Anatomy of a good tennis coach.
Posted by tennisplanet on May 16, 2007
If I were to ask you, to name world’s top coaches, irrespective of the sport, what names would you think of?
-Vince Lombardi.
-Phil Jackson.
-Red Auerbach.
-Angelo Dundee.
Maybe you have more, but what makes a good coach?
One thing we are certain of: top player rarely becomes a top coach. Some tried like Magic Johnson. Wayne Gretzky is trying. OK, Larry Bird did achieve success. But such examples are more of an exception.
In tennis, Brad Gilbert and Darren Cahill are among the young upcoming coaches who have made a mark.
So what really constitutes a good coach. Of course, an in-depth knowledge of the mechanics of the sport is basic. You should be able to come with an effective combination of Xs and Os to maximise your pupil’s potential.
A keen eye to study the opponents’ game and find kinks to exploit on and off the court. Ability to translate this study into a workable and suitable strategy that can be executed with the skill set of your pupil.
Use of media and other means to psychologically engage the o