Coaching Myths

Kyle LaCroix

On tennisplayer.net, there are numerous articles on "Tennis Myths" in the Advanced Tennis Section. (Click Here.)

These myths have been debunked and are technical and specific in nature to stroke development. Many coaches have been guilty in teaching these technical myths which has led to a lot of misunderstanding and frustrations from players, not to mention, a delay or block in development.

Taking the spotlight away from players, coaches face their own myths. Convenient lies that many in our industry fall victim to in our careers, regardless of our experience and track record.

These myths are beliefs, usually of nameless or less scientific origin, which commonly are received and accepted by a large percentage of the coaching population and general public through a lack of understanding or cognitive bias. Furthermore, these coaching myths support existing practices that, in many cases, fail to manufacture any consistent, relevant or proven results.

In this article, I will share with you common coaching myths, that once debunked, will provide a better sense of clarity, confidence and continuity for coaches in teaching/coaching careers, both on and off the court. It will also help students by providing a basis for evaluating who they choose to work with.

Myth 1

A Great Coach is Born

Either you have it or you don't. If you are a subscriber to this site, I may be preaching to the choir.

But it is amazing how many coaches out there feel they were born with a "greatness for coaching". The truth is, great, good and average coaches are made. Research indicates that the key characteristics of the good tennis coach--knowledge, leadership skills, empathy, communication, people skills, etc.--are primarily learnt.

However, some people seem to have an easier time speaking, leading and connecting with players. In these cases, however, they also have the responsibility to improve and learn new techniques and methods as the sport evolves through study, research and continuing education.

A great coach always seeks to become better "educated" through new methods, inspirations and personal experiences. Much like developing a proper tennis player, this transformation will never happen overnight.

Coach/player growth and development is like making sausage. People love and enjoy the final product but very few have the desire to see how it's made. As valuable coaches, we need to invest time and money and interest in ourselves in order to reach our coaching potential.

Myth 2

Great Players Make Great Coaches

The fact is you are qualified to coach tennis only after being qualified to do so. It is a common belief that if you've played tennis at a high level, you're qualified to coach it.

This is not true. Playing the game just implies that you know how to do it, not that you are good at teaching how to do it.

Look at Marion Vida and Toni Nadal. Both were players, yes, but never great players.

Having tested, certified and mentored over 1500 teaching professionals, I can assure you that some of the most impressive and prolific players had the hardest time teaching/coaching. Mainly this is because they do not have the patience required to connect with someone of lesser ability, or the interest or nuanced soft skills needed to be a good coach.

They are coaches just because they are or were good players. You are qualified to coach tennis only when you have learned, and know how to apply the principles of coaching.

Good mentoring, immersing yourself into experiential learning and introducing yourself to a strong network of knowledgeable and well-respected coaches in your area are great ways for former players to learn the skills necessary to make coaching a successful career.

Myth 3

Great Coaching is Complicated, Difficult to Explain and Understand.

The phrase "Keep it Simple" was made to bust this myth. Searching for better methods and continuing education are very important for any career.

Yet complex coaching does not equate to effective coaching. Sophisticated, state of the art technology used to uncover new information can be interesting, but how well you use it, interpret it and pass it on to your players is what matters more.

Good coaches are those who use firsthand information on sports science and technology, understand it and "translate" it in such a way that it is easily understood and applied by their players. In fact, one of the best attributes and reasons I have become such a fan of the Tennisplayer.net site is how John Yandell is able to do this so seamlessly.

It's the content, method and quality of coaching actions that matter. It is in fact not what the coach does, but how they do it.

Myth 4

All Tennis Players Want to Become Great Tennis Players.

Of all the myths out there, this one might be the most significant for me. Embarrassingly it took a few years too long for me to realize that not every player that stepped on my court shared my same delusional ambition to win Wimbledon.

Regardless of age, ability or commitment level, it was my life's purpose to train them hard, show little empathy and keep up the tough guy act and make them into something they were never going to be and I was never going to admit they wouldn't.

The truth is all of our players come to us seeking more than just tennis and the vast majority do not have trophies in mind. There are a myriad of reasons.

Some players arrive on your court looking for just a workout. Others for a social experience. While still others may just want to hit a fuzzy yellow ball to get some stress out.

If we can provide the 3 E's to all of our players: Education, Exercise and Enjoyment, there is a strong likelihood they will be back and be lifelong players.

As tennis coaches, we wear many hats. Teachers, travel agents, motivators, social networkers, videographers, researchers, promoters, educators, community liaisons, psychiatrists and even marriage counselors (Yes, I have stories...)

Regardless of which hat we wear with our students, it's important we understand that every player steps on our court with more than forehands and backhands. They come equipped with other strengths and weakness that we as tennis coaches can help with as well as learn from.

Getting to a higher ranking or a tournament win for a player may do wonders for their short-term confidence, but delivering to them what they came for in the first place can change their life.

Myth 5

Men make Better Coaches than Women.

This may be one of the biggest and most damaging lies to our industry. Not only is it chauvinistic, it's scientifically naïve to believe this.

From a biological/neurological perspective, men are, generally speaking, more interested in things, inanimate objects like technology, tools, cars, etc. While women are innately more interested in people and communication, two fundamentally aspects of coaching and teaching.

Although females make up only 23% of the tennis teaching industry here in the United States, the demand for their skills is increasing. As someone who is an advocate for female coaches, I practice what I preach.

I have gone on record during coach conferences, symposiums and podcasts extolling the virtue of more females in the industry. I currently have 3 females on my staff and always encourage other clubs to ask for female candidates to apply for their latest job opportunities.

Female tennis teaching professionals are highly requested, exceptional with adults and juniors, and quite often have a better understanding and communication with club membership. Based on industry studies of private clubs and resorts, they are booked on average 15% more than male coaches.

Myth 6

Coaching is a nice hobby.

Coaching is more than a hobby. Coaching is a career. It is not a 9 to 5 job.

Sometimes, it has no hours, no free weekends, no long holidays. If you surveyed 100 random people on the street and asked them "outside of your family, who had the biggest impact on your life?" I'm willing to bet the overwhelming majority of those answers will be a teacher or coach.

Never in my lifetime have I heard the answer "tax attorney" or "Gastroenterologist." Although those are noble professions and perhaps more financially robust, the tennis coach can become a cult hero.

A person the whole community knows and trusts. Coaching can be the bridge that connects a blue-collar job and white-collar clients. Clients who, when seeing you outside of your place of employment will call out your name wildly as if you were a rock star--without all the perks of course.

It is a choice in lifestyle where you create moments and opportunities in which you can impact a student's life in a positive manner. Tennis coach does not have to be a "side gig" before you find a real job. It is a rewarding, challenging and influential career that guarantees your voice, ideas and teachings will live on in the hearts and minds of your students.

Conclusion

The sport of tennis industry is plagued by myths. On the technical side and on the coaching side. The common denominator is the person whom is delivering the lesson. It's important we see through these myths and demand respect not just from others but from ourselves as well. Never have coaches had more access to information to improve themselves and, by their influence, students and the industry as a whole.

If you want to become a great coach, or for that matter, believe you already are, it is critical you continue to study the available knowledge on a site like Tennisplayer.net but also within your professional organizations (ITF, USPTA, PTR and your national federations).

With the prerequisite communication and interpersonal skills, and an insatiable desire to share your applicable skills with players regardless of talent and potential, you will play a critical role in the future of tennis. Well educated coaches are the best advertisement for the sport and the only way for us to guarantee that tennis improves for future generations.