Average players focus on simply tracking the ball. Advanced players pick up visual clues milliseconds before the opponent strikes the ball. Top players position themselves based on the pre-strike observations of the opponent. Examples include:

• Watching the knee, hip and shoulder rotation as well as the ball toss angle before the opponent serves. Can you spot the obvious ball toss of a kick serve?
• Watching the shoulder position and racket face angle before an opponent volleys. Can you read a crosscourt versus down the line incoming volley?
• Watching the flight pattern, swing speed and swing length of the opponent’s backswing on their ground strokes. Can you spot a slice backhand versus top spin backhand before the opponent strikes the ball?

FUN FACT: Top players aren’t always faster; they simply understand what they are seeing and adjust quicker than the average player.

Thank you for visiting, Frank