Chuck Kriese's Tennis Tips

2012 Tennis Camp Dates Announced

2011-12-30T18:41:00.001-05:00

I’ve posted on my website the dates for three of my 2012 Junior Summer Camps.

Week-Long Day Camps at:

Sumter, SC (The Palmetto Tennis Center) July 15-20

Lawrenceville, GA (Collins Hill Athletic Club) July 22-27

Weekend Day Camp at:

Lexington, SC (Country Club) July 13-15

For more info, go to TotalTennisTraining.com

Not So Super: The Third-Set Tie-Breaker

2011-05-19T12:14:00.004-04:00

The juniors of the Middle Atlantic States in Levels I and II competition will no longer decide third-sets with 10-point super tie-breakers (STBs).

“The committee felt strongly that this was the best thing for player development,” said Vesa Ponnka, Chairman of the Coaches Commission for the Middle Atlantic Tennis Association’s Coaches Commission. “On the outside, the abbreviated matches have been looked at as a good solution to playing many matches in a short period, but they have had a negative effect.”

Recently, at junior tournaments throughout the country, it has become common to use STBs instead of playing out third sets, despite rising voices of disapproval from players, coaches and parents.

“It teaches our players some very bad habits about competition,” says Frank Salazar, the 2009 Junior National coach of the year. “The biggest problem is that it does not instill the qualities of what competition is really all about; most importantly: perseverance. Perhaps this has contributed to why very few young Americans are surfacing in tennis on the world scene. We are the only country in the world that uses this system, and maybe that says something about us falling behind.”

Cris Robinson, Director of Tennis at Willow Oaks Country Club in Richmond agrees, “We might be self-sabotaging player development with its use. Players grow the most when learn how fight through hard matches and win. The byproduct is learning to think through adverse situations while developing strength of body and mind along the way. If the player always engages the heart, the pain of losing will have its upside as well.”

Winning and Losing: Tools for Growth

It is through tough, close three-set wins and close losses that players usually make the breakthrough to a new level. Easy matches seldom pave the way for growth.

One example of the “breakdowns before breakthroughs” phenomena is John Isner's arduous tournament in Washington, DC a few summers back. He prevailed in several very long and difficult three-setters. It was like he achieved a right-of-passage – a ratification to the next level.

A player does not earn this full impact by winning a third-set tie-breaker. Likewise, with a loss, he may be less likely to take ownership of his game, and instead shrug it off as a result of the scoring-system. As Salazar states, “The losses are supposed to hurt and the wins are supposed to feel really, really good. Both of these emotions are critical incentives for player improvement.”

Where Did the Third-Set Super Tie-Breaker System for Come From?

For the first time time, the third-set STB was first implemented for the first time at the college level back in the early 1990s. It was during an experimental era. College tennis was attempting to find a way to shorten matches to increase the fan appeal. In the dual match format, however, it quickly flopped. Many top-ranked teams suffered upsets to lesser teams. For example, once, under the STB system, the Lander College team beat the heavily favored University of Georgia by winning three of these 10-point STBs.

Though soon abandoned in colligate play, over the past decade the system has crept into youth tennis events. Previously, tournament formats included a singles and a doubles event for each age group. Consolation events were only conducted at the Nationals. Later, as a result of parents, coaches, and players wanting more than one match for first round losers, USTA officials added more consolation matches. This format pushed out the traditional two-out-of-three doubles events.

Some Good with the Bad

Why have tournament officials have continued to implement this method? “The set tie-break system allows us to run off a lot more matches in a shorter time,” says MATA Tournament Director William Ellison. “The USTA seems to have an agenda to use them, and it seems to be the easiest way to get more players into events and to conduct back-draw matches as well. Using them makes it easy to run off a lot of matches and finish on time. From the coaching perspective, however, it cheapens the end result. A slow starter is penalized.”

Ellison offered an alternative abbreviated system. “Perhaps, starting at 2-2 or 3-3 for the final set could be a possibility,” he said. “It would mirror regular matches in a better way.”

“There are times when the tie-break for third sets or abbreviated systems make events more manageable,” says Bonnie Vona, Manager of Competitive Tennis and Player Development for MATA. “Its advantages are noted when you take into consideration the amount of matches that a tournament director can play at a facility that has limited court space or when weather conditions create time constraints. Another advantage is for the parents and families that may be new to the sport and are not used to being at a site for extended periods of time.”
But she conversely points out, “These are quite different needs than what is needed in the training of high performance players. Players trying to improve need to learn to play out third-sets for developmental reasons… We probably need to define more clearly the differences between developmental needs of competitive players and recreational events.”

Is the Traditional Way Too Strenuous for Younger Players?

A USTA official has recently stated that the long matches in hot conditions were just too taxing on our young players. He maintains that it should be used to prevent injuries and health problems, stating, “Our kids are often being exposed to tougher conditions than U.S. Marine Boot Camp.”

Many coaches feel this is an overreaction and a more short-sighted, administrative-friendly point of view. “The USTA data for making this claim comes from a study that was done at their sports science department in California,” says Bonnie Vona. “They marked the index for boot-camp Marines and football players while training in heat with high humidity. They have marked a crisis point where it becomes a physical extreme for players. They made a correlation to what we were putting our kids through by noting that the heat index of just one boys and girls 14 championships at San Antonio, Texas.”
Although convenient, this may not be the best correlation. If players have properly conditioned, there are very few situations in a tennis match where overexertion becomes dangerous. In most situations, when a tennis player is playing a long match, and he becomes tired, he does not perform well. The bottom line: If you play badly, you’ll lose.

Perhaps, at a tournament, to eliminate the fear of a lawsuit resulting from heat related illness, there should be a release or disclaimer. Most of the more dangerous sports regularly do this. An event should be not be cheapened by adding a third-set STB just due to weather conditions.

Whenever children compete, safety should always be a consideration. Tennis, however, is primarily an outdoor sport. Hot and humid conditions are often an element of the game. Thus, conditioning and heat acclimatization is an essential training fundamental. This human factor should not be overlooked.

Players Agree with the Coaches

Likewise, many players, like 17-year-old MATA player Collin Johns, have spoken out against third-set STBs. “I take a lot of pride in my fitness and in the program of training that I do,” he says. “The ten-point breaker allows players to get victories without paying the full price. The right test to prove the better player both mentally and physically should be three tough sets. The skill and toughness that I gain though hard work should be my advantage and the STB system doesn’t allow the work I do to make a difference.”

ATP professional Ryan Young holds a similar opinion. “The ability to finish off an opponent and learning how to carry leads throughout a long, tough match are incredibly hard skills to learn,” he says. “There is no substitute for having to learn how to do this over and over again. Our sport has no clock to do the dirty work, and it is unlike any other when it comes to learning how to win. The third-set set tie-break system is unfair to the favored player when the underdog knows from the start that it is a smaller mountain to climb in order to win. Tennis is a lot like boxing. You often don’t really gain small advantages on the lesser player until 45 minutes or an hour into the match. It is unfair to stop at the point when you finally gain control of the match and have to play a tie-break.”

Revalue Doubles

Many coaches also disagree with the downgrading of doubles. “The skills used for doubles really round out a player’s game,” says former US Davis Cup Chairman Roy Barth.

Tournament officials are stuck. Though it obviously would be better to play full matches in doubles for juniors and pros, in the current system, it is too time consuming. Perhaps, better scheduling or the offering one consolation match for first round losers would be a solution.

The idea of opening a tournament by playing two rounds has been brought up. It might help to foster relationships and sportsmanship, as well as and solve a time issue. Players, coaches, and parents could immediately bond in a non-threatening environment as players would also have a chance to work their way into the tournaments. The doubles matches could be held in conjunction with participant socials and organizational meetings. If doubles were played first, with 75% of the doubles matches completed before singles were started, it would provide a bit of breathing room for the directors.

Honoring the Game

The traditional tennis scoring system is one of our most sacred heirlooms. It should be protected. The scoring system sets up multiple dimensions and complexities – unlike the simplistic (counting by ones) scoring of other racquet games – which is one of the reasons why tennis is so very interesting to watch.
Based on threes, tennis scoring constantly tests one's ability to construct points in sequences that vary in pressure from being behind, being tied, and being ahead. The pressures of a tennis match change back and forth – redefining each game. The player can only go forward in a level of achievement when he or she has mastered the ability to manage these fluctuating pressures. The third-set STB fails to measure this. One of the most important aspects of the game is momentum-control, understanding the ups and downs, the flow of the match.

A bad rule is like a bad law. They are easy to implement, but hard to eliminate. Our traditional scoring system is the fundamental. Modifications like no-ad scoring, pro-sets and super tie-breakers are devaluing our game. Such scoring schemes should be abandoned.

Chuck Kriese was the head coach at Clemson University for 33 years. He coachesd 5 Junior Grand-slam Titles. He is the Senior Director Competition and Coaching, at the Junior Tennis Champions Center in College Park, MD. Visit his website at ChuckKriese.net.

Criticisms of Current Rules: Part III: No-Ad and Super-Tie Breaker Scoring

2011-01-09T17:11:00.004-05:00

I wholeheartedly agree with the ITF including doubles at all junior events. It tremendously contributes to the overall development of junior players. However, the use of the No-Ad scoring and the Super-Tie Breaker for third set is not beneficial.

There are three goals that should be considered in making a rule change:

1. The Process Goal for the player’s developmental learning.

2. The Product Goal to establish an even playing field.

3. The Fan Goal to attract and appeal to the spectators.

In junior tennis, the Process Goal is not satisfied by No-Ad scoring. The players do not learn the discipline to labor through the lengthy, war-like games that are the key to becoming skilled in tennis.

Perhaps the most important key to achieving high level of success in tennis is developing the skill that it takes to manage the momentum of traditional scoring. Traditional scoring is multi-dimensional. No-Ad scoring is not.

Likewise the Product Goal is not satisfied either, as the best players lose some of their edge in regards to their mental, emotional, and physical skills. All advantages are neutralized by the immediate fluctuations of momentum and pressures caused by the No-Ad system.

With traditional scoring, the subtle separation that a slightly better player has in his or her skills becomes a large advantage during the match. With No-Ad scoring, however, even a big skill separation is potentially nullified with the quick gains and losses of momentum.

The Fan Goal is not being satisfied either. The No-Ad scoring system eliminates the drama and suspense of a player being able to put together three consecutive points.

The traditional scoring system is an heirloom of tennis. It is unique in the sports world. It tests the player’s ability to group points and convert games. This deep skill should not be compromised. The athlete should impact the outcome of each game, not the scoring system.

Key momentum fluctuations are drastically impacted by the use of No-Ad scoring: For example, a 30-0 lead gives the player 16:1 odds that he/she will have a game point in No-Ad scoring. Likewise, a 30-15 lead gives a player 8:1 odds that he will have a game point.

At other key times, the impact of one point unfairly loads the deck as well. The critical 7th game is a good study of this. A 4-2 lead can turn into 5-2 or 4-3 based on a net cord or a bad line call. Even though this is the most obvious example, all game points are worth two games.

In tennis, it is fascinating when players with a similar skill level are competing. The winner must be able to closeout his or her opponent at the end of the match by gaining mastery over his or her nerves. No-Ad scoring takes this dimension away from the player’s developmental process.

Lastly, major tournaments should never be determined by the use of a 10-Point Tie-Breaker for the third set. For example, at the 2008 US Open Junior event, there were 23 doubles matches on the boys draw. 17 of these were decided by a Super-Tie Breaker. This demeans a great achievement and is not a good indicator of the better team.

There should be a valid reason for that the No-Ad system and the 10-Point Match Tie-Breaker to be used for Junior ITF events. Mostly likely, they were implemented with the hope that it would prepare junior players for its use in professional doubles. There is, however, no evidence that there is a carry over value. Most doubles players in the professional ranks are singles players who did not advance far enough in the singles rankings to sustain their career.

The No-Ad system in professional tennis was implemented as a compromise to prevent doubles from being dropped from the tour. Since then, however, it has remained extremely unpopular.

Tournament owners have ignored a simple scheduling solution. Before playing any singles matches, they may consider playing two rounds of doubles on the first two days of the event. Thus, players can use the doubles matches to ready themselves for singles competition, and the first two days can be dedicated to fan appreciation and kids clinics (perhaps even conducted by the doubles players). After these first two days, tournament owners would only have to take care of the remaining 4 doubles teams.

A bad rule is much like a bad politician. Both are easy to put into place, but the ramifications can be long lasting. And once in place, the bad rule or the bad politician are very hard to remove.

The integrity of the game is founded on a level playing field. The physical, mental and emotional skills of tennis should be the sole criteria that determine the outcome of a match, rather than a well timed injury or bathroom timeout. Furthermore, No-Ad scoring and the 10-Point Super-Tie Breaker impairs the crucial role of momentum in the sport. Players and coaches who spend thousands of hours of preparation and training to execute their skills deserve the best chance to win.

Criticisms of Current Rules: Part II: The Bathroom Break

2011-01-09T17:03:00.006-05:00

Bathroom Breaks are being used as strategic tactic to break momentum in matches. Most tennis players would agree that there is rarely a need to use the bathroom once the tennis match starts. During a match, there is, typically, a greater concern for water replacement than excessive urination.

On rare occasions, diarrhea may be a factor. Diarrhea might be considered an acute injury. Urination is not. Perhaps the best rule for bathroom breaks may be to only allow it at end of split sets.

In a comparison, it would be unimaginable to see the situation in a boxing match where one boxer has delivered enough body punches to have his opponent leaning into the ropes - ready to submit. Then the player who is under duress, suddenly call for a trainer to give him medical attention or to call for a bathroom break. Likewise, in a tennis match, it often takes over an hour of steady shot selection and pressure to weaken an opponent.

The current rules for tennis should be adjusted to eliminate such disadvantages for the player that who has diligently worked to gain momentum.

Criticisms of Current Rules: Part I: The Injury Timeout

2011-01-09T16:52:00.012-05:00

This is a three-part essay regarding disagreements that I have with ITF tournament rules.

In 2010, I attended 19 ITF events, during which I witnessed several matches won by abusing the rules with well timed injury or bathroom timeout. Also, I have concluded that the No-Ad and Super-Tie Break systems create topsy-turvy results. Upon questioning multiple of fellow coaches and players, I have heard many similar sentiments.

The issue that may be of most immediate concern is the abuse of

the rule for

Injury Timeout. The existing rule for on-court injuries may be of good intent, but it has been grossly abused by multiple players on the ITF Junior Circuit.

Faking injuries is now a very common method to change to momentum of matches. Its abuse is noticeable to all coaches and players and many spectators.

Momentum is the most powerful force in sports, and it is very hard to earn, fairly, through good tennis tactics and skilled play. During a tournament, there are some occasions where there may be a legitimate injury – a player has been hurt enough to stop play. However, even when a legitimate injury does happen, it should not be weighted so heavily as to cause an unfair disadvantage to the healthy opponent.

In no other sport are athletes penalized by their opponent’s injury or lack of conditioning. In a tennis match, a player’s health is rarely in peril.

Here are a few recommendations to remedy this issue:

A. A distinction made between an acute and chronic injury.

Chronic injuries and pre-existing injuries should never be treated on the court. Acute injuries are different, but there should still be some consideration for the concerns of the healthy player and the preservation of the momentum that he or she has earned.

B. A one-game penalty for a player that calls for a trainer.

This would eliminate bogus injuries, but still be a fair trade-off if for the player who is seriously injured.

C. A trainer can only be used during the normal change of sides.

If a trainer is needed, the normal 3 minutes for treatment would be fair under these circumstances. If the trainer is called for during a change of sides break, then the athlete should have to wait to be treated during the next change of sides break. This would not disturb the momentum of the match.

D. Cramping should not be considered an injury.

It is, rather, a symptom of poor conditioning.

The decision making burden, concerning what is and what is not an injury, should not be put on the referees or the trainer at the site. This leads to an inconsistency of assessments. Officials and trainers will usually conservatively error on the side of the injured as they fear making a mistake. Therefore, a consistently enforced rule should be in place to take subjectivity out of the situation.

Article To Read

2011-01-04T12:05:00.010-05:00

This is an interesting article by Jonathan Zimmerman regarding why he thinks American students still lag far behind Asian students in standardized test scores. Influencing children to work hard and overcoming setbacks is much more important than promoting their self-esteem.

http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/Opinion/2010/1214/Why-Shanghai-schooled-the-US-Americans-think-they-re-too-smart-to-work-hard

Mentors and Role Models

2010-08-22T23:52:00.001-04:00

My mother used to say, “If you hang around with dogs, you’re bound to get some of their fleas.” Likewise, association breeds assimilation in the positive direction. No matter what the desired needs of the group, people will bind themselves to the chemistry and system of whatever group they are placed. My main focus with the rookie members of any team is to place them with those older role models who will constructively teach them and guide their efforts. Unfortunately, if the leader is a bad one, a good ship can go down.

The Christian men’s group, “Promise Keepers” has a great concept about mentoring. As described in some of their programs, each person should have three types of friends in their lives: a Paul, a Barnabus, and Timothy. This means that for the most growth to take place in one’s life, it is important to have someone good above you as a teacher (a Paul). It is equally important to have someone important in you life who is on an equal status and will hold you accountable for doing the right thing even the pressure is on (a Barnabus). He or she provides a tough-love friendship, because sometimes our vision gets foggy on the way up a tough mountain. Finally we need to consider the importance of being a teacher ourselves – passing on the truths that are critical for success and a good life. We need to pick someone who we mentor to (a Timothy). These three people – Paul, Barnabus and Timothy – are all taken from scripture and illustrate a fantastic concept for learning at any level and for any challenge.

I Will Miss Danny Daniel

2010-07-14T13:33:00.005-04:00

As I get ready to start my camps this summer, I am thinking of my good friend Danny Daniel and how very much I miss him.

What a man he was... He was the type of person that you just wanted to always be with. He was never pretentious or shrewd - just a humble servant to others and one of the best coaches and teachers that I have ever been around.

Every day that he worked with me, even without saying a word, he sparked a new life and focus into myself and the staff. He reminded us why we taught children. Why it was one of the most honorable professions.

I met Danny in Lavonia Georgia in the early ‘90s. He was the local high school as a football coach and also helped with the tennis team. He and a lady named Sandy Adams had a great thing going there. On a Saturday in that rural Georgia town, I gave a clinic to 50 tennis-hungry kids.

After that meeting, Danny started helping me with my summer camps. As soon as his son Clark was old enough to hold a racket, he would bring Clark up for a few weeks and have a father-son experience in tennis. Danny would help me with managing and teaching the kids while his son participated in the camp. It was touching to see the bonding experience between Danny and Clark. They shared everything: the nights in the dorm room, the meals in the cafeteria, the walks to and from the courts, and many many laughs. They shared one of the best father-son relationships that I could imagine.

Danny had this very crooked and very ugly pinky finger that had not been properly set when it was broken. At camp, it was fun to show the kids this finger and tell them that, as a child, Danny had not used the proper volley or service grip. We would later laugh as we would talk about the wonderful innocence of children as many of them would, at first, believe such a yarn. Those moments, over a meal or a bowl of popcorn with Danny, were so much fun. He loved popcorn almost as much as I did.

Danny soon became the Camp Manager, and he would always make sure that everyone was where they had to be when they had to be there. He was not only very organized, he also knew how to make the camp experience wonderful for each and every child. Very few teachers can balance of getting many complex things done while keeping everyone at ease and having fun.

Danny mostly reminded me of the wonderful experience of teaching and coaching young people. Simply, he just loved teaching and he loved to coach, and he loved tennis as much as anyone that I have ever met. Serving each and every child was his only agenda. Such service became contagious. He taught us by example.

When Danny died earlier this summer, I called several of the coaches and instructors that had worked with us at the camp over the years. I remember a couple of them start to cry when I told them about Danny. As I write this now, I am starting to tear up as well.

What a man… What a man's man... Not for his toughness, as he was very tough as a coach and as a tireless worker. But more so, he was a mans' man because he was a person that calmed your heart and made you just know that deep-down, things were OK.

There was a bigger, more important reason for why we taught these children - more than just for the sport or making a living during the summer. He balanced the roles of a servant and a teacher of others while still maintaining his strength and dignity and honor. He was non-assuming and giving and deeply caring for those around him. We will all miss him so very much.

After each day of work this summer as I have that popcorn, that reward after a long and hot day in the sun with the children, I will think of him.

To Cindy, Laney and Clark… my prayer is that God spares your tears… and you start to

laugh each and every time that you start to cry… I do.

The Value of Perseverence

2010-07-14T13:31:00.002-04:00

Perseverance is a virtue that enables athletes to never quit, no matter how great the adversity. Athletes must be willing to hang in there and keep trying long enough to see the fruits of their labor.

One of the best examples of perseverance I've seen was a college match played by Kent Kinnear. In my coaching career, I had seldom seen a player getting so dominated. His opponent, from the University of Tennessee, was playing so great that Kent managed only six sporadic points in the first set. In 25 short minutes, Kent lost 6-0.

It's not that he was playing poorly, but his opponent was pulling off a constant barrage of incredible shots. Kent was feeling outmatched. As he went down a service break in the second set, he shook his head in disgust and said, "I don't know what to do."

"You really only have two choices," I replied. "You can quit or keep trying. Believe in what you do best, and do your best to execute it."

When things are going poorly it is so hard to keep trying, but through perseverance, the competitor will gain courage.

Kent did somehow hang in long enough that day. It started with a few points, here and there, going right. Eventually, little by little, the momentum shifted. This frustrated his opponent, and, by the end of the match, a complete reversal had taken place. Kent won.

When he came off the court he said to me, "All I was trying to do was to do the small things as well as I could, such as making first serves and being in the proper position. When I was losing, it felt like I was sliding down the mountain ten yards at a time. Things were going so fast. It was discouraging. Climbing back into the matching was like moving back up the mountain one inch at a time. It was long and hard, but I'm glad I didn't quit."

Former Player Named Head Men's Tennis Coach at South Carolina

2010-07-06T15:47:00.003-04:00

Josh Goffi has been named the Head Men’s Tennis Coach at the University of South Carolina. He’s the 27^th College Coach to have either been a player or an assistant coach with me while I coached at Clemson.

This is from ClemsonTigers.com:

A Charleston, S.C., product, Goffi was named 2010 ITA Carolina Region Assistant Coach of the Year while serving as an assistant coach at Duke University.

Goffi joined the men's tennis staff at Duke in July 2008. Prior to his two-year stint at Duke, Goffi was an assistant coach with the Arizona State women's team for two seasons. He was named Wilson/ITA West Region Assistant Coach of the Year in 2008.

After completing a standout collegiate career at Clemson in 2001, Goffi played on the ATP Tour through September 2005. During that stretch, he claimed a pair of singles titles and 18 doubles championships. Ranked as high as No. 480 in the world in singles, he scored six wins over player ranked in the top 100. In doubles, his ranking peaked at No. 121 behind three wins over top-10 tandems. Goffi also represented Brazil in the 2004 Davis Cup.

As a three-time All-ACC selection for the Tigers, Goffi was the ACC's singles and doubles champion in 1999 and was a member of the 2000 and 2001 NCAA All-Region teams. He rose as high as No. 9 in the singles national rankings and No. 3 in doubles while leading Clemson to three NCAA Tournament appearances and a spot in the 2001 ACC Tournament final.

Goffi graduated from Clemson in 2001 with a bachelor's degree in financial management. He is married to the former Nancy Augustyniak, a former Clemson University women's soccer player and also a professional soccer player who played for the Atlanta Beat. She also spent time in United States national team training camp in 2001 and 2002. Goffi's father, Carlos, is an internationally recognized tennis coach who was named 1991 World Coach of the Year.

Two Different Personalities

2010-06-07T19:40:00.008-04:00

Two different personalities prevail in competitive sports: 1. The diligent, hard worker. 2. The person who is loose-as-a-goose. The former is obsessive and driven. He practices skills again and again until he does them correctly. The latter is a cocky competitor who thinks he can do it all.

Most coaches love to work with the first kind - the driven temperament athlete. One problem, however, is that on game day this athlete usually tries too hard and often chokes.

Though cocky athlete may give the appearance that he will pull off a win, because he may lack the foundation of repetitive work, he often is not able to come thorough in the clutch. Nor can he be counted on for consistent performances.

Sports psychologists Bill Moore explains that the arousal levels for practice days and match days should not be the same. It would best if a player's personality were a combination of the two personalities - an ideal balance of someone who is driven on practice day - doing everything possible to polish his skills - and someone who, on game day, is able to approach the competition with a confident attitude. But most athletes tend to be one way or the other.

On game day, it is best to use shots that are your medium risk shots - those with which you are comfortable. Attempting to make high risk shots over and over invites inconsistency.

When preparing for a big match, some sayings to remember are:

"Regular stuff is good enough."

"Try softer, not harder."

"Desire a total release performance more than you desire to win."

Even if an athlete knows what level of emotional arousal produces the best performance, he or she may not be able to compete comfortably at that level. Each athlete must find his or her unique zone of emotional balance for competition.

Nick Saban

2010-06-07T19:31:00.006-04:00

I like this speech - right on the mark on the importance of process over product. It is a great approach in trying to accomplish great things in a very difficult arena.

Coach Nick Saban - Complete Speech January 25, 2010 from The Pacific Institute on Vimeo.

Ed Dickson to Teach at my T3 Summer Camps

2010-05-10T11:58:00.008-04:00

I’m pleased to announce that, Ed Dickson - a great, veteran Division I head tennis coach - will be a teacher at my 2010 Total Tennis Training Summer Camps in Lexington, Sumter, and Brevard.

I spent several of my earlier coaching years side-by-side with Ed. We both worked for my mentor Harry Hopman and became similarly inspired to coach and to teach. Ed helped me get off of the ground at Clemson, as we coached two ACC championship teams together. He spent the next 25 years leading programs at Purdue, West Virginia and Austin Peay.

He’s a great man and a great tennis teaching mind. I am looking forward to reuniting with him in our tennis teaching work.

Playing Against a Player with a Different Style

2010-05-05T13:05:00.005-04:00

One of the best ways to determine the strategy to use against an opponent is by using player match-up charts. Simply, I give my own player a basic rating from 0 to 10 (10 being the best) in the three playing style areas: Delayed Pressure, Quick Pressure, and Countering Quick Pressure.

Of course, the standards for rating are relative based on the level that a player is participating. Each player has strengths and weaknesses that are more directly related to his or her style of play than proficiency in each particular stroke. By matching up your strengths and weaknesses against an opponent's, a style of play for the match can be determined. You want to decide on a strategy that accents your strengths but also forces the opponent into his weaknesses. This figure shows how this technique can be used effectively.

Sample Strategy: In this mach my opponent is a great counterpuncher, but he is weak as an attacking player and only fair when it comes to creating pressure while working the ball off the ground in the backcourt. He basically needs a target or his weapons are not that effective. My game revolves around my attacking ability, but because my opponent likes targets, I'll do my best to minimize my targets until the time is appropriate. I will take away his first exchange strength of returning serve by not serving and volleying as much as I would normally like. I will instead use more of what is often referred to as "Wide and Glide" tactics, serving and attacking the second ball. In this case I want to create pressure with the serve. This will take away the opponent's ability to hurt me with his great return of serve. Because he doesn't like to play long points and wants a quick target, my objective will be to make him play long points whenever possible, especially on his service game. This will hopefully frustrate him into going to the net more that he is comfortable with; therefore, he will have to use a weak part of his game. If my opponent starts to falter and become frustrated, then I pick up the quick attack and dominate his game.

While there are many strategies that can be used to win a match, the most basic and most important ones to remember are:
1) Get locked into the way that you want to play and 2) Try to make your opponent play in a way that he is not comfortable. One of the most common mistakes in this strategy is, while trying to throw the player off of his style, not sticking to your own strengths.

A Winning Tennis Player is Comfortable at Being Uncomfortable.

My New Position

2010-03-07T10:48:00.001-05:00

From Bob Larson's Tennis News (www.TennisNews.com)

Kriese Joins Washington, DC Junior Tennis Champions Center

The Junior Tennis Champions Center announced that legendary Clemson Tigers Head Coach Chuck Kriese has joined its staff as the Senior Director of Competition. Kriese coached the Clemson men’s tennis team from 1975-2008 finishing his career with an ACC record 616 wins, 11 ACC championships, and four National Coach of the Year awards.

Kriese brings significant expertise to the JTCC coaching staff. He is the author of numerous coaching and training books including Coaching Tennis, Total Tennis Training, and Winning Tennis. He joins Vesa Ponkka, Senior Director of Tennis, and his former Clemson player Frank Salazar, Senior Director of High Performance, on JTCC’s senior management team. Kriese will work with junior players in JTCC’s Champions Program, with emphasis on competitive development, matchplay strategy, and tournament preparation.

In addition to his role at JTCC, Kriese will remain the Technical Director for the Southeast Asia Tennis Federation, where he oversees player development in nine Asian countries. These players will train at the Junior Tennis Champions Center when they are in the United States and Kriese will continue to coach Noppawan Lertcheewakarn, winner of four junior Grand Slam tournaments.

The JTCC offers training to children between the ages of four and 18 on a part- and full-time basis. Located in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area, students can choose from weekly group clinics to intense, full-time training programs including on-site academic instruction.

The Black Door

2010-03-07T09:15:00.005-05:00

He who has conquered doubt and fear has conquered failure. -- James Allen

In some of my writings and speeches I have made reference to "The Black Door." I was first told the story by Bill Brown, one of my former assistants at Clemson. For all of those who haven't heard the story, or how it applies to sports (and life), here it is:

A Persian General has the enemy spy placed against the wall as the firing squad take aim and readies themselves to shoot upon the given order.
He slowly walks up to the spy and says, "I'm going to give you a choice about your fate. You can take the firing squad that is ready to carry out your sentence, or you can take what waits for you behind that Black Door."
The spy asks, "What is behind the Black Door?"
The General replies, "I can't tell you. It is your choice."
The spy starts to imagine the possibilities of a long and painful death. Perhaps there are tigers on the other side of the door that will tear him to shreds. Perhaps it will be snakes or another frightening death. After some contemplation, he confirms to the general that he is ready to take the quick and simple method of execution or the firing squad. And the execution is carried out swiftly.
Afterward, a young corporal who had witnessed the whole thing walks up to the General and asks, "What is behind the black door?"
The General replies, "It's Freedom. But no one has ever chosen it. It seems that most people choose a death that they are familiar and more comfortable with than to risk the unknown."

I used to have a sign in my locker room that read, "Most want comfort more than they desire excellence." Another sign read, "To get all, you must give all everyday in your training, and be willing to risk all every time that you compete." Players must be always aware that giving all in practice is much easier than risking all when they compete.

As this diagram shows, when you go through the Black Door, though you may fail in the process, but you'll never have to go though the initial passage again.

Gradually, as you see Black Doors for what they are, new confrontations become less intimidating.

Five Steps of Preparation

2010-02-09T11:13:00.002-05:00

Your success in tennis is limited only by your desire to achieve excellence.

-- Peter Mandeau

Bob Knight, coach of the three NCAA Basketball Championships at Indiana University, said it best in a television interview, "More important than an athlete needing the will to win, he or she needs the will to prepare to win." Without preparation and planning in the physical and mental areas, an athlete has little or no hope for success in his sport.

Step One: Have a burning desire.
Simple desire is very different from burning desire. It is the intangible difference between the two that draws the distinction between good and great. A burning desire cannot be manufactured. It must com from within, and you must obtain it on your own. The athlete who has a burning desire will endure your training and the hardships and setbacks that take place along the way.

Step Two: Set Specific Goals
Working toward achieving maximum success depends on not just setting goals, but rather on setting the right goals. Set goals that allow you to strive for the maximum use of your gifts while still allowing you to reach a moderate amount of the objectives set. Goals should only be reached about 50% of the time.

Goals should constantly be reset and redirected. It is best to set three goals for an objective (the thought of which keeps the flame of desire bright), an intermediate goal that is a year or so away (to keep on course toward the main goal), and short-term goals that constantly provides smaller successes and failures (to keep enthusiasm and learning stimulated for the ultimate objective).

There is a high correlation between athletic success, intellectual success and social success. Goals should, therefore, be set in other areas including academics, family, social, and spiritual areas. Success in each of these areas supports and aids the development of the others.

Step Three: Make Your Work Constructive and Positive
Many people work hard for the wrong reason: they are result-oriented and think only of the reward. I call this "outside-in" work. This work is not productive because it is not inspired or creative. It results in frustration, and the successes that are sometimes achieved may not be fulfilling.

On the other hand, working for the love of one's work, or pursuing a calling as an expression of one's self (what I call "inside-out" work), will inspire countless successes. "Great athletes compete to express, not impress."

Step Four: Take Care of Details
Pay attention to simple concerns such as eating and sleeping properly, having a sufficient supply of quality equipment at courtside, taking the time to have a good warm-up, and starting the match mentally prepared.

Step Five: Acknowledge Fear and Its Benefits
Fear can be looked as a prelude to the positive emotion of courage. Disregarding fear allows it to grow, and leads to the negative emotions of doubt, anxiety and frustration, all of which can prevent you from having your best performance.

The Proper Balance of Respect for Your Opponent

2010-01-03T13:03:00.009-05:00

The best attitude to take to a match would be: "I know I can win, but I know my opponent can win if I'm not at my best." This attitude puts the athlete in a state of absolute readiness for a tough battle. Many athletes prefer to reject this attitude, however, because they feel that giving the opponent respect and recognizing the difficulty of the task at hand places them in a vulnerable position.

The smart and experienced competitor is always aware that emotional balance is critical for best play. The foolish player fails to respect his opponents. The inexperienced player respects some opponents too much. It is best to obtain a proper balance.

This table illustrates the likely reactions in performance to the different pre-match states of mind.

This figure shows the flow and direction that a match will most likely take from the three different attitudes toward an opponent that can be taken before a match.

The best intensity to have to win a two-set match would be similar to the intensity a runner would have in running a two-mile race. He should start out quickly but settle soon into a comfortable stride. He should be solid for the biggest part of the race with few ups and downs and keep enough left over to finish the race.

Respecting an opponent too much is like trying to run too well in this race. It is like a runner who goes out too fast and sprints off to an early lead but collapses quickly when things get close. Tennis players who assume this role often start off by playing all their best shots early in the match. A good opponent is not threatened by great shots early in the match, and often a player who starts this way will not have anything left when the points get critical.

Too little respect for an opponent would be much like a runner starting off the two-mile race in a job and falsely reassuring himself that he can always catch up and that he does not have to run this best until later. This lack of readiness usually compounds problems - a situation of too little too late.

Confidence - belief in self and respect for opponent.
Cockiness - belief in self minus respect for opponent.

Five Important Lessons of Tennis and Life

2009-11-17T23:37:00.003-05:00

1. Develop a strong work ethic.
“I’d give anything to be able to play golf like you,” the fan said to the professional golfer as he watched him hit balls on the practice tee. To which the golfer replied, “No you wouldn’t, or you would have spent over 10,000 hours practicing just like I have.”

Not everyone is meant to spend thousands of hours hitting tennis balls against the backboard. Regardless of your level of talent, a strong work ethic paired with tremendous love for the sport is the most vital ingredient to success.

2. Find a dream and go after it.
Dreams start with a vision and then take shape in the form of goals and objectives. These goals should be pursued with a structured and disciplined action. Instead of being too cynical about his or her dreams, the athlete should realize that there are few physical differences between most athletes. The primary difference is the unlimited power and focus that comes from having a dream.

3. Learn that Setbacks and Successes are Both Helpful.
“Breakdowns usually happen before breakthroughs,” the saying goes. Setbacks serve to teach us perseverance and humility. Adversity helps us to grow, but one should always believe that something better is coming around the corner.

4. Make perseverance a habit
Athletes must be willing to hang in there and keep trying long enough to see the fruits of their labor. When on a losing streak it is very hard to not to give up, but through perseverance the competitor gains courage.

5. Seize the opportunity.

The ability to take charge of a moment is something all athletes must eventually learn. The moment to take control of a match presents itself very quickly in competition, and the habit of doing so must be automatic for such opportunities may never come back again.

Transition Shot: The First Volley

2009-11-16T21:12:00.004-05:00

The first volley is considered a transition shot because of its similarity to the approach shot. There are three rules to remember for the first volley:

Rule#1: After the server delivers the serve, his movement should allow him to get in as far as the service line. This will give him a good opportunity to make an effective first volley. Otherwise, a first volley can be popped up and will make it very easy for the return to pass the server unless the ball can be put away with a winner.

Rule#2: Unless the return is a floater, the first volley should either be hit back to where it came from or to the middle of the court, and the finishing volley should be placed into the open court. If a crosscourt volley is not put away, the whole court is left open for an easy passing shot by the opponent. In general, for any ball that can be put away, the player should go to the open court. If the ball cannot be put away, the court should be left closed. As a reminder to my team, when we do the classic serve-and-volley drills, I instead call them “serve-and-volley-volley drills.” This reinforces the notion that it should take two shots to volley.

Rule#3: The net should be closed off after the first volley. If the first volley is effective, then the server should be in control of the point. As the ball is in flight, the server should take three or four steps in to the net to close out the point. Not closing off the net is a mistake that gives the opponent an angle to hit a passing shot or a chance to get back into the point.

Grow Slowly

2009-11-15T13:09:00.003-05:00

The Child Prodigy Syndrome

Sow a thought, reap an act; sow an act, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny. --Anonymous

During the past twenty years we have been bombarded with child prodigies in tennis. We see younger and younger stars who are promoted as the standard instead of the exception. Many boys and girls are now turning professional in their mid-teens, and many teachers support the belief that tennis is a game for the teen years. In truth, to reach tennis maturity as a teenager is rare. The tragedy is that this belief causes many youngsters to hang up their racquets – along with their dreams – long before the natural union of the body, mind, and emotions take place. Many tennis academies and teachers prosper by promising to make children “immediate champions.” Unfortunately, many buy into this sales pitch.

The media and manufactures love the younger champions because of the public interest aroused by their extraordinary success. Young stars are good for sales and excitement, by they are not the standard, and they should not be the model to follow when planning a career.

Female athletes do not mature mentally, physically, and emotionally until the early twenties. For males, it is a few years later. The optimal years are probably between the ages of twenty-four and thirty. Therefore, young players should slow down and enjoy learning all of the aspects of the game and solidify their base fundamentals.

Diamonds vs. Rhinestones

I believe that much of the disrespect young people show toward authority in our society stems from the fact they really do not see or understand the work ethic that is the prerequisite for real success. It is now possible to achieve some things so quickly that, on the surface, appear to be just as good as those things that take time and effort. We are often confused by what is truly a great work, a great system, and a great person.

A quickly manufactured rhinestone shines just as brightly as a diamond that was formed though time and tremendous pressure. We have the best fake art, fake music, fake anything that looks good and is easy to obtain.

The true champions, like diamonds, stand the test because they have been formed slowly and carefully and have withstood all of the pressures that have faced them.

Train the Root System First

I learned a wise approach to player development at the Tennis Training Center while lecturing in Japan.

On the wall of the Japanese Youth Training Center, I saw a picture of a flower, including its stem and root system. I asked the director for the center about it and he said, “The first priority for the athlete is to train his root system; this part, which is underground and not seen, is the base for the plant and for the athlete. It represents his attitude, his heart, his work habits, his integrity, and all of the qualities that do not receive immediate attention from others, but are critical for success that endures the test of time.

“The stem, which represents the physical condition and athleticism of the athlete, is the second priority. We see athletic ability as we see the stem of the flower, even if it does not attract as much attention as the bloom, it is the critical link between the roots and the flower.

“The flower, the third priority, represents the players’ strokes. We are initially attracted by the appearance of the strokes, but they can only succeed over a period of time with a strong root system and a well-working stem.”

I tell my players that confidence is equal to self-concept and self-respect. You see your opponent as you compete, but you feel yourself. Therefore, a player’s self-concept, which is only developed by the root systems, is always the first priority in a long-term training program.

Think of the quick-growing corn stalk that is impressive for one season and then dies. Its roots are very shallow and easily ripped to the ground. The Dutch tulip bulb is completely opposite. Its blossoms are pruned early and often, each time sending nourishment back to the root system, until that bulb is large enough and strong enough to produce year after year. The strong oak tree – with as many roots underground as it has limbs above ground – is another example, taking years to develop.

Society often teaches youngsters that the bottom line and end results are what matters, and that if they can get something more quickly, then all the better.

In training, players and coaches should remember that although growth may be underground and out of direct sight, the root system requires the greatest emphasis and care to produce beautiful blossoms and success season after season.

A good teacher does not promise quick successes, but rather understands the great importance of long-term growth and character development early in a youngster’s career.

2010 Tennis Camp Dates Announced

2009-11-11T13:25:00.011-05:00

I’ve posted on my website the dates for three of my 2010 Junior Summer Camps. Like last year, they are scheduled in July - between Wimbledon and the US Open.

Weekend Summer Camp at:

Lexington, SC (The Country Club of Lexington) July 16 -18 (Day Camp)

Week-Long Summer Camps at:

Sumter, SC (The Palmetto Tennis Center) July 18 - 23 (Day Camp)

Brevard, NC (Brevard College) July 25 - 30 (Day and Overnight Camp)

Also, I’m working on holding a week-long camp in the Atlanta area. The exact date and location,
however, will be tentative until after the Chistmas holiday. So, if you’re interested, check back in early January.

For more info, go to TotalTennisTraining.com

Eliminate Excuses

2009-11-11T13:08:00.020-05:00

A man may fall several times, but he is not a failure until he starts saying that someone pushed him.

Tennis is a difficult game to play. It is even more difficult to play well, and it is one of the hardest games to learn to win. But the biggest frustration that I have as a coach is not that the physical and mental aspects of the game are so difficult to learn, but that it is so difficult for the players to take responsibility for their own play. It seems that usually the better the player; the more sophisticated is his excuse for coming up short in a match.

Name it, tame it, but don't blame it.

If something is bothering you, don't take the court.

Sigmund Freud stated that sometimes a failure situation is so painful for a person that he may need a defense mechanism in order to preserve self-esteem. Unfortunately, though, a defense mechanism can seriously hinder an athlete's growth because it keeps him from working to improve his skill level. I tell my players that once they take the court, there is no reason for a loss other than, "He played better than I did." That's all there is to say.

A player should be humble in victory and give full credit to his opponent in defeat, no matter how tough it may be.

When the athlete decides what he really desires with all his heart and the price that he is willing to pay for it, he stops worrying about the small pains, those things that the opponent does, and any other stumbling blocks, and he focuses on the job at hand. -Vince Lombardi

For the Tennis Player Who Runs Out of Excuses:
1. Ate too much lunch.
2. Did not eat enough.
3. Favorite racquet broke.
4. Balls too heavy.
5. Net was too high.
6. These strings just don't give me the power I need.
7. How can I be expected to play my best on these courts?
8. This injury keeps me from playing well.
9. I just couldn't get into it today.
10. Tournament director didn't seed me.
11. The racquet slipped in my hand.
12. I didn't realize opponent was left-handed until the next-to-the-last game.
13. Opponent didn't play tennis, just hit the ball back.
14. Opponent was so bad I couldn't play my game.

Five Rules of Sportsmanship

2009-11-05T18:17:00.002-05:00

Always give 100% when competing. To do so shows a respect for your opponent and an honor for your sport.
Confidence (belief in self; respect for your opponent) is admirable. Cockiness (belief in self; lack of your respect for your opponent) and self-centeredness is not. Strive for outward and inward confidence.
If you win, let it be by the code with your honor held high and have compassion for the opponent you have beaten. If you should lose, let it also be by the code (giving completely of yourself in that losing cause), and then honor the opponent who has beaten you.
Take what you do very seriously, but never take yourself very seriously. Those who validate themselves merely by what they do on the court will always be dissatisfied.
Love winning, and hate losing; but never fear the losing. If you are a true competitor, losing will always hurt, but remember that pain is not the enemy. It is a chance for growth. No matter how hard it is, go back on that court and continue the process of learning.

Sportsmanship is not a job for the week, but rather a job for the meek – for those who possess strength under control.

External and Internal Motivation (Obsession vs. Inspiration)

2009-11-05T18:09:00.005-05:00

Indirect or external influences – such as coaches, parents, and peers – are usually prime motivating factors early in a player’s development. Tennis is a difficult game to play, let alone to become proficient at. Many failures and setbacks occur, and every level of completion presents new and more frustrating obstacles. External motivation from parents, coaches and friends is necessary, therefore, to help a player worth through the difficult time.

When an athlete decides to make a commitment, he or she can make it either by obsession or inspiration (externally or internally).

The award-winning movie, Chariots of Fire, told the story of two quite different athletes as the prepared for the 1924 Olympics. One of the athletes’ actions were well planned and goal directed, and he drove himself with one thought in mind – winning the gold. He was so obsessive about winning that when the time came to compete, after all of his planning and training, fear of failure engulfed him. He validated who he was by what he accomplished as an athlete.

The other athlete’s drive came from within. For him, running was not a mechanism for success, but rather, a way of expressing his inner self. Training and competing were joys rather than burdens, and winning and medals were outcomes of his pursuits rather than ends in themselves.

The externally motivated athlete’s victories will bring relief, but may bring about disappointment, as the wins prove to be not as fulfilling as he had hoped. Competition presents anxiety and nervousness – fear of a negative outcome is a constant threat. Defeats and setbacks produce discouragement.

The athlete who is inspired from within, in contrast, is more likely to find satisfaction and happiness in his or her successes. A loss may bring disappointment, but also an eagerness to compete once again.

Process and Product

The only two reward though competition are the Process (the learning and internal rewards of the experience) and the Product (the material or outer rewards from the completion).

The four scenarios are:
1. To give your whole heart and win.
2. To give your whole heart and lose.
3. To not give your whole heart and win.
4. To not give your whole heart and lose.

The rewards from each of these scenarios are listed in the following box.

Of course, all athletes would like to get both the process and the product for their efforts and avoid the “No Product, No Process” scenario. The telling tale of the athlete who will improve and grow though competition is the one who makes the decision to pursue the “Process, No Product” scenario (I will give my best even in a losing cause) over the “Product, No Process” scenario (I want to win, regardless of doing the right long-term things or not.)

The order of the four scenarios (best to worst) should be:
1. Achieve the Process and the Product.
2. Achieve the Process and not cash in on the Product this time.
3. Get the Product but sacrifice the Process in getting it.
4. Get no Product and get no Process.

The athlete can achieve either #1 or #2 every time he or she competes with the correct outlook.

Go Back To the Court No Matter How Hard It Is

2009-11-02T15:07:00.003-05:00

After a loss, many players and coaches would rather do anything else but hit more tennis balls. One of the best things to do after tough loss, however, is to do just that – go right back on the court and work out for a period of 20 to 30 minutes. Some of my player's best practice sessions have taken place immediately following a painful defeat. This practice accomplishes two things. Primarily, it is a great way to release negative emotions, such as the anger and aggressiveness that may follow a loss. Secondly, it allows the player to leave the tennis court that day in a more positive frame of mind.