Hi Tennis Buddies and Parents
There were very few participants from Gujarat in the Fineasta National Tennis Tournament held at Delhi. One can count the state players on the finger tips in this national event. It is Pathetic and dejecting. Tennis is growing as a small industry in Gujarat but has failed to have mark on the National Level.
Why so? I have marked that in Gujarat the coaches and parents have vision or they head for Gujarat Championship or maximum TS. In fact State Championship and Talent Series is an introduction to competition for the kids to develop the sense of competition and not as the final destination. What stops them from bigger vision or goal? Is it infrastructure, finance, motivation, Association, Coaches, or the “Tennis Parent syndrome” parents? Well, as per my observation none of the above factor. We are unable to bring the kids to get their next level and then everything fizzles out. Everything stops and starts decaying. Why? The answer is, their tennis started in a WRONG WAY.
Starting out right is the name of the game. Great fundamental lasts the life times unfortunately so the bad ones I am the firm believer in getting the kids in the best possible fundamentals at a young age.
Lot of parents and coaches make a mistake to get into that ‘My kid hit over the net 10 times 20 times 30 times ‘, it is not how many time you hit over the net but it is the quality of that consistency how you hit the ball over the net, it is how the ball naturally goes deep so instead of hitting 20 over the net, please do not get me wrong it is a great accomplishment but what matters the most how they hit the ball over the net; whether the kid is in good balance, is he/she hitting through the ball and where is the ball landing. Work on fundamental so by and by it becomes your weapon.
The player you see on the TV Fedrrer, Nadal, Murray Djoko, Roddick, William Sister you will be amazed if you by any chance to see their video tape at 10, 11, 12, it is same, similar backswing almost identical grip similar set up, the only difference is that they are big they are stronger, they are faster, they are smarter.
Please refer to the Picture above - “My most favorite Kim Clijster, ‘The junior Kim’ carried the same stroke ‘open stance backhand’ to her next level as a weapon.”
So how you start out is crucial, it is difficult to change or dig around the technical aspect at the age of 15 16 or 17 years.
One can see solid balance and preparation and other essential of the fundamentals with Agassi Sampras, Roger, Williams. That is the reason Agassi was in the top ten player in the world and due to various reasons Agassi could not focus on his tennis and his ranking fell to 141 but his comeback is an inspirational story, with the help of his coach Brad Gilbert he again reached into top ten just due to his strong fundamental, same with Serena, the recent incident about Serena, she had big lay off due to injury and on her return she played the US Finals and it was just because of her solid Fundamentals, the sound technique. Kim Clijsters (my most favourite) could win the US Open after a long break.
Allan broke his ACL and had to undergo one Major and 2 minor surgeries similarly Nova also had serious knee injury and both of them had considerable break but due to their excellent fundamentals and basics could play again and proved themselves in the State and National Level. I was fortunate enough to see some great Indian coaches working on technique and fundaments with selected talented hardworking kids, so best way to be smarter is to look at the people who are smarter than you, they are doing something right, and so Starting out right is vitally important.
Let me tell you something Tennis Buddies, World is a big place this is a journey and everyone has to pay the same price. Keep it fun and focus on making to develop a best possible athlete. In the modern game you have to hit on the run and be a magician when you are out of position and you have to do all kind of movement, falling backward, and stretching out of the court where you will be understanding your body. It is not beauty contest, what I mostly say a ‘cat walk’, here in tennis you are hardly set, you have to do lots of movement with control and balance, so the life becomes more easier if you are developing your son or daughter in to a athlete.
So the take home message is - do not get caught at the moment, have vision and this is long term process, work on the basics and have life time solid fundamentals which will turn into weapons’.
To your Massive Tennis Success
Your Coach
Alex Gomes
Contact:
9824060060
alexgomesee@gmail.com
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