I hit the courts again this week and there is nothing better than being on the court coaching up folks. Actually I never stopped-the clubs stopped and I found a private court and kept teaching, even summer of 2020 when everything was shut down! Over 53 years of play working my way up from B level to open and pro qualifiers back down to age divisions and now-sadly back to B old age divisions-gave me a ton of experience. Here are the top 10 things I learned while playing: I know I probably left something out but these things jumped out at me!
1. It is not how hard you work-it is how smart you work
2. How smart you work means correct mechanics and footwork
3. Diving looks nice, but often it is the result of poor positioning or footwork or both
4. Coaches who have not paid the price themselves (as competitors) in practice have a harder time getting athletes to do the same!
5. A bad match does not mean a bad player and the same applies to good matches meaning good players.
6. Champions are not afraid to play anyone, including the Champ!
7. But everyone else is trying to avoid playing the Champ!
8. It is better to be a “has been” than a “never was”!
9. Playing with poor nutrition is like racing a car with only 3 wheels.
10. The process defines us as humans, not the outcomes!