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Perfect Strokes

Posted on May 16, 2015 by in Primary and Secondary Strokes, The Tennis Parent's Bible

 

The following post is an excerpt from The Tennis Parent’s Bible.  Thanks for visiting, Frank GiampaoloBlunders & Cures_final

 

 

BLUNDER: Thinking Perfect Strokes are Mandatory

“Nobody has perfect strokes; it’s what you do with what you’ve got that counts!”

-John McEnroe

The legendary Andre Agassi states in his book that he was still learning how to volley when he retired. Pete Sampras wasn’t thrilled with his topspin backhand. They simply competed with their secret weaknesses. The key is learning how to expose your strengths and hide your weaknesses!

Players, parents, and coaches who are waiting for every stroke to be perfect before they begin to compete are missing the boat. Every National Champion I’ve ever coached had holes in their game as they held up the gold ball.

SPECIALNOTE:  At the time of this print, my students have 72 National Titles.

The trick is learning how to compete with imperfections. Even if you did possess perfect strokes on the practice court, different strokes will occasionally break down at different stages of an event. Developing back up plans will help counteract such imperfections in your game.

CURE: While it is important to fix strokes that constantly break down in competitive situations, it is also essential to learn who you are on the battle field.

Ask Yourself?

What do you consider to be your A game plan(The style of play that you achieve your best results)? How about your B or C game plan? What are your best patterns of play? Do you have go-to patterns to run in serving or returning situations? Do you have favorite rally patterns? How about favorite short ball options or net rushing patterns? Do you continually expose the strengths of your game? Do you know how to hide weaknesses? What do you do when you begin to break down in a match? Do you have your pre-set ways to stop self-destructing? Can you develop the above patterns versus just rallying in future lessons?

Write down your Personal Action Plan:

 

Contact: Frank Giampaolo
FGSA@earthlink.net
MaximizingTennisPotential.com
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Positive Reinforcement

Posted on May 10, 2015 by in Parent Player Communication, The Tennis Parent's Bible

The following post is an excerpt from The Tennis Parent’s Bible.  Thanks for visiting, Frank Giampaolo

Frank Giampaolo

Avoid Outcome Oriented Questions and Negative Remarks

Asking your child “Did you win?” after each practice match or tournament match is the worst thing you could ask. Champions are performance oriented, not outcome oriented. How can we ask them to focus on simple performance goals, if you are focused only on the outcome?

 

Focus on saying 5 positive comments for every negative remark. Kids pick up every negative word, condescending tone of voice, upset facial expressions and defensive body language. Try to replace “Did you win?” with “Did you hit your performance goals today?”

 

Contact: Frank Giampaolo
FGSA@earthlink.net
MaximizingTennisPotential.com
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Negative Out-Bursts

Posted on May 9, 2015 by in Emotional Tennis, The Tennis Parent's Bible

The following post is an excerpt from Blunders and Cures.  Thanks for visiting, Frank GiampaoloBlunders & Cures_final

 

BLUNDER: Displaying Negative Character Traits

Guess who was an angry emotional train wreck as a junior competitor? If you said Andre Agassi, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, then you’re right! Moral excellence is a maturing process. Everyone can compete in a relaxed, happy state, but not everyone wants to.

Negative behavior is often motor-programmed into a player’s routine. It is a comfortable, dirty, old habit. The development of character lies is the ability to first learn to be uncomfortable competing without the negative act. It’s like a stand-up comedian without his props to hide behind. The old props (anger outbursts) are comfortable.

CURE: The solution lies in the understanding that you have a character choice. Somewhere in their teens, Federer and Nadal were taught a wiser code of conduct and chose to apply it. Displaying anger outburst on court drains you of exact energy needed to win the tournament.

Anger is actually a show of fear or lack of confidence- often shown when skills are is question. Showing out of control anger outbursts is an immature behavior that is unacceptable in all arenas of life- disrespecting yourself and others. If you work as hard as you can developing your game, on-court and off-court, your anger will be replaced with confidence. It is not to say you will win every match, but you will understand that showing negative out-of-control energy is unproductive and damaging behavior Learning to accept and improve upon weaknesses will develop moral excellence- a valuable life skill.

To progress comfortably through the junior tennis wars, both game skills and life skills are essential. Begin early building your own positive navigational tools on and off the court. Start to build relationships with players, families, stringers and tournament directors.

Ask Yourself?

In my last tournament, did I show respect to myself, my opponent, fans and the tournament staff? In my next tournament, can I make a point to say Hi to the tournament staff? When was the last time you thanked your parents, coaches or even stringer? Have I ever thought about why you display anger outbursts? Here is why most players show anger- they are trying to send the message that they are normally not “this” bad- this is just an exceptionally bad day.  Does this sound familiar? The problem is that this behavior hurts you and does nothing to improve your performance.

Contact: Frank Giampaolo
FGSA@earthlink.net
MaximizingTennisPotential.com
Affiliate 

 

Anticipatory Speed

Posted on May 8, 2015 by in Maximizing Tennis Potential, The Tennis Parent's Bible

The following post is an excerpt from The Mental Emotional Work Book: Blunders and Cures.  Thanks for visiting, Frank Giampaolo

Blunders & Cures_final

BLUNDER: Assuming that Tennis Speed is Only Foot Speed

Tennis specific speed training requires a combination of foot speed and anticipatory speed.

And while you can’t improve your genetic predisposition, you can nurture both your foot speed and anticipatory speed. The initial path to better court coverage lies in avoiding hesitation and anticipating situations.

Anticipatory speed is greatly increased by understanding and rehearsing the art of vision control.  Here’s a myth, “Keep your eye on the ball.” Instead, shift your focus from narrow vision (watching an incoming ball) to broad vision. Broad vision is picking up visual clues as the ball travels toward the opponent. You don’t have to be the fastest runner on the court if you develop your anticipatory skills. Just ask one of my all- time favorites, former #1 Lindsey Davenport.

CURE: Broad vision clues are spotting the landing zone of your outgoing ball, noticing the opponent’s court position, incoming strike zone, monitoring the opponent’s swing speed and swing length will help you improve your court speed by increasing your anticipatory skills.

Ask Yourself:

If you can spot an opponent shifting into a defensive situation would it be wise to counter the attack and slip into your offensive mode? After offering up a short ball, do you systemically slide your grip and court position to anticipate an intelligent attack into your weakness? Have you ever simply sat and watched a match at your club while focusing on broad vision clues?

Write down your Personal Action Plan:

Contact: Frank Giampaolo
FGSA@earthlink.net
MaximizingTennisPotential.com
Affiliate

 

The Customized Peak Performance Cycle

Posted on May 7, 2015 by in Tennis Parent Education, Tennis Specific Training, The Tennis Parent's Bible

The following post is an excerpt from The Tennis Parent’s Bible.  Thanks for visiting, Frank Giampaolo

International Player Evaluation by Frank Giampaolo

The Customized Peak Performance Cycle Versus The Old School Obsolete Cycle

In high level tennis, there is often a very fine line between competitive success and failure. A poor start, an initial lack of focus, or a bout of wavering confidence can cause a seemingly winnable match to quickly slip away. The will to properly prepare for competition usually makes the difference. For players to achieve consistent positive match results, their preparation must include ritualistic, inflexible routines. Success in tournaments is directly related to the quality of preparation. Champions become champions because they’re the few who are actually willing to put in the grueling hours of pre-match preparation. Spectacular achievements are preceded by spectacular preparation. Remember the old saying “Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.”? Make today be the last day that you go into an event unprepared. Below are two different match preparation cycles.

The Customized Peak Performance Cycle:

  • Rest
  • Review Match Logs/Match Video Analysis
  • Retool: Stroke Components
  • Movement Components
  • Tactical Components
  • Emotional/Focus Components
  • Pattern Repetition
  • Practice Sets/ Tie-Breakers
  • Tournament
  • Take Home another Trophy

Versus

The Old School Obsolete Cycle

  • Rest
  • Refuse To Do Match Analysis
  • Ignore Your Issues
  • Take Privates (While the coach feeds right to you)
  • Pay Good Money to Boom Back & Forth in Academies
  • Play King of the Hill
  • Play Points (Winners move up, losers drop down)
  • Tournament
  • Lose Early

 

Which one of these cycles best represents your (or your player’s) cycle? It’s easy to see that The Customized Peak Performance Cycle is what will produce the results you want to see. Need help getting started? Pick up your copy of my International Player Evaluation or email fgsa@earthlink.net for a custom evaluation package.

Contact: Frank Giampaolo
FGSA@earthlink.net
MaximizingTennisPotential.com
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Smart Training

Posted on May 2, 2015 by in Raising Athletic Royalty, The Tennis Parent's Bible

The following post is an excerpt from Blunders and Cures e-booklet.  Week in and week out two of the most common parent question are related to academy enrollment and training schedules.  These blunders are worth repeating. Thanks, FrankBlunders & Cures by Frank Giampaolo

BLUNDER: Putting Yourself in the Crowd to Get Ahead of the Crowd

In my opinion, group clinics or academies are terrific for intermediate players seeking repetition, socialization, and tons of fun. But, while it may be cheaper, large group training isn’t always in your best developmental interest.

The top juniors spend about 20 percent of their time in group situations. Top players at an academy usually are sparing or working with a private coach. When is that last time you saw a phenom in a large group standing in line to hit one forehand every five minutes?

CURE: Simply doing what everyone else does, will not likely get you ahead.  The key to accelerating your growth is to customize your training to your exact needs.

Ask Yourself?

Am I hitting for hours at an academy and hardly improving?  if I lose while playing a set, do I get sent down to the  loser court? If so, doesn’t that stop me from developing the weaknesses in my game? Lastly, with my current situation, am I getting the results I truly feel I am capable of?

Write down your Personal Action Plan:

BLUNDER: Believing Weekly Lessons Are Enough

I teach two players from Los Angeles. Both players come for 2 hours of private lessons each week, but that’s where their similarities end. The players and parents hold opposing views on how to raise a tennis champion. The Johnsons believe that they need to make their 12-year old Kelly 100 percent self-sufficient. Mrs. Johnson says, “It’s up to her to do it, I can’t force her.” As a result, Kelly only hits about two hours a week.

In the other family, Mr. Asari believes that no one gets famous all by themselves. He and his son spend approximately 15 hours on the ball machine, playing practice sets, serving baskets, going for runs, hitting the gym, and watching tennis on TV each week.

Both players get the same 2 hours’ worth of weekly lessons. However, the critical factor in the formula is not the lesson time, but rather what the player chose to do each week around that lesson.

 

CURE: Each week plan to arrange practice matches, ball machine drills, practice serving drills and off court training. Ask your entourage if they can help you reinforce your required developmental plan.

Ask Yourself?

Is your weekly practice schedule more like that of the Johnson’s or the Asari’s? List three things you can do to improve your chances of success.  List three positive people you can enlist to assist?

Thanks Frank !

 

Contact: Frank Giampaolo
FGSA@earthlink.net
MaximizingTennisPotential.com
Affiliate

 

Concentration

Posted on April 28, 2015 by in Championship Tennis, The Tennis Parent's Bible

The following post is an excerpt from The Tennis Parent’s Bible.  Thanks for visiting, Frank Giampaolo

 

 

Concentration

At the center of mental toughness lies concentration.  When players fully concentrate, they can better anticipate proper execution of strokes and strategy.  The ability to maintain a consistent state of concentration often separates the seemingly great athletes from the actual champions.

Concentration is a habit that can be learned and improved. Here are some keys to improving concentration:

  • Practice in the manner in which you are expected to perform.
  • Set task-specific goals and be accountable for them each training session.
  • Train your mind to spot past, present, and future thoughts so you can perform “in the moment.”
  • In matches, focus on the task rather than your personal form.
  • Apply rituals to avoid self-doubt and a wandering mind.
  • Train your eyes to spot tendencies.
  • When appropriate, listen carefully to digest a coach’s information.
  • Concentrate on work ethic and attitude.

Concentration has two unique requirements: Depth and Length.  Hours before a match begins, a top competitor will commit his undivided attention to the upcoming match situation, organizing his tactical plans and the various functions of each component.

 

Contact: Frank Giampaolo
FGSA@earthlink.net
MaximizingTennisPotential.com
Affiliate 

 

Tennis Practice Expectations and Guidelines

Posted on April 27, 2015 by in Tennis Parent Education, The Tennis Parent's Bible

The following post is an excerpt from The Tennis Parent’s Bible.  Thanks for visiting, Frank GiampaoloMaximizing Tennis Potential with Frank Giampaolo

 

Establishing Tennis Practice Expectations and Guidelines

Recreational tennis is enjoyed by millions of junior players in the United States. The emphasis is on exercise, fundamental athletic skills, wide-range participation, social interaction, cool outfits, and of course tons of fun. As skills are developed the recreational and social game is replaced by a new game called competitive tennis. To maximize potential at the quickest rate, establish expectations and guidelines for your training sessions.

Practice Session Expectations:

  1. Place the improvement of your performance over having to win the match, social game or live ball drill.
  2. On the court be grateful, enthusiastic and polite.
  3. Arrive 10 minutes before your scheduled practice session to stretch.
  4. Arrive on court dressed and ready to compete.
  5. Avoid complaining or criticizing others.
  6. Give the coach your best efforts and your undivided attention.
  7. When the coach is talking, hold the balls. Stop, look him/her in the eyes and listen.
  8. No cell phones allowed on court.
  9. Move quickly between drills and during ball pick up – yes, the student helps pick up balls!
  10. Hustle and give 100% effort.
  11. Avoid negative tones, body language and facial expressions.
  12. Avoid using profanity.
  13. Admit mistakes and understand the cause of the error.
  14. Come to practice with a pre-set game plan and an eagerness to learn.
  15. Be open to constructive criticism.
  16. Be willing to develop your weaknesses.
  17. Stay fully committed and focused for the entire training session.
  18. Rehearse staying in a positive frame of mind for the entire training session.
  19. Take full responsibility for your words and actions.
  20. Practice in the manner you are expected to perform.

Which of the above guidelines do you have the most trouble with? Pick three to work on in your next practice session.

Your goal should be to challenge yourself daily. Remind yourself that training below your capability breeds “mediocrity.”

 

Contact: Frank Giampaolo
FGSA@earthlink.net
MaximizingTennisPotential.com
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Tennis Parent Post Match Etiquette

Posted on April 24, 2015 by in Championship Tennis, The Tennis Parent's Bible

The conversations (and body language) a parent/coach has with their player after a match should be constructive and positive- regardless of the performance. There is plenty of time to learn from the performance failures or successes.   The following post is an excerpt from CHAMPIONSHIP TENNIS.  Enjoy, FrankChampionship Tennis Cover

 

 

Post-Match Entourage Communication

After a match finishes, coaches and parents should always consider the player’s frustration tolerance and maturity level and should wait an appropriate amount of time before discussing the match.  A few minutes after a player suffers a heartbreaking loss is no time for performance analysis. That wound is too fresh and needs time to heal. Once a player is ready for constructive conversation—regardless of the score line—the coach should consistently replace “Did you win?” with “Did you hit your performance goals?” or “Did you execute the correct shots at the right times?”

If coaches or parents are solely fixated on the outcome, they will not be able to convince a player to be performance oriented. Remember, kids pick up every negative word, condescending tone of voice, upset facial expression, and defensive body posture. Therefore, a coach or parent should make a special effort to offer five positive critiques for every one negative criticism.

After each match, the coach or parent should also remind the player to complete a match log and an entry in the daily focus journal.

Thanks Frank

 

 

Contact: Frank Giampaolo
FGSA@earthlink.net
MaximizingTennisPotential.com
Affiliate 

 

On Court Out-Bursts

Posted on April 22, 2015 by in The Tennis Parent's Bible

 

The following post is an excerpt from The Tennis Parent’s Bible.  Thanks for visiting, Frank Giampaolo

The Tennis Parent's Bible by Frank Giampaolo

The cure for on court negative behavior 

Guess who was an angry emotional train wreck as a junior competitor? If you said Andre Agassi, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, then you’re right! Moral excellence is a maturing process. Everyone can compete in a relaxed, happy state, but not everyone wants to.

Negative behavior is often motor-programmed into a player’s routine. It is a comfortable, dirty, old habit. The development of character lies is the ability to first learn to be uncomfortable competing without the negative act. It’s like a stand-up comedian without his props to hide behind. The old props (anger outbursts) are comfortable.

Cure:

The solution lies in the understanding that you have a character choice. Somewhere in their late teens, Federer and Nadal were taught a wiser code of conduct and chose to apply it. Displaying anger outburst on court drains valuable energy on un-productive behavior.

Anger is actually a show of fear or lack of confidence- often shown when skills are is question. Showing out of control anger outbursts is a immature behavior that is unacceptable in all arenas of life- disrespecting yourself and others. If you work as hard as you can developing your game, on-court and off-court, your anger will be replaced with confidence. It is not to say you will win every match, but you will understand that showing negative out-of-control energy is unproductive and damaging behavior. Learning to accept and improve upon weaknesses will develop moral excellence- a valuable life skill.

To progress comfortably through the junior tennis wars, both game skills and life skills are essential. Begin early building your own positive navigational tools on and off the court. Start to build relationships with players, families, stringers and tournament directors.

Ask Yourself?

In my last tournament, did I show respect to myself, my opponent, fans and the tournament staff? In my next tournament, can I make a point to say Hi to the tournament staff? When was the last time you thanked your parents, coaches or even stringer? Have I ever thought about why I was showing anger outbursts?

Maturing is a life choice. The question is you ready to take the plunge?

 

 

Contact: Frank Giampaolo
FGSA@earthlink.net
MaximizingTennisPotential.com
Affiliate