Never Let Good Enough be good enough!

Some observations from Coach: Note to any and all young coaches who think they want to coach-here are a few rules and a few thoughts on getting started. First: I wish they would not start you at the top! That is a terrible way to learn. I wish there was an apprentice program that governing bodies would use. So you must learn your craft! A good player does not mean you are a good coach. You can be for sure-but coaching is not the same as playing, Coaching is transferring information in many different ways to different people and helping …

There comes a point in many matches when the points are crucial. Many matches I have seen or played for that matter, the points came easy until……it came crunch time–the 12-12 points, the 14-14, the 10-10 etc. Here are some guidelines for pressure points–easy 10 rules for serving pressure point play. 1. Never give an easy serve to kill-for this reason I do not like drive serves unless hit on the short side; not off the back wall! 2. Never “cleverate” yourself on serving. Many times the serve gets too cute; too smart-you do not trick a good player; you …

World Junior Racquetball is an exciting tournament. I loved my junior USA team coaching gigs and was able to experience success. Those days are long gone because today the cards are sort of stacked against USA. First, coaching academies exist in many countries and not too many places here in the USA. Those cities or areas with good coaching have good athletes who can win on the international stage. Indeed, if you look at the USA players left in the draw you will see they have paid their dues, have worked hard, and are left standing in the semis. To …

Dear Coach W, “What kind of mistakes do you see top racquetball players making? I can list a few that I notice. 1. Very poor bio-mechanical execution of movement and stroke mechanics. In our sport leading pros are teaching incorrect footwork, horrible stroke mechanics and inviting overuse injuries. Instructors with poor mechanics is bad enough worse, they are writing articles and doing videos about it. They should be absorbing the study of bio-mechanics and working on latest movement techniques so players can learn to play efficiently with less injury. 2. Poor diet–athletes are not eating right and do not understand …

I got an email today about the game today and shot selection. The author is a nice guy, but he is dead wrong about the modern game of racquetball. First, he goes into great detail on crossover steps and why they are important. I believe that thinking is way outdated and creates poor footwork, not good footwork. (and I have bio-mechanical evidence to back me up on that) Second, he states that the game today is low% racquetball and there is no strategy. Again, untrue, the game is faster, lower, and therefore the strategy is in the details. You master …

  Footwork is a biggie of course with racquetball. Now here is a tip–watch the feet. The more advanced the player, the more the feet move. The less advanced in technique the less the feet move. A good player will go to a ball, set their feet, and continue to “micro-adjust” their feet. This becomes an unconscious movement over time if practiced. The Novice moves to the ball and Plants their feet like little trees and then lean to the ball instead of adjusting their feet. One popular way of training is the use of the agility ladder. By doing …

Gasp!! No post today? My social media planning backfired on me as I was moving posts around. If I have one post about technique I like to follow that one with maybe a different topic. So I move posts around and in my rearranging I forgot today’s post. On the fly here it goes! Ramblings from running a tournament to coaching in same tournament. 1. Shot selection is so huge. Many matches came down to one part of the court not exploited. Case in point-get to match point by shooting down the lines and then change to pinching or vice …

Here are a few tips to take away first round “jitters” in a tournament. First, warmup before your warmup! Use dynamic stretching which means movement warmups, like high knees, carrioca and other such exercises before you even get on the court. Then get ready to hit some ceiling balls, forehands and backhands, Be sure to hit some lob serves, Z serves and drive serves, to get the feel of the court. When you are in a full sweat, you are ready to go. Here is another tip I learned indirectly from hall of famer, Ruben Gonzalez, a mighty legend of …

Mind repair. When your car breaks down you go the garage and they find a part to replace the broken one. Here are seven “broken” mindsets and the parts below to replace them! 1. Uh Oh-here we go again. (forecasting your loss ahead of time!) 2. I can’t get my first serve in! (meaning-I am a terrible player, I cannot get my first serve in) 3. My opponent is a cheater. (your loss excuse served up on a silver platter for you) 4. The ref is making horrible calls. (see above) 5. I have a horrible seed in this tournament. …