Don’t turn my Ferrari into an ice cream truck!
Since evolve9 started talking about it over 3 years ago, Gamification has become a word that has been used to explain how to take concepts from computer game design and use them in a tennis lesson. The concept is simple, if 91% (2013 statistic) of all kids in the US play games then maybe we should learn
The Power of Coaching with Empathy
Harrison arrived at his tennis lesson and from the moment he hopped out of the car he was in a frantic state. Parents who have dropped their children at Kindergarten will be familiar with the scene. Hysterical screaming. Mum desperate for him to do tennis. Coaches attempting to coax him onto court. Child hyperventilating and acting
I’ve been here before! – The Pied Piper of Long Island
I’ve been here before. The courts are still blue, the walls are the same and the fan in the ceiling spins at the same speed. There is the same stain on the ceiling from the leak that obviously happened years before. I even recognize the kids. But only just, it has been 6 months or so. They
The Trouble with Private Lessons
OK, now that I’ve got your attention with a controversial lead I want to assure that I value private lessons; and the importance of individual and expert attention in the development of a great little player. I just want to tell you the story of Jack, a “talented” 9 year old. Jack and his Mum were into
Ed Sheeran’s Dad
Ed Sheeran is one of the most successful and talented singer / song writers on the planet right now. Like many talented people, during Ed’s formative years a parent was a driving force behind his development – in this case his father. This is also common in our sport where Richard Williams, John Tomic, Judy Murray et
What kind of Warrior is your kid? Climbing the Mountain!
Following our website literally blowing up with the last Warrior post we thought we would keep the pot bubbling on this one with a question that we always ask in our court warrior workshop. Ask your child this question? Given a choice which of these results would your prefer? Win 6:0 6:0 against an opponent who is a
Raising a Warrior – The way to Valhalla!
I love the definition of the word Warrior. At least in my dictionary it says
Looking through the Oven Door!
Ok I know reading these blogs mean you have to have a certain sense of humor. You have to a slightly creative bent and a wry smile on your face as you read. This one is no less obscure and I hope, no less thought provoking. It's not the first time we have taken tennis metaphors
Only the Brave Build with Bricks!
The Three Little Pigs - A Coaches Tale Once upon a time there were three coaches who set out on their journey determined to build a player. The first coach decided that he wanted his player to win now, quickly so he taught only the strokes of tennis, ignored athletic development and the long term development of the
Getting the Top off the Bottle
I have been in the tennis world for over 30 years and been to over 80 countries. Like most of us my office is full of books, magazine and dvds. I have seen thousands of drills and progressions. Magic tricks to and fixes were part of my special toolbox. How could I the all powerful, all
Operation: Safe Kids Tennis
Little Amy had tears running down her cheeks and blood was spilling from her lip. She had been hit by her friends racquet during her lesson and was now being consoled in her Mum’s arms. As we scrambled to get the ice pack, Amy’s Mum was being very understanding, “Accidents happen darling,” she said trying to
Mixed Doubles
For the second time this week I was at the playground with my two sons observing some typically fascinating interaction between young children. Two girls were playing happily using all the equipment and experimenting with strength and balance as well as cooperating socially playing “shops” together. The mood soon changed as two boys (not mine) charged
Maximising Engagement
Some thoughts on Gamifying Your Lessons Kids can focus on iPad and video games endlessly (take my word for it!). If only we could get our kids to focus that hard, and learn this fast on the tennis court (or classroom or anywhere for that matter.) Using some of the principles of Gamification we can achieve a
Xbox Tennis
How the curse of gaming actually helped my coaching Christian was a handy 11 year old lefty. Previously he had pretty much kept to the baseline and played pretty conservatively. Today he surprised me by slicing his first serve out wide to the backhand, charging straight to the net and angling away my return with a crisp
Tennis Manager – Killer Customer Service
The waiter has just spilled a glass of water all over you! At least it wasn’t the minestrone soup! Your meal, the experience at the restaurant and with your dining partners is ruined; irreparably. Or is it? Everyone will have a bad customer service experience at some point, in fact most likely several times a year (more if
The Imitation Game – Watch what you do and say
My 5 year old son has reached a deep and wonderful obsession with tennis this UK summer. Fuelled by the blanket coverage of Wimbledon he is enthralled by an environment where interest in tennis is at an all-time high. He will watch 2 points (3 at most) and then bound out into the garden to commence play.
“Tennis is like my Church Mum”
Maddie is an 8 year old member of our program. She has been having some problems, her health wasn't great, she was being bullied at school and had to see a child psychiatrist to deal with all these problems. She decided to pull out of tennis as she was falling behind her friends skills and she was