In these sections you will have access to valuable coaching information. Through the Fence "Coachable Moments" are ideas and thoughts from coaches.  It's about what coaches say to their players during matches (through the fence) to help their players learn and improve (and maybe even to win a match).   The Forums also provide valuable coaching information.  You will learn thoughts and ideas from some of the top college and HS coaches in our Match Coaching Forum.  In our Mental Game Forum you will gain advice from some leading sports psychologists. Of course, every player is different and what works for one player may not work for another. But by recalling and sharing their actual "match stories" these top coaches and sports psychologists will help provide a valuable service.

You can also e-mail us questions that we will address to our coaching forums.

Here are some samples:

Through the Fence "Coachable Moment"

Match Coaching Forum

Mental Game Forum

Here's an example of Through the Fence "Coachable Moment":
 

Focus on the Positive

I was talking with Coach Tom Lang from the DC area and he made a good point about a coachable moment. One of his players had just lost the first set badly and Coach Lang heads to the fence. The player starts telling him everything he is doing wrong but Tom stops him immediately and asks “what are you doing right”, “tell me something positive!”
This is a great coaching strategy for a couple of reasons. First, you do not want your player to become too analytical trying to figure out what is going wrong, at least not during a match. Second by focusing on something positive you can build on one or two things going into the next set. Players will also increase their energy level by being positive. Here are some of drills/games to use from www.highschooltenniscoach.com to help emphasize staying positive and gaining some momentum;
• GaC612 Two in a Row
• GC125 Love the Battle

You want your player to leave the fence with something positive. You do not want him to focus on the negative and some quick questions to ask are “what is he doing well”, “what does he feel good about”. If he says nothing which might happen, ask him what he thinks he needs to do to make things more positive. You may want to have a specific example ready from watching the match. For example, you may notice that your player is in better shape and if he can extend the rally he will probably win a lot more points (and games). It will be more powerful if the player has suggested the idea but either way have him puts it in his own words as he tells you the idea before you leave the fence.



Here's an example of the Match Coaching Forum:

What have you told a player after she/he has been broken?


"To think about the future and not dwell on what has happened. They need to focus on what's coming up by making a good high percentage return. For example, on the first point if they serve wide to my player I want them to return crosscourt and put the pressure back on the opponent. They can get the momentum back on the first two points."
Jamie Ashworth
Coached 19 All-Americans
#1 Ranked Team in the Country (six weeks in 2003)
Duke University Women's Coach 

Here are some other examples of questions that are answered in our Match Coaching Forum.
What have you told a player after she/he won the first set?
What have you told a player after she/he lost the first set?
What are some ideas you provide to a doubles team before a match?
What do you look for when scouting an opponent?
How do you evaluate a match after a loss?
What do you say to a player before a match with a seeded player?
What have you told a player as she/he is serving for the set?
What are some of the ideas you offer a player before a match? 



Here's an example of the Mental Game Forum:

Can You Teach Mental Toughness?
Yes! A good start is to provide a step by step Pre-Serve and Pre-Return of Serve routine to FOCUS ATTENTION to start each point. A consistent routine triggers the serve and return giving the athlete the best opportunity to be proactive on each point.

For a Five-Step Pre-Serve Routine:
1) Inhale = Shoulders rise and Exhale = Shoulders drop
2) Clearly choose type of serve; slice, spin or flat
3) Bounce the ball for rhythm
4) See and feel your target
5) Reach up, face up and go!

For a Five-Step Return of Serve Routine:
1) Inhale = Shoulders rise and Exhale = Shoulders drop
2) Clearly choose type of return; drive, block, chip and charge, lob and your target; crosscourt, down the line, through the server
3) Ready position; balanced and ready to move through each return
4) See and feel your return
5) Lock in at the top of the server's toss and go!
As your Pre-Serve and Pre-Return Routines become consistent, You will mentally be in each and every point!
Dr. Bryce Young
President, Peak Performance Training

Here are some other examples of questions that are answered in our Mental Game Forum.
How your thoughts influence your energy on the court?
How do you prepare for the next point?
Why is concentration important?
What do I say to a player who "Tanks" a match?
Are the eyes important in competition - what a coach can tell players to do with their eyes?
How do you create team chemistry?
What Triggers Fear in an Athlete?
What Triggers Fear in an Athlete? (Part II)
What is Change-Over Control?