Tennis TIPS: A good coach is one who has developed players



A good coach need not have been a professional player.

A good coach need not have been a professional player.

What do Mike Krzyzewski, Bill Belichick and Nick Bollettieri all have in common? While reading biographies of these three men I found one thing in common: none of them played professional sports. Krzyzewski played basketball at West Point, became a military officer and then went into coaching. Belichick played football and lacrosse at Wesleyan College (and was much more successful in lacrosse than football). Bollettieri played tennis at Spring Hill College in Alabama. Why bring this up? A good coach need not have been a professional player.

So what should you look for in a coach? Look for someone who has developed players. Ask your fellow players who have taken lessons whom they’d recommend. Good coaches should be able to evaluate your game and recommend small, subtle changes for improvement. They should challenge you. One of my coaching mentors gave me some great advice when he said, “Don’t teach a system, teach the individual.”

Remember a lot of great players have a natural ability to do things. They have never had to think about the small details; they are able to just do it. The ability to “dumb it down” is the essence of a good coach.

Adam Lane is assistant director of sports at Bonita Bay Club. He can be reached at Lane@swspotlight.com.

Adam Lane is assistant director of sports at Bonita Bay Club. He can be reached at Lane@swspotlight.com.

Mike, Bill, and Nick were not great players but they are all hall-of-famers in their respective sports.

Looking for some great tennis?

Bonita Bay Club is hosting the Finemark Women’s Pro Tennis Championship May 6 to 12. This is a great opportunity to come out and see players ranked between 30 and 60 in the world. Tickets are now on sale at www.bbcusta.net.

Want to get really close to the action? What is closer than being on the court during play? The host is taking applications for ball runners. Most people associate ball runners as “ball kids.” The truth is that the US Open allows people of all ages to be ball run­ners. If you are 9+ years old, come out and volunteer to be a ball runner. All the training and equipment is provided. All you need is a great attitude. You will see a whole new perspective on just how hard and fast these women hit and move. Sign up at www.bbcusta.net or email adaml@bonitabayclub.net and I will get you on the path to having the best seat in the house — on the court.