Daily Insights 13 [Raising the Athlete Before Training the Player]

I’ve been playing this sport since 1996 and started coaching in 2004. Tennis has been a central part of my life for nearly three decades, and coaching has given me a front-row seat to the development of not just players, but people.

Here is my coaching musing for today.

Dedication

Commitment

Work ethic

These habits are born at home and shaped by the standards parents set in the early years.

A coach can guide, mentor, and refine.

but...

A coach can guide, mentor, and refine. But a coach cannot undo years of inconsistency, excuses, or a lack of follow-through in the home environment. If daily life at home does not reflect a dedicated, committed, hard-working lifestyle, it is unrealistic to expect a coach to suddenly instill those qualities in a child.

When parents model discipline and consistency, coaching becomes powerful and transformative and something that the children learn to emulate in your own way at their respective ages.

Parents, teach your kids the skills they need and can use in the future. They will respect and thank you for it their entire lifetime.

This is not a rant or a criticism on parenting. It is a wake-up call from someone who has coached children for over 22 years.

Home behavior is always revealed on the court.