(Inspired by the podcast episode #2: “Former British № 1 Doubles Player, Father of 3 and Academy Owner” w. Dan Kiernan on The Adam Blicher Show — Dissecting High Performance in Tennis)
A big part of the philosophy at the Soto Tennis Academy is we’re not saying to people come to us we’re going to turn you into a Champion. We’re very much trying to get people to buy into understanding that tennis is an amazing vehicle to teach values for life. Obviously we want players with ambition and we want to help drive them towards their tennis goals. What is more important though and what sits at the heart of what we want is that the players go away with a clear set of values that they can take with them for the rest of their life.
Pressure is a privilege
A natural way of looking at a perceived high-pressure situation for a player is to start thinking about the outcome and that can obviously take over. We’re trying to teach our players that we love big moments. We love the big points. I’m a big believer in mindset and how you set your mind on the court. We are trying to get the players to buy into the fact that pressure is a privilege. When you’re feeling under the most pressure you’re lucky. It’s an opportunity for you and I also strongly believe that you’re able to perform at the required level that you need to. In those high pressure moments, I’m not convinced that the top players raise their level, but I do believe that they maintain their level. A lot of players tend to fold in those big moments and their level drops whereas if you can view those big moments as a privilege. You’re in a better position to perform to the required level.
Controlling the controllabels
We want players to understand that they are in control of their own destiny. We don’t want a team full of excuse makers and blame makers. We’re here to provide an environment that’s our job. Parents have provided their kids with the opportunity and then it’s the player’s job to come in and for them to control the controllabels every single day. For them to bring their unconditional effort in whatever they do, whether that’s on the court, in the gym, in the classroom or in the boarding house tiding their room. We believe that all of these values ultimately make better and stronger people that will then provide opportunities for them moving forward in life.
Having a tolerance for failure
A big one is honesty. Honesty with themselves first and foremost. On the court, off the court and then honest with their own teammates. I think honesty is a big one that tennis naturally does teach us in the management of disappointment.
We’re in a sport where we are naturally disappointed pretty much every week. At the start of a grand slam 128 people start, at the end of the 2 weeks 127 people have lost. You have to have an ability to care, to express yourself and kind of not care while performing. In other words you need to have a tolerance for failure. I think it was something I stole from Roger Federer.
The skills really do transfer into all forms of life. Therefore we use these statements on the court but we also teach and get the players to know about them off the court. Get them to understand how it then transfers and how ultimately it can help them become more well rounded individuals.
