tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10016685.post7348815885923921410..comments2024-03-14T00:05:31.673-04:00Comments on ZooTennis: Duval, Vickery Advance at Midland $100K; First Round Complete At Rancho Mirage $25K; The Role of a Junior Development Coach vs. a Federation Colette Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14905215531491180014noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10016685.post-27816260888984473842013-03-24T01:42:44.678-04:002013-03-24T01:42:44.678-04:00Paul McNamee is 100 per cent correct. It should no...Paul McNamee is 100 per cent correct. It should not be the role of a national body to sever successful relationships between private coaches and their students; the proper role of a national body should be to support and nurture those relationships. There is no surer way to minimize a nation’s chances of producing champions than to alienate the entire private coaching community by effectively declaring war on them. Tennis Australia’s divisive and, as Paul points out, fatally flawed approach to junior development does, though, have one redeeming feature; namely, it provides a superb model for guaranteed future as all one would have to do is implement the exact opposite of every one of its failed and failing policies.Chris Lewishttp://www.tennis-experts.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10016685.post-54327506433340724532013-02-10T19:50:12.085-05:002013-02-10T19:50:12.085-05:00Longtime Observer and Florida Parent, Every thing ...Longtime Observer and Florida Parent, Every thing said is 100% accurate but even the supposed positives about the ex tour players offer nothing that the top Supposed DEVELOPMENT coaches havent already taught them. The term development coach to most people implies that these coaches can only take players to a certain level and then these ex tour players need to take over to get these players to the top of the professional rankings. Its a scam that all ex players say and use to lure players away from their situation. Its up to these players not to fall for this complete misinformation. These top development coaches arent just technique and fundamentals coaches. They too know and teach top match strategy advice. They too know how to add to a top professionals game and continue to build it. They simply arent on T.V. self promoting all the time. Or setting up websites self promoting or talking to agents and whoever they can trying to get themselves jobs as these players personal coaches. Most of these guys who have traveled with many different players over many years are just great "used car salesmen." They literally can not teach these guys a single thing they havent already been taught. Its up to the players themselves not to fall the bologne that they hear. If they do its their fault when their games stagnate and dont develop.seen it forevernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10016685.post-37141579582290572362013-02-10T12:58:43.152-05:002013-02-10T12:58:43.152-05:00The biggest misconception of them all is that the ...The biggest misconception of them all is that the Tour coaches are the best coaches. I believe it is the opposite. The hometown coaches are the best because they understand fundamentals and technique and they built the foundation of that player. A Tour level coach is like a good manager and all about timing with the best players - like Brad Gilbert with Agassi. I have not seen Roger Rasheed, Gilbert, Annacone, Higueras, Cahill, Stefanki, develop a junior. It is easier taking a Top 10 potential and add something to their game. Actually - not every time - Illona Young destroyed her son, Donald's career.<br /><br />As far as sending top juniors to the USTA - leave them at home - juniors develop better at home. There is no consistency of training and Players get injured all the time there. All the top American pros never left home to train somewhere - only back 20-30 years ago at Bolleterri's. Florida parentnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10016685.post-22557006496810720292013-02-09T15:17:26.527-05:002013-02-09T15:17:26.527-05:00Hi Bob. I think that your question brings up commo...Hi Bob. I think that your question brings up common misconceptions and dilemmas that relate to private developmental coaches vs. appointed college and national federation (e.g., USTA Player Development) coaches. There are many great developmental coaches out there who can even be the parents of successful players such as Pat Harrison, Wayne Bryan, Mike Agassi, Rick Macci, etc. but the problem is that when their players advance to represent their country at a national federation or for a college team, their new coaches were usually appointed to that position, not primarily because of any track record or qualifications for developing or coaching players but most often because they were top PLAYERS. Sometimes top players are also great coaches but more often they are just top players who might be able to give good match strategy advice or can manage the team for success but they are less likely to be the kinds of coaches that can help a player with stroke production and developing their game. Similar to what Paul McNamee refers to in his article, everyone just assumes that because that college coach or federation coach now has his or her title as the national coach combined with an impressive record as a player, he/she must be a great coach and whose decisions are beyond reproach. I hear the following all the time when someone mentions that they think that a USTA Player Development Coach or a college coach made a very bad decision regarding a player’s stroke ideas, strategy or even a line-up decision, someone will respond: “Hey, he knows what he’s doing because he was ranked #37 on the ATP Tour so who do you think you are questioning his decision?!”<br /><br />Having said all this, I realize that developmental coaches or parent coaches are not always great coaches, in fact, some are complete disasters. However, many of these good developmental coaches are actually far better than the federation or college coaches but most people just assume that this can’t be true despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary. My advice is to listen to your college coach but also continue to keep working with your developmental coach throughout college during the summers or when your schedule permits.Longtime Tennis Observernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10016685.post-6403535499397726072013-02-07T07:13:00.064-05:002013-02-07T07:13:00.064-05:00I was under the impression that what made the Fren...I was under the impression that what made the French system so different from everyone else is that they financially support promising young players BUT allow them to continue working with their original coaches. Jane Suternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10016685.post-68274273567906360442013-02-07T00:51:29.935-05:002013-02-07T00:51:29.935-05:00Hey Collette,
I've been an avid reader of you...Hey Collette,<br /><br />I've been an avid reader of your blog for years now. I am a current college tennis player and obviously lately you've posted so much about usta changes and things like that. In reference to your McNamee post, I wholeheartedly agree with you. I had a fantastic junior coach and it was a great situation to grow up with him, and he became one of my best friends. My question to you is don't you think going to college to play tennis is eerily similar to going to a federation, say boca, to train with the usta? In both cases one had to adjust to a new coach and struggle with new relationships. I personally feel like my system at home and the group and coach I had there was way better than my current situation. One thing I've noticed in college tennis is that everyone assumes you get better by going to college. Obviously it's a good investment for your future, but if you are trying to become as good of a tennis player as possible, doesn't it make more sense to remain in your city with your long time coach who has made you what you are and took you to a high level? What do you think about this?Bobnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10016685.post-76275292844643120192013-02-06T23:29:46.875-05:002013-02-06T23:29:46.875-05:00Great article - the USTA or any Federation should ...Great article - the USTA or any Federation should be in the business of providing opportunity, support and assistance but opportunity most of all. It should not be in the business of trying to decide who will be successful - they have no track record here. Just like our government (Collette pardon the political reference here) should not be in the business of deciding who should get rich but should look to provide as much opportunity as possibletennisforlifenoreply@blogger.com