synergy-books

Dave Smith on Writing

admin — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 15:36:30 +0000

As a published author of five books, two DVD’s and hundreds of tennis articles, I’ve enjoyed knowing I’ve left my name on something that will survive long after I’m gone. There is a saying, “When we die, we leave two things: Our kids and what we write.” Obviously, unless our kids, (if we have kids!), write about us or about something we did, then we leave nothing behind after they are gone. Thus, what we write, (or record in the form of music, lectures, or any other message on some media form), is something we can be certain will outlive ourselves.
Obviously, not everyone has a passion or a sense of need to be immortalized in this way! However, what a gift to leave to generations after you, something that was of value to you? The level of that value to others will be subject to the usefulness of what you leave. But, if only one person benefits from what you leave, then you leave something of value.
What do people write about?
The most obvious thing people write about is stuff they know! Things we love or are passionate about are equally written about. Personal experiences, what people think about, and the things we all do can all have a place in the written word.
In my opinion, every single person has a story to tell, (or many stories!), and there is someone, (or many!), who want to read or hear or know that story.
What contributes to “Successful Writing?”
Successful writing can be anything that is read by others. Creating something that someone wants to read or has a perceived need to read what you write is based on several factors:
Experience, Education, Passion, and Imagination are four main components to successful writing.
Writing, like any art form, usually improves with practice. Thus, the more someone writes, the better they become at being “writers”. Most successful authors will tell aspiring writers to write and write and write! Join writing groups, go to writing workshops, and READ a lot of books by a lot of authors!
Marketing your Writing
Another form of successful writing is getting paid for your effort! In most cases, successful authors are lucky…but that luck is created through hard work, persistence, and a sincere desire to improve and, indeed, succeed.
Many authors spend countless hours writing their book…only to then sit back and do little to nothing to sell their book. I’ve seen hundreds of authors at book signing events do nothing except sitting at their table with their books as their only form of attraction. Authors must be as passionate about selling their work as they about writing it! So many believe that bookstores and distributors will somehow flock to their book now that it is written. Yet, this is almost NEVER the case. Nine out of ten books will NOT make the bookstore, the publisher, or the distributor money. With those odds, you can see why most bookstores won’t want to carry your work. You must do two things for them to want to sell your book: One, you must sell them on why your book is important. Two, you must work to attract people to your book. From ordering advertising fliers and displays to signing up for booth space at fairs and events, from developing a web site and sales site to networking with everyone you can; there are countless ways to promote your books.
Within Synergy-books.com, we will be helping authors not just get their books to print, but to help in the marketing plan as well as set up platforms for books to be sold through. (E-book, Kindle, Nook, Amazon, etc.)

Stroke Speed: Playing within your Technique

admin — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 15:27:39 +0000

By David W. Smith, Senior Editor TennisOne
We have all heard the phrase, “Play within yourself.” It is usually an attempt to make players realize or recognize their limitations while at the same time giving them the best chance to execute shots successfully within the skill-level they may be at.
Stroke speed or swing speed is a topic that is as important and applicable to the club player as it is the pro, the junior player as the college competitor. As you will see, however, the player who has developed certain aspects of skill relative to technique will find that they can indeed increase stroke speed both more successfully as well as gaining more and more command of their control over time as they increase their swing speed.
Stroke speed in this article refers to several components of racquet acceleration.
Stroke Timing
Anytime we swing faster, whether we are swinging a baseball bat, a golf club, or a tennis racquet, we decrease our ability to time the swing to the optimal hitting zone or “window” where the shot timing is still within our control. Timing is relative to hitting an incoming ball at the right point of contact with our moving racquet. Obviously, this also applies to throwing: if we throw a baseball, a football, or a rock harder and harder, our ability to aim such throws is diminished. Aiming in throwing is still achieved through timing of the object’s release point.
Simplified, if we simply block an incoming ball with a perfectly still racquet, we can judge the reflective angle of the ball easier than if we were meeting said ball with a moving racquet face. Obviously, the more the racquet face is moving through the stroke, the more difficult the timing becomes in regards to hitting a ball to a specific target.
In tennis, there are many factors that affect stroke timing as it applies to swinging harder. Stroke command, or, what I often refer to as Stroke Reliability, is the ability to replicate both a desired swing path on command, as well as creating an optimal stroke path for each of these repeated swings. In other words, if I have a lot of wrist in a forehand stroke, especially wrist that changes the racquet face greatly within the contact window, then I will have difficulty in controlling the racquet face—and ultimately the aim of my shot—because the hitting surface of my racquet is changing within the critical period of contact. Likewise, if my overall swing path is changing—even if I’m not using wristy motions within that path—I will have difficulty creating a reliable stroke. In other words, if I swing with a significant “low-to-high” path on one stroke, and then swing on the next similar shot with a flat stroke or a slice, these differences make it harder for me to calculate the timing as well as the optimal racquet face angle to have the resultant shot go where I want or intend.
Stroke Integrity
Even if I have a defined, practiced and mastered swing path, one that I am in command of, as I swing harder, I lose my ability to maintain my “Stroke Integrity.” Swinging “out of my shoes” or trying to whip my racquet faster—within any defined swing path—to gain racquet head speed, and ultimately, increased ball velocity, I will decrease my ability to maintain my stroke integrity and, thus, control.
When we slow down an intentional swing, we are able to control the stroke component’s better. However, through conscious practice, we can make that desirable and intentional swing path become automatic over time.
Exponential Loss of Control
Players who have less defined stroke patterns to begin with will often discover an exponential loss of control with bigger swings. That is, as they swing harder, the degree of error is increased exponentially. For example, a player that uses a lot of wrist or rolls the forearm or any other swing pattern that changes the racquet face a lot, will find that if they miss their target by a two feet at speed “X” then when they swing at speed “2X” they miss the target by ten feet…or five times as much.
Players who have much more defined swing paths usually don’t find an exponential loss of aiming ability. At speed “X” they may miss by a foot and at “2X” they may only miss by a foot and a half, and at “3X” they only miss by two feet.
Obviously, these are simple generalities but I think you get the drift of the concept.
Gravity Reliant Players
When we examine these concepts, we then can see why so many players must resort to “Dinking” shots to keep the ball in play. I call Dinkers and pushers “Gravity Reliant Players” or “GRP’s”. GRP’s BECOME GRP’s because of their technique. I don’t know too many players who are going to say, “Gee, I really would like to play tennis, but I only want to become a dinker.” If I’m correct in this assumption, then why do so many players become GRP’s or dinkers? It is because the minute they try to swing harder, they lose the exponential control I mentioned earlier. Their only recourse? Swing softer. Push more. Both of these activities will cause the racquet face to be less turbulent within the strike zone. However, when we dink or push, we lose the ability to create spin, speed, and overall effectiveness.
Advanced Swing Speeds
I’ve found that more advanced players can be even guiltier of swinging beyond their means. Because they don’t have the exponential loss of control that dinkers have when they swing harder, more advanced players often go for more lower-percentage shots in terms of swing speed simply because they come closer to their targets. This offers up somewhat of a false sense of confidence.
A classic example of this is when a more advanced player is faced with a net-attacking opponent. Players often feel the need to attempt to hit passing shots with more pace than normal shots. Not only does this decrease their ability to control the passing shot, but it often results in the net player simply blocking the ensuing volley into the open court with minimal effort since the other player hit the ball so hard that they couldn’t even come close to retrieving the volley.
Another situation is the advanced player who hits two out of five great shots with high speed swings. They forget that they missed three out of the five, losing three out of five points. No one can win with this kind of percentage!
Swing Size and Swing Speed
A contributing aspect of swing speed is swing size. Taking a large backswing is a common issue when players are trying to swing hard. This is one of the main reasons, in addition to the timing and swing integrity issues, why players make errors. A bigger back swing increases the distance the racquet moves to contact which decreases some element of control. In addition, many common problems occur when players take a large backswing: 1) They lose control of the racquet face or angle; 2) They change the necessary timing of contact in relation to shorter strokes; 3) They change the swing path, (usually raising their racquet much higher than normal on the back swing).
I will talk more about how swing size and swing speed can both be better controlled in a moment.
Playing beyond your Means
I can’t tell you how many times while I was coaching high school players how glad I was that our opponent’s felt they had to hit bigger and bigger shots, (because of our school’s winning ‘reputation.’) Often, my players themselves were playing so poorly that if the other team had just got a few balls in play, we would have ended up making a multitude of mistakes. Instead, our opponents felt the only way to beat us was to hit miraculous shots. In doing so, the number of misses obviously far outnumbered the few shots made, giving my players more and more confidence to win easily.
3.0 players have all the trophies
There is a well-known phrase that says, “The 3.0 Players have all the trophies.” Well, this is often both correct and terribly misleading. A long-time player at the 3.0 level will often know his or her limitations and stroke the ball at attempts that are far more within their abilities than other players who may have far better strokes, but attempt to hit balls far too hard. What happens, however, is that the players who are developing desired stroke patterns that are affiliated with more advanced play will eventually do two things: 1) they will learn what speeds they can control better in which to win with; and 2) their stroke development will indeed allow them to hit the ball harder but still within better control and aim.
The result? The player using better strokes will eventually pass up the 3.0 player and move on to higher, more skilled levels of competition. The player who can only compete at the 3.0 levels by simply hitting at speeds that keep his or her shots in play will not be able to use this same strategy against more skilled players…thus keeping them at the same level for a lifetime.
Stroke Speed Improvement
There are a variety of ways to consciously control your stroke speed as well as your swing size.
Segmented Swing Size
This is an exercise that is a part of the USPTA’s “System Five” that I’ve discussed many times in lectures and in my tennis books. The idea, as it relates to the swing size and speed is to imagine you divide your backswing as well as your follow-through into five segments with contact being at “0”. A “1” back swing would be the shortest amount a player could take the racquet back and still come forward to meet the ball. A “5” backswing would be the absolute largest backswing a player could attempt. The same segments are used to identify the follow-through. A “5” would be a full follow-through where a “1” would be almost no follow-through after contact. The idea here is to assign yourself, (or your student), a specific backswing and follow-through number. An example might be to do a “3 – 3” which would be about a medium backswing and medium follow-through. It is good to do different patterns, such as a “2 – 5” or a “4 – 2” to get players to consciously recognize and employ stroke sizes relative to these two factors.
Segmented Swing Speed
Same as Swing Size, the idea is to imagine the speed of your swing being divided into 5 speeds: a “1” would be the slowest swing possible—and still hit a ball; a “5” would be swinging as fast as the student could swing. Again, these numbers allow the player to give a conscious application to both size and speed…instead of simply saying, “swing slower” or “swing smaller.” Both of these subjective commands don’t provide a conscious value relative to other values which the numbers can do a much better job for the player.
Parallel Mode Processing
Fellow writer for TennisOne, Scott Ford, has discussed his “Parallel Mode Processing” which I and hundreds of other professionals have found most helpful in directing students to discovering ways to control both their stroke speeds as well as improve their ‘contact window’ during play. I suggest reading all of Scott’s excellent articles here at TennisOne on this subject. In a nutshell, Scott describes ways to bring your eyes and your mental focus to the contact point better, allowing the player to almost unconsciously control their stroke as a ramification of his Parallel Mode Processing training.
Physical Devices
There are a multitude of devices used to train players to control their swing. I recommend www.oncourtoffcourt.com and Joe Dinoffer’s many thoughtful and useful devices, everything from items that help with swing control to grips to swing path development.
Two-Handed Swing Pattern
As many know, I’ve been a teacher of both conventional forehands and two-handed forehands. One very helpful aspect of the two-handed forehand is that the off-hand limits the swing size to be almost ideal in length. Two-handed backhands don’t limit the backswing as much as a two-handed forehand does, but the use of two hands still provide somewhat of a value on limiting the backswing on the backhand side as well.
Conclusion
It should be obvious that a conscious balance between working on better and better technique within stroke speeds that not only allow for greater success in terms of aim, but also building upon a foundation that will allow for acquisition of strokes that can indeed be hit harder, is the key. Virtually every skilled player who moved beyond the rudimentary levels of play did so within these two aspects. Confidence is bred through such a process and progressive improvement is sustained.
Players who use form that is questionable, and occasionally get the shot in using a lot more speed than they can regularly control, is just plain lucky. But, they believe that if they can do it once, they can do it again. Of course they can…but usually after missing a number of shots before making that one shot again. Naturally, the player who eventually makes another “lucky” shot is saying, “SEE? I CAN make that shot!”
Yet, they wonder why they can’t beat anyone in the process!

Teaching Tools: Gimmicks or Legitimate Resources?

admin — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 15:15:38 +0000

By David W. Smith
Sports like tennis and golf are chock-full of various teaching aids. From devices that fit on our persons designed to help players develop optimal racquet position or swing patterns to hitting devices that provide a semblance of hitting a tennis ball without really hitting a tennis ball; from hitting walls and ball machines to tools that help players develop balance within their swing, the tools available today run the gamut, developed to help satisfy our insatiable desire to improve our game.
However, every hitting or teaching tool is limited in its application and in its intention. Certainly each device usually focuses on one element of the game for an individual. But my point is that even within this limited application, any aid can be as detrimental as it can be beneficial if not used and understood correctly.
The point of this article is to make sure players understand this concept and learn how to recognize if they are using a learning aid in ways that will indeed help the player in progressing further or if their use of such a device may hinder their ability to develop into a skilled player within their potential.
Repetitive Devices
Any device that allows a player to actively repeat a swing or stroke pattern, can be as dangerous as it can be beneficial.
Repetitive devices include hitting walls, ball machines, PracticeHit device, and even a teaching pro.
Obviously, hitting or swinging the racquet over and over will develop what we call “Muscle Memory.” The actual memory is not established in the muscles; (it is a combination of the sensory or nervous system that develops the memory which is then integrated within muscle coordination that includes both autonomic reflex or unconscious mechanics as well as conscious muscular contractions done with intent.)
Repetition in any specific pattern will help a player be able to replicate those patterns more dependably as well as with minimal conscious thought. This is indeed, the ultimate goal of any player: To rely on reactions instead of having to think through every individual element of the swing. We often hear that phrase: “Paralysis by Analysis” that often describes players who constantly and overly think while playing. Tim Gallwey’s book, Inner Game of Tennis, was one of the first books to address this phenomenon for the masses as well as give readers a way to understand when the mind can get in the way of performance.
However, one must understand that a repetitive device can be hurtful to long-term performance while making the player THINK they are improving towards this goal. Let me explain:
The nature of any activity which elicits repetitive motion is subject to the “quality” of that motion. Understand that nearly anyone can figure out the timing of a swing, adjust the aim to accommodate necessary height requirements for a ball to clear the net, and the necessary speed; enough speed to clear the net and not enough speed so that gravity or spin can bring the ball into the court. (Gravity-Reliant Swing Patterns.)
The problem lies in the false sense of improvement when a player, through simple attrition can control a tennis ball within certain parameters, so that they can keep a ball in play. Most methods of hitting a ball in this way won’t lead to more effective play later on. This is where so many parents and pros alike fail students and kids; so many believe that simply tossing tens of thousands of balls to little kids will somehow, eventually, develop them into skilled players. Not only is this just the opposite of what will happen, but this procedure often integrates such poor habits that change later on is exponentially more difficult than if the student had never tried to hit a tennis ball before having a proper lesson.
For a player to hit harder, with better aim, and thus, more effectiveness, that player must do two things: 1) Create a repeatable, reliable swing path, and 2) create a stroke that can hit with opportunistic spin so that the ball will behave in both effective ways as well as create more control through greater swing speeds.
Without specific understanding of stroke patterns, (including grips and footwork), that will allow for more prolific stroke mechanics that incorporate spin, (topspin, proper underspin, slice or kick spins on serves, etc.) then simply experimenting with gravity reliant swing patterns will cause nearly every single practitioner of this learning ‘style’ to fail to reach their potential. The minute most players who use gravity-reliant swing patterns try to swing harder, directional control is diminished exponentially, (usually resulting in players hitting not just a little out…but a LOT out!)
Also, consider this: As players do start to compete at higher levels, they will need strokes that can DEFEND more advanced or more effective shots hit by opponents. Most patterns usually associated with lower levels of play fail equally in terms of defending harder hit balls, those with more spin that are dipping more, or hopping more, or have the means to be hit with more angle, spin, speed, and depth.
Human Nature
One problem when players use tools that offer repetition is the concept of aim. If a player is consciously working on more desirable swing patterns or mechanics and they have targets on the court to try to hit, human nature forces the player to use more familiar patterns that the student is comfortable with. This is because when we are consciously trying to hit a target, we feel more confident in such execution when we use patterns we are most comfortable with. This is especially true when students are in a clinic and they are trying to aim at targets in this group setting. Most students will want to hit the target so bad that they will subjugate better form, (if they are working on new form), for confident form. Thus, they revert back to their most comfortable swing pattern.
PracticeHit
There is a device I’ve used for years that I like not necessarily because of the hitting design of the contraption, but what it allows players to focus on. The device is cleverly simple: a foam ball on top of a fiberglass shaft that is connected to a base in which the ball can be hit and the shaft then swings to and from like a metronome. This allows the student to do several things…all things that every student should focus on ANYTIME they are practicing for improvement:
1.It gives the student a target ball to hit in the strike zone
2.The oscillating ball helps beginners to time the swing to an incoming ball
3.Because the ball doesn’t go anywhere, (except back and forth on the shaft connected to the base), the student is not encouraged to use more comfortable form in attempt to send a ball towards a specific target.
The PracticeHit device can be found at www.practicehit.com and among various tennis shops on-line.
Priorities and Targets
When a player is concerned first with targets, neglecting desired swing mechanics, they will get better at coming close or hitting the targets within whatever form they are using within certain parameters. This provides what I consider a false sense of accomplishment making the student feel they are getting better. Well, if the form being used is suspect, then the student is only getting better at being bad. Let’s face it; there are hundreds of ways to hit a ball over the net and towards a target. It only takes a trip to the public courts or the tennis club to see the vast differences among lower level players. Yet, take a close look at pros, top college players, top club players, or top juniors, and nearly every single observer will not only see a striking difference from these skilled players to that of the recreational player, but looking even closer, one will see the clear foundation among all the skilled players that have nearly identical components. While there will always be idiosyncrasies and player differences within this foundation, not only can these differences be attributed to personalities and such, but the differences are seldom, not part of the foundation elements.
You can teach 1000 players the EXACT same foundation and yet, no two players will EVER play exactly alike. Personalities and perceptions play such a huge role in student evolution that every single player will evolve idiosyncrasies that are as unique as each individual but still, (usually), done within the advanced foundation that the player was trained in.
The use of targets becomes a very powerful tool ONLY if the stroke pattern has been clearly defined and mastered. If a player changes a particular form, (consciously or otherwise), moving away from the more skilled—but often less comfortable—form, in an effort to hit a target, then the targets are being detrimental. If a player remains true to the foundation they are trying to develop, (and eventually, they will become comfortable—as well as confident—with the new form over time), then they will start to master aim. And, if the foundation being developed is truly within the bounds of what I call an “Advanced Foundation” then not only will the aim improve, but they will begin to hit harder successfully, (almost without trying), and create improved aim in the process within these more dynamic strokes.
Hitting Tools
You can maximize your use of hitting tools by doing several things.
1.Clearly identify the swing pattern you want to be emulating
2.Make sure you are creating these desired swing patterns in balanced positions. (Imbalance will almost always change the swing mechanics.)
3.Don’t use targets to judge success; use targets to adjust timing, position, and aim, but not swing pattern.
4.After consistency in recreating desired swing paths, then add targets, movement, and THEN speed
Conclusion
When I train anyone of any age, I explain that I don’t care if the student completely misses the ball. Because I don’t judge success based on hitting a target—or even hitting a ball—I often will tell a student that they did something beautifully…even if they missed the ball altogether! This is because I’m looking at the stroke development, not rudimentary aim.
This is where I believe a lot of pros fail their students: They often judge (or reward students) for hitting targets even with form that is nowhere near the desired swing. Thus, the student, (and the pro), is reinforcing something that will eventually have to change if they student wants to master more skilled form. And the student that is without question the most difficult to train is the student who has already had some “success” in using inferior form. They will want to go back to that comfortable and relatively successful form because in their minds, it led to some success.
But, the equivalent to training students with this mentality of hitting desired targets instead of using desired form is like a piano student who is rewarded for playing Chopsticks with their index fingers…even though they have been playing the piano for a year! While a student certainly can play a “song” with two fingers, they will never master the piano within their potential nor within the design of the instrument itself, in continued use of just two fingers.
There are many other training aids that can be equally helpful or detrimental to player-development. Use the guidelines here that I’ve discussed for each one, and you will be insured of maximizing that aid to helping you reach your potential.
So use those practice tools but use them in ways that will allow you to continue to improve and progressively play better and better tennis!

Tennis Blogs

admin — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 15:14:54 +0000

Playing Tips © 2011 David W. Smith
Establishing the right foundation in anything we do, provides us with “solid footing” in moving forward in a productive and progressive manner. A poor foundation is just like building a house on a flawed foundation; whatever we put on that foundation will encounter problems and constant need for repair. And, like a inadequate house foundation, a poor foundation in tennis can result in a player NEVER reaching their potential.
Ever feel like you are always looking for a new way to hit a volleys, a serve, or a groundstroke? Do you find yourself having as many bad days playing tennis as good ones? Or worse, do you avoid certain strokes because you know they will expose your weakness within that stroke?
A poor foundation is like being in a maze. You follow one path that you hope will lead you out of the maze, only to find dead end after dead end, always having to go back and try and find a different way out. When a player has not developed what I call an “Advanced Foundation,” they essentially spend a lifetime trying to figure how to hit certain shots. They seek “band aids” and “quick fixes” that seldom address the real root of the problem, the ‘foundation.’ Such repairs usually reveal the flawed foundation just as described in our house analogy: Repairs never fix the problem. At best, they are only temporary until the flawed foundation causes other problems.
Yet in tennis, we have different degrees of competitive play…all of which are ultimately based on how flawed the foundation of each player is.
Ever notice really highly skilled players in action? We often hear others say things like, “Gee, I wish I could play like them.” And, “How did Cathy get so darn good so fast?” Or others might say, “I used to beat the pants of Kirk, but now I can hardly win a game off him.”
What is the real difference between those playing skilled tennis and those wishing they could play skilled tennis? You already know the answer from reading this blog!
What CAN YOU DO?
One of the reasons both my books, TENNIS MASTERY and COACHING MASTERY have become best sellers can be understood by the unique progressive nature that both books’ philosophies are built from. Unlike most books and many teaching professionals, my two books clearly establish and teach an “Advanced Foundation” that EVERY player can learn, practice and master. Once this foundation is indeed mastered, the door literally opens up for players to not only reach their potential, but to move well past whatever preconceived levels they thought they were capable of. I’ve seen thousands of my students move on to very highly skilled levels of play. With only a couple exceptions, all my students, and those who follow the teaching of my books, ended up surpassing their expectations.
Both books establish the steps to mastering the Advanced Foundation. It is no wonder that millions of people stagnate at levels far below their abilities. They developed a poor foundation that can easily be seen by observers, and usually witnessed by the players themselves.
If you have stayed at the same level for more than a year, then your foundation is most likely flawed. Players who develop an Advanced Foundation seldom stay at the same level very long. Most don’t even stay at the traditional 3.0 level for more than a month! And, most reach well past the 4.5 levels since their foundation does not limit their progress.
Obviously, there are many other factors that contribute to advanced play: Athleticism, desire, dedication, drive, discipline and others all are part of the improvement equation. However, without the right foundation, all these other attributes will NOT all a player to reach their potential…no matter how long they practice or play!

Tennis Blogs 2

admin — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 12:50:33 +0000

Coaching Tips
Just like playing any athletic event, we can see similar success from coaches who develop the right “coaching foundation.”
Unfortunately for many athletes, many coaches are as equally misinformed as the beginning athletes they may be responsible for. Other coaches are simply inexperienced or have just started coaching. And others still may simply not believe that they can develop highly skilled players because of where they coach or who they coach.
Fortunately, ANY coach can develop any team—of any sport—to be perennial champions…and produce successful individuals.
Like playing tennis and building a house, there is an “Advanced Foundation” that coaches can learn, practice, and employ in their teams and programs.
Many coaches believe that successful coaches are just “lucky” because they get lots of players coming out for their teams or that they had skilled or trained athletes come to their school. Actually, we see successful coaches in every region of the country, most who create that success with average players who, for the most part, didn’t have a lot of training—if at all—prior to participating in that coaches’ program. In addition, many teams perpetuate success year after year because now other kids—or parents—interested in the sport that those successful coaches are teaching, WANT to come to that school. So, like anything else, success breeds success!
Every successful coach and team had to start somewhere. It isn’t luck that these teams developed success. It also seldom comes ‘over night.’ Yet, within a relatively short period of time, such successful coaches start experiencing success within one or two seasons.
My book COACHING MASTERY documents one of the greatest tennis and football coaches in the nation, my late father, Bruce Smith. In a nut shell, he took a tennis team that had never won a match and within two years developed a team that would end up going nearly 25 years undefeated in region. He, and later I, after my father passed away in 1984, would end up with a team win-loss record that was over 750 wins against less than 10 losses over a 22 year period. At one point, we won 399 consecutive team matches in league.
But, in order to develop teams, you must first GET players to come out for your team! COACHING MASTERY also demonstrates all the ways we were able to attract an average of 40-plus kids on each team we coached. I took this same coaching foundation to Arizona where I continued the success we had in California, and ended up having tennis teams that won over 300 regional matches with fewer than 15 losses over a six year period.
There are “secrets” to our success. I reveal ALL our secrets to developing champions and championship teams. I recommend ANY coach read this 400-Plus page resource (with over 350 pictures), to improve your coaching abilities!