Thinking the game through and feeling the game is a topic near and dear to my heart. Athletes who have had previous coaches are sometimes flummoxed when they come to the ole ball coach. Conversations usually go like this.
Athlete: “What do I need to practice the most?”
Ole ball coach: I don’t know, what do you need to practice the most?”
Athlete: I don’t know.
Obc: “Yes, you do know.Think about it. How would you answer that if you were me?”
A: “I guess, maybe return of serve on the backhand side?”
obc: “You guess or you know?”
a: “I know!”
obc: “congratulations, you are just learning about the best coach you will ever have in your life!”
a: “Yeah, thanks for that coach.”
obc: “I’m not talking about me, I’m talking about you! You are the best coach you will ever have in your life. It is you that has to make decisions in a fraction of a millisecond on the court, not me. My job is to help you get better. Your job is to take what I give you and put your stamp on it; not take what I give you for gospel.”
Dear reader-we have done this before but stay with me.
Repeat after me:
You must think for yourself.
You must trust your coaching.
Your must trust your practice.
You must not blindly repeat things people tell you!
Gotcha!