One of my philosophies around developing a complete player is adopting a holistic approach. And to explain this, I use what I call the Complete Player Pyramid. This pyramid is made up of three sections – the person, the athlete and the player.
The person
These are the personal characteristics that make a great tennis player and make up the biggest section of the pyramid. They include the will to win, commitment, discipline (sooo much discipline), work ethic, attention to detail, grit and determination. Coachability is also a big aspect of this section, and parents have a significant part to play in developing these traits.
The athlete
This is the middle section of the pyramid, and in my opinion becoming larger as the game evolves. This athlete section encompasses all the physical attributes needed to become a top player – speed, strength, agility, flexibility etc.
The thing about this section is that it affects our ability as coaches to develop the next section of the pyramid. That’s because if a player can’t get to the ball, balance or coordinate efficiently, it becomes difficult to execute the technical fundamentals.
Also, a player who isn't physically fit will find it hard to stay mentally focused and maintain their level.
Most tennis coaches are not fitness experts and because of this it’s important to provide a way for your players to access and participate in quality fitness. At Tennis Menu we’ve partnered with Tennis Fitness Australia to achieve this. Nathan and Giselle Martin have developed robust, individual, tennis specific programs that they provide online. They work with a heap of top players and are hugely passionate about athlete performance. With them taking care of the fitness – making my players, faster, stronger more flexible - it means that I can focus on what I do best, developing the player.
The player
This section of the pyramid is all about the technical and tactical aspects of becoming a great tennis player. Stroke production, developing offence, defence. Knowing a player’s strengths and what tactics to employ against different types of players.
Coaches, parents and players tend to focus most on this section. Many people think these attributes are the most important to achieve successful outcomes, but you can see from my pyramid, it’s the smallest section.
That’s because the bottom layers feed into the top. If you don’t have the personal attributes in the bottom layer, it’s hard to become a good athlete, and if you aren’t a good athlete, it’s difficult to become a great player.
That’s why the Complete Player Pyramid emphasises a holistic approach. Because without strong foundations, it’s incredibly difficult to reach the top.