'Support System'

Recently I had a discussion with a senior experienced coach Shri Ranjit Sir, and a highly qualified coach Shri Narendra Sir (under his banner I give personal coaching) about what it takes to make a champion player. There was a very meaning full dialogue and thoughts were exchanged and shared. However, it was concluded that in Gujarat it is not the lack of infrastructure or talent leave aside the association but the vital element in making a champion was the SUPPORT System. The support system of the child i.e. parent.

So true - The support system is the parent. It is not the coach nor the player fizzle out from the ‘making of champion progression’ but the support system i.e. the parents. This is because of the thought process going on during the progression of a player and coach does not match with parents and hence the parent is out of the track of the progression. There are other reasons also worth noting it but this cause seems to be of vital importance as the child has no say in the progression. The parents are sole decision maker. They hardly consult the coach or the child about the progression instead they only focus at the end result ‘Winning’. The child has the passion and talent for the game but he is at the mercy of the parents. It is unheard that an association in India has program or a system to breed champions, not a single instance to quote, it is only the parents individually at their own cost, patience, finance and lots of sacrifices have produced champions, e.g. Leander Paes, Amritraj, Krishnan, Bhupati, and there are lot more excellent achievers who have not come to the lime light and have been molded by their parents.

I work and coach on the Principles of Positive and 100% Commitment principles and I am in opposition to a “win-at-all-cost” mentality.

One should not conclude from the above sentence that my coaching is not meant for winning, it is for winning but I give more focus on progression, the amount of hard work student has to put up, the effort, ready to learn and enjoying the improvement attitude, commitment, love for your game, respect for coaches and opponents, accepting mistakes as a feed back and above all honouring the game.

The below lines are for the ‘Support System ‘ to ponder with -

Parents should look at the child playing as if they were learning ‘life lessons’ at this young age (innocently), which will help them to be a winner in the game of life. Life is a totally a different ball game, and it can never be learned through the coded education of our schools or tuition classes.

I always tell the parents “You are the ‘Basic Coach, of your child, you are the emotional ‘Ganga’ which can totally convert and mould your child not only into a winner, but turn him/her into champions of champions.”

Parents need to know that they are required to learn ‘Emotional Management’, which is very vital to help their child to excel in the game and life. I myself was a ‘Tennis Parent’ but changed myself after getting lessons from Akhtar Ali the Padma Shree Awardee. He taught me not to advice Allan (my son who is a prominent tennis player of the Gujarat State) after he lost the match. One should point the positive points first and then the mistakes. This will lead to the positive points boosting his confidence, while the negative ones will be taken care as a feed back to practice and improve upon. Always encourage the efforts of the child at every stage. Criticism may work, provided it is done once in a blue moon.

It is the responsibility of the Parents to get involved in the child’s tennis program. It is the responsibility of the parents to take the child to the court for practice in time and also pick up in time. Be a good role model. Be sporty, cheer both the players when good shots or points are played. Never criticize the coach in front of the child; the child will lose the respect and enthusiasm for the coach and the game.

Whenever a player who is not my student asks me for a tip I tell them, first tip is to love and respect everybody. Tennis is not being good in mind and body but also heart and soul.

I have observed that many parents avoid making their child play competition, but a healthy competition is must for the self-development of a player and without competition; one cannot grow and improve one's skills. In fact, competition makes a meaningful life.

In nutshell, it is the responsibility of the parents to help the child to focus and on sharpening the competitive edge which will raise his/her level. The Personal Brand of the player will be developed through parent’s motivation, encouragement, care and lots of love.

“Play inside the line, think outside the box’.

Positively
Alex Gomes
9824060060
alexgomesee@gmail.com

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