Will on-court coaching help or hurt?

I have been thinking about this topic for a while and… I believe on-court coaching should be allowed in professional tennis during the game changeovers. There. I said it.

There are many so-called purists who feel that it is totally inappropriate, such as this writer.

Then, I found this article from 2008, saying that on-court coaching will be allowed at all women's tournaments next season, apart from the four grand slams.

I cannot think of another sport which doesn’t allow coaching. Even golfers have a caddy to whom they can turn for a little advice. Doubles players (tennis) can help one another. Why is singles so special, so pure?

The event that triggered this thought was Serena Williams’ outburst in last year’s US Open. I think that if she had had a coach on court, he or she might have been able to step in for damage control.

Additionally, we all see players looking up at their coaches and families during a match. And many times the TV will pan in on the coach making some sort of motion. So, at least make it legitimate.

I do not expect that a coach will have in-depth conversations on the odd games when players switch sides. But the coach can give a pointer or two, and maybe offer a little strategy. The player will still be the one doing the work on the court.

A USA Today article in 2006 noted,” Fairness is another issue because many players can't afford to travel with coaches. Some coaches work with more than one player, creating potential conflicts of interest or at least awkward situations.” This point is well taken, But I think a tournament could supply a coach to any player who doesn’t have one. As far as a coach who works with more than one player, that can get tricky, but I think it’s doable for a coach to work with more than one player during a tournament.

The article in The Telegraph says that the fans tuned in will be able to listen to the coach’s comments. This could be very interesting and either trump the commentator’s analysis, which might be a good thing, or complement it. We might hear commentary on the commentary.

My good friend and teammate Lyn Calkins, who is an excellent singles and doubles player, remarked, “[Singles] is a very lonely game. That's one of the reasons it's a turn-off for a lot of kids, (i.e, my first-born, who prefers being on a team). Honestly, I think that's why I'm enjoying doubles so much these days.”

The bottom line is that tennis players must love to practice and love the competition. The pros must also encourage the fans to keep playing and learning. On-court coaching can level the playing field and keep fans actively engaged and growing with the sport.

A Tribute to Bob

I grew up watching Channel 4 WBZ News with my parents. A duo that really stands out in my mind was Bob (Lobel) and Liz (Walker).

Bob was the sportscaster.

Liz was a news anchor.
They sat side by side and literally shoulder to shoulder. He is a tall man. And she.. well, I saw her in the Fabric Store in Framingham not too long ago. She is one tall lady! Liz left broadcasting in 2005 to pursue a career as a youth minister.

Liz and Bob had a most wonderful on-air repartée. They would banter and tease one another. I nearly forgot I was watching a newscast. In fact, I probably didn’t remember what they were saying. For some reason, I just enjoyed watching them. Bob used props and catchphrases. He also did a lot of local charity work.

I learned the other day that after 30 years in Boston, Bob was let go from WBZ-TV (now it’s CBS). TV is a-changing. ESPN and other cable sports channels are taking over. There are channels devoted to football, golf and tennis. Ratings… salaries…the way the news is presented…who’s cool… ESPN…I am not sure of the reason. It’s a business decision they’ll say. Let’s forget that part now and think about Bob. Globe Columnist Jackie MacMullen wrote a biographic, yet heartfelt, piece about Bob and his talents as a sportscaster. He didn’t report sports, he lived it. He didn’t report on people, he knew them personally.

That is what made Bob Lobel so good at his job. It wasn’t just a job.

My point? Passion. Passion will take you to where you need to go. Liz found a wonderful new passion. Bob Lobel is still passionate about sports,- about the people in sports and about reporting sports to his viewers. What are you passionate about?

Have a good day, but bad days have their place

Sports can teach you lessons for other aspects of your life. They can teach you how to win and lose graciously. They can teach you how to think quickly. Studies have shown the split second decisions a tennis player must make when the ball zooms toward her. Should I go down the line, crosscourt, lob, run to the net, hit a drop shot… the options are numerous. But those options are nothing without the actions of your opponent. The funny thing is a good tennis player doesn’t think much during each point. She has already thought about scenarios prior to the match – during the hours and hours of practice – or prior to an actual point. Then, she develops a kind of mind and body muscle memory that will take her through a point. If you are winning, stick with the strategy. If you are losing, time to go with plan B, a plan which you had already worked out by the way. A tennis player, like any athlete, has good days and bad days. Some days, every ball you hit is a winner. On other days, you might as well have stayed home. Accepting the good and the bad is part of the game of sport and part of the game of life. You practice. You study. You put your hours in. Some days you have a golden touch with a pitch or blast out a press release with ease. On others, you couldn’t sell ice to an Eskimo; the technology is mumbo jumbo. The trick is to listen to yourself. Sure, get frustrated. Don’t discount your feelings. But then settle down and figure out plan B. And if you'd like more information about playing tennis, let me know or go to http://www.usta.com/home/default.sps.

My point? Bad days can help you appreciate the good days. And I hope you have a good day.