The Effectiveness of Coaching in Tennis

The Sport of tennis has always been known as a rather lonely sport that has a sort of ‘every man for himself mentality’. Although this may be true, coaches still make an impact in the performance of a tennis player. During this presentation I will look at the impact and effectiveness that coaches have on a tennis player.

Methods One of the impacts that a coach can make in the

performance of an athlete is to research the opposing player through methods such as:

Word of mouth Watching opposing players videos Go to opponents matches

Benefits Ability to predict the opponent Gives the player more confidence Gives the player a game plan to follow and rely on

Research

One of the major influences that a coach can make in tennis is in the form of technique. The use of technique in coaching tennis players can improve the following aspects can improve the following aspects: Efficiency Uses less energy Creates more power in shots Is Physically less taxing

Technique

Coaches can provide motivation in various ways that can have both positive and negative impacts and also depend on the mentality of the player and how they react to the different feedbacks. Motivation is can be used in the following ways: Using an aggressive attitude that triggers an aggressive

response from the player Using a positive attitude that gives the player a boost to

there enthusiasm Using future goals to give the player something to strive for

Motivation

During a tennis players season a certain amount of behind the scenes planning is required in order for them to be successful. This is were the coach comes in with the following roles: Mapping out the training program for the tennis player In some cases the coach can take on manager style role

and be in charge of media commitments Most coaches in tennis also take on the role of nutritionist

and plan the intake of players food throughout the competitive season.

Planning

When a player is placed under the tutelage of coach, there can often be a lot of restrictions placed upon them, which can include any of the following: Restricting the diet of the tennis player Reducing the time outside of exercise and practice Can cause mentally instability due to overtraining

Lack of Freedom

When it all comes down to it, coaching is all about giving the player the confidence needed to win. This can be achieved in the following ways: Increasing practice frequency Providing a balanced playing schedule Make sure the players personal life is stable

Confidence

In the end there is clear evidence that coaching has a major impact on the results that occur in the tennis world and the continued use of them in the sport is all but guaranteed.

Conclusion