When you coach long enough, athletes will come into your program and athletes will leave.
From day one, I explain I am teaching an athlete how to coach themselves during a game and make adjustments. Once you understand the mechanics of body movement and footwork you can make those game time changes.
Back to the athlete leaving my coaching.
This hurt is misunderstood. It is not about money or self-validation for me or my coaching. It is about commitment and the vision I had for that athlete. I saw where they could go and what they could accomplish. This path is suddenly cut short and off they go to pursue another path. To date, none have reached the level I thought they could. I hope someday one of them proves me wrong.
The athlete who works with me will know how to read their own videos after awhile and understand the concepts of movement, shot selection, and serve patterns. I am of value if I am available for a match but cannot be at every match. Besides I am creating independent players, not dependent upon a coach players.
One more cool thing? Many of them are now coaching and teaching!
That is good for the consumer and actually it has been great for me too!