The Coaching Mirror: How the Best Coaches Coach Themselves First

[giancarlo]

Let's hear your thoughts about Kyle's new article. A few thought-starters:

Harder: managing your emotions or your player’s?

Ever seen a coach’s body language change a match?

Is humility underrated in coaching?

Would you step back from a player to help them grow?

When do you do less instead of more as a coach?

Better for players: calm, still coach or energetic coach?

Can composure be taught?

If players mirrored you, what would they look like?

[jimlosaltos]

I like the way Kyle LaCroix categorizes approaches to coaching.

Kyle's comments on Darren Cahill are striking. Cahill has coached multiple world number one players in both ATP and WTA but it seems like his every assignment is different.

With Jannik Sinner he's a technique wonk. How Darren dared to take a player that was already top10 and fiddle with Jannik's serve repeatedly -- midseason -- is beyond me.

Then with Halep, he was a motivator. I recall two instances, one bucking her up and focusing her, the other being a scold. Halep was down during one match and Darren during a coaching visit with her at the bench pointed at Halep's quads said, "You're going to win with these." So few words both told her what to do and motivated her.

Later, Halep was in near tears so Cahill brought out the tough love. As I roughly remember it, he told her "If you don't stop being down on yourself I'm going to leave." Daring. Also worked.

[klacr]

Hello Everyone. Long time no hear.
Interested to get eveyone's thoughts on my latest article.
I've been a bit of a recluse on this site. My apologies. I've been following along but still having a hard time being on this site without thinking of and remembering JY.
But I promise i will start participating more. I will have a few more articles coming out in the next few months as well.

Kyle LaCroix
Boca Raton
SETS

[klacr]

I like the way Kyle LaCroix categories approaches to coaching.

Kyle's comments no Darren Cahill are striking. Cahill has coached multiple world number one players in both ATP and WTA but it seems like his every assignment is different.

With Jannik Sinner he's a technique wonk. How Darren dared to take a player that was already top10 and fiddle with Jannik's serve repeatedly -- midseason -- is beyond me.

Then with Halep, he was a motivator. I recall two instances, one bucking her up and focusing her, the other being a scold. Halep was down during one match and Darren during a coaching visited her at the bench and pointed at Halep's quads said, "You're going to win with these." So few words both told her what to do and motivated her.

Later, Halep was in near tears so Cahill brought out the tough love. As I roughly remember it, he told her "If you don't stop being down on yourself I'm going to leave." Daring. Also worked.

Thanks jimlosaltos
Important to always remember: The best systems adapt to the player, the player should not adapt to the system.

Kyle LaCroix
Boca Raton
SETS

[doctorhl]

Such a perceptive article! The best coaches seem to not only tailor fit a player's individual stroke technique/movement syle to body type and conditioning, they also know how to custom fit a player' s temperament to that playing style. They have the ability to custom fit praise and motivation to the indvidual player psyche. Besides building and drawing from a psychological experience base over the years with many different players, the great coach still has to grow and self exam his own coaching persona with each individual player. Kyle's article eloquently his coaching mirror concept and its importance in contemporary coaching methodogy....an art form as well as a science!

[stotty]

I’m not sure I’d call Lendl a coach exactly. I think he saw in Murray a situation he’d found himself in 40 years earlier; a multiple slam finalist with no trophies to show for it. One assumes Lendl thought he could offer coaching advice to Murray and stepped up to offer it — it was a one-off coaching appointment that worked well.

I’m not sure tour players these days are more discerning/judgemental about coaches or whether it’s the players who a falling for hype. I see Toni Nadal is rubber-stamping Roig in his move to work with Raducanu…and that rubber-stamping is whirring round the media…social media: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/a...s/c5ypke1n361o

Novak employs Andy…for what exactly? What on earth can Andy offer to Novak that could further his already rather incredible achievements?

As for Patrick Mouratoglou…don’t get me started.

I like Cahill in the same way I liked the late Bob Brett. Both coached multiple players to greatness and have/had proven track history of improving already good players even more. They’re proven coaches, not celebrity coaches.

[klacr]

I’m not sure I’d call Lendl a coach exactly. I think he saw in Murray a situation he’d found himself in 40 years earlier; a multiple slam finalist with no trophies to show for it. One assumes Lendl thought he could offer coaching advice to Murray and stepped up to offer it — it was a one-off coaching appointment that worked well.

I’m not sure tour players these days are more discerning/judgemental about coaches or whether it’s the players who a falling for hype. I see Toni Nadal is rubber-stamping Roig in his move to work with Raducanu…and that rubber-stamping is whirring round the media…social media: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/a...s/c5ypke1n361o

Novak employs Andy…for what exactly? What on earth can Andy offer to Novak that could further his already rather incredible achievements?

As for Patrick Mouratoglou…don’t get me started.

I like Cahill in the same way I liked the late Bob Brett. Both coached multiple players to greatness and have/had proven track history of improving already good players even more. They’re proven coaches, not celebrity coaches.

Mouratoglu...you and I both Stotty.

Kyle LaCroix
Boca Raton
SETS

[stroke]

I’m not sure I’d call Lendl a coach exactly. I think he saw in Murray a situation he’d found himself in 40 years earlier; a multiple slam finalist with no trophies to show for it. One assumes Lendl thought he could offer coaching advice to Murray and stepped up to offer it — it was a one-off coaching appointment that worked well.

I’m not sure tour players these days are more discerning/judgemental about coaches or whether it’s the players who a falling for hype. I see Toni Nadal is rubber-stamping Roig in his move to work with Raducanu…and that rubber-stamping is whirring round the media…social media: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/a...s/c5ypke1n361o

Novak employs Andy…for what exactly? What on earth can Andy offer to Novak that could further his already rather incredible achievements?

As for Patrick Mouratoglou…don’t get me started.

I like Cahill in the same way I liked the late Bob Brett. Both coached multiple players to greatness and have/had proven track history of improving already good players even more. They’re proven coaches, not celebrity coaches.

Cahill a class act, and a great addition to any player that truly wants to get better.