Anyone who has been around collegiate tennis for any length of time can tell you horror stories of coaches ranting, raving, and screaming about everything from a footfault to a disputed line call but sometimes the issue goes even deeper than an individual coach's behavior--it goes to the very core of the team itself. The question has frequently been asked if the team takes on the personality of the coach--and I would say the resounding answer is YES.
Experts tell us that children learn from the example set by their parents and there is always the proud father who simply says, "Like father, like son" when his son is an example of honesty, integrity, and good behavior. Sadly, their are very few fathers who stand beside a misbehaving son and say the same thing...
Here are a few thoughts to consider when asking the question of whether a team takes on the personality of their coach:
* Whenever you encounter a player who is well-behaved, respectful, and thoughtful, you usually have parents with the same qualities. How many times have you met the parents of a quality player and discover that they are mirror images of each other?
* Whenever you encounter a player who is out of control, abusive, and confrontational, you usually have at least one parent with those same attributes. How many times have you dealt with an unruly player only to look in the stands and see their parents behaving the same way?
* Whenever a coach exhibits self-control in his life and decisions, his players usually do the same.
* Whenever a coach is a person of integrity, you will usually see the same quality in his/her players.
* Whenever you see players who are overtly verbal in their on-court behavior, you usually have a coach who is the same.
* Whenever you have a player who cheats, yells, and screams, he will usually have a short career with a coach who is a person with integrity and self-control. Integrity cannot co-exist with those qualities which are the opposite.
* A calm coach will usually have players who are the same.
* Integrity and honesty are qualities that a coach can instill in his/her players and it manifests itself in stressful situations. You never know about a person's integrity until you see their behavior when they are under pressure.
* Players are still young people and they will imitate the behavior of their coaches. This is only human nature and we see it on a regular basis--both good and bad.
* If a coach does something unethical the players know the truth one way or another. A player who has been raised by ethical and honest parents will always sense unethical behavior by a coach.
* There are many negatives in this area but there are also many wonderful positives too! A coach of integrity, honesty, and truth is privileged to be able to instill these same qualities in their players.
NOTE: All of the points of interest above also apply to a tennis official... If a collegiate official were to cheat for a player the worst by-product of this action would be that the player who benefits would sadly know the truth and subsequently lose all respect for that official.
3 comments:
Just got an email from an ITA coach who loved the post and has already shared it with his entire team. Good start...
One of the best ITA Coaches I ever dealt with was Craig Tiley at Illinois. He exemplified class, dignity and leadership on and off the court. For the most part his players were class acts also. He set the example and expected his players to follow his lead. ITA lost one heck of a role model when he left. Interestingly enough, Tiley only recruited in the US. Don't know if he'll remain as TD for the Australian Open in '15 since taking on the ED role at Tennis Australia.
Another good topic is "Does an Officiating Crew take on the personality of their Referee."
Cases in point:
1) How do the officials act at Arkansas working for a tyrant who makes them sign non-disclosure agreements before working matches?
2) How do the officials act at OU working for a Referee more concerned with making sure all match balls on the court?
3) How do the officials act at Tulsa working for a Referee always wondering how much money he's getting for travel and what type of home-cooking is on the menu for the day?
4) How do the officials act at Texas A&M Women's matches working for a Referee with a psycho tendency to break their pencils?
5) How do the officials act at that elite program in Waco working for a Referee that is spying on them throughout the match and throws them under the bus when the home coach complains about overrules against his team?
6) How do the officials act at the Southland Conference Championships working for a non-certified Referee who used to be in charge of that elite program in Waco?
7) How do the officials act at Southern Cal schools working for the self-professed deity of ITA tennis rules?
8) Last but not least, how do the officials act at Rice, SMU, UT, TCU, UNT, UTA, Texas A&M Men and OSU while working for truly respected Referees?
Post a Comment