A Recipe for Success By Steve Kaplan
layers need a support system in order to achieve success in the highly competitive world of junior tennis. This includes the resources which facilitate playing opportunities, such as court time, equipment, tournament entry fees and transportation. Ideally, this facilitation is altruistic, given without parental guilt or a coaches’ marketing exploitation. Most significantly, however, players thrive in an environment of excellence. Children rarely exceed their expectations, therefore, it is essential that they are encouraged to set the bar by which they measure success very high. The greatest motivators are the extremes of fear and security. Fear is highly motivating, especially at young ages when players are eager to please and are easily intimidated. While fear can get you to run fast and far, it does so at a great interpersonal cost. Vulnerable children become rebellious young adults very quickly. Parents who instill the fear of failure in their 12year-old children often find this tactic backfires by the age of 16. This is especially true in girls’ tennis where tournament attrition in the 18s is very commonplace. The literature suggests that girls do not define themselves by their activities as readily as boys. This means that tennis for girls is more likely “something they do” rather than “who they are.” As one 16-year-old highly-ranked female student explained to me:
P
“I’m a really good kid. I get great grades, no drinking, no drugs, I mean I do everything right, except I make bad shot choices and I hear about it all the time from my parents. My sister does nothing and they leave her alone. Why should I keep doing this, I don’t need it?”
There are numerous examples of professional female players who have gone very far with motivation from demanding fathers. In almost every case, while the relationship has resulted in playing success, it has also resulted in a highly dysfunctional parent/child relationship. Coaches who motivate primarily by fear have an equally difficult time sustaining a long-term positive relationship with players.
“Fear is highly motivating, especially at young ages when players are eager to please and are easily intimidated.” Confidence derived by positive feedback and reinforcement motivates without the long-term drawbacks of fearfulness. This can be the road less traveled for parents and requires an enormous amount of time, patience and kindness. Coaches who provide structure and guidance through the development
of respect rather than fear, instill in students the inspiration and confidence to temporarily fail as they improve. This also requires patience, and even more so, professional competence. Indeed, confidence is not simply self-belief, rather, it is a lack of fear of the consequences of failure. Players who derive confidence from a positive environment in which ultimate success is expected, and temporary failure is permitted and managed, are on track for achievement. Steve Kaplan is the owner of Bethpage Park Tennis Center, as well as the director of Reebok Academy for New York City Parks Foundation. Over the last 33 years, Steve has been the longtime coach of more than 500 nationally-ranked junior players, 14 state high school champions, two NCAA Division 1 Singles Champions, and numerous touring professionals and prominent coaches. Steve’s students have been awarded in excess of $7 million in college scholarship money. He may be reached by e-mail at stevenjkaplan@aol.com.
TOPSPIN
TENNIS & FITNESS CLOTHES FOR THE PROS
Kids Apparel & Sneakers • Great Prices On Racquets Workout Apparel • 1 Hour Stringing Tennis & Running Shoes • Warmup Suits
Open 7 Days • Demos Available ALL MAJOR CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED
USTA Long Island Retailer of the Year
218 JERICHO TURNPIKE SYOSSET • 516-364-9470 ACROSS FROM SYOSSET HOSPITAL
topspintennisLI.com
$
20 OFF
SELECT WOMEN’S WARMUP SUITS W/COUPON • Exp. 3/31/11 • Not Combinable 1 PER FAMILY, IN STOCK ONLY
$
10 OFF
TENNIS & RUNNING SHOES W/COUPON • Exp. 3/31/11 • Not Combinable 1 PER FAMILY, IN STOCK ONLY
$
10 OFF
Restringing/Regrip Combo W/COUPON • Exp. 3/31/11 • Not Combinable 1 COUPON PER FAMILY
LITennisMag.com • March/April 2011 • Long Island Tennis Magazine
15