Tag Archives: tennis

The Psychology of Tennis Parenting

Posted on January 17, 2023 by in The Psychology of Tennis Parenting

Released on January 28, 2023

The Psychology of Tennis Parenting

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INDUSTRY TESTIMONIALS

“Frank Giampaolo has done it yet again. I have had the pleasure of reading most of his 10 great books, but “The Psychology of Tennis Parenting” is his best and most relevant publication to date! He absolutely nails it when addressing one of the most important challenges facing youth sports today – that of the role of the parent in the development of the athlete.

Frank understands the importance of the parent’s role in this development. We all want the best for our children, but often our good intentions produce less-than-desirable results. This is the main reason that 70% of our youth leave their sport by the time they reach high school, and tennis is no exception.

The vast experience Frank has gained working with athletes of all abilities and with their parents has given him valuable insight into specific and positive ways to address the challenges of competition. Parents of successful athletes play a critical role in their child’s development and in their ability to thrive under pressure, both on and off the court.

“This extremely well-written book provides a tangible and indispensable road map for all – the athlete, the parent, and the coach. It feels good that information is presented in a positive manner we can all take to heart without feeling we are being talked down to. In fact, it is a “must-read!” Thank you, Frank Giampaolo, for this incredible contribution!”

Dick Gould, Emeritus: Men’s Tennis Coach; Director of Tennis Stanford University (1966-2018), California

 

“Few coaches have Frank’s experience and expertise when it comes to understanding the mental and emotional components of high-performance tennis. More than just technique and tactics, he delves deeper to develop a player’s psychological capabilities. This book will be an indispensable resource if you’re a parent or coach with an aspiring junior.”

Jon Levey, Editor Tennis Magazine, Tennis.com, Connecticut

 

“Success in junior tennis and beyond requires a ‘Trust triangle’ between the player, parent, and coach. Each can maximize their potential by understanding their role. People go through all sorts of schooling and education to be prepared for any field of endeavor. Unfortunately, parents are thrust into the minefield-laden world of junior competitive tennis with less education than even the simplest jobs.

Frank’s new book provides a practical guide for the critical job of tennis parenting. Good intentions don’t cut it. This is required reading for any parent serious about doing what is best for their child and not adding to the current high drop-out and burn-out rate statistics.”

Wayne Elderton, Tennis Director-North Vancouver Tennis Centre, Tennis Canada Head Course Facilitator-British Columbia

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More Industry Expert Testimonials

Posted on January 14, 2023 by in Maximizing Tennis Potential

Released on January 28, 2023

The Psychology of Tennis Parenting

To order your eBook copy for only 0.99 Cents on Amazon

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“As a former top ATP Touring professional, now the father of two budding competitive tennis players, me and my wife go through all the same junior “pitfalls” as all the other parents. No matter that I was top 10 in the world and my wife played D-1 tennis at Virginia Tech, this junior tennis world is full of “derailment points,” none more devastating to a junior tennis player than parents doing the wrong thing.

Frank’s writing is unapologetic and straight to the point. He’s got the guts to share what coaches and parents should be teaching around the world. In this practical masterwork, Frank showcases common problems and provides clear and practical solutions that every parent and coach needs to apply on a daily basis.”

Johan Kriek, ATP, Multiple Grand Slam Champion Florida

 

“I’ve known Frank for a long time. He’s definitely one of the best in the business regarding the mental side of the game. Enjoy this great book.”

Eliot Teltscher, Former #6 ATP, Grand Slam Champion, & Former USTA Director of High Performance, California

 

“In his new book, Frank Giampaolo has succeeded in giving parents profound insight into the most important and difficult issue in creating true champions. In “The Psychology of Tennis Parenting,” Giampaolo shows how the focus on process, effort, and empathy is the true secret in developing great players and great people.”

Tim Mayotte, Former ATP Top 10, Massachusetts

Industry Expert Testimonials

Posted on January 13, 2023 by in Maximizing Tennis Potential, The Psychology of Tennis Parents

Released on January 28, 2023

The Psychology of Tennis Parenting

To order your eBook copy for only 0.99 Cents on Amazon

CLICK HERE

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INDUSTRIAL EXPERT TESTIMONIALS

“Frank Giampaolo has written a sacred text for maximizing athletic potential.”

Jon Wertheim, Editor Sports Illustrated, Author, Tennis Channel, 60 Minutes

 

“Frank continues to create tools for tennis players and families to help navigate the pathways of development. This book offers invaluable knowledge to help players & parents navigate the emotional aspects of the competitive environment in a healthy and productive way. A must read, Bravo Frank.”

Paul Annacone, Former Top 40 ATP, Coach of Taylor Fritz, Roger Federer, Pete Sampras

 

“This is an impressive and hard-hitting book. As a clinical psychologist, I strongly recommend it to any parent who wants to help a child reach peak performance. Giampaolo is a celebrated and sought-after tennis coach who understands what works and what doesn’t. Each chapter is power-packed and filled with sound advice on how to maximize performance. There’s no psychobabble here, only what makes practical on-the-court sense. Don’t just buy it. Study and apply its principles as you encourage your child toward athletic excellence.”

Clinton W. McLemore, Ph.D., Founder, Clinician’s Research Digest, Author, Inspiring Trust: Strategies for Effective Leadership, APA Award for Outstanding Contributions to Professional Development in Psychology, California

Preorder eBook for Only $0.99 Cents

Posted on January 10, 2023 by in Maximizing Tennis Potential

Released on January 28, 2023

The Psychology of Tennis Parenting

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Tennis Playing Style

Posted on January 10, 2023 by in The Second Edition of The Tennis Parent's Bible

The following post is an excerpt from the Second Edition of The Tennis Parent’s Bible
Available through most online retailers!

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QUESTION: What determines my daughter’s best playing style?

 

Frank: I recommend developing the path of least resistance. The game of tennis is an extension of your child’s personality whether you like it or not. Fighting their natural genetic predisposition is a waste of time and money. As is training without considering the athletes genetics. Simply put, your athlete’s best style of play is a reflection of their unique brain type and body type.

NOTE: If you haven’t done so already, please read the opening section regarding this critical topic.

Start by understanding your athlete’s personality profile and body type efficiencies and deficiencies. Below are a few examples that will help clarify the effect of a player’s unique brain and body type. (Note: There are exceptions to every rule. On occasion, some player’s off-court personality opposes their on-court personality.)

 

A prime time example is my Aunt Loretta, a super kind and polite old lady until she got behind the wheel of her Chevy Nova!

Matching Personality Profile & Body Types with Appropriate Playing Styles:

  • Players that show impatience would be well advised to devise deliberate one-two punch patterns ending in shorter points. Patient players should use their frustration tolerance as a weapon to possible wear down opponents with longer grueling points.
  • Players that are flamboyant, with loads of energy, would likely thrive with a fast pace, attacking style of play.
  • Players that show restraint and are rather stoic would likely benefit from a safer, counter punching style of play.
  • In regard to body type dominance, fine motor skilled athletes (with good hands) may benefit from a net rushing style. Gross motor skilled athletes (who coil and uncoil more efficiently) would likely thrive in a back court style of play.

I worry when parents spend boat loads of time and money without ever acknowledging the athletes likes and dislikes with the player and their hired entourage of coaches. Assessing and organizing the athlete’s organizational blueprint is parent accountability 101.

 

Caution: A misconception of many parents and junior players, is to copy the style of their favorite ATP or WTA star, who is successful with a particular style. Just because Serena Williams prefers a 4-ball rally with her “all out attacking” style doesn’t mean that your child has the brain or body type to flourish within that system.  Or just because Novak Djokovic enjoys 10 ball rallies with his “patient counter-attacking” style doesn’t mean his style is the best system for your athlete. Customization is key.

It’s the role of the CEO- facilitator parent to make sure that their athlete’s coaches are aware of their child’s unique brain and body design. Their child’s genetic predisposition along with their nurtured environment dictates their ability to maximize potential in the shortest period of time.

 

After a Tennis Loss

Posted on January 6, 2023 by in The Second Edition of The Tennis Parent's Bible

The following post is an excerpt from the Second Edition of The Tennis Parent’s Bible
Available through most online retailers!

 Click Here to Order

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QUESTION: After a loss, why should athletes go back to the tournament site and watch the other athletes?

 

Frank: Great question. Unfortunately, because of the emotional hit, most parents and players make a beeline for the car as soon as the athlete loses. In my opinion, this is an incredible waste of a valuable learning opportunity. First of all, the brain mirrors events it recognizes.  Viewing the top seeds and/or final rounds creates a mental and emotional picture for the athlete to absorb and become comfortable with… One of the keys to peak performance under stress is to be comfortable…being uncomfortable!

It is very common for up-and-coming athletes to experience complete performance meltdowns in the final rounds of their first big tournaments. Why? The finals are an unknown entity.  We know that the unknown is avoided because it is scary.

Walk with a child through a haunted house during Halloween and you’ll witness something interesting. During the first walk through, the child’s staying close, their heart rate is elevated, and they’re scared to death because they don’t know what’s coming next.  By the third and fourth walk through, the very same child is relaxed, calm and smiling inside the same haunted house. The scenario didn’t change, the child’s perspective changed.  The same need for familiarity is found in the later stages of tennis tournaments.

 

“Be comfortable…being uncomfortable.”

 

The more the athlete physically, mentally or emotionally gets dialed into a situation, the less uncomfortable the situation becomes and the more comfortable the athlete becomes performing in the manner in which they have trained- regardless of the round.

 

From a parental or coach’s point of view, there are hundreds of lessons to be learned from other competitors’ successes and failures. Pointing out the player’s strengths may sound like, “Kelly, look how she took that moonball out of the air for a swing volley instead of running backwards and lobbing it.” And of course, highlighting the player’s weaknesses, such as, “See Joey, on most points, the top players don’t get 5 balls in. You’re that good already!” The goal to take the mystery out of the top player’s game.

 

NOTE: If your child is attending an academy and suffers an early round loss- encourage them to chart a top seed instead of simply hanging out at the site.

Smart players and parents often go one step deeper and actually have their athlete chart the later rounds so that later they can do a comparison study.

 

On a personal note, I remember when my daughter was 14 years old and was #2 in the nation. There were 5-6 video cameras filming her matches. These were placed by parents of her rivals attempting to either learn how to have their child play like her or to organize a game plan in case their child plays her in a future event.

 

Coming in January The Psychology of Tennis Parenting

Posted on December 22, 2022 by in Maximizing Tennis Potential

WISHING YOU A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HOLIDAYS, AND THE VERY IN THE BEST NEW YEAR!

COMING SOON

THE PSYCHOLOGY OF TENNIS PARENTING

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The New Year is a great time to re-evaluate your tennis game and organize your training to maximize your tennis potential. Successful competitive tennis demands great mental and emotional skill sets. Be sure to include mental and emotional training along with your technical and athletic training.

Wishing you the Best, Frank Giampaolo

A Peek into a Top Tennis Player’s Training Schedule

Posted on December 16, 2022 by in The Second Edition of The Tennis Parent's Bible

The following post is an excerpt from the Second Edition of The Tennis Parent’s Bible
Available through most online retailers!

 Click Here to Order

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QUESTION: What does a top player’s weekly training schedule look like?

 

Frank: A player’s training schedule is one of the most important aspects of the tennis parent’s job description.  Managing each component of a player’s organizational plan will provide accountability to all members of the player’s team. Remember, the tennis parent is the CEO of the organization and ultimately in charge of their child’s life development.

I encourage parents to customize the training to their player’s needs. The training requirements of younger players will vary dramatically based on their physical, mental and maturity levels. Additional factors to consider include the player’s personal growth development schedule and how well they digest information. (An experienced coach can help to identify your child’s levels.)

 

“There is no one-size-fits-all formula to maximizing potential at the quickest rate.”

 

Assisting your child in organizing their weekly schedule will help them to develop time-management skills that will prepare them for life on and off the courts. I highly recommend holding a meeting with your athlete’s coaches to get updates from them in regard to your child’s progress. Their opinions will help you to better manage your player’s schedule. It’s important to remember that the estimated success formula to becoming world class at any talent is about twenty hours a week for about ten years.

Following is a sample week of one of my top nationally ranked U.S. Juniors. His long-term goal is to play Division I college tennis and then progress onto the pro tour. His weekly schedule shifts between 20 and 30 hours a week depending on his tournament schedule.

 

Sample Training Week

Practice Sets/Tournament Matches: 4 Hours

It’s important to schedule different styles and different ability levels of opponents.

Technical Stroke Lessons: 4 Hours

Correct flaws in their primary strokes and begin to build their secondary strokes.

Mental & Emotional Training: 4 Hours

During live ball sessions, focus on between point rituals as well as proactive patterns to beat the 3 styles of opponents.

Video Analysis: 1 Hour

Video tape a tournament match, then have a pro do a video analysis lesson. Chart to spot tendencies. (This will be covered in great depth later in this book.)

Off-Court Gym: 3 Hours

Core and upper body strength is more important than ever. Hit the gym to prevent injuries as well as build muscle mass.

Off-Court Cardio: 4 Hours

Cross train with short sprints, up hills. Use a random directional approach to clean up hesitation.

Watching Tennis on TV: 2 Hours

Chart the pros, spot styles of play, analyze footwork, and decipher patterns and tendencies of players.

 

Total Training in One Week:  22 Hours

Parental Accountability – Part 1

Posted on December 6, 2022 by in The Second Edition of The Tennis Parent's Bible

The following post is an excerpt from the Second Edition of The Tennis Parent’s Bible
Available through most online retailers!

 Click Here to Order

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PARENTAL ACCOUNTABILITY

 

The old story goes, back in the day, if a kid lost to a toad, his folks would setup a meeting with the coach and apologize for the child’s poor performance and together they would organize solutions. Today, if a kid losses to a lesser quality player, the parents set up a meeting with the coach demanding that the coach explain how their little super star could possibly lose to such a crummy player…

It is the role of the parents to teach accountability.  Remember, champions are accountable- they’ve learned life lessons through the natural consequences of their behavior.

 


 

QUESTION: What is a developmental blueprint?

 

Frank: Becoming a champion starts with a deliberate, customized developmental blueprint. It consists of developing and rehearsing every physical, mental and emotional tool necessary in elite sports. To maximize potential, it is essential to have an individualized plan.

Step One: Utilize The Tennis Parent’s Bible’s Customized Player Evaluation (Found in Part VII) to assess your athlete’s actual knowledge and ability.

Step Two: Organize and implement a weekly plan to begin strengthening weaknesses.

 

“Just because they are ‘practicing’ does not mean they are ‘progressing’ …”

 

Progression takes more than on-court stroke repetition. Achieving elite stature in tennis requires the development of the complete package. To help your child and their coaches understand a developmental blueprint, a NCAA All-American has agreed to share hers. (Below is an actual 8-week developmental blueprint from one of my college students.)

Tennis and Perfectionism- Part 2

Posted on December 2, 2022 by in The Second Edition of The Tennis Parent's Bible

The following post is an excerpt from the Second Edition of The Tennis Parent’s Bible
Available through most online retailers!

 Click Here to Order

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QUESTION: How can my daughter let go of perfectionism?

 

Frank: Begin by discussing how striving for perfection is a demoralizing proposition. Studies show that the obsession of being perfect doesn’t lead to any substantial gains. Studies also show that given the same level of intellect and skills- perfectionists perform under par versus their less stressed-out counterparts. The reality is that with a sport like tennis, a calm, relaxed state of mind is essential for peak performance.

Successful tennis players are satisfied winning about 66 percent of the points in each match. That’s simply 2 out of 3 points. Doing so allows imperfection. It also allows the opponent a little glory as they lose the match. This provides a critical distressing environment, where playing at peak performance is possible. The following is a list of behaviors perfectionist need to address:

Controlled Aggression

Unfortunately for most perfectionists, the fear of losing is so great that they fall into the trap of “playing not to lose.” Pushing and playing safe is often caused by fear. The fear of missing is often the cause miss hits! Champions continue to attempt the shot the moment demands.

Unrealistic Expectations

Top nationally ranked juniors enter on average, 30 tough tournaments a year. If they win three of those events, it’s a great year. That mean they go home losers 27 weeks a year! Perfectionists, if you are winning 70 percent of your matches, you are ahead of the curve.

Self-Critical Behaviors

Perfectionists, it’s ok to have a Gatorade stain on your un-tucked shirt. Your hair should be messy. It’s ok to shank a few winners. Play slow and decrease ball speed. Give the opponent what they hate versus what you think looks like “good” tennis. Allow yourself to miss some. It doesn’t have to always be pretty. Often, perfectionists would rather lose than win ugly.

 Focus on Executing Rituals

Studies show that about 75-80 percent of the time you’re on court; you are in between points. Perfectionists would be wise to focus on the process of proper internal change over and between point rituals instead of berating themselves over every mistake.

Self-Trust

Perfectionists overthink things to the point of confusion. For some, trusting their gut instincts isn’t a valid processing system. Decisions come after every factor is overanalyzed to the point of exhaustion.

Attitude

Understand that you choose your attitude and perfectionism is an attitude.  This means that you have the freedom to change it. If your athlete is planning to play tennis in college, this is a major issue. I call it attitude versus aptitude. College coaches are searching for players with an optimistic positive attitude. A team player with a positive attitude is a pleasure to help. A pessimistic perfectionist with a horrible attitude is every college coach’s nightmare.

Focus on Getting the Win…Not the Double Bagel

Define a new, more reasonable goal. In any given round of any given tournament the objective is to get the win and progress to the next round. The purpose isn’t a perfect 6-0, 6-0 score without missing a single ball. The purpose is to simply get one thing accomplished and that’s the result.

 

Parents, educate your perfectionist to accept excellence versus perfection. It’s a healthier state of mind