This one came across my desk some time ago. I get many of these and it is hard to answer these if I never saw the player or the match.
“Coach W, any advice or opinion for this man with a broken heart who was eliminated in the quarterfinals despite giving everything ?! I would appreciate your advice, my good man.”
Signed,
Broken Hearted in the Heartlands
Dear Broken-Hearted,
As the Bee Gees used to ask–“How do you mend a broken heart?”
I can feel the passion in your message. I remember many tournaments like that-I worked so hard and lost in the quarters–or semis–or finals–here is what I had to do and these days I apply this to my work with my athletes.
1. Why did you lose? I have to know that to fix it. Was it footwork, conditioning, mental? Unforced errors? Forced errors? Return of serve? Poor serve?
That is where I come in.
First, I work to find the reason-
Second we then develop a plan to fix the problem(s) starting with a good training schedule.
Third would be periodic checkups of tournaments, competition or these days, plain old play has to be developed with follow-up so you can keep improving!.
The schedule has to be fluid so it can be changed depending upon the player’s (in this case, you) individual needs and their professional and personal schedules.
There you have it-Diagnosis, RX and training schedule!
Onward and Upward,
Coach W