National Finals Super 10’s
At the end of January I was lucky enough to be selected as the coach/team manager of the Western Australian boys 10 and under team.
The Super 10’s National Final’s
While the worlds best battled it out for the Australian Open title, Australia’s best 10 and under juniors were having the experience of a lifetime, representing their state at the Super 10’s National Finals. WA teams comprised of 4 boys and 4 girls each with their own team manager and the support of Tennis Australia’s project talent team. During their experience, they got to have a photo and hit with Pat Rafter, Nick Kyrgios and Lleyton Hewitt, watch the Junior final along with other fun activities such as Super 10’s Amazing Race. It was an opportunity to grow as young tennis players and people, meet new friends and ultimately have the experience of a lifetime.
The Tournament
The message to the Super 10’s kids was to compete hard, show great sportsmanship and support your team mates. The teams were put into 2 pool’s of 4 and played 3 preliminary rounds where the WA team showed great determination and smarts to qualify through to the semi finals. The girls ended up reaching the final to just go down to a strong South Australian team and the boys only narrowly missed out on a finals berth by 2 single games. The players had the opportunity of oncourt coaching from their team managers throughout along with lessons in preparation, independence and professionalism throughout the entire tour. A huge well done to all of the kids involved who did WA proud.
The Lesson of Sportsmanship
It was refreshing talking to other coaches who shared similar values in their coaching such as sportsmanship, respect and a development of Australia’s best 10 and under kids. Many of these kids will develop to become state league standard right through to potentially various level’s of professional ranks.
The emphasis on the kids calling the score correctly, calling lines correctly, respecting their opponents, playing as a team and working as hard as possible was a breath of fresh air from what can easily become a high pressure situation which the only emphasis is on winning.
The importance of being fair in line calls and scoring is something that I feel very strongly about. The reason for this is if we are actually teaching ‘life lessons’ then the importance of good sportsmanship is a massive responsibility for us as teachers and coaches of the game. Equally it is the responsibility of parents and grandparents of young players to ensure that they develop with integrity.
I over ruled a few of my kids line calls who overall were very good but on the clay it is easy to tell and even though some of the over rules were on important points, it is essential that the kids learn that it is not ok. I saw plenty of other kids do some interesting calls with many of the coaches putting the emphasis on development rather than winning and intervening if one of their players has made an untoward decision or action.
Why do kids do dodgy line calls?
Payback – When the opponent has been doing suspicious line calls.
Shortcut – Bad line calls create a short cut to winning.
Score Pressure – The match is close and they wish the ball out.
Result Pressure – Fearful of others (Parent’s/Coaches/Peers)
Vision – Sometimes a young player doesn’t watch the ball (rare)
If we let a young tennis player believe that any dishonest line calls or scoring practices are ok then this becomes something that they feel is ok to do to get ahead in sport or in life.
Now imagine if this value system transfers to school, university, career, business etc. Is payback right? Are shortcuts to success right? Is something out just because you want it to be? Is cheating ok to keep someone else happy?
We all know the answer to these questions but why do so many coaches, parents and kids turn a blind eye to this?
The answer to that is that the parents and coaches are focused on the result, the win or the loss, not the development of a tennis game and development of young player with integrity. Sport has the ability to teach very important lessons to kids and although the fight and determination to win is super important, the result by any means is not.
The Super 10’s kids didn’t have much exposure to their parents for the whole 4 days of the competition so the atmosphere was certainly different than many tournaments. Although it could easily of been a high pressure situation, the focus on these young players, trying their heart out whilst practicing great sportsmanship was a credit to many of the coaches, players and also project talent team.
I certainly learnt alot and look forward to continue to work with the best 10 and under players at Scarborough Tennis Academy and also through the Super 10’s Program that Tennis Australia have set up as a platform for these passionate young players.
Regards
Rick Willsmore
