Wow trying to blog all the time is hard work when you lead a busy life.
Seems times are hard for the LTA Britain lost to Lithuania in the Davis Cup. More jobs have been slashed at the headquarters, John Lloyd has resigned and coaches around the country seem to be despondent with the vast array of changes in coach education seemingly continuing to be added to their abilities to just go out and coach.
Now i am one for continuing education and every coach should do this not only for themselves, but for the people they are coaching. There is nothing worse than a coach who has passed a coaching course and then never attends to expand on that knowlegde.
It seems to me word on the ground is many are being put off coaching. From my point of view i am beginning to see less younger coaches coming through to full time coaching, clubs are having difficulties finding the right coaches and many clubs seemingly need to have the clubmark kite of standard.
For me if a club needs this then either they have had a hard time in the past with previous coaches or they are actually quite poor in monetary terms that they need funding from the LTA in which case they need to be apart of that scheme all the same.
Being chairman of a club i personally am looking for the following in a coach
A coaching certification
Insurance
CRB check
First aid
and the ability to continue their education to the fullest.
On top of this i want someone who is not afraid of hard work and can work on their own with the abilities to progress the coaching programme without having to be asked. This however is not enough. I also want someone with character and personality who can interact with anyone within the club. Too much to ask? Maybe, but you do not come across many coaches like this with all the ingredients above.
In the unlikely case i am wrong send me a c.v. i can guarantee you a job.
Coaches like these can produce income for the club without the need for funding. They can build the membership up adult and junior alike and for sure are worth their weight in gold.
Then comes the trouble when a substandard committee who only work part time have no real interest in the club and sit a few times a year to get together in a power ridden way thinking they have a business acumen to run a club in a professional way.
As a country the clubs are struggling with an ability to work alongside coaches to develop the club and more intent on asking how much can you pay us so we can make some money from you. Or you are not producing new members so we are employing someone else.
Over the past few months many of my good friends have fallen fowl of this. Now you see why i opted for the chairman job and head coach job at the same time! Here i truly can produce a junior club with an adult section rather than the other way around. In this respect the local council have handed the 5 courts to me for free as long as the public get access. Perfect.....now to build this 'inner city' club from the ground up.
For myself i have been busy writing courses to run and alongside this and a batch of policies and procedures so that coaches within the organisation i work can access a coaching course that will lead to a coaching licence.
Gone are the days when a student walked up to you and asked if you were a coach, how much do you cost and when can you fit me in?
I am sure it is for the best, if not i am moving to Croatia a tennis producing nation who have no coaching system to speak of, you do not need a qualification to coach there and anyone can call themselves a coach!
Oh Croatian tennis players past and present http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Croatian_tennis_players
Rant over more later lol
Saturday, 20 March 2010
Friday, 19 February 2010
No such thing as a free lunch...
Wow it seems like a while ago since i last blogged but it times have been hectic. In one week i managed to fill the car with the wrong fuel by putting unleaded into the diesel, however for those you of you out there who commit such a school boy error there is something to learn from this. The trick is to put some engine oil to mix it up with said diesel and then you are good to go, all dependant on how much unleaded you have put in. Seemed to have make things run smoother and quicker! The computer crashed big time and had to go into the menders. I was super amazed how i managed to get so many worms and viruses on the system when i had norton antivirus! Seemed the instigator was a BT upgrade software that didnt help. However, a new hard drive here and some man hours there we are back to normality. Avast it seems is the best software for viruses over any others on the market and seems good enough and whats more its free once you have registered.
On the brighter side, whom ever said there is no such thing as a free lunch in this world lied, i managed to get a free sports massage and one of the biggest tuna jacket potatoes one afternoon for free this week. Seems they were only throwing it away anyway and i happen to be there at the right time.
Since my last blog i have been court and office bound (coaches who just think its all court work are only doing half a job). Basingstoke was Arctic cold conditions and saw two students cry off due to the extreme cold weather playing havoc with there back conditions. Perhaps they were just to be part time coaches of the future. All the same i look forward to seeing them again.
For the first time ever i managed to accumulate and calculate all my tax receipts for the coming year whilst staying away. I think i will do an article on what you can claim as a self employed coach as many of you maybe a little green in this area. Anyone who wishes to add to this article feel free.
The course went well and from there i plied straight into yet another week long coaching course. Learning never stops and the opportunity to write new articles on everyday coaching aspects always present themselves. So for all my tennis related followers here is what i will do in the next few weeks/months....
Planning the ultimate Junior and Adult programme for your club (this is one i recently completed for a club in Essex)
Efficient Power Tennis (Based on the course i am running in Dartford on 25th Feb)
Working with large groups of kids (how you truly can work with 12 mini orange kids on your own)
How to rotate players effectively and efficiently in drills
A 20 Week programme of how to get in and stay in the zone
Some sort of tax article before April arrives
Hope this will tie you over for now, i will get the club programming up today and the power tennis article will be up on the andytennis website by Monday. Remainder to follow soon.
This week was spent catching up on last weeks office work unbelievable that this took nearly two days!
Wednesday and today (Friday) i take charge of the advanced squad. This is the squad for coaches and players, everyone who attends plays on the veterans tour and predominately has a world ranking of some sort. The last programme went a bit like this to give you an idea
Service box warm up (7-Minutes)
Long line hitting (7-Minutes)
Cross court hitting (5-Minutes Forehands 5-Minutes Backhands)
The idea here is to push your opponent behind the baseline with your shots whilst understanding you have gears to work through, rallying strokes, pressing shots and winners. Even though it is co-operative rallying if you have the chance to press then do so, if you have the chance to hit a winner then likewise!
Cross court hitting (10-Minutes)
As above but combating the pressing shots when forced back
Cross Court Rallying with the added drop shot after the press (10-Minutes)
Many players on the tour are good at this nowadays when was the last time you practiced this with purpose?
Serve and Return work (20-Minutes)
If you are going to spend time on Serves then don't miss out on the opportunity to work on this either
Point Play
With 5 on one court 3 people serving 2 returning. The remainder of the 2-Hours was continuous point playing, as server if you won 3 points in a row then you took the place of the returner. Continuous score keeping and winner takes all!
If you want me to look at your sessions then email them to me and i will see what we can do together. Remember though each session must have a 'teaching point' and the sessions must be progressive in nature as that above.
If you are interested and playing to a good standard then i can get you into this squad just call. Every coach should work on their own game too!
For coaching courses check out http://www.ptruk.com/ and have a look at the courses available even if you wish to attend one of the one day courses to improve your game like Effective Power Tennis running at David Lloyd Dartford Feb 25th then email ptr@ptruk.com and we can help you along.
Right time to hit the court and run the next squad. As the Italians would say CIAO
For the first time ever i managed to accumulate and calculate all my tax receipts for the coming year whilst staying away. I think i will do an article on what you can claim as a self employed coach as many of you maybe a little green in this area. Anyone who wishes to add to this article feel free.
The course went well and from there i plied straight into yet another week long coaching course. Learning never stops and the opportunity to write new articles on everyday coaching aspects always present themselves. So for all my tennis related followers here is what i will do in the next few weeks/months....
Planning the ultimate Junior and Adult programme for your club (this is one i recently completed for a club in Essex)
Efficient Power Tennis (Based on the course i am running in Dartford on 25th Feb)
Working with large groups of kids (how you truly can work with 12 mini orange kids on your own)
How to rotate players effectively and efficiently in drills
A 20 Week programme of how to get in and stay in the zone
Some sort of tax article before April arrives
Hope this will tie you over for now, i will get the club programming up today and the power tennis article will be up on the andytennis website by Monday. Remainder to follow soon.
This week was spent catching up on last weeks office work unbelievable that this took nearly two days!
Wednesday and today (Friday) i take charge of the advanced squad. This is the squad for coaches and players, everyone who attends plays on the veterans tour and predominately has a world ranking of some sort. The last programme went a bit like this to give you an idea
Service box warm up (7-Minutes)
Long line hitting (7-Minutes)
Cross court hitting (5-Minutes Forehands 5-Minutes Backhands)
The idea here is to push your opponent behind the baseline with your shots whilst understanding you have gears to work through, rallying strokes, pressing shots and winners. Even though it is co-operative rallying if you have the chance to press then do so, if you have the chance to hit a winner then likewise!
Cross court hitting (10-Minutes)
As above but combating the pressing shots when forced back
Cross Court Rallying with the added drop shot after the press (10-Minutes)
Many players on the tour are good at this nowadays when was the last time you practiced this with purpose?
Serve and Return work (20-Minutes)
If you are going to spend time on Serves then don't miss out on the opportunity to work on this either
Point Play
With 5 on one court 3 people serving 2 returning. The remainder of the 2-Hours was continuous point playing, as server if you won 3 points in a row then you took the place of the returner. Continuous score keeping and winner takes all!
If you want me to look at your sessions then email them to me and i will see what we can do together. Remember though each session must have a 'teaching point' and the sessions must be progressive in nature as that above.
If you are interested and playing to a good standard then i can get you into this squad just call. Every coach should work on their own game too!
For coaching courses check out http://www.ptruk.com/ and have a look at the courses available even if you wish to attend one of the one day courses to improve your game like Effective Power Tennis running at David Lloyd Dartford Feb 25th then email ptr@ptruk.com and we can help you along.
Right time to hit the court and run the next squad. As the Italians would say CIAO
Wednesday, 20 January 2010
A simple message...
If you are doing more than your compatriot's in your sport then you have the upper hand, if you are doing more than the world number 1..........feel free to take their place!
Andy
Andy
Tuesday, 19 January 2010
Its good to be back...........
I know, i have been away for like a week nearly! Sometimes setting goals and working seem to get in the way of updating ones blogs!
However, here we are with an emphatic run down of all that has happened in the life of a tennis coach! Am refraining from saying vet player at this point due to the fact i have taken the decision to try and re-attain my top 500 world ranking in the over 40's next year, whereby life would have settled down and of course my books would have earned me enough to manage my time in a more able way.
Right now life is more in a disabled way and i have a million and one things to do. Perhaps i should attend some sort of time management course and hence save myself valuable working time daily. Hmmmmm ermmmmm do i really have time? Geez its all i can do to fit in watching the oz open just now.
Right so after one of the most restful breaks of the year, or seemingly so, my first real venture this year was the well attended one day course i ran at Bannatynes in Thurrock. Nice venue, nice journey time and easy enough. The attendees were excellent and learnt a huge amount on Running Effective Drills for club players. This enhanced the ability for those that attended the ability to earn recurring money if they adhered to everything that was taught! Not that coaching is about earning money if you are truly a coach, for me its more a way of life rather than a living.
I will post the handout for this soon on the andytennis website when i have filled it out a little more for those of you who failed to turn up. In fact come to think of it, the link will also be handy for those who couldn't make it due to bad weather or who just plain could not be bothered to turn up due to lazyness or even worse did not want to learn anything more because they may know it all.
Anyhow i digress...
My remainder of the weeks leading to today consisted of planning and writing, organising and more writing and planning writing and organising. The programming of something big to hit the UK (All will be revealed when ready, but in the real army talk standby standby (also known as ZUJ)) and a few personal lessons to get me back on track and some top class hitting in the weekly squad and with fellow compatriates. Although i do remember a walk on and 15 minutes later, walk off session, due to the dia hitting from both persons on court that day. We decided to give the court over to Danny Ward top class ex-England player who still plays vets. I have to say he does look slow and sluggish but will probably give me a hard time on court all the same due to his ability to hit consistently and something about the level he once accomplished may come into the equation too!
After this week i am off travelling again with racket in hand and big holdall in the other, Basingstoke is my first stop off. I have thus decided that instead of being the maniac i usually turn out to be and travel the 186 miles to and throe, i have booked a hotel room for the week and will stay to work on my tax for the year ready for April. Which will be a first but i guess its time i did these things monthly instead of sitting alone in a room for a day working it out in midst June when i normally get around to giving it to my accountant.
Now to spend the rest of the week checking out the Australian Open till silly o' clock in the morning to keep ahead of new players, styles and tactics that occasionally leak into the game unbeknownst to some coaches.
I hope at this stage you have all set your goals and are working your way through the first four but don't forget the downloads from the website to help you out. Evidently, if you ended up on andytennis.com site then you have taken a wrong turn. Turns out that this is dedicated to the one and only Andy Roddick, i guess a bit like comparethemeerkat.com and comparethemarket.com quite similar really.
Right am out of here, email if you need anything.
Andy
However, here we are with an emphatic run down of all that has happened in the life of a tennis coach! Am refraining from saying vet player at this point due to the fact i have taken the decision to try and re-attain my top 500 world ranking in the over 40's next year, whereby life would have settled down and of course my books would have earned me enough to manage my time in a more able way.
Right now life is more in a disabled way and i have a million and one things to do. Perhaps i should attend some sort of time management course and hence save myself valuable working time daily. Hmmmmm ermmmmm do i really have time? Geez its all i can do to fit in watching the oz open just now.
Right so after one of the most restful breaks of the year, or seemingly so, my first real venture this year was the well attended one day course i ran at Bannatynes in Thurrock. Nice venue, nice journey time and easy enough. The attendees were excellent and learnt a huge amount on Running Effective Drills for club players. This enhanced the ability for those that attended the ability to earn recurring money if they adhered to everything that was taught! Not that coaching is about earning money if you are truly a coach, for me its more a way of life rather than a living.
I will post the handout for this soon on the andytennis website when i have filled it out a little more for those of you who failed to turn up. In fact come to think of it, the link will also be handy for those who couldn't make it due to bad weather or who just plain could not be bothered to turn up due to lazyness or even worse did not want to learn anything more because they may know it all.
Anyhow i digress...
My remainder of the weeks leading to today consisted of planning and writing, organising and more writing and planning writing and organising. The programming of something big to hit the UK (All will be revealed when ready, but in the real army talk standby standby (also known as ZUJ)) and a few personal lessons to get me back on track and some top class hitting in the weekly squad and with fellow compatriates. Although i do remember a walk on and 15 minutes later, walk off session, due to the dia hitting from both persons on court that day. We decided to give the court over to Danny Ward top class ex-England player who still plays vets. I have to say he does look slow and sluggish but will probably give me a hard time on court all the same due to his ability to hit consistently and something about the level he once accomplished may come into the equation too!
After this week i am off travelling again with racket in hand and big holdall in the other, Basingstoke is my first stop off. I have thus decided that instead of being the maniac i usually turn out to be and travel the 186 miles to and throe, i have booked a hotel room for the week and will stay to work on my tax for the year ready for April. Which will be a first but i guess its time i did these things monthly instead of sitting alone in a room for a day working it out in midst June when i normally get around to giving it to my accountant.
Now to spend the rest of the week checking out the Australian Open till silly o' clock in the morning to keep ahead of new players, styles and tactics that occasionally leak into the game unbeknownst to some coaches.
I hope at this stage you have all set your goals and are working your way through the first four but don't forget the downloads from the website to help you out. Evidently, if you ended up on andytennis.com site then you have taken a wrong turn. Turns out that this is dedicated to the one and only Andy Roddick, i guess a bit like comparethemeerkat.com and comparethemarket.com quite similar really.
Right am out of here, email if you need anything.
Andy
Tuesday, 12 January 2010
Goal setting extra
Okay so as promised we need to add an extra page for those of you who work with younger students. Whilst i am at it however, i may as well talk about the more advanced County and State players we have.
When working with juniors you need to have an understanding of not only what you think they need but what they also think they need. To you a forehand may look fantastic, to them they may feel it doesn't quite seem right leading to breakdowns under pressure.
For these guys we wont be talking about the terms personal, financial or spiritual (see part 1) but will cover the other aspects. This is a great time to get your students to do some homework! Click this link to get your students to fill out this form although you may want to simplify this slightly as its taken from my first book 'World Class Tennis Mentality'.
To access the Tennis tech tact list click here and click on the appropriate link www.andytennis.co.uk
As for cutting goals out, you will find that most of the goals set will be tennis related (dependant on age and their own personal environment). There will be minimal cutting away although you will need to discuss any goals that seem outlandish.
The best question to ask about there goals at this stage is the simple question 'Why?' and work from there.
Short of that you need to download the goalset masterplan and work to this with just four simple achievable goals. Don't forget once your students have achieved one goal march onwards and pick up another. When working with the higher level players then you will definately need to involve the rest of the team around them.
For instance lets say my goal was to increase more power into my serve! I will need to see my coach and set some exercises to work on perhaps technically and tactically, my fitness coach may set some plyometric exercises to build some explosion into my body. My psychology coach will help set visualisation work and these may mean i have another handful of daily goals to reach my main goal of more power into my serve.
Like everything email me if you need help here but i think it is quite simple. Good luck
When working with juniors you need to have an understanding of not only what you think they need but what they also think they need. To you a forehand may look fantastic, to them they may feel it doesn't quite seem right leading to breakdowns under pressure.
For these guys we wont be talking about the terms personal, financial or spiritual (see part 1) but will cover the other aspects. This is a great time to get your students to do some homework! Click this link to get your students to fill out this form although you may want to simplify this slightly as its taken from my first book 'World Class Tennis Mentality'.
To access the Tennis tech tact list click here and click on the appropriate link www.andytennis.co.uk
As for cutting goals out, you will find that most of the goals set will be tennis related (dependant on age and their own personal environment). There will be minimal cutting away although you will need to discuss any goals that seem outlandish.
The best question to ask about there goals at this stage is the simple question 'Why?' and work from there.
Short of that you need to download the goalset masterplan and work to this with just four simple achievable goals. Don't forget once your students have achieved one goal march onwards and pick up another. When working with the higher level players then you will definately need to involve the rest of the team around them.
For instance lets say my goal was to increase more power into my serve! I will need to see my coach and set some exercises to work on perhaps technically and tactically, my fitness coach may set some plyometric exercises to build some explosion into my body. My psychology coach will help set visualisation work and these may mean i have another handful of daily goals to reach my main goal of more power into my serve.
Like everything email me if you need help here but i think it is quite simple. Good luck
Monday, 11 January 2010
Setting goals for 2010 Part 7 of 7
Welcome back to the last day of your goal setting programme. Although for those of us who are tennis coaches and players, you will be interested in the extra sports goalsetting day i will add tomorrow.
From the remaining goals, choose the four goals which are the most important for you to work on right now and enter them onto a goalset worksheet (available at the link below).
The sheet itself will be self explanatory and help you to set a path for your career in 2010. On the back page of the goal you can chart your progress if possible.
To download a pdf of the goalset masterplan visit www.andytennis.co.uk and click on the goalsetting masterplan link under news.
Now if you need help on setting goals then feel free to email and i will help at will. Although in the unlikely event of receiving thousands of emails then i may just have to pick my way through.
Good luck and enjoy the whole process
From the remaining goals, choose the four goals which are the most important for you to work on right now and enter them onto a goalset worksheet (available at the link below).
The sheet itself will be self explanatory and help you to set a path for your career in 2010. On the back page of the goal you can chart your progress if possible.
To download a pdf of the goalset masterplan visit www.andytennis.co.uk and click on the goalsetting masterplan link under news.
Now if you need help on setting goals then feel free to email and i will help at will. Although in the unlikely event of receiving thousands of emails then i may just have to pick my way through.
Good luck and enjoy the whole process
Sunday, 10 January 2010
Setting goals for 2010 Part 6 of 7
Hey all. Now we are getting to the crux of the programme so lets get straight to it...
Divide the remaining goals into three categories: Short range (1 month or less); Intermediate (1 month to 1 year); Long Range (1 year of more). Mark these as SR, I or LR accordingly.
Remember:
Some goals must be big (out or reach but not out of sight to make you stretch and grow to your full potential
Some goals must be long range to keep you on track and greatly reduce the possibility of short range frustrations
Some goals must be small and daily to keep you disciplined
Some goals must be ongoing
All goals should be specific
Good work and we are nearly there one more day and you can get to work with your total goals programme.
See you all tomorrow whereby we get to choose some goals and get them to work
Divide the remaining goals into three categories: Short range (1 month or less); Intermediate (1 month to 1 year); Long Range (1 year of more). Mark these as SR, I or LR accordingly.
Remember:
Some goals must be big (out or reach but not out of sight to make you stretch and grow to your full potential
Some goals must be long range to keep you on track and greatly reduce the possibility of short range frustrations
Some goals must be small and daily to keep you disciplined
Some goals must be ongoing
All goals should be specific
Good work and we are nearly there one more day and you can get to work with your total goals programme.
See you all tomorrow whereby we get to choose some goals and get them to work
Saturday, 9 January 2010
Setting goals for 2010 Part 5 of 7
If you have reached day 5 then you really are ready for a great 2010, but we have more work to do and more cutting down of goals. After all lets really face it, how many goals can you achieve in a year?
After each remaining goal ask yourself these questions and these relate to session one:
1. Will reaching this goal make me happier?
2. Will reaching this goal make me healthier?
3. Will reaching this goal make me more prosperous?
4. Will reaching this goal make me more friends?
5. Will reaching this goal give me peace of mind?
6. Will reaching this goal make me more secure?
7. Will reaching this goal improve my realationships with others?
If you cant answer yes to at least 2 of these questions then eliminate them from your list. Be sure to consider your family when you answer these questions.
What remains now are our true goals and tomorrow we will divide these up into workable chunks. Remember and inch is a cinch but a mile is a trial.
After each remaining goal ask yourself these questions and these relate to session one:
1. Will reaching this goal make me happier?
2. Will reaching this goal make me healthier?
3. Will reaching this goal make me more prosperous?
4. Will reaching this goal make me more friends?
5. Will reaching this goal give me peace of mind?
6. Will reaching this goal make me more secure?
7. Will reaching this goal improve my realationships with others?
If you cant answer yes to at least 2 of these questions then eliminate them from your list. Be sure to consider your family when you answer these questions.
What remains now are our true goals and tomorrow we will divide these up into workable chunks. Remember and inch is a cinch but a mile is a trial.
Friday, 8 January 2010
Setting goals for 2010 Part 4 of 7
Day 4. You are doing well if you are at this stage, although yesterdays work wasn't difficult.
Now I want you to take further goals away from your list as we continue to cut away the naff stuff.
Ask these four questions, ALL of which must have a ''yes'' answer:
1. Is it really my goal?
2. Is it consistent with my other goals?
3. Can i commit myself to finish this goal?
4. Can i see myself reaching this goal?
Remember this will help to reduce your goals on your i really want to be, do or have sheet and make the whole process more manageable. We are now one more step away from realising your true goals list and that will become the focus of tomorrows session!
Now I want you to take further goals away from your list as we continue to cut away the naff stuff.
Ask these four questions, ALL of which must have a ''yes'' answer:
1. Is it really my goal?
2. Is it consistent with my other goals?
3. Can i commit myself to finish this goal?
4. Can i see myself reaching this goal?
Remember this will help to reduce your goals on your i really want to be, do or have sheet and make the whole process more manageable. We are now one more step away from realising your true goals list and that will become the focus of tomorrows session!
Thursday, 7 January 2010
Setting goals for 2010 Part 3 of 7
Lets continue....although i have to say in reply to some followers, i will update' my own personal' goings on after finishing the goals programme. This will make easy reading for those that follow later in the year. However, you should know that as i write these goal parts that i truly am also defining mine with you all.
SO, we have our dream list written down at this stage and what a list some of us may have! You know, if i was to do everything on the list i have right now i would be in a heap of trouble. I want to work out on the court for myself for one hour per day, go to the gym for 45 mins, do 30 minutes of stretching at the end of everyday along with 30 mins of visualisation. Now i want to read one book a week for never ending learning, spend some quality time with my family each night and eat out at least once per week. To continue i need to produce one itunes type psychology cd for you all and write 1 ebook per quarter. On top of the one published book a year goal i have set previously. Websites need to be updated and and and....... and to put you in the picture i get up at 06.20 daily and leave at 07.00 to get to work after running everywhere. I finish and get home at 19.00 hrs. Somewhere in between i sleep, at this stage someone do the maths for me!!!
The answer is to start cutting out some goals i have written and i dare say that you have to do the same also.
For each item you have written down answer the question ''WHY?''. If you cant verbalise in one sentence why you want to be, do or have, then it truly is a dream and not a real goal. at this point you should cross it off your list.
Good luck and see you all tomorrow. Evidently welcome to the new followers lets see if we can reach 1000 by the end of the year!!
SO, we have our dream list written down at this stage and what a list some of us may have! You know, if i was to do everything on the list i have right now i would be in a heap of trouble. I want to work out on the court for myself for one hour per day, go to the gym for 45 mins, do 30 minutes of stretching at the end of everyday along with 30 mins of visualisation. Now i want to read one book a week for never ending learning, spend some quality time with my family each night and eat out at least once per week. To continue i need to produce one itunes type psychology cd for you all and write 1 ebook per quarter. On top of the one published book a year goal i have set previously. Websites need to be updated and and and....... and to put you in the picture i get up at 06.20 daily and leave at 07.00 to get to work after running everywhere. I finish and get home at 19.00 hrs. Somewhere in between i sleep, at this stage someone do the maths for me!!!
The answer is to start cutting out some goals i have written and i dare say that you have to do the same also.
For each item you have written down answer the question ''WHY?''. If you cant verbalise in one sentence why you want to be, do or have, then it truly is a dream and not a real goal. at this point you should cross it off your list.
Good luck and see you all tomorrow. Evidently welcome to the new followers lets see if we can reach 1000 by the end of the year!!
Wednesday, 6 January 2010
Setting goals for 2010 Part 2 of 7
So hopefully the goalsetting imagery stage is going well and you have taken stock of what you already have.
In week 8 (which is an added bonus/extra for all the tennis players/coaches out there) i will teach you in one session how to set goals for your students. Enhancing their careers and hence your pocket when it comes to working outside in inclement weather.
Right to week 2...
Having taken stock i want you now to make a list of everything that you want or need, desire or wish for in your life, environment and career.
Write these down (and that is important for the following days to continue on) or type if you feel the need, all that you want to be, do or have. If you have a family, be sure to include your mate and children when you set your goals. This entire goal-setting process helps channel your logical left brain and frees your creative right brain for more effective use of your imagination. Note: you gotta 'be' before you can 'do' and you gotta 'do' before you can have. Right now take action and see you tomorrow
In week 8 (which is an added bonus/extra for all the tennis players/coaches out there) i will teach you in one session how to set goals for your students. Enhancing their careers and hence your pocket when it comes to working outside in inclement weather.
Right to week 2...
Having taken stock i want you now to make a list of everything that you want or need, desire or wish for in your life, environment and career.
Write these down (and that is important for the following days to continue on) or type if you feel the need, all that you want to be, do or have. If you have a family, be sure to include your mate and children when you set your goals. This entire goal-setting process helps channel your logical left brain and frees your creative right brain for more effective use of your imagination. Note: you gotta 'be' before you can 'do' and you gotta 'do' before you can have. Right now take action and see you tomorrow
Tuesday, 5 January 2010
Setting goals for 2010 Part 1 of 7
Welcome back all. Now is the time of year to set the goals for yourself in all areas of your life and i am going to take you through this part in the next 7 days. This should equate to about 2 hours worth of work.
Earlier in the year i set you a task to review your year which is always fascinating! Turns out i accomplished 14 of my own personal goals. One up on the year previous.
Your job this time around is to take stock of your life right now.
Answer the following questions...are you generally happy? How about your health are you respectively healthy? Are you reasonably prosperous? Do you feel secure in life? Do you have a good bunch of friends that you can rely and turn to? Have you peace of mind? Have you good family relationships? Have you hope in your life?
Answer the following questions...are you generally happy? How about your health are you respectively healthy? Are you reasonably prosperous? Do you feel secure in life? Do you have a good bunch of friends that you can rely and turn to? Have you peace of mind? Have you good family relationships? Have you hope in your life?
If you answer no to any of these questions then you need to set goals in the impending area. Take stock of the following areas in your life for today's task...
Personal Position
Financial Position
Career
Physical
Spiritual
Family
Social
Environmental
This is very similar to reviewing your past year in regards to everything you learnt, attained and achieved. Jot down everything that you have in these areas, paint a great image in your minds and we will move this on a stage tomorrow.
Good Luck and see you tomorrow
Coach Andy
Sunday, 3 January 2010
Happy New Year
Hope you have all had a great 2009 and are ready to embark into 2010.
Starting Monday or tomorrow we will begin the 7 day goal setting plan for this year.
I am also planning a number of 1 day courses for 2010 that will involve working with your students in the field of tennis psychology although you will be used a guinea pig yourself for this procedure. I will let you know in due course for these set of dates.
But will leave you with this blog from coach nino http://www.lta.org.uk/Articles/Guest-Blogger/31122009---Psychology/
Right see you all tomorrow on the first day of work this year
Starting Monday or tomorrow we will begin the 7 day goal setting plan for this year.
I am also planning a number of 1 day courses for 2010 that will involve working with your students in the field of tennis psychology although you will be used a guinea pig yourself for this procedure. I will let you know in due course for these set of dates.
But will leave you with this blog from coach nino http://www.lta.org.uk/Articles/Guest-Blogger/31122009---Psychology/
Right see you all tomorrow on the first day of work this year
Tuesday, 29 December 2009
Effective Drills
When planning drills of any type ensure you make them P.E.R.F.E.C.T
Progressive
Effective
Realistic
Fun
Extreme it
Competitive
Timed or Point Set
Progressive – Your lessons and hence drills should maintain a theme that will run concurrent in your sessions and be able to be progressed to eventual game play
Effective – Does the drill work is being run effectively by your students in regards to footwork and movement patterns or do you need to regress it back to learn more technical points.
Realistic – Is the drill you are running something that you would see in matchplay
Fun – This is one of the many reasons why people play tennis, hard work for some players is fun don’t forget
Extreme it – Add in an extra dimension to pressure the players (for instance if running a forehand cross court pattern drill ensure the player hits or shadows a backhand down the line before having to run the baseline to get into the crosscourt rally)
Competitive – At the end of the day every match you play is competitive, practices need a form of competitiveness when planning lessons and drills
Timed or Point Set – Have students know how long they have to perform the task which then enhances many of the above points!
To find out more email me about coming to the one day course on this subject on 5th January 2010.
Progressive
Effective
Realistic
Fun
Extreme it
Competitive
Timed or Point Set
Progressive – Your lessons and hence drills should maintain a theme that will run concurrent in your sessions and be able to be progressed to eventual game play
Effective – Does the drill work is being run effectively by your students in regards to footwork and movement patterns or do you need to regress it back to learn more technical points.
Realistic – Is the drill you are running something that you would see in matchplay
Fun – This is one of the many reasons why people play tennis, hard work for some players is fun don’t forget
Extreme it – Add in an extra dimension to pressure the players (for instance if running a forehand cross court pattern drill ensure the player hits or shadows a backhand down the line before having to run the baseline to get into the crosscourt rally)
Competitive – At the end of the day every match you play is competitive, practices need a form of competitiveness when planning lessons and drills
Timed or Point Set – Have students know how long they have to perform the task which then enhances many of the above points!
To find out more email me about coming to the one day course on this subject on 5th January 2010.
Monday, 21 December 2009
News...
Work has now started on the ultimate coaches handbook, written by coaches for coaches to help coaches do what they do best. Coach to the best of their abilities and earn money whilst they do!
Will keep you upto date how it goes
Will keep you upto date how it goes
Sunday, 20 December 2009
Snow, Rain, Wind and Weather...
Merry Christmas to one and all and anyone else!
You know today's topic will be about what happens when we experience adverse weather like at the moment snow! The majority of us all work outside and for me this is the best place to be, but the question is how can we continue making money whilst still educating our students throughout the year come rain,snow, hail or shine?
Simple, if you have a club house you can still earn while they learn! The number one topic that i have recently discussed is goal setting (something many coaches don't do!). I am in the process of recording a goal setting session for mp3/4 or itunes or generally for you to listen to. This will help you out and for the first 10 readers of this that email me andydowsett@psycheuk.com with mp3 goalsetting in the heading i will personally email out to you this recording when done.
But think about it, how many of your kids have never seen a tennis match for real? Have you ever thought of playing a match on tv for them to watch? Now the difference here is let them watch a few games and become familiar with the first two games yourself. Then all you have to do is stop the dvd/video (if you still have these) and ask the students where do you think the next serve is going, what shot should he/she hit next. Obviously having become familiar with the first two games you know exactly how the points are going to be played, making you the best coach ever! Then ask questions like :- Who do you think will win the next point? What just happened in that point. All relevant stuff and of course you can make a competition out of it.
If you truly sit down and think about it there are a 101 things to do and again email me and i will send you out my rainy day tennis programme for keeps and of course for free.
Enjoy your Christmas!
Andy
Friday, 18 December 2009
Last day of work...
Yes its kinda official. That was my last day of work for this year anyway! Although i don't think i ever really truly switch off working.
So in order to reset my goals and i guess yours as well we need to re-evaluate all that has happened this year. Then we can ascertain how far we have come, what we have learnt and were we still need to go for the next 6 months or so.
I have decided that i will start the 7-day countdown goalsetting programme when we all start work in January so keep an eye on my blog as it will be a daily occurrence for you all.
However your job this holiday period is to take some quiet time and have a good look at what you have learnt and accomplished month by month. I always find my diary handy for this alongside my journal. Journal's are great for keeping thoughts and ideas in and satisfying when you look back at what you have said over the year. Try it out and see.
Tomorrow i have a local radio interview whereby i talk about tennis in the area, tennis in general and promote my new book 'tennis psychology made easy' (for those that haven't been paying attention).
Will let you know how it goes!! Ahh reminds me of my army days in Belize. Sun, sea, cayes, tennis, a little bit of work and of course DJ work for the british forces broadcasting services! I had the 3 hour Saturday Night spot to run, maybe because no one else wanted it or because my show was super good. I'd like to think it was the latter but never made a career from it so who knows.
They were good days and have i got some stories to tell there! Now may be a good time to tell you all my nickname at times was Uncle Albert on account of my so called 'war stories'. The only war i got close to was the gulf war back in 1990 also known by Saddam as the mother of all wars! We camped on his airfield by his winter palace and generally had a good time! But that's for another day
Now go start the goal setting and we will continue in January this part of your journey
See ya
So in order to reset my goals and i guess yours as well we need to re-evaluate all that has happened this year. Then we can ascertain how far we have come, what we have learnt and were we still need to go for the next 6 months or so.
I have decided that i will start the 7-day countdown goalsetting programme when we all start work in January so keep an eye on my blog as it will be a daily occurrence for you all.
However your job this holiday period is to take some quiet time and have a good look at what you have learnt and accomplished month by month. I always find my diary handy for this alongside my journal. Journal's are great for keeping thoughts and ideas in and satisfying when you look back at what you have said over the year. Try it out and see.
Tomorrow i have a local radio interview whereby i talk about tennis in the area, tennis in general and promote my new book 'tennis psychology made easy' (for those that haven't been paying attention).
Will let you know how it goes!! Ahh reminds me of my army days in Belize. Sun, sea, cayes, tennis, a little bit of work and of course DJ work for the british forces broadcasting services! I had the 3 hour Saturday Night spot to run, maybe because no one else wanted it or because my show was super good. I'd like to think it was the latter but never made a career from it so who knows.
They were good days and have i got some stories to tell there! Now may be a good time to tell you all my nickname at times was Uncle Albert on account of my so called 'war stories'. The only war i got close to was the gulf war back in 1990 also known by Saddam as the mother of all wars! We camped on his airfield by his winter palace and generally had a good time! But that's for another day
Now go start the goal setting and we will continue in January this part of your journey
See ya
Wednesday, 16 December 2009
Help!!!
Help get my book World Class Tennis Mentality in the top ten of the Amazon Bookstore.
Currently we are at 34 but with a few more sales we can climb the ratings and jump inside the top 10 buy for your students, friends, brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers.
1 month project lets gooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
http://www.amazon.co.uk/World-Class-Tennis-Mentality-Players/dp/1420873415/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1260994827&sr=1-1
Thanks to all have already read, learnt and improved from this book
Andy
Currently we are at 34 but with a few more sales we can climb the ratings and jump inside the top 10 buy for your students, friends, brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers.
1 month project lets gooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
http://www.amazon.co.uk/World-Class-Tennis-Mentality-Players/dp/1420873415/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1260994827&sr=1-1
Thanks to all have already read, learnt and improved from this book
Andy
News of the day....
Had a great hit this morning whilst going down memory lane.
The rackets i hit with were what i owned as a youngster and consisted of a Jimmy Connors Slazenger T3000, a John Mcenroe Dunlop Autograph 2 and some Yamaha something or other that i used to love playing with.
Certainly helps with the concentration and was fun. I think sometimes we forget and our younger players who scream and shout and get stressed out in competition that this is only a game. We first came to tennis because we enjoyed it!
I am selling some old antique type wooden rackets on ebay you can check this out by clicking on this link http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290381958443&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT#ht_500wt_1182
Have a great day everyone will report back on Friday my last day in the office and working for the PTR for the year. A well earned rest.
Thankyou for all the 100's of people who have attended my courses this year, stay in touch and see you all next year unless we talk beforehand.
The rackets i hit with were what i owned as a youngster and consisted of a Jimmy Connors Slazenger T3000, a John Mcenroe Dunlop Autograph 2 and some Yamaha something or other that i used to love playing with.
Certainly helps with the concentration and was fun. I think sometimes we forget and our younger players who scream and shout and get stressed out in competition that this is only a game. We first came to tennis because we enjoyed it!
I am selling some old antique type wooden rackets on ebay you can check this out by clicking on this link http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290381958443&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT#ht_500wt_1182
Have a great day everyone will report back on Friday my last day in the office and working for the PTR for the year. A well earned rest.
Thankyou for all the 100's of people who have attended my courses this year, stay in touch and see you all next year unless we talk beforehand.
Tuesday, 15 December 2009
Keeping your better players...
Hi all. Hope all is super well with you all.
I have had numerous emails on coaching and will pile through them one by one, many thanks for joining those that have followed me in the past few weeks you are most welcome and let me know if i can be of any help. When and if i get to a magic following of 300 then i will be more than happy and will give 30 books of tennis psychology made easy away but will let you know nearer the time of course still got another 127 to go!!
Okay, so a few of the emails revolved around club programming and planning and one about keeping better players. This particular coach who we shall just name Joe Pro (purely because his name is Joe and i guess he is a pro as we all are), sounds like he has a great junior programme and develops many great juniors over the years but they then seem to run off to Roehampton or other indoor ventures like Riverside, Chiswick etc....
I understand that his venue is outside but it seems that to sort this particular scenario is to sort out a programme that these players and more importantly the parents will buy into. I used to run a group which years later became a squad of 8 girls. All signed up to a programme of 1 weekly individual lesson, and 2 group lessons with a free hitting and playing session built into the programme also to give them thinking and practice time alone without the coach. Parents were sent an invoice for school term and then holiday time was different with many playing tournaments etc... so this was priced accordingly.
As a coach when dealing with squads of this quality do not neglect the off court work and planning that goes with it all, as well as match charting throughout tournaments. Monthly reports to parents will also be a great finishing touch. This way the players will grow together and become great hitting partners to work out with each other when outside of squad times.
Timings for these sessions should be regular and as for individual lessons why not get 3 of the students for 3 hours at a time and then 1 can have a lesson whilst the other two drill, then change around. Similar to get 1 lesson for the price of 3! Seems like great value for the parents but more importantly the students get even more quality but hopefully purposeful workouts.
Good luck and let me know how you get on
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