Tennis’ Magic Pill

When tennis became a sport and was developed, it was always a game that had two people competing against one other using their tools, talents and mental know-how to solve problems on the court to achieve goals. Coaching was done prior to the matches and the players were off to solve the challenges that lie ahead. In the last several years, the USTA has explored ideas on how to make coaching allowed during the competition of a match itself.

As a collegiate coach, I wrestle with this dilemma quite often. I have the title of “Coach” and the players in a match often look to me to solve their challenges to hopefully win their match, confusing my title with that of a personal trainer/teacher. They look to me to provide them with “The Magic Pill” at that very moment they need it. Well, after years of coaching and trying to analyze three doubles matches and six singles matches in the time span of three hours at a dual tennis match, here is what I figured out and there had to be a better way …

On-court coaching is not The Magic Pill.

I often butt heads with my players as to why I just let them play? They like to imply that maybe I am not doing my job. The preparation I spend as a coach is broken down into hours upon hours managing a group of young women and men, impressing upon them the hard work it takes to succeed. This happens when practices are carefully planned and implemented, which may be very different from what a player’s expectations are. This is what I learned about The Magic Pill … preparing for collegiate matches that take place on the weekend when there is no scouting reports or film like a football, basketball and lacrosse team receive comes down to PREPARATION!

There are two quotes, one by Confucius, that says this: “Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure.” Another unnamed quote I read recently was: “The best preparation for good work tomorrow is to do good work today.” Working in the corporate world for many years, one of my directors early in my career often referred to the “5 P’s” (Perfect Preparation Prevents Poor Performance).

What I realized in this quest to teach tennis players the art of preparation is the best Magic Pill to success. At various times, the players on my team on a court change might be looking around to see where I am. Maybe I am trying to dissect another person’s game, maybe I am talking to my assistant about what needs to be done for future practices and a plethora of things that can give the illusion that a player at the moment feels that they are not being paid attention to. However, if I can teach a player throughout the course of the season that the responsibility is their own—to be on time for practice, to find that internal fortitude that practice is your best assurance of good performance, I have done my job. As coaches, we need to teach young men and women the all-important skill of problem-solving and critical thinking. There is an expression “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and You Feed Him for a Lifetime.” Coaching is similar, I would rather not give the fish so-to-speak to a player when he/she is looking for the Magic Pill in the match. Rather, teaching the player to work hard all week and throughout the school year will ensure they are successful both on the court and off. The success of a tennis team in the very longest of terms comes to reality with a much stronger foundation that we can succeed if we do the right things often, not just on match day.

There are coaches that I compete against that look to be more interactive on game day and from a short body of work can look as though the coaching is good. What we do not know is what kind of coach they are the 99.9 percent of the time when we do not see what they are doing in practices and preparation. Players can be confused. To me, there is no confusion what I must do 99.9 percent of the time away from matches and during practice; implement the Magic Pill of the Five P’s (Perfect Preparation Prevents Poor Performance). In this case, the foundation is rock solid. This way in a collegiate match, I am assured that the player who feels like they are not being paid attention to on that one particular moment has a bank of preparation tools to withdraw from and has the confidence to perform. That is something that will resonate in life and preparation for the real world and beyond.

I have been conflicted on this matter for a very long time because collegiate tennis players can challenge you on philosophy on almost anything. I might have a crack in my armor and just a little self-doubt that maybe I should change my philosophy completely. After all, they know everything and I know nothing (tongue and cheek). I came across an article on the Internet from Nick Saban, one of the most successful collegiate football coaches in history. Saban had Bill Belichick as a mentor, and while coaching Division I football is different than coaching collegiate tennis, Saban does coach young men the same age as the players I coach. The article jumped out at me as the advice Belichick gave to a young Nick Saban years ago was, “Let the players play.” To paraphrase the article, as Belichick often says, “Do your job. “ Make the players responsible once taught and then, “Do your job.” The players know what their job is and they do it well because they are trained to do it and are held to a higher standard of responsibility. How has that worked out with the New England Patriots and the University of Alabama?

Back in my little world of coaching tennis in Division III … the skill level is not as high as in those professional ranks like the New England Patriots or University of Alabama, but the philosophy can be transferred and the culture in both those places are cemented and recorded. Players are held responsible to a higher standard, and the success is undeniable.

The 5 P’s (Perfect Preparation Prevents Poor Performance) is The Magic Pill. Once a coach adapts this philosophy and sticks with it, it is undeniable that the seed you plant over time will sprout the best fruit ever.