The Tennis Mindset

February 27, 2020 | By Rohan Goetzke
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We all know that tennis is a game of skill, strategy and strength, and winning means playing a game that’s just a single shot better than your opponent. With every point potentially being a win-or-lose situation, the emotional roller coaster that players are subjected to is challenging, to say the least. A player has to be physically and mentally strong to be in the game. Thriving and surviving as a tennis player, both on and off the court, is about more than just hitting the ball.

Recognizing the complexity of the sport is important for players, coaches and parents alike. While there is a lot of talk about a long-term player development plan (LTPD), perhaps the greatest challenge for any player is finding their own personal balance between the stresses of emotional, physical and technical development and achieving results. Playing tennis is like being under a microscope, there is nowhere to hide—a player’s personality, character and will are displayed on court for all to see. Surrounding a player with a strong team is key, and the role of a coach is crucial. And for younger players, the parents are very important.

As a coach or parent, the challenge is to guide a player to perform their best in all aspects of the game, and then come back the next day wanting more. The reality of the day-to-day training is working with players on their individual games. Fine tuning a swing, tweaking a serve or devising a player’s game strategy are all central elements of a training program. It is also so important for parents to recognize the vital role they play in a young player’s development. The way a parent reacts to a loss or a win forms a young player’s attitude about competition. Possibly one of the most vital issues is balancing a player’s expectation of what they are capable of doing and what they want to do. The game has become more physical and it has evolved into roughly a few styles, mostly based on an aggressive baseliner moving towards finishing the point off. To develop any level of player is a question of developing their overall game and improving on one or two weapons.

Perhaps one of the most significant things about playing tennis are the skills required and developed as a player over time. For any player, developing technical skills, emotional wisdom and mental and physical strengths are all critical for their game, as well as navigating the highs and lows of life off the court. Working hard, focusing on the process, being respectful and always trying to improve also apply to striving to be the best person you can be. Simply put, it takes a strong team to become the best player and person possible and there are no short cuts. So train hard and enjoy the ride.

 


Rohan Goetzke

Rohan Goetzke is the Director of High Performance at Bogota Racquet Club. He began his tennis career in Australia and competed on the professional circuit in Australian and European tournaments, before taking a coaching opportunity at a private tennis club in Belarus.  After that, he rose up the ranks of the Dutch Tennis Federation as Technical Director and National Head Coach. He has coached top players such as Richard Krajicek and Mario Ancic, helping the former win the Wimbledon singles title in 1996.

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