When Epstein began writing about the data that athletes who go on to become the elite are usually not the specializers, the reactions from parents was pure disbelief. Can’t be true! Maybe in some other sport, but that isn’t true in our sport! Right?! We all learned from Gladwell’s 10,000 hours, deliberate practice, Tiger Mom, and from Earl Woods developing Tiger, before the age of 2. We all get caught up in the rat race to keep up, but research is showing that this form of early hyper-specialization isn’t the…
After watching Rafa win his 12th French Open, I revisited Toni Nadal’s TEDx Talk on how he built a champion in Rafa through building his character. It is one of my all-time favorites and a must see for all parents and coaches. Toni rarely speaks of the technical work he did with Rafa but speaks often and openly about his building character as the key to Rafa’s success. As many of us in the tennis world know, throughout Rafa Nadal’s career, his uncle, mentor and former coach, Toni Nadal, has been…
Do we need to use online schooling? Does my child have a chance to make it in tennis, if she doesn’t do online schooling? In all my work with junior tennis, this is probably the question I get most often from parents. I am thinking back, and I honestly can’t remember one parent presentation or workshop, where the question wasn’t asked. The answers are no, and yes. Having said that, it is a family decision and what works for one family, doesn’t always work for another family. So, how do you like…
School is back in session, and that means many of our athletes are back on the courts or playing fields. I have two children playing football, one in high school and one in college. I will be honest that having my children play football scares me. (I am the one silently saying her “Hail Mary’s” that no one gets injured during the games.) I am also the coach who is nervous having young players on the tennis courts all day in extreme heat. Unfortunately, we all know that things can go wrong, very wrong. Let’…
We are continuing some pieces on the joys of being a tennis parent. Are you all having fun yet? I will admit to not having the courage that most of you have, in that my children don’t play competitive tennis. Not that watching your son play football doesn’t have its own challenges, but at least I have the company of other parents all rooting for the same team. This week’s article is from Debbie Graham Shaffer. Luckily for us, Debbie will be contributing a lot of articles on her tennis wisdom. Here are just…